Pakistan really need to look past Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah & Asif Ali in the shorter formats

[TeymurBlake]

Khushdil Shah imo is just being used until Mohammad Nawaz returns. Asif Ali is not good enough regardless of his exploits in T20WC 2021.

Ifti is a difficult one, he's shown in domestic performances but he has failed to transition them into Intl cricket. I personally would still give him another chance but Pakistan are seriously running out of options for No.4 & 5 in T20 cricket.

 

[hitthestump]

Exactly what are they obsessed with Iftikhar for?

He is a GOAT in domestics and has a good international record in Australia.

His selection makes sense, particularly given the lack of options in the middle order.

That he flopped like everyone else around him is nobody's failure but his own.

 

[Ahsanax]

100% Qasim Akram at 4-5

He’s a good bowler too

He is a GOAT in domestics and has a good international record in Australia.

His selection makes sense, particularly given the lack of options in the middle order.

That he flopped like everyone else around him is nobody's failure but his own.

I agree with you and he has been out of form even before PSL and the best way to regain form is by playing domestic or maybe he is finished as clearly he ahe is not 31.
M. Harris shoold have been played today.

 

[Slim]

So one debutant, a failed hack, a rookie opener, and someone who's already been dropped.

This needs to go in the 'when things are bad' thread.

No harm in trying them over the galli mohalla level players that are playing currently.

 

[Mobashir]

I personally think all three are not good enough. Problem is we are really lacking as far as lower midle order batsman are concerned.

In ODI'S we can maybe try Shoaib Maqsood at 5/6 and give him a long go.
In T20's, a final go to Umar Akmal? He might do well in Australia.

 

[Titan24]

I wonder if Kamran Ghulam is worth a go in ODIs.

He's had a decent Pakistan Cup, 531 runs at an average of 44.

Definitely. Has been in extraordinary form for sometime and looks temperamentally pretty strong. He looks to have the game to anchor as well as push the innings when required.

 

[Kianig89]

The flop 4 are remiscent to Roonie Irani Mark Ealham Craig White Ian Austin
Or count in Rafatullah Mehmand Awais Zia Khurram Manzoor Faisal Iqbal
They all are of same calibre

 

[hitthestump]

No harm in trying them over the galli mohalla level players that are playing currently.

Except there's no difference between them and continuing with galli mohalla players we have now.

In fact Haris and Haider would be better served learning how to bat in domestics, particularly Haider, as we ruined him by rushing him in through desperation just like people want to do to Haris.

 

[hitthestump]

I personally think all three are not good enough. Problem is we are really lacking as far as lower midle order batsman are concerned.

In ODI'S we can maybe try Shoaib Maqsood at 5/6 and give him a long go.
In T20's, a final go to Umar Akmal? He might do well in Australia.

Simply LOL. Let's face it, it's time to send someone to Hafeez's house to see if he can play another year or two.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

Things which makes me worried more is that it's plain obvious that they are not cut for International cricket yet the management and captain can't sense it.

 

[sali]

Need two proper stroke players beside Babar, Rizwan and Fakhar who can play on bouncy Aus pitches in WC T20. Pick from Shan, Haider, Sharjeel, or Azam and let them adjust to middle order. With Shadab, Nawaz, Imad, or Faheem available for two all rounders, we have #6 and #7 slot filled. Now you need three pacers (Naseem, Rauf, & Shaheen) and one quality spinner. It may be Zahid or Asif Afridi.

 

[Kianig89]

They 4 all are Godfather products

 

[shamaan]

Need two proper stroke players beside Babar, Rizwan and Fakhar who can play on bouncy Aus pitches in WC T20. Pick from Shan, Haider, Sharjeel, or Azam and let them adjust to middle order. With Shadab, Nawaz, Imad, or Faheem available for two all rounders, we have #6 and #7 slot filled. Now you need three pacers (Naseem, Rauf, & Shaheen) and one quality spinner. It may be Zahid or Asif Afridi.

