Pakistan should have selected a second string squad for the Test series against Zimbabwe

[Last Monetarist]

It always comes up whenever Pakistan play Zimbabwe, it's been no different since 1993 when the likes of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis started this spree of indulgent stats-padding to improve test records against a country that's found it hard to field sides that can compete in first-class cricket.

This series was always going to be an assignment with limited value for Pakistan, especially if the coaching staff and the chief selector were not brave enough to rest senior players from the tour. There's an element of self-harm as well if they allow middling players such as Abid Ali and Imran Butt to establish themselves in the test side on the back of this series.

There is nothing Pakistan can learn if Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan, Hasan Ali, and Shaheen Shah Afridi perform well on this tour. It would have been a much more valuable exercise if Saud Shakeel, Usman Salahuddin, Kamran Ghulam, Rohail Nazir, Shahnawaz Dhani, Mohammad Hasnain, and Haris Rauf were given a chance to play long-form cricket instead.

The result of the test match at Harare shouldn't give anyone any pleasure, it was the equivalent of a full-strength university side pummelling a team full of 10-year olds. Sadly, Pakistan's cricket culture has regressed to a point where a routine win against Zimbabwe will be celebrated.

There's still time to make some changes for the next match, but I doubt Misbah & co will take the initiative.

 

[Varun]

I don't think I've seen a Pakistan second XI in my lifetime. They always play their first choice players against anyone and everyone.

 

[umerz]

Second string. TBH except for Babar and Azhar everyone is either new or making a comeback

 

[Civil]

Before these types of matches people say " Pak are minnows like Zim.. the first eleven may lose this"

After we pummel Zim today those same people will say ."why are we playing our first xi against Zim?"

We play so few tests a year, let's just go all out regardless of opposition.

Pakistan test cap is not some elite club that's hard to get into. players rotate every series anyways... so eventually the Sauds, Dhanis will get their shout anyways.

 

[IMMY69]

Before these types of matches people say " Pak are minnows like Zim.. the first eleven may lose this"

After we pummel Zim today those same people will say ."why are we playing our first xi against Zim?"

We play so few tests a year, let's just go all out regardless of opposition.

Pakistan test cap is not some elite club that's hard to get into. players rotate every series anyways... so eventually the Sauds, Dhanis will get their shout anyways.

You make a valid point. Also if Azhar didn't play this series then he would have hardly played international cricket this entire year. May as well retire.

But here's the real crux.
How would Zimbabwe feel if we send a bunch of kids? How would it help their development?
Might as well make them non test nation and have them play some A teams and other non test nations.
So there really is no moral or cricketing reasons to play a bunch of kids

 

[Farabi]

It always comes up whenever Pakistan play Zimbabwe, it's been no different since 1993 when the likes of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis started this spree of indulgent stats-padding to improve test records against a country that's found it hard to field sides that can compete in first-class cricket.

This series was always going to be an assignment with limited value for Pakistan, especially if the coaching staff and the chief selector were not brave enough to rest senior players from the tour. There's an element of self-harm as well if they allow middling players such as Abid Ali and Imran Butt to establish themselves in the test side on the back of this series.

There is nothing Pakistan can learn if Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan, Hasan Ali, and Shaheen Shah Afridi perform well on this tour. It would have been a much more valuable exercise if Saud Shakeel, Usman Salahuddin, Kamran Ghulam, Rohail Nazir, Shahnawaz Dhani, Mohammad Hasnain, and Haris Rauf were given a chance to play long-form cricket instead.

The result of the test match at Harare shouldn't give anyone any pleasure, it was the equivalent of a full-strength university side pummelling a team full of 10-year olds. Sadly, Pakistan's cricket culture has regressed to a point where a routine win against Zimbabwe will be celebrated.

There's still time to make some changes for the next match, but I doubt Misbah & co will take the initiative.

Agreed with sentiments but it’s strange times as the current team already pretty new. Anybody whose played less than 20 tests to me is new and establishing themselves.

Imran Butt —> new
Abid —> new
Azhar —> old
Babar —> old but new captain
Fawad —> new
Rizwan —> new
Faheem —> new/making comeback
Hassan Ali —-> new/making comeback
Nouman —> new
Shaheen —-> new
Sajid Khan —-> new

Also Pakistan lost their last test in Zim with full line-up FYI so could be on their minds as Misbah was captain I think then

think they could have tried someone in place of Azhar Ali and Shaheen at the very least though

 

[Azeem Zafar]

We've lost a total of 3 tests against Zimbabwe and multiple ODI's in the last 2-3 decades even after playing our first choice XI against them. I believe those numbers would have been pretty soared if we had played our bench options. Also we do not play a lot of test cricket anyway so there is no point in benching the likes of Azhar, Fawad, Imran, Abid, Nauman etc. Rest are all format players and are young/fit enough to play constant cricket with some breaks in-between.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

We already play very few tests in a year so no point in playing second string players,

 

[hitthestump]

I don't think I've seen a Pakistan second XI in my lifetime. They always play their first choice players against anyone and everyone.

