Pakistan's ODI batting going towards the World Cup 2019 - What a mess

[Amjid Javed]

Yet another 50 over world cup on the horizon this year and again when it comes to the batting plans and personnel going into a world cup there seems to be no real thoughts, efforts into any decent game plans when it comes to batting, pacing individual inns or team inns and also the whole structure of batting line up is pretty poor as well.

Yes we are not blessed with world class batting talent in 50 over cricket but at the same time we are not using the best options we have to hand.

Firstly the world cup in being played in the summer in the UK not in April/May like in 1999 so the conditions are likely not be as seamer friendly as the pakistan think tank seem to think they will be. Since after the 2015 world cup most of the ODI and even domestic affairs in the UK when it comes to 50 over cricket has seen a shift overall team scoring and how teams go about batting in 1st 10 overs of an inns.

Theres no thought of sending an pinch blocker at number 3 like Razzaq ala 1999 to blunt the new ball. You only have to look at India, England and new zealand currently and see that both opening batsmen are given a licence to go out and play attacking shots and get team off to a flyer. No off this we need one batsmen to blunt the new ball that pakistan seem to be using.

Occupying the crease is important but we can ill afford an opener or number 3 batsmen eating up huge parts of the inns just playing themselves in. In addition again this is not again like 1999 where a slow start can be caught up by keeping wickets in hand and be bailed out by big hitters down the order (This is not a luxury we have with players like Shadab, Imad and Sarfraz occupying lower middle order batting slots).

Then there is fascination with with continuing to pick Past their sell by date senior players or persisting with senior players for to long when out of form. Almost every world cup since 2003, we have gone in a competition including batsmen on seniority who were either not suited to ODI cricket or no longer good enough to be in the side on merit (Malik & Sarfarz - Yes i understand Replacement for sarfraz is even worse but doesnt hide fact sarfraz himself is not good enough to be in side on merit alone either)

Looks like Imam and Babar will occupy two of the 3 spot at top of order in world cup and both need to improve on scoring runs quicker early on and pacing inns alot better, Yes scoring runs is fine but in what will be a run feast in summer we the slow start of missing out on an extra 20/30 runs could prove costly.

Players like Malik, Sarfraz are simply not good enough players to be in vital middle order slots, niether is that great against pace and neither has the game to provide a finishers role of the team.

Shadab and Imad wasim, technically these two look pretty decent, can pace an inns and knock the ball around so why are they occupying spots which should be for lower order hitters or finishers to an inns? Why so many one paced accumulators? Get with the modern game of thinking of how ODIs are now!

We could have used some out of the box thinking in this SA series maybe tried Imad higher up as he seems competent enough to be batting at a high position 5/6 in the team.

We have stupidly neglected to choose any new middle order batsmen in last 4 years to build for long term in ODIs in slot 4/5 etc... instead gone with protecting TTFs likes malik, sarfraz, Hafeez (For once hafeez can be excused from criticism as hes performed well at number 4 recently)

We pretty much have 1 series left now vs Aussies in UAE to getting our batting selections right, the ODI series in England before world cup will probably end up being the players who are going to play in world cup itself.

The whole build up towards world cup from a batting point of view overall has been a massive let down. I cant see Main changes in the batting for next series as the usual of we cant make drastic changes so close to a world cup.

Not giving shan masood a game all series is just one of the blunders of the team, just going through the motions. Its almost as though Inzi/mickey/Safraz already have the batting line up picked in their heads going forward for competition regardless of how results go.

Win or lose this 5th ODI today, i doubt the way team think tank is thinking is likely to change at all.

 

[Abdullah]

Been saying this for ages.
Sarfaraz needs to bat 4. Out of what we have hafeez needs to o be the number 6. But we have them the other way around.
Shan will be an upgrade on imam and will score at the required rate leaving Babar to be the innings builder. ( You only need 1)

Asif Ali should be persisted with as he can strike. Imad is ahead of faheem because faheems batting has been woeful.

