Pakistan playing XI for the Champions Trophy?

[khurram39]

We are too bad at the end of the inning. We can't accelerate the run rate so we need hitter at the last part of the inning.

 

[uberkoen]

Azhar Ali is banned for the first game btw due to the slow overrate in the last ODI against Australia.

 

[arehaan]

1. Ahmed S / Azhar A ( No other choice)
2. Fakhar Z ( Need to give him a go)
3. Babar A
4. Hafeez
5. Malik
6. Sarfraz
7. Shadab K.
8. Imad W.
9. M. Amir
10. Hassan Ali
11. Junaid K / Wahab ( No other choice)

 

[ritzy_123]

I dont know. I thick Mickey and Sarfaraz value quick runs at the top. For the Windies series you have to remember that Kami and Shehzad performed very well at the PSL so were always going to open ahead of Fakhar. Now with Kami gone and Shehzad having batted worse than him, along with the only back up opener Azhar, Fakhar has a much better chance. I have hope that Fakhar is tried in the warm up game and impresses.

I really hope this happens it will be good for the team

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Need Hafeez to open in order to avoid ultra tuk tuk on great batting surfaces.

 

[hadi123]

Azhar Ali is banned for the first game btw due to the slow overrate in the last ODI against Australia.

no he is not, Pakistan have already played ODIs since the Australia series so his ban ended after the first match against West Indies. He is available for all 3 matches

 

[Abdullah719]

Need Hafeez to open in order to avoid ultra tuk tuk on great batting surfaces.

Hafeez himself is very hit and miss in that regard.

One day he will struggle to put bat on ball and will eat up dots and build pressure worse than Shehzad.

Another day he'll be fluently striking boundaries from the get-go... (this day usually depends on the level of opposition).

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Hafeez himself is very hit and miss in that regard.

One day he will struggle to put bat on ball and will eat up dots and build pressure worse than Shehzad.

Another day he'll be fluently striking boundaries from the get-go... (this day usually depends on the level of opposition).

Should be able to deal with the medium pacers of Lanka and India. We could try Fakhar as well but not much is known about him so it's a risk. That's the problem with having players in the squad for a tournament who haven't been tested out yet.

 

[Barragan]

I'd go with:

1. Zam
2. Sarfi
3. Azam
4. Akmal
5. Malik
6. Hafeez
7. Imad/Fahim
8. Shadab/Fahim
9. Amir
10. Hassan
11. Junaid/Fahim

Hafeez at the bottom is better than at the top, where he will have no choice but to hit at the end and he is excellent at hitting.

Also, if one of the 3 with Fahim next to them in the warm ups and the 1st match fail, then Fahim should come in.

 

[uberkoen]

no he is not, Pakistan have already played ODIs since the Australia series so his ban ended after the first match against West Indies. He is available for all 3 matches

He was not part of the squad and hence the ban has not ended.

 

[SaadAliG]

The squad is so pathetic that you can't even produce a decent XI out of it. Just hoping for decent individual performances from Sarfaraz, Babar, Malik, Hasan, Shadab, Imad and Amir. The rest are garbage.

Add imad to the garbage list.

 

[Anzal24]

Well the squad I want to play is
Sarfraz (he can open there will be batting wickets and he can definitely do the job as he did in Aus/NZ)
Azhar
Babar
Hafeez
Shoaib
Umar / Fakhar (useless) no other option though I wanted to see Shoaibbb Maqsood batting at this position but he was not in a good form.
Imad
Amir
Hassan Ali
Junaid (Ruman Raees should have been there)
Wahab/Shadhab/Fahim (depends on the conditions) - again aaamir yameen should have been playing at the spot if sahdhab or rahi plays should bat up the order.

 

[sl-fan-of-pak]

THIS is Pakistans best bet

1. Umar Akmal
2. Azhar Ali / Shehzad
3. Babar Azam
4. Sarfraz Ahamed
5. Shoaib Malik
6. M Hafeez
7. Imad Wasim
8. Shadab Khan
9. Mohammad Amir
10. Hasan Ali
11. Junaid Khan

 

[hadi123]

He was not part of the squad and hence the ban has not ended.

