diisapontment sheer disappointment....inzi the revolutionary...
On man to man, squad actually isn't that bad - considering UAE, probably most of the players do merit selection.
BUT, these days even BCB doesn't put their possible best 15 against lesser opponents. These bi-laterals are a sort of player audition, where one needs to check the bench strength. Apart from ICC events, AUS, IND, SAF, ENG, WI, even NZ/SRL always picks almost half the side with probables and that should be the approach. LO teams are built on combination - it's not about the best XI, rather the squad should be built on best combination, covering most bases.
And they don't pick multiple similar type players. For example, looking at the number of lefties in SRL team, Sarfu isn't giving Imad much bowling, he is using Malik for those few overs, which is fair enough. But, it's a bit shameful for PAK as a cricket nation that I can bet - Mumbai league selectors won't pick Imad & Nawaz in the T20 squad to play against same Lankan side - that's tactical intelligence of selector (s), which number of Test Caps under belt as player doesn't ensure.
Personally, I'll give 1.5, may be 2 for this squad; which almost certainly will win 3-0 & they'll crash SRL in most matches for sure. But, that's probably I am not looking for, when I put the marks. On player to player, PAK can rest half the squad and still should win 3-0; on contrary best XI also can have a bad day - it would have been 2-1, 3 times against Mugabe's ZIM for one such odd day, for which you can't plan XI.
For that squad, considering there is a NZ tour and may be a SAF tour as well, I would have made those changes -
1. Fakhar, Ahmed opener, which is fair enough - 3rd opener must had to be a new face - Farhan or even Zeeshan. I would have picked both (or any new hard hitting kid) & dropped Ahmed
2. Absolutely noway both MoHa, Malik in the squad - ideally none, because next WC in 2020 AND IN AUS, when MoHa/Malik might need Hockey GK's armor to bat. If one had to be picked, it was Malik - I would have dropped both and picked Haris & a new face; may be Saad Ali
3. No way both Imad & Nawaz - at best 1. I would have actually dropped both and give a try with Raza Hasan. Before Misbah dumped him in 2012, Raza actually was the 1st choice T20 spinner to partner Ajmal and he has returned with a bang. For the other spot, I would have gone for an offie all-rounder; may be Aga Salman Ali
4. Hasan Ali & Amir's work load has to be managed. UAE Test cost both pacers and they are the only 2 pacers that play in 3 formats. I would have rested both and picked 1/2 new faces - particularly T20 type pacer, that's slinger at pace.
5. PCB is trying to kill Sarfraz. They haven't appointed a Vice Captain & haven't selected a back up WK. Now, if PAK makes it 3-0, which they easily should, Sarfraz will have to carry himself for 2 dead rubbers when he is not in best touch & that's same for the 3rd T20, which almost certainly will be another dead rubber. A back up WK was must - I would have picked Umar, but he is banned, so this was a chance to try a new face as back-up T20 WK.
So, my squad of 16 would have been like
3 Openers: Fakhar, Farhan, Amin
3 Middle orders: Babar, Hari, Saad
2 WKs: Sarfraz, new face (May be Umer Siddique, even don't mind Ruhail Nazir!!!)
4 All-rounders: Shadab, Fahim, Yamin, Aga Salman Ali (Or Hammad - next 2 ICC events are hosted by condition exactly opposite of UAE, pace all-rounder will be required)
1 Spinner: Raza Hasan
3 Pacers: Shinwari, Raees, a slinger or new ball bowler preferably right armer
This is a team for 2020, in AUS (Where those darters like Imad, MoHa, Nawaz will be like bowling machine - medium pace at 100KM on glass top). On man to man, Inzi's squad isn't the worst - MoHa might end up as MoS, but that's his level.