 

[Sherlock]

Nothing changes. It's the same old problems and issues.

The fans can see it, the coaches [supposedly] can see it but the players/selectors can't.

There's no innovative structure in the Pakistan setup. It relies heavily on individual brilliance rather than team tactics.

It's just shocking people in the setup still get paid to do what they've been doing for the past decade, without any real discernable improvements. The ICC CT was based on luck and the players getting their act together after being so under-par throughout the tournament before the KO stages.

The process of Inzi [once again] not seeing what's in front of him is startling. But the problem goes way before him too. Better sides would've gotten rid of Malik/Sarfaraz/Hafeez/Amir etc because they'd be looking at the future and not the here-and-now.

It's ridiculous but inevitable, unfortunately.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

.

Players like Malik, Sarfraz are simply not good enough players to be in vital middle order slots, niether is that great against pace and neither has the game to provide a finishers role of the team.

I think that's the key problem area for me, it puts a lot of pressure on the top order to score runs, lose early wickets and it's game over. When I see them in the middle order it inspires no confidence at all, we need at least one more specialist batsman for the top 5. Sarfraz could maybe get away with playing at 6, but even then he is very inconsistent.

 

[Bilal7]

The batting is pretty decent with Fakhar finding form. Don't expect them to play like England do; they have their own strengths and Pakistan has their own.

The only issue I see is how to fit Haris Sohail into this team (assuming he's fit enough to get into the squad). As of now, this lineup should get enough runs most of the time:

1) Imam
2) Fakhar
3) Babar
4) Hafeez
5) Malik
6) Rizwan/Sarfaraz
7) Shadab
8) Imad

 

[MeanAndGreen]

Where has Shadab shown that he can bat up the order? Played an absolutely awful innings today and ran out Malik who could've got us to a competitive total.

Fakhar played an absolute garbage knock today. Literally ran his luck throughout the entire innings and didn't have the game sense or technique to bat through till the end. I don't see what he offers.

So much for his so called "aggressive batting" - the guy tried to blast everything yet still couldn't score at a quicker rate than Babar in the first 15 overs, who was literally timing and placing everything.

We need proper batsmen, not pinch hitters with high SRs.

 

[coy0607]

Hafeez and Malik together is just too much mediocrity to be carried together. Only one should be played, based on form. Harris is probably the best bat to replace, but even he can be a drag in the middle overs

Rizwan is a club level player, should never play for Pakistan.

The top 3 are pretty much set, for better or worse.

the tail is intriguing, Hassan and Imad have shown promise, so have Shadab and Faheem in the past. But no one has really been consistent enough to stand out

at the end of the day, its an average batting lineup at best. Pakistan will (once again) depend on bowlers heavily if they want to go anywhere in the WC

 

[Amjid Javed]

The batting is pretty decent with Fakhar finding form. Don't expect them to play like England do; they have their own strengths and Pakistan has their own.

The only issue I see is how to fit Haris Sohail into this team (assuming he's fit enough to get into the squad). As of now, this lineup should get enough runs most of the time:

1) Imam
2) Fakhar
3) Babar
4) Hafeez
5) Malik
6) Rizwan/Sarfaraz
7) Shadab
8) Imad

Shadab does not have the finishing skills or power game to be batting at number 7, you have a technically correct batsmen in a lower order role.

You are wasting Imad down at number 8 when he could probably do a better job then sarfraz or Malik higher up.

Plus having malik and sarfraz in the team altogether is a joke as well.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Where has Shadab shown that he can bat up the order? Played an absolutely awful innings today and ran out Malik who could've got us to a competitive total.

Fakhar played an absolute garbage knock today. Literally ran his luck throughout the entire innings and didn't have the game sense or technique to bat through till the end. I don't see what he offers.

