Pakistan Test squad for the upcoming tours

[Darkrai]

Azhar
Sami
Haris
Babar
Shafiq
Usman
Sarfraz
Hasan
Amir
Yasir
Abbas
On paper this team looks solid. Bench should include players like fakhar, fahim, fawad and other top domestic performers.

 

[backfootpunch]

Ali has spent the vast majority of his career at 3 and although he is certainly good enough to open ,I'd feel more comfortable if we had a number 3 like him. That would leave someone to partner with Sami, who is very very good. Just 2, a half century in England, top score of 90, I dunno why you'd say he isn't. Someone like that deserves some chances on the international stage.

Who partners sami is up for debate...



I dont agree with all of that but very good reasoning throughout. I also believe those are the positions up for debate and change. Would love to see Babar perform but I think he needs a bit of time away from the test arena, like Kohli and Root before him.

Barah Bhai look Sami Aslam has had enough chances and if you watch his game technically he's been poor particuarly in Aus. Has profound weaknesses especially against the short ball. Also he doesn't have a tempo to his batting which is why there is no suprise why he has yet to convert any of his 50s to a hundred. Also have you seen his strike rate? If he was averaging at least 45 fair enough but with a SR under 40 and average in the low 30s, I'm amazed how so many on here can accept this level of mediocrity. He needs at least 2 years in domestics.

Yes he played well in England in the 2 tests he played but I wouldn't read too much into that because the batting conditions were actually very good and SC like at Edgbaston and Oval. England bowlers will work him out easily as well this time round.

All the candidates for the second opening slot are actually rubbish so might as well pick from one out of a hat.

 

[Sultan Baba]

wow...that is out there

No Amir, no Hasan? Fawad opens? Umar Amin?


Crazy choices lol

fawad make 100 on deb as opner,hassan ali also there but maybe you don't see and aamir did not well in test cricket so i thought he should play only odi's and test cricket

 

[Brilliance]

Azhar
Sami
Babar
Haris
Asad
Sarfaraz
Faheem
Yasir
Hasan
Amir
Abass

 

[ads101]

All the candidates for the second opening slot are actually rubbish so might as well pick from one out of a hat.

Sami Aslam really looked lost last time. I don't think he should have been dropped before, but his last few tests it just looked like things were getting worse, and he was worked out. I agree he should go back to domestic for now.

I don't know many good opening options. Shehzad's in poor form and am reluctant to pick him. Shan doesn't look good enough, but has been in great domestic form, so I dunno. Fakhar I don't know whether we want to spoil him by rushing him to test cricket yet, let him focus on being aggressive in LOI not changing his style of play. Remember when we rushed Jamshed to test cricket, after that just went downhill.

I'd probably give Imam a shot. His record isn't fantastic, but scored a debut century in ODIs, and is more out of the ODI team because he's too slow. Don't think it'll hurt trying him out. He's already been touring with the national squad, so might as well give him a chance before sending him back to domestics.

 

[barah_admi]

Barah Bhai look Sami Aslam has had enough chances and if you watch his game technically he's been poor particuarly in Aus. Has profound weaknesses especially against the short ball. Also he doesn't have a tempo to his batting which is why there is no suprise why he has yet to convert any of his 50s to a hundred. Also have you seen his strike rate? If he was averaging at least 45 fair enough but with a SR under 40 and average in the low 30s, I'm amazed how so many on here can accept this level of mediocrity. He needs at least 2 years in domestics.

Yes he played well in England in the 2 tests he played but I wouldn't read too much into that because the batting conditions were actually very good and SC like at Edgbaston and Oval. England bowlers will work him out easily as well this time round.

All the candidates for the second opening slot are actually rubbish so might as well pick from one out of a hat.

We will just have to agree to disagree on that. The coming few months will tell us a lot about who is worthy of a Pakistan slot and who isn't.

