Pakistan T20I Squad to face West Indies - Let's Analyze

[CricketingMinds]

Here is a list of the 31 players shortlisted and the ones highlighted in GREEN are the 15 players selected to go to WI.

1. Openers

Kamran, Shahzad and Zaman woult fight for the top 2 slots in the line-up. Kamran can also potentially play in the middle order.

As cricket fans we would hope to see an aggressive, sensible and explosive Shahzad in International games - similar to what we saw in PSL.

2. Middle Order

Babar is 100% confirmed for his #3 spot.

I would have picked a youngster ( Hussain Talat or Saad Ali for e.g.) over Hafeez. But seems like one good PSL innings is sufficient to make Inzi pick Hafeez.

Malik is also there and its high time he starts performing in international T20s for Pakistan.

3. All-Rounders (Fast).

Really sad to see Tanveer getting the nod depite not being fit. It seems like Arthur and Inzi are all talk about fitness and are not walking the talk. I'd pick Sohail Khan who is more than handy with the bat and is a much better LOI bowler than Tanveer.

4. All-Rounder (Spin)

Excellent competition going on here. Shadab v Wasim v Nawaz - all three are high quality cricketers and such a competition can hopefully only make them stronger & better players.

5. Fast Bowlers (Left)

Great to see Rumman and Usman being rewarded for good domestic performances.

Now lets see if they can translate their PSL success in International arena or not.

6. Fast Bowlers (Right) / Spinners

Seems like pakistan is relying on Hassan Ali only as the Right arm Fast bowler and the Spinning all-rounders.

Sad to see Yasir, Asghar and Sohail Khan miss out but that just shows how intense the competition is in the Spinning department at least.



My T20 XI:

1. Shahzad
2. Zaman
3. Babar
4. Kamran
5. Malik / Hafeez
6. Sarfaraz
7. Wasim
8. Shadab
9. Hassan Ali
10. Wahab
11. Usman / Rumman

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Again same problem you have top 6, all whom like to take time bar kamran who generally gets out

 

[CricketingMinds]

Again same problem you have top 6, all whom like to take time bar kamran who generally gets out

lol i agree with what you are saying that all these players - Babar, Malik, Hafeez, Sarfaraz are not out-and-out aggressive and explosive batsmen. But what is our other option anyway? (Sad truth about our batsmen)

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

lol i agree with what you are saying that all these players - Babar, Malik, Hafeez, Sarfaraz are not out-and-out aggressive and explosive batsmen. But what is our other option anyway? (Sad truth about our batsmen)

There is none sadly but I think in such a situation you have to play to your strengths instead of looking to accomodate players. As such I'd say Babar sarfraz and Malik will be 3, 4 and 5, non negotiable . No accomodating professor. Based of the squad I'd get kamran and shezhad to open. At 6 I'll have zaman, this is harsh on him but we know he can strike ball and he will add a left hander to the middle order

 

[CricketingMinds]

I feel you are contradicting yourself.

You say we should "play to our strength and not look to accommodate players" - i agree.

But by pushing zaman down we are NOT playing to the strength because he is a natural at top order and if we were to play him at no.6 we would be forcefully accommodating him there.

Either way. Hafeez should NOT have been in ODi or T20 squad.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

I feel you are contradicting yourself.

You say we should "play to our strength and not look to accommodate players" - i agree.

But by pushing zaman down we are NOT playing to the strength because he is a natural at top order and if we were to play him at no.6 we would be forcefully accommodating him there.

Either way. Hafeez should NOT have been in ODi or T20 squad.

Yes but you have to look at the overall picture

Babar has been great for us at 3
Sarfraz has been great for us at 4 or 5
Malik has been good for us post comeback generally at 5

Shezhad has spent his entire career as an opener

Kamran is tricky but due to senior tag he will open

That leaves zaman,professor or Zakir for 6

Professor has been awful for sometime and his ego won't let him bat at 6

Zakir is more a test match player

That leaves zaman he can hit the ball and plays spin well. Ideally I'd have opening but given what we have I'd have him at 6

 

[Hasan123]

Hafeez shouldn't have been in the squad

 

[cricketInsight]

My T20 XI:

1. Shahzad
2. Zaman
3. Babar
4. Kamran
5. Malik / Hafeez
6. Sarfaraz
7. Wasim
8. Shadab
9. Hassan Ali
10. Wahab
11. Usman / Rumman

Hafeez shouldnt have been in the squad. I am afraid he wont be competing with Malik for his spot but his presence would make it difficult for Zaman to get more than 1 game.

May not be a bad idea to ask Babar to open since he did well in that spot for KK.

 

[cricketInsight]

Zakir is more a test match player

He is not the T20 squad.

 

[Sarfarazian92]

Let's predict the future.

Hafeez will slot in at 4, making malik slide down at 5, and Sarfraz at 6 (despite being very good according to Pak standards in top 5).
Sarfraz won't be successful at 6 since he doesn't possess the power game.

PPers will start suggesting that Sarfraz needs to be axed from the Limited Overs setup.

 

[Speedster777]

Because of Hafeez the whole team combination gets ruined. He has been given so many chances and he always fails against quality bowling and sides. A guy who got out to Steyn 5 times in a row on the same ball should tell you what an embarrassment he is. He's played in so many world cups and always failed to win any tournament for his team.

 

[dildildalwalla]

Why does Zaman have to open? I'm pretty sure I saw him play outside of the openers slot in the PSL too.

This is what I would go with:

1. Shehzad (gets in on the back of his psl)
2. Kamran (again, psl and because he is also very attacking in t20s and Pak need that)
3. Babar (who else?)
4. Zaman (Could be genuine world class, is already above domestic level)
5. Malik
6. Sarfraz c/wk
7. Imad
8. Shadab
9. Tanvir
10. Riaz (good for a short spell)
11. Raees

No need for Hafeez. Theoretically bat as low as 10 with 8,9,10 all striking it pretty well. 3 spinners, 3 pacers. The perfect combo in t20s I believe.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

He is not the T20 squad.

i know, but the same problems exist for both squads

 

[Inzi_fan_No_1]

Who's actually going to field? Kackmal or Sarfaraz.

 

[MMHS]

Without Sharjeel & Amir rested; this was quite a decent squad - but entire equation is spoiled by selection of MoHa.

If he bats as opener, that drops 2 of 3 players that should be ahead of him - Shehzad, Kamran, Fakhar. If he bats at 3/4, it drops 3 players one slot lower than they should. If he bats at 6; that drops one of the best middle order (Malik); becacuse Malik can't/shouldn't find a spot in top 4, while Sarfu should play at 5.

It's irony that PCB selectors sell MoHa to balance the starting XI - here he is making it most imbalanced. To keep his stake high, Malik is hardly given any ball & keep that batting all rounders' spot warm for MoHa.

 

[GreenMasterz007]

We need an aggressive start ... That's all .. If your going to play Tuktuk style .. U will end up scoring 120 ... Which Westindies can easily chase down ..