It doesn't matter if he wasn't in the squad, one game has passed so he is available. Misbah was banned for 2nd test vs NZ but didn't play anyway cos his mother in law died and he was available for match 1 vs Australia

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

1. Fahkar - yeah I know his technique is dodgy, what is Azhar's technique gonna give us, let the guy slog
2. Professor - big tuk-tuk but not as bad as Azhar / Shehzad, plus he will play due to his bowling
3. Babr - duh
4. Sarfraz- his best position, wasted and infective at 6
5. Malik - duh
6. Umar - not my choice, but rather him that Azhar/Shehzad, at umar isn't smart to be selfish
7 . Imad - not sold on him but no other option
8. Shadab - be prepared for a spanking by India, I hope he is strong enough to come through it
9. Fahim - rather him than AGGRESSIVE Riaz or Junaid
10. Amir
11. Hasan




at least we have a good tail

 

[Hasan123]

Fakhar
Shehzad
Babar
Umar Akmal
Sarfraz
Malik
Imad
Shadab
Hasan
Amir
Junaid

 

[Rayyman]

Shehzad
Hafeez
Azam
Malik
Sarfraz*+
Akmal
Wasim
Wahab
Amir
Hasan
Junaid

 

[MMHS]

MoHa will play, therefore either he has to open or bat at 4. If he is to bat at 4, which means Umar is missing out to Azhar/Shehzad, while if the opens, it might end up with PAK 2 down in first few overs. I'll rather go for a compromise - open with Babar & play MoHa at 3.

Fakhar, Babar
MoHa, Malik, Sarfraz, Umar
Imad, Shadab, Amir, Hasan, JK/Wahab/Fahim.

If Fahim can use the new ball, I tend to favour him because of the batting depth, otherwise JK is better.

I think, PAK will play same team with 2 changes - Azhar replacing Fakhar & opening with MoHa

 

[mumtaz]

I think Pakistan will almost certainly play MoHa at 4 with Umar missing out. I think they will also play Fakhar at the top leaving the choice for the final batting spot between Azhar and Shehzad.

Fahim should play instead of JK but I think they will go with JK.

 

[hitthestump]

With a weak squad you need to have dynamic players at the top of the order or you may as well not even show up. Don't hide Safraz, Umar Akmal and leave them for the end when tuktuk has only got us 180/3 from 40 overs. Give the CT a good go, we've got nothing to lose after all.

Safaraz (WK, bat)
Azhar (bat)
Babar (bat)
U. Akmal (bat)
Hafeez (all rounder)
Malik (all rounder)
Shadab (all rounder)
Imad (all rounder)
Amir (bowl)
Hasan Ali (bowl)
Junaid (bowl)

I feel like we're a pace bowler light..but the tail would be too long with Wahab in there also. Needed Yamin really.

 

[hamaadqureshi819]

no he doesn't , its a myth

People forget that the performance against India was when one ball was still used instead of two and hence Riaz could get crazy reverse which is what killed Yuvi and Virat.

beyond that the Watson spell is the only thing of note, and we are holding on to that like afridi's 100

u forgot his performance in ct13
aganist WI he made a game out of partly total

 

[arehaan]

The squad against India given that Azhar Ali will not be available due to his ban.

1. Ahmed Shehzad
2. Fakhar Zaman
3. Babar A.
4. M. Hafeez
5. S. Malik
6. Sarfraz A.
7. Imad W.
8. Shadab K.
9. M Amir
10. Hassan Ali
11. Wahab Riaz / Junaid K ( Depending on conditions)

 

[Rayyman]

I'm going with:
Shehzad
Hafeez
Azam
Malik
Haris
Sarfraz*+
Wasim
Wahab
Amir
Hasan
Junaid

 

[Sarfarazian92]

Fakhar
Hafeez
Babar
Haris
Sarfraz
Malik
Imad
Shadab
Amir
Hasan
Junaid

 

[mumtaz]

I think Pakistan will play the following team against India:

Fakhar
Azhar
Babar
Hafeez
Malik
Sarfaraz
Imad
Wahab
Amir
Hasan
Junaid
----------------
Shehzad
Haris
Fahim
Shadab

I do think that the tail is a little weak, so maybe they will go with Fahim in place of Wahab/Junaid but it would be a big ask to debut against India in a pressure CT game. Shadab should play for one of the pacers against South Africa.

 

[Abdullah]

Babar and Haris at 3 and 4 on the world stage!!

I would go with
1 Azhar
2 hafeez
3 babar
4 haris
5 sarf
6 malik
7 imad

Malik like he showed in the t20 wc vs Australia is most capable of scoring 50 off 25 at the back end put of every1 we have got so he needs to take it to the team. Haris needs to play when the ball is coming on and sarfaraz is wasted at 6.

