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Pakistan squad for the 3-match Test series against Australia announced

moghul said:
When will we get rid of hopeless and useless players like Azhar, Sarfraz, Faheem and Nauman ??
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Azhar averaged 41 and 42 respectively in 2020 and 2021 (Not much seasons left in him though). Conversion to 100s when playing at 3 was poor with 2 100s in 14 matches but, with 800 runs and avg of early 40s its tough to drop a player as what you need at the end is the runs from your batters. Add to it the fact that we dont have much experience in Test batting lineup with Babar still finding his feet.

Faheem averages 35 with the bat and 34 with the ball and is currently the best available pace bowling all rounder option in red ball cricket in Pakistan. You need one when you want to play two frontline spinners.

Sarfaraz is in the reserves incase a wicket keeper is required. Not many options around in red ball cricket. Rohail averaged 18 in 10 QAE 2021 matches. Sarfaraz was travelling with the national team so couldn't play QAE 2021. Best WK in terms of numbers was Bismillah Khan who averaged 46 and scored 2 100s with SR of 67 but, his overall numbers are not great.

Nauman averages 27 with the ball and 26 with the bat in the 7 test matches he has played so far. BD was the only series (Out of his 3) where he couldnt create an impact. Then he went on to play for Norther and took a 12fer vs SP. Other left arm spinners Zafar Gohar averaged 43 with the ball while Asghar averaged 39 in QAE 2021 so there werent many options here has well.

Getting rid of players is not difficult but, it would be a useless activity if the ones you select are not upto the mark or are not in form. If you keep on shuffling then a team never settles. Azhar's position is the only one where there are few batsmen in the middle order that are putting their hands up to take.
 
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Azhar Ali is turning into a leech!! Been downhill since 2017 what an injustice to a readymade & inform replacement Kamran Ghulam.. the chief selector having the cheek to say the best available players have been selected!!! there are at least 5 players who can replace this leech & perform better
 
Its as good a squad as they could put together for now. Pakistan chances will hinge on how much use they can get out of home advantage.
 
I have a feeling Babar is going to step up and deliver this time. Enough is enough now, it’s now or never!
 
So Yasir Shah isn't in the squad? That's a very very bold call that could very well come back to haunt Pakistan. I don't think the likes of Nawaz, Nauman ali etc can take those crucial fifers on day 2 against this Australian batting lineup.

If Shaheen and Hasan aren't at their absolute best with the new and old ball respectively, there could be in some real trouble.
 
Mesozoic said:
So Yasir Shah isn't in the squad? That's a very very bold call that could very well come back to haunt Pakistan. I don't think the likes of Nawaz, Nauman ali etc can take those crucial fifers on day 2 against this Australian batting lineup.

If Shaheen and Hasan aren't at their absolute best with the new and old ball respectively, there could be in some real trouble.
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I guess you havent seen Yasir bowled in recent times. He is done and dusted.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Why not apply the same measuring stick to players like Abid Ali who average like 70 against Bangladesh and 300 against? And not even hitting 30 against a half decent opposition.

Atleast Azhar has scored runs and played big innings against quality oppositions like England, New Zealand. Not his fault that Pakistan has series against minnows on the FTP.

And his numbers are good. Average is averaging in the mid-30s. He has improved after two terrible years. You clearly seem to have some sort of personal dislike for him which is probably why you are insulting everyone's intelligence here by downplaying his numbers and his integral role in Pakistan's test side.
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Hes played an integral role? in what games against decent sides has he done that? you think averaging mid 30s is decent? :)))

Azhar was mediocre vs NZ. He played 1 good knock vs england and failed in rest, so how exactly is he contributing.

Then you compare him to a minnow basher in Abid Ali :))) wow hilarious, i dont think hes test material either.

i dont hate Azhar, hes just simply not good enough to be in the team.

so what radio station are you watching this series on? :)))
 
Mesozoic said:
So Yasir Shah isn't in the squad? That's a very very bold call that could very well come back to haunt Pakistan. I don't think the likes of Nawaz, Nauman ali etc can take those crucial fifers on day 2 against this Australian batting lineup.