So much for his so called "aggressive batting" - the guy tried to blast everything yet still couldn't score at a quicker rate than Babar in the first 15 overs, who was literally timing and placing everything.

We need proper batsmen, not pinch hitters with high SRs.

Why is shadab being played in batting role so low down? He doesnt score quickly, he cant strike ball at end of an inns, but hes essentially in the side as a bowler/fielder.

Still dont get why he came in before Imad.

 

[MeanAndGreen]

Why is shadab being played in batting role so low down? He doesnt score quickly, he cant strike ball at end of an inns, but hes essentially in the side as a bowler/fielder.

Still dont get why he came in before Imad.

I agree he shouldn't have come in before Imad. Once again our management is clueless about the capabilities of each batsman.

 

[Amjid Javed]

I agree he shouldn't have come in before Imad. Once again our management is clueless about the capabilities of each batsman.

This is the most frustrating thing, no defined or logical role for or batters in current set up.

 

[RickyG]

I fail to understand why you're pretending to be shocked. This is the best ODI batting line up we're taking into a world cup since 2007 (12 years).

We have a relatively settled top 3. Hafeez has finally realized he is not an opener and is playing fluently in the middle order.

Malik isn't ideal at 5 in England but unfortunately there's not much you can do about that.

Sarfraz isn't ideal at 6 and should probably bat at 5 but he is still the best keeper batsman in the country. And no Rohail Nazir is not better than him. Neither is Rizwan (see his last 20 international innings for reference).

Imad should bat above Shadab on current form. I can't remember the last time we had a number 8 who was as reliable as Imad with the bat. Shadab's batting position is a concern though but you can only shield him for so long. After the world cup, he should be pushed up to 5 and asked to develop his batting.

Hasan Ali at 9 can slog and has two ODI 50s. Amir has two ODI 50s.

The two major things Pakistan must sort out are the batting order and the captain.

Otherwise this is the best lineup you're going to get.

 

[ShahidDar08]

Shadab Khan's batting is more suited to test cricket.

 

[Smudger]

Pakistan batting order is absolutely fine. Its just that their batting statergy should be to keep 7-8 wickets in hand in last 15 overs and then we can launch in the end.
This statergy will ensure that pakistan get 290-310 most of the time which will be enough to win most games given our balling
And last but not the least imad should come ahead of shadab

 

[shah_1]

Malik is the worst batsman in the team. He has regressed so badly.

Malik shouldn't play and you don't have too many good choices to change other batsmen.

 

[Bilal7]

Shadab does not have the finishing skills or power game to be batting at number 7, you have a technically correct batsmen in a lower order role.

You are wasting Imad down at number 8 when he could probably do a better job then sarfraz or Malik higher up.

Plus having malik and sarfraz in the team altogether is a joke as well.

I'm not looking for Pakistan to start scoring 350 regularly. Like I said, that is how England play and it works for them but it won't work for us.

This team has the potential to score around 270-280 consistently and that will be a good enough score given that our bowling is pretty darn good.

Malik and Sarfaraz/Rizwan are a lock for the World Cup so there is no point pretending otherwise. Additionally, Shadab and Imad batting higher than 7 and 8 will weaken the batting lineup considerably. They are not proper batsmen. Yet.

 

[topspin]

I'm not looking for Pakistan to start scoring 350 regularly. Like I said, that is how England play and it works for them but it won't work for us.

This team has the potential to score around 270-280 consistently and that will be a good enough score given that our bowling is pretty darn good.

Malik and Sarfaraz/Rizwan are a lock for the World Cup so there is no point pretending otherwise. Additionally, Shadab and Imad batting higher than 7 and 8 will weaken the batting lineup considerably. They are not proper batsmen. Yet.

Going by this statement one would assume Shadab and Imad are about the same level. Fact of the matter is the former has a SR of 67 and the latter has an average in excess of 40 with a SR of 100+, yet you cite he's not a proper batsman.

