[PICTURE] Pakistan name squads for South Africa tour (2024-25)

[Kianig89]

- Lacking 1-2 genuine quicks with high release points who can force SA's batsmen onto the backfoot (making fuller length more lethal). Ihsanullah could've fitted the bill but he's on injury list.

Seems selectors decided in absence of such options to select proven FC seamers which's understandable - but Abbas still a curious recall. 34 years old (officially) and if one argument against Shaheen is his drop in pace - unsure how Abbas is the solution unless you're wanting more control or a backup for injury prone Khurram Shehzad.

- Batting options are also limited with almost every PAK batter sitting ducks against high pace and bounce. I'd move Abdullah to #3 to hide his deficiencies against the new ball and pair Saim and Shan with license to attack instead of latter coming in at 10-1 after 10 overs.

- Babar's recall is curious having not played a single FC match since his drop. Would've made more sense if he piled on the runs in QEA.

- Tempted to play Noman. Not necessarily solely for his spin but his lower order runs (which are vital in SA). They may play Babar as the extra batter instead, but I feel Jamal as the 3rd pacer is risky with his high economy and injury record. Therefore a possible lineup:

Saim
Shan
Abdullah
Saud
Agha
Rizwan
Jamal
Noman
Naseem
Hamza
Khurram

Do you think they are taking Babar to just warm the bench, no chance.

Player power in Pakistan cricket, Babar back without playing FC and Agha playing white ball without doing a jack.
Also in T20s Rizbar are making the team hostage if they stick to opening.
Farhan and Arfat dropped without playing.

 

[khyberlion]

That is stupid. He is the player I have high hopes from

I knew when they didn't pick him for the odis against Zimbabwe he wasn't getting a game. He's the closest thing to an all rounder.

 

[Markhor]

You can't drop Babar in a single match. He and Rizwan are the only truly world-class batters in this squad that have the ability to score on these wickets.

Do you think they are taking Babar to just warm the bench, no chance.

Player power in Pakistan cricket, Babar back without playing FC and Agha playing white ball without doing a jack.
Also in T20s Rizbar are making the team hostage if they stick to opening.
Farhan and Arfat dropped without playing.

I don't understand the point of dropping Babar then. Just seems like an empty populist gesture to show they're not scared of dropping big names - than a serious attempt to revitalise his form.

The only basis I see for his recall is that he scored that counterattacking fifty in SA in 2018...six years ago.

Babar averaged 21 in Australia last year which's at odds with the idea he's our best bet of tackling the pacy and bouncy SA wickets. Even at home vs BD he struggled against Nahid Rana.

Obviously I'd love to see him find form here.

 

[Aami]

Can I ask why saud shakeel is not in odi and Abdullah shafique or Usman Khan are included?

I back usman but not > Saud

And Abdullah? Great another parchi who hides behind the nonsense opening clause.

Misbah = Captaincy clause

Rizwan = Keeping clause

Abdullah = Opening clause.

Unbelievable lanats

Oh yaar kabhi toh khush ho jaya ker

 

[TeymurBlake]

I know he's had tremendous numbers for Hampshire, but I am somewhat surprised they have recalled Mohammad Abbas.

His lack of pace will be exposed in South Africa conditions. But will bowl with discipline.

 

[Xoib]

- Lacking 1-2 genuine quicks with high release points who can force SA's batsmen onto the backfoot (making fuller length more lethal). Ihsanullah could've fitted the bill but he's on injury list.

Seems selectors decided in absence of such options to select proven FC seamers which's understandable - but Abbas still a curious recall. 34 years old (officially) and if one argument against Shaheen is his drop in pace - unsure how Abbas is the solution unless you're wanting more control or a backup for injury prone Khurram Shehzad.

- Batting options are also limited with almost every PAK batter sitting ducks against high pace and bounce. I'd move Abdullah to #3 to hide his deficiencies against the new ball and pair Saim and Shan with license to attack instead of latter coming in at 10-1 after 10 overs.

- Babar's recall is curious having not played a single FC match since his drop. Would've made more sense if he piled on the runs in QEA.

- Tempted to play Noman. Not necessarily solely for his spin but his lower order runs (which are vital in SA). They may play Babar as the extra batter instead, but I feel Jamal as the 3rd pacer is risky with his high economy and injury record. Therefore a possible lineup:

Saim
Shan
Abdullah
Saud
Agha
Rizwan
Jamal
Noman
Naseem
Hamza
Khurram

Unlike Shaheen , Abbas does not look he will have a heart attack bowling in session 2 and 3 even if he is slow he will give you 20- 25 overs in a day with maximum effort on the other hand Shaheen intensity is at 30 percent post 2nd spell

 

[Xoib]

South Africa is one the best places along with England for a line and length merchant to thrive there is a reason Philander ran riot bowling 75-78 mph for a decade .