I will go with Haider Ali and Azam Khan bearing in mind that thiers no way Rizwan or Hafeez will move them down the order.I will pick Asif Afridi over Zahid

 

[TheSultan]

The flop 4 are remiscent to Roonie Irani Mark Ealham Craig White Ian Austin
Or count in Rafatullah Mehmand Awais Zia Khurram Manzoor Faisal Iqbal
They all are of same calibre

Nailed it - a lot of our team represent all those mediocre eng and nz players of the 90s. Neither here nor there

 

[shamaan]

Need two proper stroke players beside Babar, Rizwan and Fakhar who can play on bouncy Aus pitches in WC T20. Pick from Shan, Haider, Sharjeel, or Azam and let them adjust to middle order. With Shadab, Nawaz, Imad, or Faheem available for two all rounders, we have #6 and #7 slot filled. Now you need three pacers (Naseem, Rauf, & Shaheen) and one quality spinner. It may be Zahid or Asif Afridi.

*Babar

 

[Suleiman]

Yes but the question is where does Umar Akmal fit in all of this?

 

[zacattakk]

Yes but the question is where does Umar Akmal fit in all of this?

Umar Akmal can buy a ticket to sit and watch the game from any of the available enclosures at the ground. That's where he fits in

 

[Saj]

Yes but the question is where does Umar Akmal fit in all of this?

Ideally he should have been a regular cog in the wheel, but due to his own issues and indiscipline he has played less than he should have.

But never say never in Pakistan cricket, he could be back.

 

[ethan hunt]

What was that middle order?

What was that middle order from Pakistan. Some of the worst players or spin ive ever seen in a green shirt. Surely teams will also bowl spinners in Australia.
Cant take Fakhar, Khushdil and asif there.
Malik has to come in for his game sense and play vs spin if nothing else.

 

[Saj]

Horrible tournaments for all 3.

Very ordinary performances from all of them.

 

[SamNJ]

I think Sana Mir made an excellent point in the last game post match show.
She said that Pakistan selects middle order based on the requirement of top order.
Since top order plays for far too long at below average strike rage, the 4 5 6 can only be power hitters.
Ideally a batting line up should be like that where value of each wicket is same.

Link to her analysis

https://youtu.be/wuaRFgHEScY&t=29m15s

From 29m15s.

 

[ethan hunt]

Even Hasnain and Naseem can hit 1,2 sixes like Khushdil and Asif. These guys cant survive one over of spin.

 

[Lfc4life786]

Horrendous from all 3 of them. Also fakhar needs to go, he's a liability. Either open with him and bring babar one down or get rid altogether. I don't want to see ifthikar, Asif and Khushdil in the green of Pakistan ever again. All 3 are absolutely dire and combine to probably make up the worst middle order in international t20 cricket.

Time to shift focus and attention to the youngsters who literally cannot do any worse then these 3 clowns. Also its time we broke up the babar and rizwan duo at the top. Both are incapable of striking big and nesrly every match we are Around the 60 run mark after 10 overs. Its absolutely desperate and something has to give. I don't know what the answer is? Maybe give shan masood a go opening and bring babar 1 down? Love rizwan but just like babar he's an anchor for 1 end. Modern day cricket from the top teams both your batsmen have to go. Tayyab tahir as a wildcard choice to open? We need some power and aggression up top. I'm not sure who's instructing these guys to be so placid with no intent?

Time to get in a bold, attacking focused foreign coach so we can get with the times and start playing attacking, bold cricket. Babar and rizwan are too selfish for me, they need to asked to play for the team now over self preservation.

Maybe try something along these lines for future games starting with the england series. 7 games to give the kids a real opportunity.

Shan/tayyab
Rizzy
Babar
Haider
Haris
Agha salman
Nawaz
Shadab
Shaheen
Naseem
Rauf

Wasim Jr, fakhar, kamran ghulam, Dahani, Qasim akram on the bench.

 

[Madplayer]

Asif Ali is the worst pure "batsman" against spin that Pakistan has ever produced in their history of cricket. Especially his defence is gutter level.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Well mindset needs changing,

This mindset of playing hacks in the middle order to hit sixers instead of proper batsman who can hit sixers...

No team except Pakistan have this approach..