If Shaheen and Hasan aren't at their absolute best with the new and old ball respectively, there could be in some real trouble.
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Woah spinners taking 5-fers on Day 2 ? I don't think we're hiring the curator from Ahmedabad :P
 
Amjid Javed said:
Hes played an integral role? in what games against decent sides has he done that? you think averaging mid 30s is decent? :)))

Azhar was mediocre vs NZ. He played 1 good knock vs england and failed in rest, so how exactly is he contributing.

Then you compare him to a minnow basher in Abid Ali :))) wow hilarious, i dont think hes test material either.

i dont hate Azhar, hes just simply not good enough to be in the team.

so what radio station are you watching this series on? :)))
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It's 2022 bro. Nobody listens to radio anymore.

Yeah and that's the only match we drew in England. Which means he is the only Pakistani player who played a consequential knock in the entire series.

You can keep making sarcastic comments and laughing all you want, after all ignorance is bliss. But clearly the selectors and the team management consider him an integral part of the side. You can also be bitter all you want but fact is that he has been an outstanding player for Pakistan...and he is STILL good enough to be there. His career numbers are comparable to Pujara yet he somehow never gets the same respect from our ungrateful fans. Nevermind the fact that he is the only Pakistani opener to score a double ton in Australia, has scored multiple hundreds in England, has a triple ton to his name and is statistically one of the best players in the world in Asian conditions.

But yeah he should be dropped because he averaged 41 last year. LOL! Now go back to listening to your radio show.
 
Savak said:
1) Azhar Ali
2) Asad Shafiq
3) Babar Azam
4) Fawad Alam
5) Mohd Rizwan
6) Faheem Ashraf
7) Mohd Nawaz
8) Nauman Ali/Zahid Mehmood
9) Hasan Ali
10) Sajid Ali
11) Shaheen Afridi

3 pacers, 2 all rounders, 3 spinning options. All basis covered and a deep batting line up.
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Lol at Asad Shafiq the guy is struggling in domestics. We finally got rid of the rubbish and someone wants him to open.
 
Mirpur express said:
Azhar Ali is turning into a leech!! Been downhill since 2017 what an injustice to a readymade & inform replacement Kamran Ghulam.. the chief selector having the cheek to say the best available players have been selected!!! there are at least 5 players who can replace this leech & perform better
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I blame the spineless Waseem for not dropping Azhar. No one retires in Pakistan , players are thrown away . Azhar needs to be dropped , he will never retire.
 
Titan24 said:
Yes all are decent options. I think one thing they would have considered though is that the third frontline seamer if plays provide something extra with the older ball as Shaheen and Hassan are most likely to open the attack like they have been doing for sometime except Windies tour when Abbas opened the bowling.

Sameen Gul, Irfanullah Shah are pretty good with the new ball and are tall as well so do get that extra bounce on occasions but they dont have the zip/pace as the 1st change seamer to generate something out of the wicket when there is not much assistance.

Dahani is just coming off a septum surgery (Month or so ago) and was lacking match practice and training (His speeds were down in PSL before that impressive spell against PZ where he really cranked it up). Otherwise I think he would have at least made the reserves.

Naseem or Rauf was the closest call selection committee had to make as both have that extra pace/zip to be effective with the older ball as well on surfaces that might not provide enough assistance. Naseem played two QAE matches this season due to Shaheens and Pak tour commitments. I think Naseem's bowling effort of 20-1-137-2 against Northern might have been the difference as he struggled a bit with consistency (Going at 6.85) but, then came back pretty well with 4/46 and 1/34 vs Sindh. Haris played one match and took 9 wickets in that making the game one sided for his team.
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But Hassan is much better with the older bowler we're it might reverse swing.if you wanted to go for extra pace then naseem would have been a better option becouse he can open the bowling and gives you extra pace but like you said it's 50/50.
 
Rauf is the wildcard selection.

Not a lot of long format experience but if you want a speedster, he fits the bill. I'd say they must have seen him do well with the old ball in nets maybe, because he has barely played long formats.

Getting to the point of his career where you either play him and see or the chance passes him by altogether. Wonder if it will come off.