 

[backfootpunch]

Sami Aslam really looked lost last time. I don't think he should have been dropped before, but his last few tests it just looked like things were getting worse, and he was worked out. I agree he should go back to domestic for now.

I don't know many good opening options. Shehzad's in poor form and am reluctant to pick him. Shan doesn't look good enough, but has been in great domestic form, so I dunno. Fakhar I don't know whether we want to spoil him by rushing him to test cricket yet, let him focus on being aggressive in LOI not changing his style of play. Remember when we rushed Jamshed to test cricket, after that just went downhill.

I'd probably give Imam a shot. His record isn't fantastic, but scored a debut century in ODIs, and is more out of the ODI team because he's too slow. Don't think it'll hurt trying him out. He's already been touring with the national squad, so might as well give him a chance before sending him back to domestics.

Shehzad although has done well in Asia as an opener and bats at a better strike rate than the likes of Sami, therefore his playing style would of been more ideal as a partner for Azhar rather than having 2 tuks tuks opening, but you can't select him when is in bad form as evident from the PSL! Also has behavioural issues about him as well.

Masood has glaring technical deficiencies and isn't even close to being international standard, it's amazing how well he has done in domestics - doesn't say much about the standard of FC and List A cricket in Pakistan lol.

Fakhar has the concentration and mental attributes to succeed in test cricket but I do not think he is ready to open and also play outside the SC in red ball cricket just yet. Pakistan missed a trick by not picking him against SL batting 5 or 6 when you consider he is easily the best player of dealing with spin in the country. Who knows he could have saved Pakistan from getting whitewashed and then it would have been a possibility to give him a go for the England tour.

Many on here didn't want Sami Aslam continuing his run in the tests after the way he has performed in last few series and they will be calling for him out in the same way when he flops again.

I acknowledge you're aware that Imam is far from ideal but as you've pointed his record is poor with virtually identical stats to Sami in FC with a low average and same low SR meaning the scoreboard is never going to tick with 2 tuks tuks opening against Anderson and Broad unfortunately. He also has the same problems technically (especially with the short ball) but maybe he will show more character and a better tempo to his scoring if he is able to get past the new ball, so may as well pick him when all the others are just TTFs.

One could make a case that Fakhar would do better than these guys however this isn't the time to ruin his confidence and purple patch he is going through. Truth of the matter is there is no one in Pakistan who is good enough to average just 40 (or maybe even 35) outside the SC against the top 6 sides.

 

[Mercurial]

Anyone with a FC batting average below 40 shouldn't be considered for the Test squad.

Fawad Alam deserves to be in the Test squad more than anyone else.

Rahat Ali should never be considered again, as he is an international level failure, TTF.

Shan Masood must be axed.

The upcoming Test against Ireland should be a do or die situation for Babar Azam. If he fails, should be dropped then. Mediocre Test batsman.

We should only consider leg spinners for the non Asian leg of Test tours, but should give priority to those who can bat. For example, I will start with Shadab in the playing XI ahead of Yasir, as he can be a reliable batsman.

We should have a batting all rounder at 6. I would prefer Yamin or Imad.

We should have a bowling all rounder at 8. I would prefer Fahim or Hammad.

We should include an aggressive opener, and an aggressive middle order batsman. The opening choice for me would be Fakhar, while the middle order aggressive batsman for me would be Sohaib Maqsood, who has got a decent FC record.

 

[UN talkz]

Anyone with a FC batting average below 40 shouldn't be considered for the Test squad.

Fawad Alam deserves to be in the Test squad more than anyone else.

Rahat Ali should never be considered again, as he is an international level failure, TTF.

Shan Masood must be axed.

The upcoming Test against Ireland should be a do or die situation for Babar Azam. If he fails, should be dropped then. Mediocre Test batsman.

We should only consider leg spinners for the non Asian leg of Test tours, but should give priority to those who can bat. For example, I will start with Shadab in the playing XI ahead of Yasir, as he can be a reliable batsman.

