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Pakistan's Test team for the tours of Ireland and England

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Siraj.Hussain

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I've put a lot of thought behind this team, and I hope that I'll adequately justify my choices too. Here are my thoughts to what our test team should be...Might be worth thinking about, as we've had no tests + there's been no emphasis on our lack of test matches because of the PSL and campaign to bring cricket back to Pak.

Tests:

Sami Aslam
Imam Ul Haq
Azhar Ali
Babar Azam
Asad Shafiq
Haris Sohail
Sarfraz
Yasir Shah
Wahab Riaz
Mohammed Amir
Mohammed Abbas

Thoughts:
Solid openers - Both young, and hopefully a partnership that will blossom. imo, Imam is more suited to test cricket.
Azhar - A test match super star.
Babar - Won't have to face the new ball at 4
Shafiq - More responsibility than at 6, but not so high as to over-exert his fragile mind.
Haris - Batting all-rounder


Wahab - Seems like a changed man even if it is T20 Cricket in PSL. Looks more muscular, and is bowling serious heat. Also is an excellent reverse-swing bowler.
 
Test side is a mess and for me these are the biggest qustions to be answered

1. Should Azhar open or bat at 3?

2. Openers in general

3. What will the order of the middle order batsmen be, we all know Babar, Haris and Asad will be picked.

4. Should we play an all rounder?


With that in mind I would go with this squad for England


1. Amin/Fahkar -
2. Azhar
3. Babar
4. Haris
5. Asad
6. Sarfraz - wk - c
7. Agha Salman
8. Amir
9. Yasir
10. Hasan Ali
11. Abbas

12. Saad Ali
13. Sami Aslam
14. Zafar
15. Shinwari/Riaz
16. Rizwan - wk


Openers: I know Fahkar is a massive risk, but I feel in this era of dead pitches he can do well for us, maybe England is too soon, but in the UAE i would like to give him a go. For me there is such thing as being to slow in tests, and Sami is that. We know he can do better but i think Amin has earnt a test recall.

Azhar did well for us as an opener in all conditions, our option so bad he practically opens any. I see no benfit in having him at 3.

Massive risk playing babar at 3 but id back him.

Allrounder is another gamble, there is no good option, agha salman made the most sense if i tried to fit one in. Micky has talked about a lack of offspinner many times. If they can work on Agha Salman's bowling I can see him being picked. Talat is another option for the future, but he doesnt merit a test call up yet.

Or just play Saad Ali and get Fahkar/Haris to bowl.
 
Azhar Ali is not a test match number 3 for me. He lacks the shot range to move the game forward. I would rather he was opening and blunting the new ball. Azhar should open with one of the other two and a seam bowling all rounder should come in like Hussain Talat.

Azhar
Imam/Sami
Harris
Babar
Asad
Talat
Sarfraz
Yasir
Abbas
Hasan
Amir
 
Amir, on merit doesn’t deserve to be in the test team. His stats are horrendous.
 
We need a pace bowling all-rounder. And Babar doesn't merit a place in the XI after his recent performances. Usman can play against the new ball because he has practiced in England club matches and on green tracks in QEA. Sami did well in England last time so I'd play him again.
Wahab nearly won us our last Test match in UAE with that fiery spell. He has looked good in PSL as well. His spell in Oval match shouldn't be forgotten. Reverse-swing will come in handy too. Plus, he can bat a good strike rate. Rizwan should be backup keeper.

This should be the squad:

Sami
Azhar
Salahuddin
Haris
Shafiq
Sarfraz*+
Yamin
Wahab
Amir
Yasir
Abbas
----------------------
Imam
Babar
Saad
Rizwan+
Hasan
 
Hasan123 said:
Azhar Ali is not a test match number 3 for me. He lacks the shot range to move the game forward. I would rather he was opening and blunting the new ball. Azhar should open with one of the other two and a seam bowling all rounder should come in like Hussain Talat.

Azhar
Imam/Sami
Harris
Babar
Asad
Talat
Sarfraz
Yasir
Abbas
Hasan
Amir
Click to expand...