With the allrounders in the team + spin likely bowling plenty, it means he can be used in short, fast spells and you aren't forced to bowl him if he's being expensive. There is cover there.
 
I’d open with imam, abdullah. Need to bring in some new guys into the team. Especially those who can handle batting in the top 3. I think we were possibly a bit premature getting Shan out the of the squad before after SA success but time to move on.

Feel like Faheem will eventually fail but he’s earned his spot, so play him.

Would have been good to have had Ghulam in there but guess we have to persist with azhar. Azhar should drop down to 4, Babar up to 3. Azhar might be able to use his experience down the order to score big as he doesn’t have the reflexes to handle up the order anymore.
 
Mesozoic said:
So Yasir Shah isn't in the squad? That's a very very bold call that could very well come back to haunt Pakistan. I don't think the likes of Nawaz, Nauman ali etc can take those crucial fifers on day 2 against this Australian batting lineup.

If Shaheen and Hasan aren't at their absolute best with the new and old ball respectively, there could be in some real trouble.
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Yasir Shah's presence has been haunting Pak for a couple of years, so I think I'm ready to be haunted by his absence now.
 
ads101 said:
I’d open with imam, abdullah. Need to bring in some new guys into the team. Especially those who can handle batting in the top 3. I think we were possibly a bit premature getting Shan out the of the squad before after SA success but time to move on.

Feel like Faheem will eventually fail but he’s earned his spot, so play him.

Would have been good to have had Ghulam in there but guess we have to persist with azhar. Azhar should drop down to 4, Babar up to 3. Azhar might be able to use his experience down the order to score big as he doesn’t have the reflexes to handle up the order anymore.
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cant keep hiding batsmen and pushing them down the order, Azhar is simply not good enough, pushing him to number 4 to protect him is stupid. time to move on and give other players a go in the team.
 
Karachi, 12 February 2022: The ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year Shaheen Shah Afridi is presently busy leading the Lahore Qalandars in their quest for their first HBL Pakistan Super League title as the seventh edition of the tournament moves towards the business end in Lahore.

While Shaheen has one eye on the HBL PSL trophy, he has also set his sights on Australia’s all-format tour of Pakistan.

The Pat Cummins-led Australia will be touring Pakistan for the first time in over 24 years for three Tests, three ODIs and one T20I, Shaheen was not even born when the Mark Taylor-led Australia won the 1998 Test series 1-0 before Steve Waugh-led side clean swept the three-match ODI series 3-0.

Shaheen who took 78 wickets in 36 international matches last year at 22.20 is keen on continuing his rich vein of form especially in the three-match ICC World Test Championship series that begins with the first Test in Rawalpindi from March 4.

The 21-year-old was in red-hot form in with the red ball in 2021 collecting 47 wickets in nine Tests at 17. 06 with an innings best of six for 51. Shaheen played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s success against South Africa at home, the two-match drawn series in the West Indies and Pakistan’s 2-0 clean sweeps against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in their own backyards.

Shaheen Shah Afridi: “When Australia last toured Pakistan I was not even born. This series is as such of a huge significance and I want to give a good performance and my aim is to build further on my 2021 performances across the three formats.

“A series against Australia is always a big one and performing against them gives you recognition as they have always been one of the top sides. I always looked forward to playing against them in the UAE or in Australia and now playing them at home will be a massive occasion indeed and I am determined to give my best.

“Last year our bowling attack was the best in the world and our aim is to maintain the momentum, Hasan [Ali] and I always look to attack and take wickets. I am sure we will get great support from the crowd during the series as fans would be excited to see the Australian side play on our grounds.