If Imad wasn't a proper batsman he wouldn't be averaging 40+ in both FC and ODIs.

Your lack of insight is evident once again with your batting order. It's absurd to have Imad batting below Shadab.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

This should be the lineup:

Fakhar Zaman
Imam Ul Haq
Babar Azam
Haris Sohail
Sarfraz Ahmed
Mohammad Hafeez
Imad Wasim
Hasan Ali
Shadab Khan
Mohammad Amir
Shaheen Afridi

 

[shah_1]

Selectors need to look at top teams. No team has bit and pieces cricketer like Hafeez and Malik in the top 5. I know Hafeez did well this series but look at his overall career

Even if we don't have the talent or not, management should always pick proper 5 batsman, forget about having 6th or 7th bowling option in the top 5. Hopefully there is a change in mentality after WC once these two go.

 

[JaDed]

I'm not looking for Pakistan to start scoring 350 regularly. Like I said, that is how England play and it works for them but it won't work for us.

This team has the potential to score around 270-280 consistently and that will be a good enough score given that our bowling is pretty darn good.

Malik and Sarfaraz/Rizwan are a lock for the World Cup so there is no point pretending otherwise. Additionally, Shadab and Imad batting higher than 7 and 8 will weaken the batting lineup considerably. They are not proper batsmen. Yet.

Won't be enough, most modern ODI matches, at best you can win a couple coz of individual bowling performance.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Selectors need to look at top teams. No team has bit and pieces cricketer like Hafeez and Malik in the top 5. I know Hafeez did well this series but look at his overall career

Even if we don't have the talent or not, management should always pick proper 5 batsman, forget about having 6th or 7th bowling option in the top 5. Hopefully there is a change in mentality after WC once these two go.

Hafeez might not be top class, but he is a genuine batsman, and I don't think we have better waiting in the wings. I agree that we need someone at number 5 who can replace Shoaib though. He's a good hitter on his day, but is better suited to batting at no 7 which would reflect his actual batting ability.

 

[Amjid Javed]

I'm not looking for Pakistan to start scoring 350 regularly. Like I said, that is how England play and it works for them but it won't work for us.

This team has the potential to score around 270-280 consistently and that will be a good enough score given that our bowling is pretty darn good.

Malik and Sarfaraz/Rizwan are a lock for the World Cup so there is no point pretending otherwise. Additionally, Shadab and Imad batting higher than 7 and 8 will weaken the batting lineup considerably. They are not proper batsmen. Yet.

The fact the line of thinking here and with selectors, captain, coach etc.. is such that failures like malik and sarfraz are autopicks is point i highlighted in opening post. Also i think imad at 5 or 6 would not weaken the batting, our batting is very brittle already.

 

[saintgrace]

This should be the lineup:

Fakhar Zaman
Imam Ul Haq
Babar Azam
Haris Sohail
Sarfraz Ahmed
Mohammad Hafeez
Imad Wasim
Hasan Ali
Shadab Khan
Mohammad Amir
Shaheen Afridi

you are discarding the current kaptaan. Shoieb jiju.

 

[fluke]

they should somehow bring in umar Akmal, asif ali because we do not have a single dynamic player in our middle order UK can keep wickets and it will give another option for a batting or bowling all rounder or specialist batsman in haris sohail.

Fakhar (Captain)
Imam
Babar

Hafeez / Malik (one of them should play only)

Umar Akmal
Haris Sohail (any other batting or bowling all rounder)
Asif Ali
Imad Wasim / Shadab Khan (I would prefer imad, for the sack of variety
Hassan Ali
Shaheen Afridi
Junaid Khan (Amir should only be used in seaming conditions)



This will give us a dynamic batter at the top (Fakhar) if needed imam and babar can stable things

Two dynamic hitters at 5 & 7 asif ali and umar Akmal

in bowling we have good enough bowlers to complete 50 overs

but this batting line up can save us and win SOME games in coming WC.