 

[Bilal7]

I think Sana Mir made an excellent point in the last game post match show.
She said that Pakistan selects middle order based on the requirement of top order.
Since top order plays for far too long at below average strike rage, the 4 5 6 can only be power hitters.
Ideally a batting line up should be like that where value of each wicket is same.

Link to her analysis

https://youtu.be/wuaRFgHEScY&t=29m15s

From 29m15s.

That isn't a good point. This is a team and we need to have players cover for each other. You cannot have 6-7 batsmen who all do the same thing. Our top order is great, when in form, so the middle-order needs to compliment them.

Chacha and Buzdil are not power-hitters so I don't see why we are pretending that they are. Buzdil had 6 good shots this entire tournament and Chacha huffed and puffed but barely had a SR of better than 110.

 

[Bilal7]

I don't see why Asif Ali is being lambasted with the other two. Asif was important to us winning against India and Afghanistan and he's bailed us out in the past as well. He is probably the only one out of these three who is ready to go from ball one and he lost his wicket today by being selfless, once again.

Along with that, he's a very good fielder and doesn't cry about his batting position. He needs to be on the plane to Australia.

 

[Bilal7]

Asif Ali is the worst pure "batsman" against spin that Pakistan has ever produced in their history of cricket. Especially his defence is gutter level.

Man hit a six off the first ball he faced against Chahal. He is poor at reading Hasaranga's googly, not poor against spin.

 

[Kroll]

Done nothing this tournament, all three should be kicked out and it won't improve as they are all one trick ponies that get found out all too easily.

 

[Ahmad Shah]

Asif ali is worst against spin

 

[Jazx]

Pakistan is surely short of 2 good proper batsmans in the middle. Maybe the spot which got vacant after hafeez and malik. The middle order is compromised with batsmans who are good enough for number 6, 7, 8 but they have to come to bat from number 4 onwards. Due to which they relies heavily on someone from top 3 to score a 70+ score.

 

[Marooned]

Man hit a six off the first ball he faced against Chahal. He is poor at reading Hasaranga's googly, not poor against spin.

Asif is very poor vs spin. This was the reason(explicitly stated by Hayden) that he was delayed in that Afghanistan game last WC. The idea was to exhaust the spinner overs so that he can face medium pace. That's where his value is.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

You can't raise the required run rate to 10+ after the power play and then expect Asif, Iftikhar and Khushdil to do magic every time.

Khushdil maybe has reached the end of his road but the others have their uses.

They have been left in impossible situations in almost every game.

 

[Ahmed216]

Shadab and Nawaz are sent ahead of these 3 clowns to take charge of the situation. Enough said about these ‘batsmen’

 

[Energy]

Embarrassing to see them bat.

Play Shan in the top order, Fakhar at 4 and Haider at 5 please.

 

[Savak]

You can't raise the required run rate to 10+ after the power play and then expect Asif, Iftikhar and Khushdil to do magic every time.

Khushdil maybe has reached the end of his road but the others have their uses.

They have been left in impossible situations in almost every game.

Khushdil has won matches for Pakistan against Australia, West Indies. I will not blame any of our power hitters, you cannot have your top 3-4 consume 80% of the deliveries and expect your hitters to score 10-12 runs an over against good bowling attacks on big grounds when the pitch does not make it easy to hit out from ball one.

 

[sweep_shot]

I think Asif can stay but Khushdil and Ifti need to go. Liabilities.

 

[Savak]

Embarrassing to see them bat.

Play Shan in the top order, Fakhar at 4 and Haider at 5 please.

Shah will be another anchor as well. He cannot do anything in 10-12 rpo situations. People also need to realize that T-20 leagues bowling attacks are not the same as international bowling attacks. In T-20 leagues you mostly have to worry about 1-2 good bowlers and can take advantage of 2-3 halka bowlers. In international cricket you will have no such luxuries and have to contend with 5-6 good bowlers.

 

[Marooned]

Khushdil has won matches for Pakistan against Australia, West Indies. I will not blame any of our power hitters, you cannot have your top 3-4 consume 80% of the deliveries and expect your hitters to score 10-12 runs an over against good bowling attacks on big grounds when the pitch does not make it easy to hit out from ball one.

