Pakistan's Pace Bowling Options for Test Matches

[Dagestani_Eagle]

Shaheen is a automatic starter.

Naseem is too raw despite 10-15 matches already.

Hassan Ali is a shadow of his older self. He has lost pace, swing, movement, everything.

Abbas is harmless in Asia and Australia.

Harris Rauf hasn't even debuted yet. Very less FC experience.



So what are the options?

Don't say TTFs like Rahat Ali, Mir Hamza etc

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

These are the only options.

 

[Xoib]

Shaheen-leader fantastic

Naseem- has shown signs of improvement past 2-3 games so worth sticking

Abbas- has bowled in England and has done nothing wrong be dropped.

Dahani,Rauf,Hasnain should be in the mix

 

[Titan24]

Other than the ones you mentioned
- Dahani is a solid option for test cricket as well
- Arshad Iqbal is there, tall and hits the deck hard and had a good last QAE 2021 season too
- Wasim Jr is decent option as well and utilizes the older ball pretty well.

So quite a few options but, need to utilize them as per the conditions well.

 

[Dagestani_Eagle]

Shaheen-leader fantastic

Naseem- has shown signs of improvement past 2-3 games so worth sticking

Abbas- has bowled in England and has done nothing wrong be dropped.

Dahani,Rauf,Hasnain should be in the mix

Has Hussnain actually played post remodeling?
I guess not. So he's not anywhere near selection as of now

Dahani seems brittle? Will be manage the rigorous 5 day grilling

 

[Marooned]

Hamza, Gul, Irfanullah Shah, Ehsan all have great fc records and are of right age.

Dahani has the highest ceiling. Waseem jnr has decent potential too. There is Khurram Shehzad too.

The options are far from meager as some would have you believe.

 

[Titan24]

Has Hussnain actually played post remodeling?
I guess not. So he's not anywhere near selection as of now

Dahani seems brittle? Will be manage the rigorous 5 day grilling

Hasnain is currently playing his first match in county championship for Worcestershire. Took couple of wickets, some good pace and swing.

Dahani came into the scene on the back of his 4 day performances in QAE (Playing a lot of matches in the 4 day season). He is pretty fit and has played almost complete season for Sindh without much issues after which he was selected for PSL.

 

[Dagestani_Eagle]

Hamza, Gul, Irfanullah Shah, Ehsan all have great fc records and are of right age.

Dahani has the highest ceiling. Waseem jnr has decent potential too. There is Khurram Shehzad too.

The options are far from meager as some would have you believe.

If everyone's rating Dahani so high, why he's not being picked regularly

 

[Dagestani_Eagle]

Other than the ones you mentioned
- Dahani is a solid option for test cricket as well
- Arshad Iqbal is there, tall and hits the deck hard and had a good last QAE 2021 season too
- Wasim Jr is decent option as well and utilizes the older ball pretty well.

So quite a few options but, need to utilize them as per the conditions well.

Wasim Jr. , I've my doubts. He's a good bowler when it comes to variety but can he pitch the ball on same spot for an over

 

[Titan24]

If everyone's rating Dahani so high, why he's not being picked regularly

He was part of the test squad vs WI. Since the series in sub continent, an extra spinner is being preferred over him.

 

[Titan24]

Wasim Jr. , I've my doubts. He's a good bowler when it comes to variety but can he pitch the ball on same spot for an over

In ODI series vs Aus he was pretty impressive. Another one who first came in the scene in 4day cricket after U19 cricket. Averages 24 with the ball for his 20 wickets and took a 4fer in the final of last QAE. Was with Pak team so didnt play a lot of matches. Was also part of the test squad vs Aus due to his ability to bat a bit but, mainly his ability to reverse at good pace.

 

[Marooned]

If everyone's rating Dahani so high, why he's not being picked regularly

He should be a lock in white ball already.

In tests, he hasn't played a lot of fc and his record on paper isn't that impressive. But he is still the one with the biggest potential. You just have to watch him.

The others I've listed are all good picks. Hamza a bit conditions dependent.

Irfanullah is tall and out-swings the ball big (tho not fast)
Waseem always makes things happen with the old ball.

 

[Xoib]

Yeah Wasim Jr is a good prospect bowls a lot of wicket taking balls though not ready to bowl consistent 4-5 day game lines

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

If everyone's rating Dahani so high, why he's not being picked regularly

Because he has only played 10 FC matches. And they don't want another Naseem Shah/Musa Khan situation where a completely inexperienced pacer is thrown to the wolves on test debut.

 

[MenInG]

Fact is that Shaheen is miles ahead of the rest of the bowlers in speed, skills and attitude.

 

[Anis Shivani]

Dahani has the most potential, as I've always said.
I like Wasim Jr. too.
Of the crop of young fast bowlers (Musa, Hasnain, etc.) from a few years ago I thought Arshad Iqbal was the best. Not sure what's happening with him now, I haven't followed it.
Haris Rauf should also be given test opportunities.

 

[shamaan]

Shaheen is automatic Pick.
Naseem Should be given a long run.
Dahani has great potential.

Irfanullah should be picked in SENA as the new bowler alongside Shaheen.

Other players include khurram Shezad,arshad Iqbal,Ehsan Adil,Mir Hamza and I also think Akif Javed in the future.

 

[Bewal Express]

SSA
Dahani

And then much of muchness

 

[giri26]

Shaheen is the best and most talented but Naseem has bowled well in SL. So just 2 who are playing international cricket at the moment. Hassan is poor, not sure what happened to Abbas.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Play Shaheen, Naseem, Dahani and hope for the best. No real options apart from them.

 

[Rana]

Dahani has great potential but there is an element of him becoming too non serious.