 

[Asif321]

I think if you remove hafeez and Malik get 2 batsmen for 5 and 6 suited position
Sarfraz at 4 you will be good

 

[Amjid Javed]

I think if you remove hafeez and Malik get 2 batsmen for 5 and 6 suited position
Sarfraz at 4 you will be good

Sarfraz at 4? Hes not good enough to be in side as a batsmen, let alone number 4.

 

[xricket]

We also need to hire Mushtaq, to work on our leggies like Yasir & Shadab

 

[shabas]

WC team

Imam
Fakhar
Babar
Shan Masood/ Haris Sohail
Hafeez
Sarfraz( C)
Imad/ Faheem
Shadab
Hasan Ali/ Amir
Shaheen Afridi
Usman Khan/ Junaid Khan.

 

[aloo paratha]

Why is shadab being played in batting role so low down? He doesnt score quickly, he cant strike ball at end of an inns, but hes essentially in the side as a bowler/fielder.

Still dont get why he came in before Imad.

I agree he shouldn't have come in before Imad. Once again our management is clueless about the capabilities of each batsman.

I think the plan was to have Malik and Shadab accumulate until the 43rd-ish over, and then try to hit out, which would mean one would probably get out, allowing Imad to come in and Freely try to smack the bowlers for the last 5.

Clearly that didn't go to plan.

 

[Rayyman]

This should be the lineup:

Fakhar Zaman
Imam Ul Haq
Babar Azam
Haris Sohail
Sarfraz Ahmed
Mohammad Hafeez
Imad Wasim
Hasan Ali
Shadab Khan
Mohammad Amir
Shaheen Afridi

I agree with this XI. Probably the best chance that Pakistan has got in ODIs.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

This is the obligatory wrist-slitting thread after a series. Nothing to look into here. The team has made great strides and fought really well.

 

[hitthestump]

The batting is pretty decent with Fakhar finding form. Don't expect them to play like England do; they have their own strengths and Pakistan has their own.

The only issue I see is how to fit Haris Sohail into this team (assuming he's fit enough to get into the squad). As of now, this lineup should get enough runs most of the time:

1) Imam
2) Fakhar
3) Babar
4) Hafeez
5) Malik
6) Rizwan/Sarfaraz
7) Shadab
8) Imad

This line up is heavily dependent on either Imam or Babar to bat through the innings to make a competitive score. You're rarely going to see a big innings from any of the others. Also (not that i see a good alternative for this right now) Rizwan/Safaraz are just too high at 6 given their lack of ability.

 

[Amjid Javed]

This is the obligatory wrist-slitting thread after a series. Nothing to look into here. The team has made great strides and fought really well.

Please enlighten us with what great strides the team had made in this series?

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Pakistan top order is doing fine.
The only problem is middle order which needs to be settle ASAP

 

[Haripotter]

Bring back Umar akmal and Asif ali

 

[MMHS]

PAK is the most settled squad for the WC. Barring injury, following players will make squad of 16:

1. Imam
2. Fakhar
3. Babar
4. Shan
5. Hafeez
6. Malik
7. *Sarfraz+
8. Shadab
9. Imad
10. Fahim
11. Amir
12. Hasan
13. Shaheen
14. Usman

There are 2 spots left - may be Umar/Rizwan one & JK/Nawaz/Wahab other one.


There are two threads going on WC and popular belief (before 5th ODI) is that this a squad among top 3 in bowling among top 5 in batting. Obviously Sarfraz is the best Captain around - by the triple combination, PAK is already in SF. Then it’s a matter of just two non fluke days by it's opponents on SF & Final.

Don’t think there is any thing to worry about.

 

[JibranAnsari]

I think the only replaceable batsman in the team is malik at the moment , hafeez has shown that he can accelerate in the last 15-20 overs. Top 3 select themselves , hafeez can play anywhere from 4 to 6 depending upon the situation. If haris is back he can replace malik , otherwise pakistan has 10 odis before world cup against good opposition. Pakistan can try out saud shakeel at number 4 slot.