We should have a batting all rounder at 6. I would prefer Yamin or Imad.

We should have a bowling all rounder at 8. I would prefer Fahim or Hammad.

We should include an aggressive opener, and an aggressive middle order batsman. The opening choice for me would be Fakhar, while the middle order aggressive batsman for me would be Sohaib Maqsood, who has got a decent FC record.

Boy o boy, Whatta statement, it has derailed your whole post which was very good otherwise.

 

[blackanhyellow]

Boy o boy, Whatta statement, it has derailed your whole post which was very good otherwise.

You didnt notice he put Maqsood in the middle order?

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

For England and Ireland series

Azhar
Sami
Harry
Bobby
Usman/Saad
Talat/Yamin
Sarfi
Yasir
Amir
Hasan
Abbas/Sadaf/Sohail

 

[Hasan123]

For England and Ireland series

Azhar
Sami
Harry
Bobby
Usman/Saad
Talat/Yamin
Sarfi
Yasir
Amir
Hasan
Abbas/Sadaf/Sohail

Sarfraz isn't dropping Shafiq especially after he scored a century in his last test.

 

[Rishta Aunty]

Just want to see Fawad Alam get a chance. It's been ridiculous the way he's been ignored. Atleast let him play and fail before you discard him.

 

[Joggerman]

Azhar
Fakhar
Haris
Usman Salahuddin
Saad Ali
Asad Shafiq
Sarfraz
Hassan Ali
Amir
Yasir Shah
Abbas

Remaining Squad: Rahat Ali, Junaid Khan, Fawad Alam, Sami Aslam

1. There is a right-left combo throughout the batting order
2. Got to take a risk with Fakhar. Cant open with both Azhar and Sami imo, the momentum never builds. If the combo fails, Fakhar can be pushed down to 6 and Sami can be made to open.
3. Haris can be a good 5th bowling option
4. Saad deserves a go. If he fails, Fawad is there.

 

[barah_admi]

Anyone with a FC batting average below 40 shouldn't be considered for the Test squad.

Fawad Alam deserves to be in the Test squad more than anyone else.

Rahat Ali should never be considered again, as he is an international level failure, TTF.

Shan Masood must be axed.

The upcoming Test against Ireland should be a do or die situation for Babar Azam. If he fails, should be dropped then. Mediocre Test batsman.

We should only consider leg spinners for the non Asian leg of Test tours, but should give priority to those who can bat. For example, I will start with Shadab in the playing XI ahead of Yasir, as he can be a reliable batsman.

We should have a batting all rounder at 6. I would prefer Yamin or Imad.

We should have a bowling all rounder at 8. I would prefer Fahim or Hammad.

We should include an aggressive opener, and an aggressive middle order batsman. The opening choice for me would be Fakhar, while the middle order aggressive batsman for me would be Sohaib Maqsood, who has got a decent FC record.

Imad is a batting all rounder? lol

As for Shadab, I don't think how bowling is quite right for test standards, while Yasir is a prime test bowler, no way he should be dropped.

Azhar
Fakhar
Haris
Usman Salahuddin
Saad Ali
Asad Shafiq
Sarfraz
Hassan Ali
Amir
Yasir Shah
Abbas

Remaining Squad: Rahat Ali, Junaid Khan, Fawad Alam, Sami Aslam

1. There is a right-left combo throughout the batting order
2. Got to take a risk with Fakhar. Cant open with both Azhar and Sami imo, the momentum never builds. If the combo fails, Fakhar can be pushed down to 6 and Sami can be made to open.
3. Haris can be a good 5th bowling option
4. Saad deserves a go. If he fails, Fawad is there.

I don't think fakhar is that much of a rick, from what little I've seen of his FC highlights, he has done well, has a decent technique and can dig in when needed. I'm liking the idea of him as a test opener more and more.