 

[Speedster777]

Fakhar
Shehzad
Babar
Haris
Sarfraz
Fahim
Imad
Shadab
Amir
Wahab
Hassan

 

[wasimjunior]

Babar and Haris at 3 and 4 on the world stage!!

I would go with
1 Azhar
2 hafeez
3 babar
4 haris
5 sarf
6 malik
7 imad

Malik like he showed in the t20 wc vs Australia is most capable of scoring 50 off 25 at the back end put of every1 we have got so he needs to take it to the team. Haris needs to play when the ball is coming on and sarfaraz is wasted at 6.

Has to be this

Zaman and shahzad are a recipe for 0-2

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Shehzad
Hafeez
Babar
Harris
Malik
Sarfraz
Imad
Wahab
Amir
Hassan
Junaid/Abbas.

No point trying out guys who have barely played Intl. cricket directly in an ICC tournament. You will atleast beat India and SL with this lineup and make the semis. However, you'll get destroyed there by the other group topper

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Shehzad
Hafeez
Babar
Harris
Malik
Sarfraz
Imad
Wahab
Amir
Hassan
Junaid/Abbas.

No point trying out guys who have barely played Intl. cricket directly in an ICC tournament. You will atleast beat India and SL with this lineup and make the semis. However, you'll get destroyed there by the other group topper

 

[hadi123]

Obviously there are a couple of warm up games first so players can stake their claims but our 11 for India should be:
1) Fakhar Zaman - give him a debut, aggressive player
2) Mohammad Hafeez - don't understand the hate on him experienced player, can help in the field, will bowl a few cheap overs and has played many crucial knocks
3) Babar Azam
4) Haris Sohail - very happy he is picked
5) Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (WK)
6) Shoaib Malik
7) Imad Wasim - key player his bowling and batting towards the end will be key
8) Shadab Khan - no one has seen much of him
9) Mohammad Amir - hopefully can bowl like he did against India last year
10) Wahab Riaz - I know this will shock some of you but JK has been getting smashed even in Pakistan Cup so Riaz should play he is experienced and on a good day he can win you matches but it's a risk cos on his bad day he can single handedly lose us games
11) Hasan Ali

That 11 is actually a really solid line up - probably one of the best 11 Pakistan could put out. I think Shehzad and Azhar Ali were the only awful picks in CT and if we have those two playing instead of Zaman and Haris Sohail we have no chance unfortunately however I reckon that 11 has potential to beat SL and one of India/SA

 

[hadi123]

The squad against India given that Azhar Ali will not be available due to his ban.

1. Ahmed Shehzad
2. Fakhar Zaman
3. Babar A.
4. M. Hafeez
5. S. Malik
6. Sarfraz A.
7. Imad W.
8. Shadab K.
9. M Amir
10. Hassan Ali
11. Wahab Riaz / Junaid K ( Depending on conditions)

Azhar Ali will be available his ban is over as he didn't play against West Indies

 

[Abdullah]

Has to be this

Zaman and shahzad are a recipe for 0-2

If it is a nice sunny day flat pitch i would risk zaman. In the absence of a true hitter we need to go positive throughout. Azhar is there as my insurance if it is overcast.
Shezzy would be my 4th choice opener.

However hafeez at 4 will probably scupper the above

 

[NauV]

Hafeez, Shehzad, Sarfaraz, Malik, Babar, Harris, Azhar . . all similar games . .

Whatever line up they decide to go with is going to be one dimensional . . quite a tough situation . . Given the limitations that we have, I'd go with:

1.) Shehzad
2.) Harris/Hafeez
3.) Babar
4.) Malik
5.) Sarfaraz
6.) Harris/Hafeez
7.) Imad
8.) Shadab
9.) Amir
10.) Hasan
11.) Wahab/Junaid (I'd go with Junaid everywhere BUT the Oval)

Point is . . whatever they do . . 3, 4, 5 have to be Babar, Malik and Sarfaraz . . that gives us the best chance in the middle order . . if they tinker with that, Malik and Sarfaraz's value decreases . . especially Sarfaraz!