Imam/shan
Fakhar/shan
Babar
Haris/saud
Hafeez
Sarfraz
Imad
Shadab
Hassan
Shaheen
Abbas/amir/shinwari.

This is the squad we should try in the next 10 matches.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

PAK is the most settled squad for the WC. Barring injury, following players will make squad of 16:

1. Imam
2. Fakhar
3. Babar
4. Shan
5. Hafeez
6. Malik
7. *Sarfraz+
8. Shadab
9. Imad
10. Fahim
11. Amir
12. Hasan
13. Shaheen
14. Usman

There are 2 spots left - may be Umar/Rizwan one & JK/Nawaz/Wahab other one.


There are two threads going on WC and popular belief (before 5th ODI) is that this a squad among top 3 in bowling among top 5 in batting. Obviously Sarfraz is the best Captain around - by the triple combination, PAK is already in SF. Then it’s a matter of just two non fluke days by it's opponents on SF & Final.

Don’t think there is any thing to worry about.

Do you think both Hafeez and Malik can play in final 11?.

 

[MMHS]

Do you think both Hafeez and Malik can play in final 11?.

What I think hardly matters. Only thing that matters is what PAK tank thinks - to them, these two are best available for the all important no. 4-5 spots; so both will be in squad and start every game.

 

[Ahmed216]

With Sarfraz Malik Hafeez there is no solidity in middle order.

Fakhar- yet to sort out short-ball issues
Imam- Ever-improving
Babar- very talented and classy but tends to give away his wicket softly at times against the run of play.
Hafeez- cant rotate strike, relies mainly on boundary-hitting
Malik- poor against pace
Sarfraz- Has been poor with bat since he has become captain, too consumed by the pressure of his job.

There is no firepower and most batsmen do know the art of building an innings

 

[Amjid Javed]

Hand on heart how many people think hafeez, malik, sarfraz will get big runs against top sides in WC or win the team important games?

 

[saabir]

First time after a long time they have a settled top 3 followed by Hafeez who is also in good nick. So top 4 are settled. Mallik can hit spinners a long way. Problem is no power hitter in the lower order. Immad can play with good strike rate although he is nog natural six hotter. Hassan Ali can slog few and looks to be decent hitter if given confidence. Other than pakistan perhaps only India have a settled top 3.

 

[BakuGM]

I think the only replaceable batsman in the team is malik at the moment , hafeez has shown that he can accelerate in the last 15-20 overs. Top 3 select themselves , hafeez can play anywhere from 4 to 6 depending upon the situation. If haris is back he can replace malik , otherwise pakistan has 10 odis before world cup against good opposition. Pakistan can try out saud shakeel at number 4 slot.

Imam/shan
Fakhar/shan
Babar
Haris/saud
Hafeez
Sarfraz
Imad
Shadab
Hassan
Shaheen
Abbas/amir/shinwari.

This is the squad we should try in the next 10 matches.

This team would be our best chance, not saying they will win the Cup but this team can/will put up a good show.

 

[a_tahir]

This team would be our best chance, not saying they will win the Cup but this team can/will put up a good show.

Is saud shakeel even in their plans?
He hasn't even been selected in the squad even once. Nor has he been selected for the t20is

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Please enlighten us with what great strides the team had made in this series?

From getting whitewashed in NZ to drawing with them in UAE to almost beating SA in SA. If that's not progress, I don't know what is.

 

[Syed1]

From getting whitewashed in NZ to drawing with them in UAE to almost beating SA in SA. If that's not progress, I don't know what is.

Batting phir bhi guzara hai... Top three can muster some runs, but Pakistani bowling line ups letting opposition chase 240 without even breaking a sweat is unheard of.

