Pakistan's reluctance to try part time non regular bowlers

[Savak]

I believe the likes of Fawad Alam, Azhar Ali and Babar Azam should bowl more often. Too often we have seen Pakistani captains religiously just stick to their regular bowlers throughout the day.

Bangladesh would have drawn this match had Babar Azam not picked up the crucial wicket of Mehdi. All well set batsmen tend to usually make the mistake of taking a non regular bowler lightly therefore maximizing the chances of a well set partnership getting broken

 

[Titan24]

I agree especially in the period before we had the 5th bowler in Faheem Ashraf. Even now the guys you have mentioned can bowl more, atleast one of them as a regular 6th option and in future when Saud makes his test debut he can be handy option as well if required.

Haris Sohail is another one or rather the most underutilized one who I think had the potential to be a good batting all rounder but, his bowling was pretty underrated and utilized. He has 13 wickets in 16 tests at an average of 22 and used to get more revs on the ball than some of the regular spinners. He had the potential to be many things but, his fitness and sometimes his own lack of drive didn't let him be.

 

[Naveedahmed1]

Agree - was surprised to see Babar bowl I thought Azhar would bowl given he takes the ball away.

Anybody know where Harris Sohail is these days? He is my fav cricketer and very disappointed that he has disappeared. He played some of the 4 day games for balouchistan but not most recent ones. Hopefully not injured again.

Feel like he should still be playing in ODI. He wasn’t picked for the WI tour though

 

[shamaan]

Agree - was surprised to see Babar bowl I thought Azhar would bowl given he takes the ball away.

Anybody know where Harris Sohail is these days? He is my fav cricketer and very disappointed that he has disappeared. He played some of the 4 day games for balouchistan but not most recent ones. Hopefully not injured again.

Feel like he should still be playing in ODI. He wasn’t picked for the WI tour though

He is either injured or unfit hence why not required.

 

[sweep_shot]

Babar should develop his bowling more. He can he a handy part-time option like Root.

 

[Zaz]

Pakistan have been afraid to try things out of the box since the late 90s

Its unfortuante theyve become so rigid in their thinking when 30-35 years ago they never were

I mean in the past they use to have the likes of malik and sohail making the 5th bowling option in odis

Nowadays its wow n a omg moment if they even give one of the batters the ball

 

[shujaatraza]

It is not only Pakistan but all countries are now seeing very few batsman who could ball a bit. I read an article on cricinfo on the struggles of India finding a 5th and 6th bowler for them. He compared the earlier times when Sachin, Sehwag, Ganguly could all bowl so India had upto 8 bowling options. Basically it is the throwdowns being introduced in the nets that has reduced the bowling time of all the part timers. So I believe it is just not Pakistan but every country now have very few top order batsman left who could bowl a bit.

 

[shamaan]

Fawad Alam and Azhar should definitely be bowling.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Agreed. Saud Shakeel, Kamran Ghulam and Agha Ali Salman are all capable part-time spinners. Azhar and Fawad have to utilise that side of the game or advise Babar to bring themselves on.

 

[nextover666666]

Very good thread. If you have guys that can bowl part time to bowl some overs you should give it a go espically when your part timers are pretty good.

Babar azam despite bowling 2 overs not a large sample size but shows that he can pitch in when needed.

Fawad alam has shown he is handy and has bowled in tne past

Azhar ali when he bowled in the past was decent as well and i think should bowl more often.

Saud shahkeel is an exciting prospect not only is a he good batsman vut even as a part time bowler can ship in maybe even get a wicket or 2


Haris sohail as someone mentioed can be very handy and if he was fit and in good form can be dangerous part timer because we have seen him take wickets for pakistan in the past as well