“Playing in home conditions is always an advantage because you know the pitches better than the opponents and of course home fans also provide and extra incentive to perform.”

https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-releas...arhead-pakistan-attack-against-australia.html
 
It seems like the following XI will play:

Shan
Abdullah
Azhar
Babar
Fawad
Rizwan
Faheem
Nauman
Hasan
Shaheen
Sajid
 
Update on Pakistan Test squad

Lahore, 23 February 2022:

The following is an update on the Pakistan Test side for the Australia Tests:

1- Mohammad Nawaz has been ruled out of the series with a foot injury. He will not be replaced in the side

2- Naseem Shah and Sarfaraz Ahmed have now been added as traveling reserves. They will only be considered for selection if there is an injury

3- Mohammad Haris has been added to the reserve players list. However, he, along with Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Abbas and Yasir Shah have been advised to participate in the Pakistan Cup, which commences on 2 March. If required, they will be drafted into the side

4- Test players who attended a training camp in Karachi and those not involved in HBL PSL 2022 playoffs will arrive in Islamabad later tonight. After observing a three-day room isolation, they will hold a training session on 27 February

5- Test players involved in the HBL PSL 2022 playoffs will travel to Islamabad in a bubble on 28 February and will participate in a training session on 1 March

15-player squad: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shan Masood (Balochistan) and Zahid Mahmood (Sindh)

Test schedule:

4-8 Mar – 1st Test, Rawalpindi
12-16 Mar – 2nd Test, Karachi
21-25 Mar – 3rd Test, Lahore
 
Pakistani top order with likes of Azhar and toothless spinners will be exposed.

It will be basically Babar, Fawad, Rizwan, Shaheen, Hassan and a bunch of fillers vs Aussies.

Australia should win it 2-1.

Hopefully I am wrong and Insha'Allah Pak win it 3-0.
 
The batting line up is being built to get thrashed in SENA again at home we will be more competitive but tests will be lost against the better teams at home as some grounds offer assistance to the pacers.

Overall little or no progress due to stubborn seniors not letting go and a lack of development of batsmen for future tours outside Asia the same cycle will continue this half decade.
 
PakEngFan said:
I agree but it’s unfair on him to be dropped when he has performed.
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He needs to learn at the moment and play a whole season of domestic. Knowing pcb they will pick him for meaningless t20is. None of our new quicks will develop well for test cricket because they do not play enough 4 day cricket and play a lot of t20s which will only render them good for this format.
 
Apart from Imran Khan and handful of players most of our players (98%) don't have any self respect or dignity. Sarfraz could retire 2 years back with dignity instead he is leeching in the team without any performance.
 
CricketingMinds said:
How does Sarfaraz keep making his way into the squads?? Beyond me!!
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Sarfaraz is in the travelling reserves alongside Naseem as per sources. However, Mohammad Haris has also been inducted to reserves but like other non-travelling reserves he will be playing Pakistan Cup and can be called to the national team if required.

I personally think it is good as Sarfaraz has nothing to learn from domestic at this stage of his career and he is just going to be a backup. However, young keeper like Haris still need the domestic matches under their belt to improve so no point in keeping him with the travelling squad and making him miss Pakistan cup matches.

Bismillah Khan was statistically the best keeper in QAE 2021, so one can argue he could have been preferred over Sarfaraz but, then his overall domestic record is not great.
 
PakEngFan said:
I would like to see how many Pakistani domestics teams can win a Test in New Zealand. Pakistan hasn’t won or drawn one for a long time.
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So all of a sudden now Bangladesh (who have been Pakistan’s whipping boys in Tests since they have started) are now a Test juggernaut?

No wonder Rizwan fans are hard to reason with.
 
Rana said:
So all of a sudden now Bangladesh (who have been Pakistan’s whipping boys in Tests since they have started) are now a Test juggernaut?

No wonder Rizwan fans are hard to reason with.
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It’s a one off win nothing more catching NZ off guard maybe they took them lightly Bangladesh are still a weak test team.

Unfortunately in SENA Pakistan have been awful and not a lot is being done to change that no planning or changing of the batting lineup to prepare for the next tours there we have learnt nothing inevitably more heavy losses will follow once the team tours these countries.
 
Cric1234 said:
It’s a one off win nothing more catching NZ off guard maybe they took them lightly Bangladesh are still a weak test team.

Unfortunately in SENA Pakistan have been awful and not a lot is being done to change that no planning or changing of the batting lineup to prepare for the next tours there we have learnt nothing inevitably more heavy losses will follow once the team tours these countries.
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That’s why I don’t think it is sensible to use Shafiques performances against Bangladesh to make it seem like he is the most deserving option, because Australia will not have pacers who average 75. Bangladesh are a terrible test side, there are fc sides in Pakistan who will beat them in a Test match.
 