 

[Stewie]

Theybwill get better.. just need a couple batsmen to score well and we should be good..

 

[CricFan2012]

Bowling looks worse on paper but we will manage to do well as we usually do in England during that season and in world cups.

 

[todfod 11]

How do expect the openers to bat freely when ur batting ends at no. 5? you need a strong middle order for openers to bat freely.

The team which should played in world cup should be batting heavy with 4 bowlers
Fakhar (has to play whether good or bad too much invested into him)
Shan masood
Imam ( i feel he would do much better at 3)
Babar
Hafeez
umer akmal
sarfaraz
shadab
hassan
amir
shaheen

fakhar, hafeez and shan to share rest of the 10 overs even one of them get a thrashing other two should manage well.

 

[giri26]

I think Pakistan's batting isn't that bad as people make it out to be. They will do quite well in the world cup. The bowling is the one which the team needs to worry about. None of them look like getting wickets regularly.

 

[Snowflake]

Batting is fine. Our top 3 will give us good starts more often than not one of Malik/Hafeez/Sarfraz can bat till the end.

Bowling is what should worry Pakistan. Except Shaheen, none of the bowlers look threatening.

 

[King-Misbah]

We had 4 years to prepare! Need accountability!

 

[ali2220]

Actually batting is better than what we had 4 years back , however bowling is weak.I'm confident that bowlers will do better in WC but I don't think it will be extraordinary.

 

[Bilal7]

This line up is heavily dependent on either Imam or Babar to bat through the innings to make a competitive score. You're rarely going to see a big innings from any of the others. Also (not that i see a good alternative for this right now) Rizwan/Safaraz are just too high at 6 given their lack of ability.

Yes, it is dependent on one of Imam or Babar doing well given that they are the two best batsmen in the side. Even if one of them scores a 100, Pakistan will score 300+ more often than not. Fakhar is also capable of big innings and I can see him doing well in England so the top three is pretty good.

Rizwan hasn't got many chances to show what he can do so I think you're being a bit unfair. Although neither of Sarfaraz, Imad or Shadab can be considered proper batsmen, the three of them together can more than compensate for the absence of one at #6.

 

[Bilal7]

The fact the line of thinking here and with selectors, captain, coach etc.. is such that failures like malik and sarfraz are autopicks is point i highlighted in opening post. Also i think imad at 5 or 6 would not weaken the batting, our batting is very brittle already.

Imad is not a proper batsman. Batting him at five will be disastrous. People get impressed upon seeing his average but fail to notice that he scores less than 25 actual runs per innings. In other words, his average is bloated due to his high percentage of not-outs courtesy of batting lower down the order.

However, he is good enough to be a lower-order finisher for Pakistan and since he can also bowl decently well, should make the World Cup squad. However, he'll need to improve his bowling to really nail his place in the side.

Won't be enough, most modern ODI matches, at best you can win a couple coz of individual bowling performance.

Consistenly scoring around 280 will definitely take Pakistan to the semis. Not many teams can score that much against an attack that includes five of Amir, Junaid, Shaheen, Hasan, Shadab, Imad and Fahim.

 

[JaDed]

Imad is not a proper batsman. Batting him at five will be disastrous. People get impressed upon seeing his average but fail to notice that he scores less than 25 actual runs per innings. In other words, his average is bloated due to his high percentage of not-outs courtesy of batting lower down the order.

However, he is good enough to be a lower-order finisher for Pakistan and since he can also bowl decently well, should make the World Cup squad. However, he'll need to improve his bowling to really nail his place in the side.



Consistenly scoring around 280 will definitely take Pakistan to the semis. Not many teams can score that much against an attack that includes five of Amir, Junaid, Shaheen, Hasan, Shadab, Imad and Fahim.

I think you are mistaken, but lets see..