Abbas selection is fine given the limited options we have

 

[gazza619]

Unlike Shaheen , Abbas does not look he will have a heart attack bowling in session 2 and 3 even if he is slow he will give you 20- 25 overs in a day with maximum effort on the other hand Shaheen intensity is at 30 percent post 2nd spell

Lets also not forget Shaheen comes with a lot of negativity baggage

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I don't understand the point of dropping Babar then. Just seems like an empty populist gesture to show they're not scared of dropping big names - than a serious attempt to revitalise his form.

The only basis I see for his recall is that he scored that counterattacking fifty in SA in 2018...six years ago.

Babar averaged 21 in Australia last year which's at odds with the idea he's our best bet of tackling the pacy and bouncy SA wickets. Even at home vs BD he struggled against Nahid Rana.

Obviously I'd love to see him find form here.

Because that's what it was.

Think you're letting your recency bias set in there a bit. Just because he's out of form doesn't mean he isn't the best batsman in the country. And on a tour like this, I can't really see Pakistan winning without him scoring runs.

 

[moghul]

Can I ask why saud shakeel is not in odi and Abdullah shafique or Usman Khan are included?

I back usman but not > Saud

And Abdullah? Great another parchi who hides behind the nonsense opening clause.

Misbah = Captaincy clause

Rizwan = Keeping clause

Abdullah = Opening clause.

Unbelievable lanats

Saud bats like a tailender out side Pakistan, we saw his performance in WC and in Australia.

Sajid would not be successful in SA

ONly two spinners NOman and Abbas for test .

Average pace of out Phast bowling attack will be the lowest ever. Abbas, Khurram, Hamza all trundlers under 130 and Naseem now 132-135 kmh.

Kamran Ghulam and Saud will fail, they don;t knwo how to bat against quality fat bowling in other than roads in Pakistan.

Fakhar praised Imran Khan ( the cricketer, not the politician ) in a recent interview , hence is " banned ".

Agha in T20, a joke

None of or test specialists, who were not on national duties played on QE Trophy , Babar , Shaan , Saud.

Omair Yusuf should not be made a T20 specialist only, he is good all format batter, should have been in ODI also, if notin tests too.

 

[Xoib]

We are underrating Khurram pace he is easily 135-142 kmph on regular basis he’s quicker then Naseem definitely

 

[shah9425]

Fakhar should have been there

 

[Markhor]

Because that's what it was.

Think you're letting your recency bias set in there a bit. Just because he's out of form doesn't mean he isn't the best batsman in the country. And on a tour like this, I can't really see Pakistan winning without him scoring runs.

He may well be but I just want to see a clear rationale and some transparency around our selections instead of this endless cycle of drops and random recalls. My ideal scenario would be:

1) Batsman X suffers a poor run of form and is dropped. PCB's data analyst identifies he has a low average against 6m length deliveries from seamers which is communicated by the selectors to the player.

2) Selectors gives the NHPC instructions to work with Batsman X on this issue.

3) The NHPC specialist batting coach identifies the technical remedies and works with the player.

4) The player then returns to FC cricket. The PCB data team (hopefully) will find he's improved his numbers against 6m length balls from seamers. Selectors recalls him to the national team.

But what am I saying - in reality our selection process likely consists of a few retired uncles with cold cups of chai in hand sitting around a table with the QEA averages printed out along with their own individual likes/dislikes.

 

[Markhor]

South Africa is one the best places along with England for a line and length merchant to thrive there is a reason Philander ran riot bowling 75-78 mph for a decade .

Abbas selection is fine given the limited options we have

Do you see Abbas starting though ? I think they'll go Naseem, Khurram, Hamza (left arm angle and averaged 20 in AUS last year) and Jamal - with the question being whether to play the extra batter or Noman.

As for the pace issue. I think it depends what else you bring to the table. Was looking at our 2007 tour of South Africa and Mohammad Asif was statistically the best bowler on either side. Although he didn't have pace, he had high skill combined with his height.

We destroyed them at Port Elizabeth - but we did also have the pace of Akhtar and Sami in one of the rare occasions all three bowled together. Whatever their flaws - our current options are a long way from that.

 

[emranabbas]

Aqib's been doing a solid job as a selector.

I like how he’s giving young players a chance to gain experience in tours like Zimbabwe, while saving the experienced guys for tougher series against teams like South Africa and Australia.