The 2019 ODI series against Australia in UAE.

Pakistan lost all 5 ODI's and that forms part of a long losing streak which Mickey is still blamed for this to this day.

 

[Bhaijaan]

That's why it's a no win situation while playing minnows.

Win comprehensively. People call it pointless.

Underperform with a second string team, people find an excuse to target.

Bottomline is , it's ok. The Cricketers aren't severely loaded currently so they should play as much cricket they can.

 

[mazkhan]

You have the shaheen tours to try second string players .

I also believe pakistan when ever there are long gaps between international games should organise a 5 test match series in pakistan every year between the pakistan main team vs pakistan shaheens.

Also include a 5 match 50 over series as well, and 5 match t20 series as well.

It will keep the players sharp where the best players play against each other in a competitive series.

 

[Savak]

Lol looks like people did not learn any lessons from the Bangladesh whitewash in 2015. Our bench is not strong enough, our U19 and A team performances have shown that.

You can only play a second eleven if you have a reliable bench strength or if you truly don't give a **** about losing

 

[MenInG]

I feel that sending a second string XI would have been an insult to the hosts. More out of courtesy we should always send our best side - We can then mix XI with inexperienced guys if we have to

 

[silentkiller187]

We barely have a settled first xi not sure what kind of 2nd xi would have been sent.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

I deally yes, but our main players hardly play test cricket as it is

 

[Major]

You guys do know its a new squad

All the players are inexperienced. Only azhar ali could had been rested

 

[Omer2002]

Not sure misbah has any guts ..never mind second string i am sure he wnt give saud and abdullah a chance next game aswell

 

[PakLFC]

This squad is hardly a world beating one. Other then Babar or perhaps Hassan Ali no one else would make it in any other side.

 

[Canistani Hero]

Ridiculously ignorant thread..atleast look up the playing XI and confirm how many test matches each player has played before creating a thread like this. If we selected an A team and they lost to Zimbabwe, the same people would be crucifying selectors for ineptitude. Double edged sword. Barring Azhar Ali, this entire team is relatively inexperienced..Fawad Alam has to play every game available. Babar Azam is a new captain. Rizwan is virtually unstoppable. Shaheen and Hasan are still relatively inexperienced in the test arena (they are still finding their feet) Nauman might be 30 something but he just made his debut 2 games ago, Sajid made his debut here, Zahid will probably make his debut in the 2nd game. Could Shaheen have been rested, absolutely but they rested him for T20 series so he merits a spot. Azhar Ali could have been rested yes but we play such few test matches anyway, this is how we keep match fit/sharp for test matches especially for your test only specialists. Not a fan of Abid Ali, I feel we should be looking to the future but I understand why they are willing to give him a few more games. I don’t particularly like Imran Butt either but I understand it would be harsh to drop somebody after 2 games. If you trust them with a cap, give them a proper chance. I’m hoping some how Saud Shakeel gets a cap in the second test.

 

[moghul]

Without Zimbabe, Misbah and many would lose their job.

 

[Junaids]

I feel that sending a second string XI would have been an insult to the hosts. More out of courtesy we should always send our best side - We can then mix XI with inexperienced guys if we have to

Imagine this team:

1. Abdullah Shafique
2. Mohammad Rizwan
3. Haider Ali
4. Babar Azam (c)
5. Mohammad Nawaz
6. Rohail Nazir (wk)
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Sajid Khan
9. Hasan Ali
10. Mohammad Hasnain
11. Haris Rauf

Why would Zimbabwe feel insulted? Leaving out Abid Ali and Fawad Alam is not exactly an insult to them!

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Imagine this team:

1. Abdullah Shafique
2. Mohammad Rizwan
3. Haider Ali
4. Babar Azam (c)
5. Mohammad Nawaz
6. Rohail Nazir (wk)
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Sajid Khan
9. Hasan Ali
10. Mohammad Hasnain
11. Haris Rauf

Why would Zimbabwe feel insulted? Leaving out Abid Ali and Fawad Alam is not exactly an insult to them!

Picking that XI just goes to show you have zero sense about cricket.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

This is a silly thread. Just look at the last match, we were close to disaster and on the brink of having this game go to day 4 or 5 and dare I say become competitive.