Good line up, although I would have not have Babar, Shafiq or Talat in the line up and would rather try on Salahuddin, Saud Shakeel or Saad Ali.
 
good shout for Yamin. The emergence of other players have made me and the selectors forget about him, but he absolutely merits a go in tests, and i reckon he would do well in England.

His treatment is quite poor. I feel if he was a bit taller a lot of people would rate him more
 
I say our XI should be

Azhar
Fakhar
Salahuddin
Haris
Shafiq/Saud Shakeel
Sarfraz
Talat/Agha
Amir
Wahab
Hasan
Yasir
 
Last edited:
Faheem and Yamin should be tried out in the warm up games so we can see who is better. I think Faheem could actually be decent in test cricket because he bowls that awkward length and gets good bounce at decent pace. He also has decent FC batting stats.

But Yamin deserves a chance on merit.
 
It should really be Asad's last chance as well, but he is the ultimate survior, always scores right before being dropped before nothing for the next few games
 
DeadBall said:
Good line up, although I would have not have Babar, Shafiq or Talat in the line up and would rather try on Salahuddin, Saud Shakeel or Saad Ali.
Click to expand...


They can be back up. I think Babar will find his feet in tests eventually. Only way he can learn about batting at test level is batting. He won't learn nothing in QEA.
 
pakistanigoneaussie said:
The fact we hardly play tests, and the fact they are Micky's boys means they will both always be around. I feel they will both get next home tests as well.
Click to expand...

Yeah that’s true lol. I back Babar to do well in England though because his strength is against pace and he can handle swing.

Amir just needs to pitch it up :facepalm:
 
Siraj.Hussain said:
I've put a lot of thought behind this team, and I hope that I'll adequately justify my choices too. Here are my thoughts to what our test team should be...Might be worth thinking about, as we've had no tests + there's been no emphasis on our lack of test matches because of the PSL and campaign to bring cricket back to Pak.

Tests:

Sami Aslam
Imam Ul Haq
Azhar Ali
Babar Azam
Asad Shafiq
Haris Sohail
Sarfraz
Yasir Shah
Wahab Riaz
Mohammed Amir
Mohammed Abbas

Thoughts:
Solid openers - Both young, and hopefully a partnership that will blossom. imo, Imam is more suited to test cricket.
Azhar - A test match super star.
Babar - Won't have to face the new ball at 4
Shafiq - More responsibility than at 6, but not so high as to over-exert his fragile mind.
Haris - Batting all-rounder


Wahab - Seems like a changed man even if it is T20 Cricket in PSL. Looks more muscular, and is bowling serious heat. Also is an excellent reverse-swing bowler.
Click to expand...

I like the idea of trying Imam out in tests and of course, Sami should be back anyway.

Not sure about Haris there. Why no Salahuddin or Saad Ali? Both are two of the best bats in the domestic FC structure. Salahuddin is at the right age, almost a 100 games, good average and a very good number of centuries. I'd have him in there.

Wahab Riaz is a big NO NO. He is tried, tested and too expensive in tests and Pakistan are doing a great job of moving ahead with their bowling unit anyway. Faheem could be a good addition because of his batting, or why not re-try Sohail Khan who is looking and bowling better, or Junaid or Irfan? All better options by a considerable distance.

I'd go for -

1. Aslam
2. Ali
3. Aalam (he should be playing)
4. Salahuddin
5. Shafiq
6. Sarfraz wk/c
7. Faheem
8. Yasir
10. Amir
11. Abbas

Babar should be temporarily kept away from the test side.
 
1 Sami, he won’t be giving his wicket cheaply so will work as foil for fakhar

2 Fakhar is a risk but he he gets and plays till tea then we’ll be on to a decent total

3 Azhar is our best batsman, if Fakhar doesn’t work then he can steady the ship

4 Asad Shafiq, technically suited for English conditions just needs to stop with the silly shots

5 Haris Sohail, decent come back and gives us the bowling option

6 Babar will be our best test batsman in the future but needs to ease his way into the game so would put him low down until he justifies a promotion

Safraz and and any combo including Shah and Amir. Those who say Amir has lost it clearly having watched enough test cricket and are just looking at the scorecard at the end. He’s produced the chances but they haven’t always been taken.. Poor PSL but he’ll do well in England.