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Team should be:

Fakhar Zaman
Mohammed Hafeez
Babar Azam
Haris Sohail
Sarfraz Ahmed
Shoaib Malik
Imad Wasim
Shadab Khan
Mohammed Amir
Hasan Ali
Junaid Khan

 

[ahsan_888]

Best Playing XI for Champions trophy

I have been thinking for the best playing 11 and could conjure the best one which was this.
1. Fakhar Zaman.
2. Azhar Ali/Ahmed Shehzad (if Azhar allowed to play the game against India)
3. Babar Azam
4. Mohammad Hafeez
5.Shoaib Malik
6. Sarfraz Ahmed.
7. Imad Wasim
8.Shadab Khan
9. Hasan Ali
10.Mohammad Amir
11. Junaid Khan

Azhar should be selected in place of Shehzad because he has a better record in England, while Fakhar is in top form and he provides some cover up for the lost of Sharjeel, Many people have been talking of playing Sarfraz up the order , but we cant expect him to keep and then play a long innigs , keeping in mind Shoaib and Hafeez he will have to move down while Hafeez should play in the middle order where he is performing well. Fahim can be replaced with Shadab or Imad as needed while all three junaid hasan and amir are essential.
What do you Guys Think?

 

[Syed1]

Fakhar
Hafeez
Babar
Haris
Sarfaraz
Malik
Imad
Shadab
Hasan
Amir
Junaid

 

[ahsan_888]

Who will you play haris in place for?

 

[Syed1]

Who will you play haris in place for?

Azhar/Shehzad.... both would have struggled in ODIs in the 90s let alone in 2017

 

[ahsan_888]

Azhar/Shehzad.... both would have struggled in ODIs in the 90s let alone in 2017

But Hafeez hasn't been quite impressive as an opener..has has succeeded in the middle order..while i dont think harris only scored a century in pakistan cup which good be counted as something good
while being realistic Azhar is gonna play because he also provides experience

 

[Rayyman]

If it is a nice sunny day flat pitch i would risk zaman. In the absence of a true hitter we need to go positive throughout. Azhar is there as my insurance if it is overcast.
Shezzy would be my 4th choice opener.

However hafeez at 4 will probably scupper the above

I don't know if it would be a good idea to debut Fakhar Zaman in CT.

 

[Abdullah]

I don't know if it would be a good idea to debut Fakhar Zaman in CT.

Well when the alternative is Shezad I don't know.
We only need 1 person anchoring the 8nnings and that is Babar ( plus Azhar if overcast)

 

[maanleo]

Fakhar
Hafeez
Babar
Haris
Sarfaraz
Malik
Imad
Shadab
Hasan
Amir
Junaid

Fakhar looked all at sea in T20Is against West Indies. Don't think he should be tried in all important match. Azhar Ali is still a better option than him against India in CT match. Maybe he can earn the place after posting 100s in warm-up games

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Azhar
Ahmed Shahzad
Babar Azam
Shoaib Malik
Hafeez (should be played at 5 or 6 )
Haris Sohail / Shahdab (I would not play both Imad and Shahdab against India)
Imad Wasim
Sarfraz
M Amir
Junaid
Hasan Ali


I would only play Fakhar Zaman if he scores high in both warm up matches. or in place of Haris Sohail.

 

[Syed1]

Fakhar looked all at sea in T20Is against West Indies. Don't think he should be tried in all important match. Azhar Ali is still a better option than him against India in CT match. Maybe he can earn the place after posting 100s in warm-up games

Fakhar who is predominantly an opener was made to bat at 5 or 6 in the T20s. He is also a better player in ODIs than a T20 player. In the recently concluded Pakistan Cup he had 3 fifties and 1 century in 5 matches as opener.

 

[maanleo]

Fakhar who is predominantly an opener was made to bat at 5 or 6 in the T20s. He is also a better player in ODIs than a T20 player. In the recently concluded Pakistan Cup he had 3 fifties and 1 century in 5 matches as opener.

What I want to say is some players crumble under pressure, and to me Fakhar looked like one. As even at 5/6 he should have been able to put bat on ball. And we know the pressure of CT match against India.

 

[Rayyman]

Well when the alternative is Shezad I don't know.
We only need 1 person anchoring the 8nnings and that is Babar ( plus Azhar if overcast)

Yea, but if Zaman fails here then he could be dropped altogether and Salman Butt will replace him.

 

[Syed1]

What I want to say is some players crumble under pressure, and to me Fakhar looked like one. As even at 5/6 he should have been able to put bat on ball. And we know the pressure of CT match against India.

I'm willing to hedge my bets and hope that Fakhar brings some of his PC form to the CT. If Fakhar has a good match he will score 65(60) type of innings. If Azhar or Shehzad have a good match they will score 50(80).