Rana said:
That’s why I don’t think it is sensible to use Shafiques performances against Bangladesh to make it seem like he is the most deserving option, because Australia will not have pacers who average 75. Bangladesh are a terrible test side, there are fc sides in Pakistan who will beat them in a Test match.
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He’s not ready for international cricket he’s been given the best chance to make it all matches in Asia and at home while some players got a lot tougher beginnings still he doesn’t look to have enough needs a lot of work in domestic cricket.

Haider would be a better option to develop his technique and temperament he could be drafted in unfortunately some players are given preferential treatment.
 
Rana said:
That’s why I don’t think it is sensible to use Shafiques performances against Bangladesh to make it seem like he is the most deserving option, because Australia will not have pacers who average 75. Bangladesh are a terrible test side, there are fc sides in Pakistan who will beat them in a Test match.
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So who should open?
 
Pakistani fans lose too much sleep over backup wicket-keepers.

I'm more worried about how our batting lineup will score 350+ against the Aussie pace attack.

The problem is we make flat pitches - the likes of Warner, Labu and Smith will cash in. Hopefully our curators can make some dry turners.
 
Markhor said:
Pakistani fans lose too much sleep over backup wicket-keepers.

I'm more worried about how our batting lineup will score 350+ against the Aussie pace attack.

The problem is we make flat pitches - the likes of Warner, Labu and Smith will cash in. Hopefully our curators can make some dry turners.
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What about green pitches?
 
Markhor said:
God forbid. I didn't pay £14.99 for NOW TV's package to see us get rolled over Sharjah 2002 style !
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Pakistan batsmen aren't bad at playing swing/seam, they struggle more on bouncy wickets.

The Aussies on the other hand struggle the most on green tops. They've improved on turning wickets, remember they only lost 2-1 in the last test series in India.
 
Markhor said:
They had an offer on a few days ago so a notorious cheapskate like me was all over that.
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That’s quiet the coup :afridi Ah man tag me next time please!

I have good reason to get a day pass this Saturday evening:

Josh Taylor vs Jack Catteral
PSL Final
 
Abdullah
Shan
Saud
Babar
Fawad
Rizwan
Faheem
Hassan
Nauman
Sajid
Shaheen

I wish we had Nawaz and Naseem instead of Nauman and faheem but with current options, I guess this is the best 11
 
Whatever way you look at it, our top order is undoubtedly the weakest/most un-proven area of the side. I fear it will be Rizwan and Shaheen or bust.
 
With Faheem/Hasan out for 1st test we should have called up 2 new seamers yet we only have done one. in pindi the surface will definitely be one where we will need 3 seamers in the side.
 
Pakistan quickly running in to issues, now Nawaz (announced out a few days back), Hassan Ali and Faheem all out of first test for sure.

I fear for bowling to be penetrative enough especially since the only regular fast bowler will be Shaheen and if he has an off test (not penetrative or out of form), we would be playing with bowlers who are not guaranteed to take more than a wicket or two. In this backdrop, Abbass might be recalled (not ideal either)
 
Our pace depth for Tests is appalling.

We should've selected Waqas Maqsood after his QEA 20/21 season as an experienced option for short-term.

Instead we gave charity selection to Tabish Khan who is on verge of retirement in Zimbabwe.
 
Markhor said:
Our pace depth for Tests is appalling.

We should've selected Waqas Maqsood after his QEA 20/21 season as an experienced option for short-term.

Instead we gave charity selection to Tabish Khan who is on verge of retirement in Zimbabwe.
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Same for our spin bowling we have Nauman as our lead spinner doesn’t turn the ball and won’t last long in tests.

There are actually different batsmen who can give a game to the ones selected a non playing batting lineup would be interesting.

Huraira
Salahuddin
Saud
Haider
Umar
Ghulam
Rohail

Actually some of the above batsmen are or have been better than the ones currently playing.
 
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