Few quotes you hear a lot:
"surplus of resources is a good headache to have"
"people (playing) out of position will have significantly diminished value"
"make the most of the resources you have"
If you put these 3 things together, you'll have the answer to what is wrong with the Pakistan cricket team.
I genuinely believe that the resources that we have available in this team are good enough for us to be a good team. Not the best team. But a good team! and definitely not have a 9 - 0 record against top sides this year.
What do I mean?
1. We can't find a spot for Haris Sohail in the team. I think [MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] posted his stats in the last few ODIs and they are better than most Pakistani batsman. But somehow we can't find a spot for him.
2. Hafeez . . In and out? Open or number 4? If a team hasn't realized his value in ODI cricket in 15 years, then its better to just bang your ahead against the wall. For me, IF Hafeez plays in ODIs, his role needs to be that, that was ACCIDENTALLY given to him in the final of the Champions trophy. Go out there after the 35 over mark and attack (and hope that he doesn't get banned again otherwise there's no place for him)
3. Asif Ali. We need a batsman like him at the death. No doubt about it. His effectiveness has been questionably till now. Also no doubt about it. But for me, he has shown glimpses to suggest that he can give you quick 30s at the end. But my point is, if you have selected him for the role and you believe that he is the best in the country to perform that role, then why dont you stick with him? Give him the time and the confidence to show it.
He has played 10 matches with 2 against India. And in one of those 2 games, he actually was playing well and looked like someone who could do a job for us. But his record for a number 7 batsman whos job is to accelerate is hardly anything to kick him out for. But again, you can't find a spot for him!
4. Fahim Ashraf / Shadab Khan / Imad Wasim: What do you do with this trio? Shadab I think is a great cricketer and I really hope he continues to learn, evolve and get better with age. He is only 20. But he is not the batsman you want walking out at the 40th over mark. He doesn't have that ability, so for Pakistan to count him a number 7 batsman is an issue because it creates a false impression of the batting depth. I think Shadab Khan can do a fantastic job in test cricket as a batsman (like he has shown). But in ODI, he should be played ONLY as a bowler (its all in the mindset).
Fahim Ashraf, while a decent bowler who is improving is not a good batsman. I have not seen any innings from him in the ODI team where he has had an impact with the bat (someone can correct me?). Unless he can become a reliable hitter, you can't count on him. Because if he can, then there is no need for Asif Ali. Right now, we ONLY need both of them because clearly the team doesn't trust our "all rounder" to do the job with the bat! So for me, he is only playing as a bowler, which again is wrong! Perhaps Amir Yamin is a better option than him with the bat even if his bowling is not as good as Faheem. But again . . DEPENDS ON THE ROLE you want this player to play!
Imad Wasim should be played depending on conditions. I think in places like the WI, UAE, Bang he adds value to the team. In South Africa, England, Australia, NZ, his bowling style doesn't suffice. But for me, he is a better batsman than both Fahiim Ashraf and Shadab khan in ODI cricket. So again, if you wnat him to play a role of a batsman who can bowl . . then work on it! and play him like that!!
5. Hasan Ali / Amir/ Shinwari / Shaheen Afridi / Junaid: Goodness gracious! You don't even know who starts? Man! And then on top of that add a captian who bowls Hasan Ali in the last overs when he is clearly out of form and Shaheen Afridi was the best fast bowler on the day . . doesn't help! For me personally, Amir, Hasan and Shaheen Afridi would be the 3 pace bowlers I'd like in the World cup . . but again . . idk what the team is thinking, but there is way too much tinkering and not enough planning
6. Form of Hasan Ali. Look! A lot of people are reacting harshly, and perhaps rightly so! He has been average at best given the heights that he achieved in 2017. Everyone was all praise (world over) for his abilities, his action, his control, his pace, his aggression, etc. etc. . . Also he had NO mystery about him (that he will get found out) . . he was just a good fast bowler! He has lost form . . perhaps focus . . Someone in the setup has to take him away and just get him back to what he was . . Some technical things include his lines and length . . his head position while delivering . . and generally, I think clutter in his head! He needs to sort it out ASAP. YOu don't lose ability over night!! He has the ability and it was/is well recognized . . it's a dip in form and focus! SOMEONE from the THINK TANK has to have the ability to address it . . or so I hope!
Lastly, This notion that we need hitters in teh line up and not accumulators is NOT correct! You need people in the line up who can BAT! Who will give you a SCORE more often that not! You can worry about hitting when that is taken care off . . A team comprising of Fakhar Zaman and Sharjeel Khan and Asif Ali and other quick scoring players will NOT give you the results (unless you can find a gilchrist and de kock and jason roy and kohli and bairstow in Pakistan)! I can bet my bottom dollar on it!
You need a team that covers all aspects and roles, and you've got the right people playing those roles . . For now, I think the Pakistan team has good resources. But the team management/think tank is at a loss on how to use those resources!
Like I said above, with people like Zaman, Babar, Haris, Malik (who has been in the form of his life), Shadab, Amir, Shaheen, Hasan Ali . . (also I am not saying these people are good players . . analysts and pundits world over recognize this fact) . . we have the ability to become a good team! We are grossly underperforming for the reasons I have mentioned above.
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Or I think 5-0.