Also... I’d like to see Faheem in but our batting’s to weak to justify the risk...
 
pakistanigoneaussie said:
true but like Babar we all know he will play vs England. There is zero chance Micky is dropping them if they are fit
Click to expand...
At least Babar is young and a long term investment. Amir on the other hand has played tons of cricket and is heading or at that age where you expect fast bowlers to be, physically, at their best.
 
Chief Destroyer said:
Talat. I have Salahuddin over Asad.
Click to expand...

babajee said:
Whaat. Why Talat in tests?
Click to expand...


Talat has a high ceiling but I don’t think he merits a place a in test just yet.

Plus competition is good, Yamin for tests, Talat for limited overs.

Salahuddin merits his chance but i just dont see it in him, would rather Saad Ali, but Ill have no complaints either way. Regardless Asad will get another go. I want him to suceed but he has hardly improved despite having such an easy ride
 
XI:

1. Sami Aslam
2. Azhar Ali
3. Babar Azam
4. Haris Sohail
5. Usman Salahuddin
6. Sarfraz Ahmed (c + wk)
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Mohammad Amir
9. Yasir Shah
10. Wahab Riaz
11. Hassan Ali

Bench:

1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Zafar Gohar / Agha Salman (bowling vs batting?)
3. Asad Technique / Fawad Alam
4. Saad Ali
5. Usman Shinwari
6. Mohammad Abbas

Thoughts:

1. Asad Shafiq is a master of the meaningless knock and averages less than 30 in the last two series against WI and SL, got a pair last time we entrusted him with the responsibility of 3 I believe, and has earned the drop.

2. Sami has potential but he strikes me as someone who is very fragile and prone to long dry spells, he deserves the backing though, else try Fakhar as a Dhawan-esque move.

3. Azhar needs to take one for the team and blunt the new ball instead of ensuring we go at a rate of 2.4 for 90 overs.

4. The middle order is three relatively young players that need to gel together and be backed for a couple of series at least with Sarfraz taking more responsibility at 6. Remember when we gave the long rope to Azhar and Asad in hope of gluing the middle order for 10 years in 2010? need to make a similar call with these three now.

5. We need 5 proper bowling options so Wahab, Hassan and Amir can bust a gut and we don't automatically lose if one of them breaks down, Faheem gives us that. Amir and Wahab are obvious. I wanted Abbas gone for someone else who actually bowl at semi-respectable pace and Hassan is an improving player worth an investment.
 
Pick at least 2 of Haris, Usman and Saad Ali and find a way to jettison Shafiq. Also pick Imam in the squad as backup opener
 
1. Sami Aslam
2. Azhar Ali
3. Haris Sohail
4. Babar Azam
5. Usman Salahudin
6. Asad Shafiq
7. Sarfaraz Ahmad
8. Zafar Gowhar(in UAE otherwise pacer)
9. Mohammad Aamer
10. Yasir Shah
11. Mohammad Abas

12. Meer Hamza
13. Hasan Ali
14. Mohammad Asgar
15. Ahmad Shahzad
16. Saad Ali
 
Sami Aslam
Fakhar Zaman
Azhar Ali
Fawad Alam
Asad Shafiq
Harris Sohail
Sarfraz Ahmed
Shadab Khan/Amir
Hassan Ali
Yasir Shah
Mohammad Abbas
 
Get Talat in. Faheems batting isn't good enough yet for him to play at 7.

Azhar
Sami
Haris
Babar
Salahuddin/Saad Ali
Talat
Sarfraz
Hasan
Amir
Yasir
Abbas

That would be my XI for the Test against Ireland but I just don't see Asad getting dropped.
 
I want to see Fakhar open. Combine him with Azhar and have a fire-and-ice opening pair. Even if Fakhar gets a quick run-a-ball 30, it can help us wrest the initiative, something I've not seen us do while batting in tests for the last two years. He could be our low-rent Sehwag/Warner to start.
 