The fact is that playing test cricket against a second string team is better than playing no test cricket at all.

Our regulars need some prep prior to the WI series in October and playing no test cricket between now and then is just asking for disaster for our boys. To top it off the domestic season I believe doesn’t start till around October so again where are our regular test players supposed to get their cricket?

 

[Junaids]

Picking that XI just goes to show you have zero sense about cricket.

Thank you for those generous words.

Let me be absolutely clear then:

1. This series does not count towards the World Test Championship. It is effectively a development series.

2. Zimbabwe is a weak, weak team. Any team can get lucky in T20 and win. The same does not apply in Test cricket.

3. The result of this series is irrelevant. This series matters only as an audition for young players to show whether they do or do not have the potential to be useful cricketers in the 2021-23 and 2023-25 World Test Championship cycles.

Specifically, I want to know:

Question 1. Is Abdullah Shafique ready to be in Test squads?
Question 2. Is Haider Ali ready to play Tests?
Question 3. Is Saud Shakeel ready to play Tests?
Question 4. Is Rohail Nazir a good enough batsman to play at Number 6 in Tests? If so, that would allow Mohammad Rizwan to play as a specialist batsman.
Question 5. Are Mohammad Nawaz's red-ball skills good enough with bat or ball to be a batting all-rounder at Number 5?
Question 6. Does Haris Rauf have the potential to be a Test fast bowler?
Question 7. Does Mohammad Hasnain have the potential to be a Test fast bowler?
Question 8: Does Sajid Khan have what it takes to play test cricket?

4. A series against Zimbabwe cannot answer any of the questions that I have about the remaining skills of Abid Ali, Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam, who have a combined age of 105 years. So I see no purpose to selecting any of them when the result does not even count.

5. Shaheen Shah Afridi already carries an unbearable workload. Why would I want him to bowl 40 unnecessary overs against Zimbabwe?

 

[Nasty Naz]

I don't think I've seen a Pakistan second XI in my lifetime. They always play their first choice players against anyone and everyone.

Funny enough, they chose to do it vs Australia in 2019 before the WC. Never mind the fact Australia embarrass Pakistan anytime they play in ODI's & Test. They could have actually won a ODI series for once vs Australia.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I don't think we get to act like a top tier team because we simply aren't one.

The fact of matter is that we only recently found a team combination with some degree of promise and its much more important to solidify that, rather than act like we are a number one or number two team that needs to rest its big players because we have a 5 test series against Australia coming up, or a team that even vaguely indulges in long-term planning. Because we aren't and we don't.

Pakistan barely plays any test matches as it is compared to the big 3 teams. Our boys deserve a chance from time to time to do some minnow-bashing and get their confidence and averages up, which I am sure this series will do for alot of players.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Thank you for those generous words.

Let me be absolutely clear then:

1. This series does not count towards the World Test Championship. It is effectively a development series.

2. Zimbabwe is a weak, weak team. Any team can get lucky in T20 and win. The same does not apply in Test cricket.

3. The result of this series is irrelevant. This series matters only as an audition for young players to show whether they do or do not have the potential to be useful cricketers in the 2021-23 and 2023-25 World Test Championship cycles.

Specifically, I want to know:

Question 1. Is Abdullah Shafique ready to be in Test squads?
Question 2. Is Haider Ali ready to play Tests?
Question 3. Is Saud Shakeel ready to play Tests?
Question 4. Is Rohail Nazir a good enough batsman to play at Number 6 in Tests? If so, that would allow Mohammad Rizwan to play as a specialist batsman.
Question 5. Are Mohammad Nawaz's red-ball skills good enough with bat or ball to be a batting all-rounder at Number 5?
Question 6. Does Haris Rauf have the potential to be a Test fast bowler?
Question 7. Does Mohammad Hasnain have the potential to be a Test fast bowler?
Question 8: Does Sajid Khan have what it takes to play test cricket?

4. A series against Zimbabwe cannot answer any of the questions that I have about the remaining skills of Abid Ali, Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam, who have a combined age of 105 years. So I see no purpose to selecting any of them when the result does not even count.

5. Shaheen Shah Afridi already carries an unbearable workload. Why would I want him to bowl 40 unnecessary overs against Zimbabwe?

I repeat myself your knowledge of cricket is basic and well done you can add ages together. The fact you mentioned Haider Ali I know you nothing of test cricket.

The fact is that we don’t play enough test cricket in the year and you need to keep yourself active. It would’ve been a different story had the QeA been going on. Pakistan have a tough assignment in the WI next which isn’t till October and to have played no test cricket till then is ridiculous.