Just want to see Fawad Alam get a chance. It's been ridiculous the way he's been ignored. Atleast let him play and fail before you discard him.

What exactly is the political situation surrounding Fawad?

 

[Rayyman]

Bump.

I wonder what the Test team is looking like.

Azhar Ali needs to be dropped, but he won't be unfortunately.

Imam and Shan should open. With Abid Ali as backup.

Shafiq, Babar and Haris can make the middle order. Salahuddin or Saad Ali on the bench for now.

Sarfraz can stay as a player. I guess make Asad captain.

Main spinners are Yasir and Bilal. Left arm spinner is also needed. Gohar, Imad or Asghar can be tried. Although Haris can play that role.

As for the pacers, I think the next series is in Asia. So Shaheen should be rested. Abbas and Hasan are the best options. Amir can be the left-arm option.

I will go with this playing XI and squad:

Imam ul-Haq
Shan Masood
Azhar Ali
Haris Sohail
Asad Shafiq*
Babar Azam
Sarfraz Ahmed+
Bilal Asif
Hasan Ali
Mohammad Abbas
Yasir Shah
---------------------------------
Abid Ali+
Zafar Gohar
Mohammad Amir
Usman Salahuddin

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Bump.

I wonder what the Test team is looking like.

Azhar Ali needs to be dropped, but he won't be unfortunately.

Imam and Shan should open. With Abid Ali as backup.

Shafiq, Babar and Haris can make the middle order. Salahuddin or Saad Ali on the bench for now.

Sarfraz can stay as a player. I guess make Asad captain.

Main spinners are Yasir and Bilal. Left arm spinner is also needed. Gohar, Imad or Asghar can be tried. Although Haris can play that role.

As for the pacers, I think the next series is in Asia. So Shaheen should be rested. Abbas and Hasan are the best options. Amir can be the left-arm option.

I will go with this playing XI and squad:

Imam ul-Haq
Shan Masood
Azhar Ali
Haris Sohail
Asad Shafiq*
Babar Azam
Sarfraz Ahmed+
Bilal Asif
Hasan Ali
Mohammad Abbas
Yasir Shah
---------------------------------
Abid Ali+
Zafar Gohar
Mohammad Amir
Usman Salahuddin

asad has been mediocre for last 2 years. both asad and azhar should not be allowed in team and you are making asad captain.

 

[Ahmed216]

My playing 11 against Lanka

Imam
Shan
Babar
Haris
Saad Ali
Shadab Khan
Sarfraz
Zafar gohar
Yasir Shah
Abbas
Hasan Ali/Shaheen

 

[Shaka81]

Azhar Ali needs to be dropped. He's in terrible form.
Would love to have seen Fawad get a chance but sadly I think his time has passed.
Just hope they gave an opportunity to young deserving players like Saad, Zafar and Saud.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Abid Ali
Shan
Haris
Babar
Saad
Saud
Rizwan
Zafar
Yasir
Abbas
Shaheen

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Bump.

I wonder what the Test team is looking like.

Azhar Ali needs to be dropped, but he won't be unfortunately.

Imam and Shan should open. With Abid Ali as backup.

Shafiq, Babar and Haris can make the middle order. Salahuddin or Saad Ali on the bench for now.

Sarfraz can stay as a player. I guess make Asad captain.

Main spinners are Yasir and Bilal. Left arm spinner is also needed. Gohar, Imad or Asghar can be tried. Although Haris can play that role.

As for the pacers, I think the next series is in Asia. So Shaheen should be rested. Abbas and Hasan are the best options. Amir can be the left-arm option.

I will go with this playing XI and squad:

Imam ul-Haq
Shan Masood
Azhar Ali
Haris Sohail
Asad Shafiq*
Babar Azam
Sarfraz Ahmed+
Bilal Asif
Hasan Ali
Mohammad Abbas
Yasir Shah
---------------------------------
Abid Ali+
Zafar Gohar
Mohammad Amir
Usman Salahuddin

Absolutely terrible team. That's what we lost with. Azhar, Shafiq, Bilal, Sarfraz are woeful and must be kicked out.