We will get a clearer picture after the warmups.

 

[Rayyman]

Hafeez, Shehzad, Sarfaraz, Malik, Babar, Harris, Azhar . . all similar games . .

Whatever line up they decide to go with is going to be one dimensional . . quite a tough situation . . Given the limitations that we have, I'd go with:

1.) Shehzad
2.) Harris/Hafeez
3.) Babar
4.) Malik
5.) Sarfaraz
6.) Harris/Hafeez
7.) Imad
8.) Shadab
9.) Amir
10.) Hasan
11.) Wahab/Junaid (I'd go with Junaid everywhere BUT the Oval)

Point is . . whatever they do . . 3, 4, 5 have to be Babar, Malik and Sarfaraz . . that gives us the best chance in the middle order . . if they tinker with that, Malik and Sarfaraz's value decreases . . especially Sarfaraz!

What's the difference between the Oval and the other grounds?

 

[maanleo]

I'm willing to hedge my bets and hope that Fakhar brings some of his PC form to the CT. If Fakhar has a good match he will score 65(60) type of innings. If Azhar or Shehzad have a good match they will score 50(80).

We will get a clearer picture after the warmups.

Yes, if he performs better than Azhar/Shehzad in warm-ups then +1 to your preferred eleven.

 

[NauV]

What's the difference between the Oval and the other grounds?

Oval is pacier than the rest and bounces more . .

 

[Gotham Cronie]

What I want to say is some players crumble under pressure, and to me Fakhar looked like one. As even at 5/6 he should have been able to put bat on ball. And we know the pressure of CT match against India.

Yes, and Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad are Sachin Tendulkar and Viv Richards

 

[Brilliance]

Azhar.
Fakhar.
Babar.
Haris.
Malik.
Sarfaraz.
Shadab.
Imad.
Hassan.
Amir.
Riaz.

 

[ahsan_888]

Fakhar is not a player who will crack under pressure he has played a long time in the domestic ciruit and has performed consistently... he played extremely well in the last years pakistan cup and this year as well while he has been also performing well for Pakistan A...also plays with good strike rate and less dot ball ratio while he also has the capabiltiy to play a long innigs...he deserves his chance as an opener but not at 5 or 6 like played in west indies series

 

[ahsan_888]

thing about shadab and imad is that if given the chance both can bat quite well while fahim ashraf also has great quality so its a three way tie lets see who is chosen... trio of amir hasan and junaid is essential as they are our best bowlers in odi at the moment

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Fakhar
Azhar
Babar
Haris
Sarfraz
Malik
Imad
Amir
Shadab
Hasan Ali
Junaid(rather him than Wahab)

This is the ideal XI,but most likely Hafeez will play instead of Haris and Shehzad will play instead of Fakhar.

 

[maanleo]

Yes, and Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad are Sachin Tendulkar and Viv Richards

Off-course not. But we are talking about best eleven from given resources. Fakhar may prove to be better player in future. But is it a risk worth taking to give him debut keeping his performance against an international team in mind, I don't think so. I will happily change my opinion if he looks at ease in warm-ups.

 

[Gotham Cronie]

Off-course not. But we are talking about best eleven from given resources. Fakhar may prove to be better player in future. But is it a risk worth taking to give him debut keeping his performance against an international team in mind, I don't think so. I will happily change my opinion if he looks at ease in warm-ups.

I'll take an unproven player over proven failures.

 

[Saj]

I want to see some innovation from the think-tank, perhaps with Sarfraz or Imad pushed up the order when the time is right.

Not expecting much from the openers though.

 

[Rayyman]

Oval is pacier than the rest and bounces more . .

Oh okay; But I think our group matches are just at Edgebaston and Cardiff.

 

[Saj]

I'd go with:

Fakhar
Azhar
Babar
Hafeez
Sarfraz
Malik
Imad
Amir
Shadab
Hasan Ali
Wahab

 

[sadida97]

I'd go with:

Fakhar
Azhar
Babar
Hafeez
Sarfraz
Malik
Imad
Amir
Shadab
Hasan Ali
Wahab

Haris ?

 

[Rayyman]

If it is a nice sunny day flat pitch i would risk zaman. In the absence of a true hitter we need to go positive throughout. Azhar is there as my insurance if it is overcast.
Shezzy would be my 4th choice opener.

However hafeez at 4 will probably scupper the above

That's true. Azhar would be a good option on a green mamba.