The guys that are in our test are newcomers/still relatively fresh in test cricket. Too much experimentation always leads to disaster and you need to only make a few changes.

 

[Rellu_Katta]

apart from adding Saud Shakeel in place of Azhar Ali and maybe Dahani / Taabish (would have liked to see Arshad Iqbal ahead of both of them) in place of SSA, I think this is much balanced and young squad

Imran Butt (3 matches)
Abid Ali (disappointment but less than 10-12 matches)
Saud Shakeel - Debut
Babar Azam - Captaincy newbie
Fawad Alam - unfortunately, new
Rizwan - well still newish
Faheem - finally setting up himself
Hassan Ali - comeback dude
Nauman Ali - 3rd test
Sajjid Khan - 1st test
Arshad Iqbal - Dahani - Tabish - Debut

what else do we want lol

 

[90MPH]

Totally disagree:

1) Pakistan don’t play enough test cricket as it is, putting a second string doesn’t make sense in this regard even against Zimbabwe.

2) India refuses and has refused to play Pak in Test cricket for the past 13 years so this means even more less Test cricket for the first playing 11 compared to other teams. So this has to be filled with teams that are available, be it Zimbabwe or Sri Lanka, Bangladesh etc.

3) Pakistan isn’t playing Zimbabwe on a regular basis - if it’s once every 5 years then that’s totally fine - if we leave them alone they will implode just like Kenya etc. They need playing time against our best. They competed well in 2013 and before.

 

[IMMY69]

Totally disagree:

1) Pakistan don’t play enough test cricket as it is, putting a second string doesn’t make sense in this regard even against Zimbabwe.

2) India refuses and has refused to play Pak in Test cricket for the past 13 years so this means even more less Test cricket for the first playing 11 compared to other teams. So this has to be filled with teams that are available, be it Zimbabwe or Sri Lanka, Bangladesh etc.

3) Pakistan isn’t playing Zimbabwe on a regular basis - if it’s once every 5 years then that’s totally fine - if we leave them alone they will implode just like Kenya etc. They need playing time against our best. They competed well in 2013 and before.

They were also one of the first nations to come back to Pakistan.
It will be an insult to send a second string side to Zimbabwe

 

[daytrader]

They were also one of the first nations to come back to Pakistan.
It will be an insult to send a second string side to Zimbabwe

This! Even if we could field a second string xi (which we don't have the bench strength for) we shouldn't as we need to support teams that have backed us in difficult times

 

[PakPremi]

No they should not have as posters already pointed out this is already relatively inexperienced side, and we need the likes of Shaheen, Hasan Ali, Mohd Rizwan, Babar himself and our openers to develop their game at international stage. Likes of Azhar and Fawad hardly get to play any international cricket, they need to be kept into form too against international teams, albeit Zimbabwe not posing too much challange, but international matches have their own pressures irrespective of oppositions.

 

[Markhor]

apart from adding Saud Shakeel in place of Azhar Ali and maybe Dahani / Taabish (would have liked to see Arshad Iqbal ahead of both of them) in place of SSA, I think this is much balanced and young squad

Imran Butt (3 matches)
Abid Ali (disappointment but less than 10-12 matches)
Saud Shakeel - Debut
Babar Azam - Captaincy newbie
Fawad Alam - unfortunately, new
Rizwan - well still newish
Faheem - finally setting up himself
Hassan Ali - comeback dude
Nauman Ali - 3rd test
Sajjid Khan - 1st test
Arshad Iqbal - Dahani - Tabish - Debut

what else do we want lol

Spot on. Our first string isn't even settled yet

 

[PakPremi]

This! Even if we could field a second string xi (which we don't have the bench strength for) we shouldn't as we need to support teams that have backed us in difficult times

Pakistan can actually field decent enough second string with some players very new players from the previous match like the spinner duo, openers and Fawad, and adding Tabish, Sarfraz, Saud etc,but it could a be big risk especially Zimbabwe playing home and wih some Pakistanis debutising.

 

[90MPH]

They were also one of the first nations to come back to Pakistan.
It will be an insult to send a second string side to Zimbabwe

Exactly, not just that playing a second string 11 totally devalues the Test game.

We can experiment a bit in 20/20 but at Test level it should be our best.

 

[Titan24]

Pak’s 1st string is also pretty inexperienced to be fair and they need games under their belt so cant take away 2 out of 7-8 test matches played in an year.

To put things in perspective, Azhar Ali is the only player who has played more than 50 tests in the entire Pak squad.

A main team first needs to be developed only then comes the backups and 2nd string. Point of main team getting matches under their belt in the main one as irrespective of the opposition, getting test matches under the belt is the only way you develop players.