 

[Shandarchowka]

No, I think we're not as bad as what people make us out to be. We just lost by a whisker 2-3 margin to RSA. And the pitches were not like the ones we'll face during world cup. Come the world cup, I expect Babar, Fakhar, and Imam scoring the bulk of the runs. We also have decent experience in Hafeez, Malik, and Sarfi and Imad should be at home in England. Shadab, Faheem, Amir, and Hasan should enjoy conditions in England. Contrary to what people expect, I think we will do much better in England this world cup.

 

[Snowflake]

We had 4 years to prepare! Need accountability!

Preperation only started post Misbah. Since then, we have built a good core around young players. We're not going into the WC with TTFS or ageing players (except a couple) and are expected to put in a decent performance.

Mickey and Sarfraz have planned well for the WC, it's just that we're lacking a match winner, and it's not like we have several waiting in the wings.

 

[aukhan]

We have a long and it starts with Sarfraz. You can't win with 5 batsmen regularly.

 

[ManFan]

The PSL is Pakistan’s last hope.

 

[Pete Rose]

Preperation only started post Misbah. Since then, we have built a good core around young players. We're not going into the WC with TTFS or ageing players (except a couple) and are expected to put in a decent performance.

Mickey and Sarfraz have planned well for the WC, it's just that we're lacking a match winner, and it's not like we have several waiting in the wings.

I think you underestimate the negative impact of carrying malik and hafeez. Their careers and recent form are visible to anyone who know better.
Yet we keep carrying these guys, and then add to it Sarfaraz who is a similar sort of batsman. I am willing to make exception for sarfaraz because he has been captain through good and bad.
But look at what happens when you play hafeez and malik:
top three: fakhar, imam, babar
if you lose early wickets: you have a huuuuge drop in quality: you get hafeez, malik, and sarfaraz.
imagine these guys having to play out 30 overs....they scratch around (if its a lucky day for hafeez he will score an impactless 70)...and then the expectation is for guys shadab/fakhar/imad/nawaz/asif ali/etc etc... to come with the team 5 or 6 down and rebuild if score is low or to strike out if score is decent....
this is not sustainable. for pakistan to do well, the top three will need to bat 40 overs in every game, and then hafeez comes in over 40 and hopefully last 6 or 7 overs...and then malik/sarfaz get skipped over and the allrounders lash a few

 

[topspin]

Imad is not a proper batsman. Batting him at five will be disastrous. People get impressed upon seeing his average but fail to notice that he scores less than 25 actual runs per innings. In other words, his average is bloated due to his high percentage of not-outs courtesy of batting lower down the order.

However, he is good enough to be a lower-order finisher for Pakistan and since he can also bowl decently well, should make the World Cup squad. However, he'll need to improve his bowling to really nail his place in the side.



Consistenly scoring around 280 will definitely take Pakistan to the semis. Not many teams can score that much against an attack that includes five of Amir, Junaid, Shaheen, Hasan, Shadab, Imad and Fahim.

If he's not a proper batsman can you explain as to why he averages 40+ in FC? To maintain an average at 40 in ODIs as a finisher with excellent SR is no joke.

In the past you also stated a preference for Junaid over Shaheen in ODIs and look how that turned out. You couldn't have been anymore wrong. No disrespect but you have a strange way of looking at things.

Your argument about his inflated average because of batting down the order (ending not out) is flawed because you're assuming he isn't striking when actually he's playing a high risk brand of cricket. If he wasn't a proper batsman he wouldn't be averaging 40+ with the bat in FC and ODIs. In fact he's a more well rounded batsman than Shoaib Malik who is woeful against pace outside Asia and 140+ pace in all conditions. Therefore I'm pretty sure he would do a better job at no.5 however due to the lack of hitters lower down the order it would be wise to have him at 6 as the team's primary (and only) specialist hitter.

 

[Markhor]

This is the truth about Pakistan's batting against top teams since the 2015 World Cup.

You see where the problems are. Question is what will our selectors do about it or will we continue to worship seniority at the expense of performance.