We don’t need that attitude especially considering how we have Rizwan always thinking cricket is a playground sport

 

[Titan24]

Dahani has the most potential, as I've always said.
I like Wasim Jr. too.
Of the crop of young fast bowlers (Musa, Hasnain, etc.) from a few years ago I thought Arshad Iqbal was the best. Not sure what's happening with him now, I haven't followed it.
Haris Rauf should also be given test opportunities.

Arshad Iqbal did really well in the last QAE taking 18 wickets in just 4 matches at 23 a piece. If his fitness is good, he should be in the scheme of the things. One of the very few bowlers in Pak who can hit the deck hard, at decent pace and is pretty tall as well.

 

[Marooned]

It's somehow fashionable here to think we don't have options, we are finished, etc. (tho I fail to see why).

I promise the situation is far from this bleak picture. There are plenty of options and I've listed them, all worth trying.

Selectors just need to open their eyes and take far sighted decisions.

Shaheen should be the only one whose place is guaranteed in test team. There should be competition between Hasan, Naseem, and 2 new pacers (I've listed them above). Consider their age, their potential and their records. Consider their roles and team balance too.

 

[gazza619]

Other than the ones you mentioned
- Dahani is a solid option for test cricket as well
- Arshad Iqbal is there, tall and hits the deck hard and had a good last QAE 2021 season too
- Wasim Jr is decent option as well and utilizes the older ball pretty well.

So quite a few options but, need to utilize them as per the conditions well.

Good post. I like the idea to invest in Dahani, Arshad & Wasim.

 

[Marooned]

Dahani has great potential but there is an element of him becoming too non serious.

We don’t need that attitude especially considering how we have Rizwan always thinking cricket is a playground sport

That is my only real worry with Dahani. Hope he keeps his focus.

 

[Extra_Cover]

Dahani should have been already selected. He gives his 100% and can be our impact bowler which is currently missing. Apart from Dahani I have followed Ehsan Adil's progress which hasn't been great but in him there is a guy who can actually play an international level game meaning the guy has potential. No other options I can think of at the moment.

For SENA our pace bowling options should be as follows:
1. Shaheen
2. Naseem
3. Dahani / Ehsan
4. Faheem

For subcontinent we only need 2 pace bowlers at max.
1. Shaheen
2. Dahani / Naseem

 

[mazkhan]

Mir hamza and dahani get in on domestic form

Then you have arshad iqbal and sameen gul

Or all-rounder out of the box option in wasim jnr and faheem ashraf.

But dahani looks the best out of the lot .

But our pace bowling quality has declined considerably pcb really need to get out in the country and find some young pacey tall quicks

Hasnain was an option but again is raw and has issues with his action so remains to be seen how he comes back But he has the the physical attributes of a fast bowler tall well built


Problem is due to t20 cricket there's no genuine top test quicks being produced In pakistan anymore.

Even nasseem shah one would say his game is more suited to t20 we saw what amir did he wants to only plays white ball cricket .

 

[Rana]

A Test match fast bowler has to be ice cold and aggressive within himself. He must have the focus of an assassin/hunter that is on a mission to help his team take 20 wickets

These are questions that need to be asked about Shahnawaz Dahani who seems to be more focused on the glitz, glam and entertainment value of the game considering his exposure and success in the PSL. Is he willing to stay focused for 5 days and toil so many sessions for his team?

 

[shamaan]

It's somehow fashionable here to think we don't have options, we are finished, etc. (tho I fail to see why).

I promise the situation is far from this bleak picture. There are plenty of options and I've listed them, all worth trying.

Selectors just need to open their eyes and take far sighted decisions.

Shaheen should be the only one whose place is guaranteed in test team. There should be competition between Hasan, Naseem, and 2 new pacers (I've listed them above). Consider their age, their potential and their records. Consider their roles and team balance too.

Hassan Ali needs to be dropped he was supposed to be the leader of the pack but performed far from it.

 

[shamaan]

Am surprised no one has mentioned khurram shezad or Irfanullah.

 

[Marooned]

Am surprised no one has mentioned khurram shezad or Irfanullah.

Well, I have. Irfanullah has something about him. Asif vibes. Tall, great outswing, not fast but gets a lot of bounce.
Khurram is interesting too. Nice action and control.

 

[Titan24]

Am surprised no one has mentioned khurram shezad or Irfanullah.

Solid bowlers. The ones I have mentioned are the ones I thought were ahead of the pecking order. Shehzad bowls the new ball well as well as reverses the older one, was part of Pak A team as well recently. Irfanullah is really accurate but, not sure about his potency with the older ball but his numbers are outstanding.

 

[shamaan]

Well, I have. Irfanullah has something about him. Asif vibes. Tall, great outswing, not fast but gets a lot of bounce.
Khurram is interesting too. Nice action and control.

Definitely pluss he has outstanding numbers in Fc.

 

[shamaan]

Solid bowlers. The ones I have mentioned are the ones I thought were ahead of the pecking order. Shehzad bowls the new ball well as well as reverses the older one, was part of Pak A team as well recently. Irfanullah is really accurate but, not sure about his potency with the older ball but his numbers are outstanding.

I think the ones you mentioned espically Dahani and wasim Jnr would be good as first choice.The ones i mentioned I think are better at opening the bowling.Irfanullah has good height so you can expect him to get some bounce and he can move the ball away.

 

[Kroll]

What happened to Sameen Gul, has he disappeared? Might not be express has a very good FC average of 21. Thought with his height and age, could be developed into a good test class bowler.

 

[shamaan]

What happened to Sameen Gul, has he disappeared? Might not be express has a very good FC average of 21. Thought with his height and age, could be developed into a good test class bowler.

He hasn't disappeared but thier been multiple times when he wasn't in his domestic team this may be due to fitness.