Rishta Aunty said:
I want to see Fakhar open. Combine him with Azhar and have a fire-and-ice opening pair. Even if Fakhar gets a quick run-a-ball 30, it can help us wrest the initiative, something I've not seen us do while batting in tests for the last two years. He could be our low-rent Sehwag/Warner to start.
Click to expand...

Sharjeel would have been ideal for this, I still remember his quick fire 50 against Australia in Australia, against Starc, Hazelwood and co.
 
Sami aslam
Azhar
harris sohail
babar
asad shafiq/umar amin
salauddin
sarfarz
shadab/yasir shah
amir
hassan
wahab

This will be my team. batting till 7 with tail to chip in and bstrong and proven bowling line up.. Wahab can be expensive but once he starts hitting right length he becomes double the bowler he is
 
haris sohail
Azhar ali
fawad alam
sarfaraz ahmed
usman salahuddin
Asad Shafiq
iftikhar/faheem/hafeez (if cleared to bowl)-- choice depends on where we play and what the rest of the
bowling combination demands.
Yasir Shah
Wahab Riaz
Rahat/ Zafar
Abbas
 
Don't think either aamir or hassan deserve to be in the starting xi for tests. You need at least a couple of opening bowlers who can move it both ways and a third pacer who can bowl quick with the old ball reversing. For the opening bowler I think the only real options are Abbas, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali, and Mir Hamza. For the third bowler you have either Hasan or Wahab; and on current form Wahab just seems to have that extra yard of pace. For tests I dont think age or longegivity should be an issue. Just play your best bowlers even if you know they will retire by the next series. Unlike in the limited overs where you have to work towards a team that can win you the world cup, in tests there is no mid-term goal to work towards.
 
Other than fast bowling combination, only the allrounder spot and opening batsman spot are completely in the air. With opening, I think we have to ask Harris Sohail to be like Azhar Ali and offer himself to open the innings. Just gives more room for you to play all your best players in the middle. Otherwise Sami Aslam or Shan Masood will take up Usman Salahuddi/ Saad Ali's spot. The allrounder spot, I think, wont be settled for a while. Since most of our games will be on slow spinning wickets which demand two frontline spinners, the allrounder spot should be filled with a fast bowling allrounder. So it would be between Aamir Yamin and Faheem. Hussain Talat could maybe be a fourth pacer on greener tracks. If we cant fint a frontline spinner to partner Yasir (i.e Zafar Gohar or Asghar dont manage to get wickets), we can always go with Wahab as the third pacer and have a spinning-allrounder. In that situation, the question will be if we want a more of batsman who can turn his arm over (example: Iftikhar or Agha Salman) or a proper spinner who can also bat a bit ( Nawaz, Imad, or Shadab).
 
todfod 11 said:
Sami aslam
Azhar
harris sohail
babar
asad shafiq/umar amin
salauddin
sarfarz
shadab/yasir shah
amir
hassan
wahab

This will be my team. batting till 7 with tail to chip in and bstrong and proven bowling line up.. Wahab can be expensive but once he starts hitting right length he becomes double the bowler he is
Click to expand...

i don't know what this means. once anyone bowls well they become...better?

"going forward" is not a term that should be used in the proximity of "wahab riaz." he's yesterday's news. was never more than a mediocre test bowler and never will be. only 2 5 fers in his entire career tells us that even when on a song he can never keep it up. ave 33, awful strike rate. makes one want to cry to think he's considered the future of pakistani test bowling. abbas is three times the bowler wahab is, and hasan has done enough to merit more time in the test team. all this talk of needing x type bowler for y type situation is hallucinatory. at the end of the day you need good bowlers, of which wahab is not one.
 
New Yorker said:
i don't know what this means. once anyone bowls well they become...better?