 

[ameemlutfi]

Shan
Azhar
Haris
Usman
Babar
Saad
Sarfaraz
Zafar
Yasir
Abbas
Mir hamza

 

[DeadlyYorker]

I think Azhar Ali needs to open, he is our best opener. For me the team would be:

1. Azhar Ali
2. Fakhar zaman
3, Babar Azam ( i feel he is one knock away from getting his confidence in the longer format)
4. Haris Sohail (he was our most confident bat in last series, unfair to drop him)
5. Fawad Alam/usman salahuddin (i am a big fan of fawad but i am also concerned about his age now)
6. Sarfraz Ahmed
7. Faheem Ashraf (definitely needed for seaming/swinging tracks)/ Zafar Gohar (left arm option for UAE)
8. Yasir Shah
9. Rahat Ali (hes a much better test bowler then we give him credit)
10. Muhammad Abbas
11. Wahab Riaz ( hes rubbish in LOIs but one great session of reverse swing can turn the match on its head)

I havent gone with Amir since he seems reluctant for tests rather we have willing players. Hassan Ali hasnt been too convincing in tests. We should consider shaheen in a test somewhere as this would help him bulk up as well with more overs under hus belt

Yes please put the hack to open ,just to kill the momentum in everygame...gem of selection

 

[Abdullah]

We need to go to the 5 bowler model especially outside the UAE.
That means 2 all rounders and 3 bowlers .
Otherwise we will always be short.
The lord's win last year is the template. Let's give shadab the responsibility with the bat at number 7. He and faheem played well in that game

 

[Rayyman]

Absolutely terrible team. That's what we lost with. Azhar, Shafiq, Bilal, Sarfraz are woeful and must be kicked out.

They won't be. I'm being realistic.

 

[MRSN]

Those who have Sarfraz in their test team deserve Oscar. A guy who doesn't have fitness for ODIs will be fit enough for tests. Let's not even discuss his non existent batting.

 

[Rayyman]

Those who have Sarfraz in their test team deserve Oscar. A guy who doesn't have fitness for ODIs will be fit enough for tests. Let's not even discuss his non existent batting.

Sarfraz has scored 2 fifties in the last games...

 

[Boi]

Azhar is finished. Struggling big time even in county cricket. I wouldn’t pick Asad either.

If we’re playing in UAE:

Abid
Shan
Haris
Babar
Usman
Saud
Rizwan
Zafar
Yasir
Hasan
Abbas

 

[MRSN]

Sarfraz has scored 2 fifties in the last games...

Time for future bro.

 

[Markhor]

Guys please end this Shadab and Faheem experiment.

Shadab maybe I could tolerate, but needs at least two full seasons of FC cricket to improve his control and stock ball.

Faheem is totally out of his depth at international level. The jury is in.

 

[Kianig89]

Pl need to focus on Test cricket we are languishing down squad :-
Imam Shan Azhar Babar Haris Sarfraz Shadab Yasir Wahab Amir Shaheen

 

[Arsal_AK]

Zafar should debut in our next assignment. It has gotten to point of being ridiculous.

 

[coy0607]

Guys please end this Shadab and Faheem experiment.

Shadab maybe I could tolerate, but needs at least two full seasons of FC cricket to improve his control and stock ball.

Faheem is totally out of his depth at international level. The jury is in.

Shadab has been flying under the radar, but his performance have been very weak for a while.

What's his role exactly? Is he a wicket taking / primary bowler? Is he a run stopper? What about with the bat- is he an all-rounder who bats at #7 or a bowler who bats a little at #9?

He needs to be given a break from all 3 formats. There's a lot of promising spinners in domestic, need to try a few others

 

[MRSN]

Guys please end this Shadab and Faheem experiment.