Khushdil has done nothing special at all. Those 2 games he supposedly won weren't that special performances either.

In t20s especially, he is a complete liability because he takes some 20 balls to get going.

You just have to look at his batting style. He simply isn't international class.

 

[Kroll]

You can't raise the required run rate to 10+ after the power play and then expect Asif, Iftikhar and Khushdil to do magic every time.

Khushdil maybe has reached the end of his road but the others have their uses.

They have been left in impossible situations in almost every game.

Yeah, they can become the drinks boys.

 

[Madplayer]

Man hit a six off the first ball he faced against Chahal. He is poor at reading Hasaranga's googly, not poor against spin.

He is poor against every spinner. One or two slogs for sixes doesn't change anything. Please check out his previous performances. A tail ender has a better defence than him against spin.

 

[Jazx]

I think Sana Mir made an excellent point in the last game post match show.
She said that Pakistan selects middle order based on the requirement of top order.
Since top order plays for far too long at below average strike rage, the 4 5 6 can only be power hitters.
Ideally a batting line up should be like that where value of each wicket is same.

Link to her analysis

https://youtu.be/wuaRFgHEScY&t=29m15s

From 29m15s.

Thats not a point by any means. In t20 every team needs powerhitters, it doesn't depends on how your top order is. But the problem with Pakistan's so called powerhitters are they are just good enough for little cameos. Whereas other teams have hitters who are also good enough batsmans to score big whenever required. Its pretty straight and simple that pak is missing good batsmans in middle order.

 

[shamaan]

Khushdil and Iftikhar need to be dropped alongside Fakhar.

 

[Kroll]

Khushdil and Iftikhar need to be dropped alongside Fakhar.

You supported Iftikhar, what changed your mind?

 

[msb314]

I do worry about Khushdil, Ifthikar and Asif Ali as a middle-order combination.

Yes they might perform now and then but I'm not sure how reliable or consistent they can ever be.

Your worries we’re correct sir

 

[asfandyar]

The problem is there are no proper power-hitters in the domestics. You will find plenty of sloggers (like Asif and Khushdil), pseudodynamic batsmen (Shan Masood, Haider Ali) and accumulators (Babar, Rizwan). Sharjeel is the only proper hitter, and even he averages 25. Fakhar was one too when he burst on the scene, but is now a shadow of himself.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

The whole strategy of blocking in the power play and conserving wicket in the first 10 needs to be thrown out of the window alongside these trio. And yes Babar needs to be strip of captaincy, I don't know if he is delusional and thinks nothing wrong with the team no changes required or just want to keep his eyes closed and pretend that everything is fine.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Khushdil has won matches for Pakistan against Australia, West Indies. I will not blame any of our power hitters, you cannot have your top 3-4 consume 80% of the deliveries and expect your hitters to score 10-12 runs an over against good bowling attacks on big grounds when the pitch does not make it easy to hit out from ball one.

Agree on first part.

From what I have seen of Khushdil off late, he needs to go back to the domestics and iron out whatever is eating him.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

I think Sana Mir made an excellent point in the last game post match show.
She said that Pakistan selects middle order based on the requirement of top order.
Since top order plays for far too long at below average strike rage, the 4 5 6 can only be power hitters.
Ideally a batting line up should be like that where value of each wicket is same.

Link to her analysis

https://youtu.be/wuaRFgHEScY&t=29m15s

From 29m15s.

Excellent from Sana Mir. Exactly that is the reason why these hacks play and also the same reason why these same mugs occupy 4,5,6 in ODIs

This thinking is the root cause which needs to be killed.
Whoever is behind this thinking should shown the door even if it was Babars captaincy

 

[ask_analyse_act]

The problem is there are no proper power-hitters in the domestics. You will find plenty of sloggers (like Asif and Khushdil), pseudodynamic batsmen (Shan Masood, Haider Ali) and accumulators (Babar, Rizwan). Sharjeel is the only proper hitter, and even he averages 25. Fakhar was one too when he burst on the scene, but is now a shadow of himself.