If Pak would have had 4-5 players with 50+ tests, I would have possibly agreed that those guys can be rested but, current Pak side is really inexperienced to start with.

 

[Titan24]

It was funny when Zimbabwe commie was talking about inexperienced of Zim and when the teams were showed side by side Pak also turned out to be pretty inexperienced one except Azhar Ali.

When we talk about top 3-4 teams, there is obviously talent but is backed by experience at test level. Pak is the most inexperienced side amongst the top 5 teams in tests currently. Even SA has more games in their main test XI than Pak.

 

[shamaan]

Imagine this team:

1. Abdullah Shafique
2. Mohammad Rizwan
3. Haider Ali
4. Babar Azam (c)
5. Mohammad Nawaz
6. Rohail Nazir (wk)
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Sajid Khan
9. Hasan Ali
10. Mohammad Hasnain
11. Haris Rauf

Why would Zimbabwe feel insulted? Leaving out Abid Ali and Fawad Alam is not exactly an insult to them!

I can't imagine this awful team.

 

[shamaan]

No Pakistan should not go with a second string team but I would like to see saud in the playing xi and rohail could have been in the test squad.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

I can't imagine this awful team.

Yep you and I have the exact same thought process. Junaids just goes after age that’s all it is with him.

 

[shamaan]

Yep you and I have the exact same thought process. Junaids just goes after age that’s all it is with him.

The test team should be made when youngsters have performed over 2 years atleast.like saud shakeel,usman Salahuddin.

 

[HussainZ]

Zimbabwe series was the ideal opportunity to try out guys like Saud and Kamran Ghulam and probably a couple of pacers too

 

[Shoaibbtt]

The test team should be made when youngsters have performed over 2 years atleast.like saud shakeel,usman Salahuddin.

I’ve kinda back tracked a little on Usman in his last 2 seasons despite having a great run his SR is around the early 40s which ain’t great to be honest.

 

[shamaan]

I’ve kinda back tracked a little on Usman in his last 2 seasons despite having a great run his SR is around the early 40s which ain’t great to be honest.

It isn't great but he still has the best technique in Pakistan I rather have some bat at 40s with a average of 45 than an average of 30 at 55s

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

That's why it's a no win situation while playing minnows.

Win comprehensively. People call it pointless.

Underperform with a second string team, people find an excuse to target.

Bottomline is , it's ok. The Cricketers aren't severely loaded currently so they should play as much cricket they can.

Not a bad analysis. I feel can mix with experienced and new ones. However to field a totally 2nd xi is a tad deflating to the hosts. Also bigger pic is sharing the competitive level with a lesser developed nation or weaker nation. I guess the num of debutants / inexperience shold not be more than 30 pc of the squad.
Have to respect the other nation, their spectators, sponsors etc...

 

[Shoaibbtt]

It isn't great but he still has the best technique in Pakistan I rather have some bat at 40s with a average of 45 than an average of 30 at 55s

I mean if you have someone going at a SR of 40 one end then the other must play at a higher strike rate and if both bat with a negative approach, the scoreboard isn’t ticking and eventually a wicket falls.

 

[shamaan]

I mean if you have someone going at a SR of 40 one end then the other must play at a higher strike rate and if both bat with a negative approach, the scoreboard isn’t ticking and eventually a wicket falls.

Test cricket is about wearing the team out if the platform is set they can attack come the third session of the day.look at England they had Strauss and cook they were proper test batters.saud at 3 babar 4 they generally are faster players and then rizwan at 6.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Test cricket is about wearing the team out if the platform is set they can attack come the third session of the day.look at England they had Strauss and cook they were proper test batters.saud at 3 babar 4 they generally are faster players and then rizwan at 6.

Very true but here’s the problem you can’t have a first class SR of around 40 and that to in conditions you are familiar with, because remember test cricket is a different kettle of fish.

 

[Zaz]

Yed ideally if pakistan played 12 tests a yr they couldve played a 2nd string test team to unearth 2-3 players but due to the lack of cricket you cant justify it They hardly play enough as it is

What pakistan can do tho against teams like zimbabwe is rest say babar azam and shaheen and put in the odd new batter and bowler whilst reatining the core 85% full strength

Idally they should be debuting dhani and shaqeel in the next test and trying these lads out

 

[shamaan]

Very true but here’s the problem you can’t have a first class SR of around 40 and that to in conditions you are familiar with, because remember test cricket is a different kettle of fish.

That's true

 

[Thephenom]

Maybe it’s because we treat all sides with respect, we’re not like Australia and India, trying to run international cricket into a closed shop for only the top 4 teams!