Shadab maybe I could tolerate, but needs at least two full seasons of FC cricket to improve his control and stock ball.

Faheem is totally out of his depth at international level. The jury is in.

No need of another darter when you already have Imad. Shadab doesn't turn one damn ball. Should be auditioning for lollywood movies and ary tv shows. He has regressed as a player he was back in 2007. Hasan, Shadab, Sarfraz and Faheem enjoyed ct win like they were given certificates to play till eternity.

 

[MRSN]

Shadab has been flying under the radar, but his performance have been very weak for a while.

What's his role exactly? Is he a wicket taking / primary bowler? Is he a run stopper? What about with the bat- is he an all-rounder who bats at #7 or a bowler who bats a little at #9?

He needs to be given a break from all 3 formats. There's a lot of promising spinners in domestic, need to try a few others

WC is over so is Shadab's free ride and some others. Need to test young guys. This is the best time.

 

[aloo paratha]

Guys please end this Shadab and Faheem experiment.

Shadab maybe I could tolerate, but needs at least two full seasons of FC cricket to improve his control and stock ball.

Faheem is totally out of his depth at international level. The jury is in.

Faheem is a club level cricketer. Shadab needs to be sent back to domestic cricket until he can get some control. Zafar Gohar should pair with Yasir as our spin duo in Asia and be the lone spinner outside Asia.

 

[Markhor]

Faheem is a club level cricketer. Shadab needs to be sent back to domestic cricket until he can get some control. Zafar Gohar should pair with Yasir as our spin duo in Asia and be the lone spinner outside Asia.

Unfortunately Tauseef Ahmed, who is the spin specialist on the selection committee, isn't a fan of Zafar Gohar.

Instead this guy picked his son Waleed for the Pakistan Cup.

 

[Ahmed216]

Those who have Sarfraz in their test team deserve Oscar. A guy who doesn't have fitness for ODIs will be fit enough for tests. Let's not even discuss his non existent batting.

Those who have him are being realistic

 

[Ahmed216]

Guys please end this Shadab and Faheem experiment.

Shadab maybe I could tolerate, but needs at least two full seasons of FC cricket to improve his control and stock ball.

Faheem is totally out of his depth at international level. The jury is in.

I think test he has shown potential for test format in batting. Bowling long spells in tests should help his bowling.
Play him at no. 6 and play two other spinners in UAE

 

[MRSN]

Those who have him are being realistic

Having unfit fat belly wk who is struggling to get to double digits and who is close to 34 of real age is nothing being realistic. In fact it's stupidity to waste your time on unfit non serious players like him. Rizwan should be given chance ahead of him since he scored 2 hundreds in his first full series since his comeback.

 

[nextover666666]

Considering our next test is Agaisnt Aussies conditions we need a good attack my 15 would be

1) Shan Masood
2) Abid Ali
3 ) Imam ul Haq

4) Babar Azam
5) Haris Sohail
6) M Rizwan
7) Usman Salhuddin

8) Zafar Gohar
9) Yaser Shah
10) Imad wasim ( I would give him. A try )

11) Shaheen Shah Afridi
12) Wahab Riaz
13) Mohammad Amir
14) Mohammad Abbas
15) Mir Hamza

 

[aloo paratha]

Unfortunately Tauseef Ahmed, who is the spin specialist on the selection committee, isn't a fan of Zafar Gohar.

Instead this guy picked his son Waleed for the Pakistan Cup.

Well hopefully the entire selection committee is getting a revamp because they've been pretty pathetic.

 

[aloo paratha]

Considering our next test is Agaisnt Aussies conditions we need a good attack my 15 would be

We play Sri Lanka in the UAE before we play Aussies, the schedule just hasn't been released yet.

 

[nextover666666]

We play Sri Lanka in the UAE before we play Aussies, the schedule just hasn't been released yet.

Thanks for letting me know