Kick Babar and Rizwan’s *** to play quickly or else leave , mindset has been the problem.

Fill with proper batsman at 3,4,5,6 instead of these hacks

This team needs someone who is a hard task master , to kill these low level thinkers and put them to bed.

 

[Jazx]

The problem with our fans is that they think they know everything. When the truth is that alot of them don't know anything at all.

I don't know if either of these guys are international material. But that doesn't mean they haven't all earned the right to prove themselves.

Iftikhar is easily the most consistent domestic List-A performer of the last 4-5 years. Khushdil has done brilliantly in the PSL and just finished a match where we were chasing 350 a few days ago while Asif Ali quite literally finished off two tense games at the World Cup for us and has one of the very best T20 SRs in the world at the death.

But OP wants us to select 'young talent' that has done NOTHING to get selected.

I don't think any group of fans in the world buys into the hype of their young players more than Pakistani fans. Its an absolute obsession here. You people need to get a grip of reality, for your own sake.

Really, if these three are best in domestics what pakistan have who are just good enough for making 20s 30s, then sorry to say there is no batting talent in your country right now.

 

[Kianig89]

We select T20 team with ODI mindset which is sickening ideally also you only need hack in the side but we're carrying 3 hacks and a dud Iftikhar who has no business in this format why can't we go with 11 proper players

 

[Concerned]

These guys always fall in succession, it’s like they agreed a pact beforehand.

 

[Rana]

Who in Pakistan is capable of handling a required rr of 10+ an over considering Babar+Rizwan will play at 7 runs an over in the powerplay?

Tell me who those legends are in the domestic set up who can do the job?

 

[Maher96]

We was beaten by a outstanding SL team.

Silverwood is a genius of a coach.

Our batting is extremely under cooked for Australia.

It’s T20 cricket.. it’s clear some players are not in their comfort zones.

They need to pick Shan Masood in this middle order and bring back Imad Wasim.

We clearly need better option as 6th or even 7th bowler.

Iftikhar has been batting decent compared to Kushdil and Asif. Chacha seems to have decent pair of hands too.

Fakhar has failed all tournament which would mean England series will be the nail in the coffin for him.

Hassan, Kushdil and Asif Ali will be dropped.

Shaheen, Shan and Imad will make the cut.

Surprisingly they are also PSL captains. I would also take Amir currently over any youngster like Hasnain and Dahani.

It will swing in Australia for Amir and Shaheen, add Naseem and Haris to finish it off at with a spin of Shadab,Imad and Nawaz.

May be Sharjeel for Fakhar to give us explosive starts.

Ala Gary Neville, This is Pakistan Cricket Team!

 

[Kroll]

Who in Pakistan is capable of handling a required rr of 10+ an over considering Babar+Rizwan will play at 7 runs an over in the powerplay?

Tell me who those legends are in the domestic set up who can do the job?

The domestic set up must be an absolute joke in terms of development. The cricketing infrastructure is a shambles top to bottom in Pakistan. I wonder who is responsible for this and why nothing is being done to produce quality players.

Sad days when you still have to go back and speak about Malik and Hafeez.

 

[Ami]

Got it...bring in malik, hafeez out of retirement and umar akmal.
No space for shehzad at the moment cos he opens

 

[Rana]

Got it...bring in malik, hafeez out of retirement and umar akmal.
No space for shehzad at the moment cos he opens

Shahzad is more likely to do better than Babar at least, and will probably have a better strike rate than Rizwan by the end of the powerplay

 

[Abid Z]

Unfortunately there will always be a need for an off spinning all rounder of which we have very few. So Iffty will always get selected until somebody better comes along.

Unfortunately in LOI while the top three play slowly there will always be the need for a lower order biffer like asif Ali. He’ll rarely win us a game but a quick 20 or so occasionally will do the trick as long as he is consistent.

That only leaves Khusdil. For the life of me I don’t know what this guy is doing there. I can’t think of a single team even Zimbabwe where he would walk into. Only I’m Pakistan would such an average player get such a long run.