Now we’ll really see what the established players are made of, instead of just padding their stats.

 

[Xoib]

Do you see Abbas starting though ? I think they'll go Naseem, Khurram, Hamza (left arm angle and averaged 20 in AUS last year) and Jamal - with the question being whether to play the extra batter or Noman.

As for the pace issue. I think it depends what else you bring to the table. Was looking at our 2007 tour of South Africa and Mohammad Asif was statistically the best bowler on either side. Although he didn't have pace, he had high skill combined with his height.

We destroyed them at Port Elizabeth - but we did also have the pace of Akhtar and Sami in one of the rare occasions all three bowled together. Whatever their flaws - our current options are a long way from that.

To be fair that line up had Smith, Kallis, ABD, Prince , Amal, Boucher and Pollock current Sa batting line up is not a patch on them though there is potential in Stubbs, Zorzi , Verrayne etc so we can do with a lesser pace attack then Asif and Akhtar

I will go for Abbas over Naseem who brings nothing to the table unless he can go back to bowling 140-145 which I doubt he is capable of now even for four overs

 

[Kianig89]

Who knows may be Rizwan did not wanted SSA in Test cricket knowing he wants a free ride and has negative energy

 

[HaiderAmmar]

The Champions Trophy is in Pakistan, on Pakistani wickets.
They should have given a chance to Sajid Khan and Muqeem in this tournament (even if the pitches are pace friendly in SA).
Abrar is of no use in the ODIs.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

I shall only acknowledge Aqib ball if Pakistan could win a series in SA

 

[Major]

So sajid career is over wow what a respect talent this is parchi system for you

Who said his career is over? How is this parchi system?

When a pitch is not gonna offer spin, you cant expect the management to take 40 players with them just for the sake of it.

You cant have two spinners on a wicket that will be for pacers

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Who said his career is over? How is this parchi system?

When a pitch is not gonna offer spin, you cant expect the management to take 40 players with them just for the sake of it.

You cant have two spinners on a wicket that will be for pacers

So dont you think sajid would have been handy with his off spin and lower the order runs could have been selected is he dropped permanently or will he back for windies series is remain to be seen?

 

[Nasty Naz]

The lack of allrounders in ODI's is glaring. No Jamal, no Shadab and Minhas also dropped there. Really seems like their plan is to simply go with 4 specialist bowlers & Salman/Saim as 5th bowlers... which seems risky. Not sure how that'll bode in Pakistani conditions. You really need Irfan batting at 7 or Kamran/Tayyab to bat at 5 when you play risk averse cricket as it is? Personally, I would like to see more allrounders in the squad.

Subtly they have removed VC tag from Salman for both ODI's & T20's. Disappointing he is in the T20 squad still.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

He may well be but I just want to see a clear rationale and some transparency around our selections instead of this endless cycle of drops and random recalls. My ideal scenario would be:

1) Batsman X suffers a poor run of form and is dropped. PCB's data analyst identifies he has a low average against 6m length deliveries from seamers which is communicated by the selectors to the player.

2) Selectors gives the NHPC instructions to work with Batsman X on this issue.

3) The NHPC specialist batting coach identifies the technical remedies and works with the player.

4) The player then returns to FC cricket. The PCB data team (hopefully) will find he's improved his numbers against 6m length balls from seamers. Selectors recalls him to the national team.

But what am I saying - in reality our selection process likely consists of a few retired uncles with cold cups of chai in hand sitting around a table with the QEA averages printed out along with their own individual likes/dislikes.

I agree with everything you said. But I think you are expecting too much from these people. My only hope is that someone has looked at footage of Babar batting and pointed it out to him. Personally speaking, I have given up on expecting any kind of rationale or transparency from these people.

 

[Barragan]

Uber trundling attack. Will probably be the slowest attack to tour South Africa in years.

This is also my concern as well

A lot will depend on Shehzad

Hopefully, Naseem finds form

Abbas isn't even the best pace bowler on show in FC and should not have been selected

Meanwhile Mir Hamza has only played a single FC game so far

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Glad they dropped Shaheen for Tests. He needs to work on his fitness and regain the 10 clicks he lost in pace

He'll probably go play BBL or some other league in the meantime.

 

[Kianig89]

More than our attack we need to worry for our batsmen , green tops and our batsmen with a poking mindset , slip cordon will be busy all the time.

If you cannot bat properly then even 3 Steyns in our attack will be of no use

 

[Wasim Ghulam]

He'll probably go play BBL or some other league in the meantime.

he will probably be forgotten in years to come and fade away. