Pakistan v New Zealand | 4th ODI | Karachi | 5th May, 2023 | Pre-Match Discussion

[MenInG]

So the series is secured and the question now is, will Babar continue testing his bench strength by resting key players or go for the 5-0 which could get Pakistan a top ODI ranking?

 

[ads101]

In this situation this is where I’d usually want to experiment. I don’t care about winning 3-2 or 5-0 a win is a win. Rather experiment here than where it mattered against Afghanistan and NZ in the t20 series.

Though if we could actually get no.1 I think we should just go for the 5-0. I don’t think i ever remember pakistan no.1 in ODIs, it would be nice to hit it just once whether or not it is a true ranking or not.

 

[Ami]

Who cares about no 1?
Rest all main players...

Imam
Shan
Abdullah
Riz
Salman
Iftikhar
Nawaz
Usama
M Wasim
Haris
Ihsanullah

 

[MenInG]

Remember we have a politician in charge - The charm of "We became number one in ODIs after we took over" is a huge one!

 

[jattafridi]

Keep performing keep winning

Pakistan need more match winners
If they want to qualify for semifinal

 

[shamaan]

Fakhar Zaman
Shan Masood
Babar Azam
Abdullah Shafique
Rizwan
Iftikhar Ahmed
Nawaz
Usama Mir
Ihsanullah
Rauf
Wasim Jnr

 

[Sports_Psychologist]

No need to rest any players, go with full strength.

Further, my World Cup squad will be;
01 - Imam Ul Haq
02 - Fakhar Zaman
03 - Babar Azam
04 - M. Rizwan
05 - Iftikhar Ahmed
06 - Imad Waseem as a replacement to Nawaz (injury) in squad
07 - Shadab Khan
08 - Agha Salman
09 - Shaheen Shah Afridi
10 - Naseem Shah
11 - Haris Rauf

Bench

12 - M. Haris extra keeper
13 - M. Waseem, M.Hasnain, IhsanUllah pick one of them
14 - Saim Ayub
15 - Abdullah Shafique
16 - Abrar extra spinner for asian tracks.

 

[hitthestump]

We know most of the players who will be on the flight to India so there is really no need to over experiment when we could be using this time for match practice.

Number 4 is the only slot which is wide open. It'll be Chacha's by default unless Abdullah Technique pulls off a great innings in the next two games.

Mohammad Wasim should get another couple of games too. It seems that for some reason nobody fancies grooming Ihsanullah. Presumably from what they've seen in the nets he isn't ready to be an option for India.

 

[hitthestump]

No need to rest any players, go with full strength.

Further, my World Cup squad will be;
01 - Imam Ul Haq
02 - Fakhar Zaman
03 - Babar Azam
04 - M. Rizwan
05 - Iftikhar Ahmed
06 - Imad Waseem as a replacement to Nawaz (injury) in squad
07 - Shadab Khan
08 - Agha Salman
09 - Shaheen Shah Afridi
10 - Naseem Shah
11 - Haris Rauf

I would pick the same team except maybe i would gamble with Usama Mir over Agha Salman. I feel more assured in the batting with Imad Wasim around enabling a more attacking bowler in Usama and sacrificing Salman's batting. Off spin duties would be covered by Chacha instead.

 

[MenInG]

Based on Imam's statement, I don't expect any change in the batting except for maybe Shan coming back again.

 

[pratiktc]

World Cup squad for Pak should be

Starting XI
Imam
Fakhar
Babar
Haris Sohail
Rizwan (k)
Iftikhar
Nawaz
Shadab
Shaheen
Naseem
Rauf

Backups:
Mohammed Wasim
Imad Wasim
Salman Agha
Zaman/Ihsan

 

[pratiktc]

This time Pakistan and SA have silently built really good ODI teams with several players near or at career peaks and whose playing style fits well with subcontinent ODI cricket.

I think we will see these 2 teams make semis this time.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Usama should be a straight swap for Nawaz but would like Iftikhar in the middle order.

Expecting pacers to rotate. Naseem might be rested and one of Haris or Ihsan or both could come in with Shaheen given a game off. Not expecting Shaheen to play 2 ODIs in a space of 3 days that too in Karachi.

 

[Concerned]

This series is really bad and creates disillusioned expectations.

Settling with a line up of Imam, Babar, Shafique, Rizwan and Agha and you will struggle chasing +300 scores more often than not. There is no dynamic batsmen.

 

[Kianig89]

Having followed Pakistan Cricket since mid 90s go for the kill, there is no such thing as long term planning in Pakistan Cricket play your full strength and aim for 5-0, never ever has Pakistan whitewashed a test playing nation 5-0 in ODI's

 

[Abdullah]

How have I missed us getting to the brink of number one rankings!!??
One or two changes at 5 and 6 won't make much difference to the outcome against these, and we can keep rotating the bowlers
If babar Fakhar and imam and Rizwan are playing we will beat these

 

[Bilal7]

Rotate the bowlers but a full strength batting lineup should be played.

1) Fakhar
2) Imam
3) Babar
4) Rizwan
5) Salman
6) Iftikhar
7) Shadab
8) Usama
9) Wasim
10) Ihsanullah
11) Haris

I want to see Haris Rauf with the new ball and Iftikhar should slot in at #6.