My views on the positions that are up for grabs:
Opening:
I believe they opened with Shan Masood in the SL series . . His returns weren't all that great but then they weren't great for any one in the series . . Plus, Shan has piled on the runs in domestic cricket since . . so, I would be willing to give him another chance . . another reason also being, I don't see any other opener doing much better than him any way . . Imam, Ahmad Shehzad, Sami Aslam . . I think all will struggle . . and hence, I will retain Shan Masood and Sami Aslam in the squad . . Who actually starts depends on how the 2 play in the warm up games and who looks more comfortable I suppose . .
The other opening spot has to go to Azhar . . I don't like him at 3 . . I think many people have mentioned that above as well . . plus, a lot of his very good scores have come as an opener . . he has been solid . . and in early english conditions, you need an Azhar Ali to go and blunt the new ball . .
Middle Order:
The curious case of Babar Azam in test matches . . I still don't have an answer as to why Babar Azam hasn't yet translated his LOI form into test matches . . and the only theory I have is that he is TOO CONFUSED on how to play . . He is a stroke maker . . someone who likes to score . . who's game is not like an azhar ali . . and I feel like he goes and tries to be way too circumspect in test matches . . My gut is that if he plays his natural game, he is far more likely to succeed . . which means going at a strike rate of 60 ish . . rather than 30 40 . . Purely on performance, Babar doesn't deserve to be in the team . . but on potential, ability and seeing what's available on the bench . . I would like to persist with him in England . . Hopefully he comes good . . Secondly, he has to bat at number 3! that's his spot . . if he doesn't succeed at number 3, then send him back to domestic . . you can't keep changing his position around and be like hooefully he will find a number that he's good at . . not how things work . .
Leaving the other
Number 6/7:
For me, if Pakistan is to become a top test side . . then they absolutely need to have a number 7 who is an alrounder . . the 6 batsman, wk and 4 bowlers puts way tooo much pressure on the bowlers . . and its even worse when you're not playing on spinning tracks where you pick 2 spinners and expect them to do bulk of hte bolwing . . This person needs to do a job of a Ben Stokes, Mitch Marsh, Hardik Pandya . . This also ensures your main bowlers are fresh when they are asked to give a spell and Mo Amir isn't bowling 130 kph . . Hence, I believe it is imperative for Pakistan to pick and allrounder in this series and get the combination right . . For me, Sarfaraz has to move up to number 6 and take more responsibliites. . number 7 has to be your best batting (fast bowling) allrounder in the country . . if that's hussain talat, then he needs to be playing . . if thats Amir Yamin, then him . . if thats Faheem Ashraf, then him . . but its your best batting allrounder who can give you an economical 10 overs a day . .
Hence my team would be:
Shan/Sami
Azhar
Babar
Harris
Asad Shafiq
Sarfaraz Ahmad
Hussain Talat/Amir Yamin/Faheem Ashraf
Hasan Ali
Mohammad Amir
Yasir Shah
Mohammad Abbas
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