 

[Asif321]

Anwar Ali is much better than Ifti , Khushdil and Asif combined

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Really, if these three are best in domestics what pakistan have who are just good enough for making 20s 30s, then sorry to say there is no batting talent in your country right now.

If you think anyone besides Shan Masood is a better inclusion into the side. Then quite frankly you're out of depth.

 

[Jazx]

If you think anyone besides Shan Masood is a better inclusion into the side. Then quite frankly you're out of depth.

Actually i have no idea about pakistan's domestic cricket. I express my views by purly watching the international games. And on the basis of that if these three are the best batsman in domestic right now as you mentioned than there is no hope for pakistan to improve. They will always come up with some fluke wins here and there and fail in most of the matches.

 

[AZulfi]

Batting is just not up to the mark and we knew this before the start of the Asia Cup.

The middle order is comprised of hit-and-miss players (Iftikhar, Khushdil and Asif) who simply do not have the ability to play 5 or more overs on a consistent basis.

A middle-order batsman should be someone who is able to both carry the innings in the event of a collapse (a familiar occurrence with our batting!) and score runs quickly.

2 times out of 10 Pakistan might chase down 170+ in T20 games but we are essentially a 140-150 batting team...just not good enough to win a tournament or KO games.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Actually i have no idea about pakistan's domestic cricket. I express my views by purly watching the international games. And on the basis of that if these three are the best batsman in domestic right now as you mentioned than there is no hope for pakistan to improve. They will always come up with some fluke wins here and there and fail in most of the matches.

Well then I'm sorry for misconstruing your comment as an attack on me. It was totally uncalled for and I apologize for making that remark.

 

[shah_1]

Asif is still best our no 7 yet he is an average batsman. He can still score quick cameos like against India and Afghanistan but couldn't finish. He is not ideal, but no better option than him at 7.

Khushdil and Chacha are rubbish

 

[PakPremi]

I think I'm the only poster who has never posted a single positive post by any of these 3 KIA players. Never supported anyone of them even when Ifti did well in one series against Australia or Asif hit those 6s in the world cup. Hopefully,now selectors can seewe do not need these 3 and replace them with proper batsmen.

 

[nextover666666]

Anwar Ali is much better than Ifti , Khushdil and Asif combined

I was thinking the same thing, but scared to post it, since most people wouldnt want to hear Anwar Ali name, but as a hitter he was pretty solid. His bowling is not great, but I wouldnt mind him in the name as number 7 hitter and at worst maybe bowl a couple of over if needed be, but would really just want him in the team for batting and fielding.

 

[Savak]

It is a travesty for the likes of Khusdil, Nawaz, Asif to get axed and be made scapegoats when the likes of Rizwan, Babar, Fakhar, Iftikhar faced 80% of the deliveries with not much to show for it and being left to score at 12-15 rpo against good bowlers, long boundaries and on pitches where it was not easy to tee off from ball one.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

I agreed , Anwar the batsmen will get you more consistent runs then Asif and khushdil combined and his bowling as a 6tj option is not bad at all.

 

[indianpanacea]

Sharjeel
Fakhar
Babar
Shaan
Rizwan
Shahdab

 

[shamaan]

You supported Iftikhar, what changed your mind?

The thing is i am open minded I will back people but after so many games if they can't perform then they should be dropped .

 

[shamaan]

The domestic set up must be an absolute joke in terms of development. The cricketing infrastructure is a shambles top to bottom in Pakistan. I wonder who is responsible for this and why nothing is being done to produce quality players.

Sad days when you still have to go back and speak about Malik and Hafeez.

Just look at how Saud Shakeel,Kamran Ghullam are being treated they both have good domestic stats espically saud over a longer period but yet they bearly making the squad.

 

[Kroll]

Just look at how Saud Shakeel,Kamran Ghullam are being treated they both have good domestic stats espically saud over a longer period but yet they bearly making the squad.

True, even more bewildering considering the jobbers who do get a place in the squad.

 

[Concerned]

Not sure how other players can be tested when the bench strength is never given chances especially in dead rubber games.

Pakistan should use the T20 series Vs England to trial different batting tactics and combination. I would like to see Haidar again for all the matches.