"going forward" is not a term that should be used in the proximity of "wahab riaz." he's yesterday's news. was never more than a mediocre test bowler and never will be. only 2 5 fers in his entire career tells us that even when on a song he can never keep it up. ave 33, awful strike rate. makes one want to cry to think he's considered the future of pakistani test bowling. abbas is three times the bowler wahab is, and hasan has done enough to merit more time in the test team. all this talk of needing x type bowler for y type situation is hallucinatory. at the end of the day you need good bowlers, of which wahab is not one.
Click to expand...

Please check your PM's.
 
What should be the Pakistan Test XI for the upcoming 2 Test series against England?

Given that PSL is almost over, our next major assignment is most probably the 2 Test match-series against England in the upcoming English summer. The matches will be conducted during the first half of the English season which particularly means that there would be considerable lateral movement in the air and also off the track. This might warrant Pakistan to play an Extra batsman but I would also want a quartet of pacer featuring both the games. My XI would ideally be:

Azhar
Fakhar
Haris
Shafiq
Babar
Sarfraz
Fahim
Hasan
Yasir
Amir
Abbas

3 front line pacers, a proven spinner with a very good record in England, 1 genuine Alrounder and a part timer in Haris. The batting is also almost until Hasan who is no muck with the bat. Does this XI give us a resonable chance for the series?

Discuss.
 
1. Sami aslam
2. Azhar ali
3. Haris sohail
4. Usman salahuddin
5. Fawad alam
6. Asad Shafiq
7. Sarfraz ahmed (c) (wk)
8. Yasir shah
9. Mohammad Abbas
10. Sadaf hussain
11. Tabish khan
12. Fahim Ashraf
 
b.lesner said:
1. Sami aslam
2. Azhar ali
3. Haris sohail
4. Usman salahuddin
5. Fawad alam
6. Asad Shafiq
7. Sarfraz ahmed (c) (wk)
8. Yasir shah
9. Mohammad Abbas
10. Sadaf hussain
11. Tabish khan
12. Fahim Ashraf
Click to expand...

This is not a realistic lineup by any stretch of the imagination. You're basically going to debut a 30-year-old something for a fast bowling alternative to Amir. Sadaf doesn't make way for Hasan (not even in the slightest)

Usman Salahuddin, I agree should be there but Fawad (Although there's a lot of injustice done to him but should be the squad and not in the 1st XI). I'd go with Fakhar as Sami and Azhar would make a very one paced opening partnership and with the conditions expected this summer that approach could lead to nothing since every once in a while there will come a ball that might have your name on it.
 
BreadPakoda said:
Would have loved to have 4-5 tests. Who’s idea was it to have only 2?
Click to expand...

This was decided apparently during our last tour in 2016, I believe they slotted us in for 2018 again because they had already agreed upon to host India for a 5 test series later in the piece. Which is why we're getting 2 games in England this season.
 
ahmedwaqas92 said:
Given that PSL is almost over, our next major assignment is most probably the 2 Test match-series against England in the upcoming English summer. The matches will be conducted during the first half of the English season which particularly means that there would be considerable lateral movement in the air and also off the track. This might warrant Pakistan to play an Extra batsman but I would also want a quartet of pacer featuring both the games. My XI would ideally be:

Azhar
Fakhar
Haris
Shafiq
Babar
Sarfraz
Fahim
Hasan
Yasir
Amir
Abbas

3 front line pacers, a proven spinner with a very good record in England, 1 genuine Alrounder and a part timer in Haris. The batting is also almost until Hasan who is no muck with the bat. Does this XI give us a resonable chance for the series?

Discuss.
Click to expand...

Amer Yamin for Faheem, he is the better batsman and he seams the ball more as well
 
pakistanigoneaussie said:
Amer Yamin for Faheem, he is the better batsman and he seams the ball more as well
Click to expand...

Agree, For Test Matches, he is a more suitable alrounder than Faheem.

Sami and Azhar both are slow starters, In conditions like NZ, Australia and England, we need someone who can give us a quick start and not bogged down. Fakhar, I believe is not ready for Tests yet. However, he can be tried just like Sharjeel.

Fakhar Zaman
Azhar Ali
Babar Azam / Usman Salahuddin
Haris Sohail
Fawad Alam
Asad Shafiq
Sarfaraz
Amir Yameen
Yasir Shah
Muhammad Amir
Hasan Ali
Abbass
 
You want to destroy Fakhar, you play him in test cricket. His issues are negetable in LO cricket, but bowlers would work him over after bowling consecutive overs at him. It really is a shame though, his mental fortitude is tailor made for the longer formats.

Azhar
Imam
Babar
Harris
Salahuddin
Asad
Sarfraz
Yasir
Hasan
Abbas
? Definitely not Amir

Gohar
Amir
Bashir
Saud
 
Last edited:
Azhar Ali
Fakhar Zaman
Haris Sohail
Asad Shafiq
Babar Azam
Sarfraz Ahmed+*
Amir Yamin
Hasan Ali
Yasir Shah
Mohammad Amir
Mohammad Abbas

--------------------

Usman Salahuddin
Imam ul Haq
Faheem Ashraf
Zafar Gohar
Replacement Pacer?
Replacement Pacer 2?
(Two of these pacers: Usman Khan, Junaid Khan, Rumman Raees, Rahat Ali, Wahab Riaz, Sameen Gul, Shaheen Shah Afridi)
 
1) Sami Aslam
2) Fakhar Zaman
3) Azhar Ali
4) Asad Shafique
5) Babar Azam
6) Sarfraz Ahmed
7) Faheem/Shadab
8) Mohammad Amir
9) Yasir Shah
10) Hasan Ali
11) Mohammad Abbas
 
Sami Aslam
Azhar Ali
Babar Azam
Asad Shafiq
Haris Sohail
Amer Yamin
Sarfaraz Ahmad
Hasan Ali
Mohammad Amir
Yasir Shah
Mohammad Abbas
 
Test squad for the tour of Ireland and England

Azhar Ali
Imam-ul-Haq
Haris Sohail
Saad Ali
Usman Salahuddin
Asad Shafiq
Sarfraz(c)(wk)
Hasan Ali
Amir
Yasir Shah
Mohammad Abbas

Sami Aslam
Babar Azam
Faheem
Amir Yamin
Zafar Gohar
 
Azhar
Sami
Asad
Haris
Babar
Amir Yamin
Sarfraz
Hasan Ali
Wahab Riaz/Mohammad Amir(Amir for Ireland/Riaz for England)
Yasir
Abbas

Things to note:

-Azhar is better as an opener
-Babar is not suitable for #3
-Amir Yamin is a decent bat and good enough all pacer to keep it tight
-Hasan Ali is a must, don't know how he can be over looked
-Wahab Riaz merits a spot over Amir, will give Amir Ireland test since conditions will be perfect for him, maybe we can give him England tests as well if tracks are green
-Lastly, Abbas will be able to utilize English conditions and Duke ball well.
 
Fakhar is worth a try... his 20(30) will be better than Sami’s 20(150)
 
babajee said:
Fakhar is worth a try... his 20(30) will be better than Sami’s 20(150)
Click to expand...
You want to ruin Fakhar you play him in tests. He barely manages to survive in LO cricket, I dread to imagine what bowlers would do to him when bowling at him for extended periods.

Drop Sami, play Imam.
 
Hiraeth said:
You want to ruin Fakhar you play him in tests. He barely manages to survive in LO cricket, I dread to imagine what bowlers would do to him when bowling at him for extended periods.

Drop Sami, play Imam.
Click to expand...

Barely manages to survive?
 
Playing XI:

Sami Aslam
Azhar Ali
Haris Sohail
Babar Azam
Asad Shafiq
Aamer Yamin/Shadab Khan
Sarfraz Ahmed* (WK)
Yasir Shah
Hasan Ali
Mohammad Amir/Zafar Gohar
Mohammad Abbas

Bench: Imam-ul-Haq, Usman Salahuddin, Fawad Alam, Shadab Khan/Aamer Yamin, Zafar Gohar/Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz

Should be our Test squad moving forward.

Willing to give Babar a couple more Tests, simply because he's the brightest talent we've had in over a decade.
 
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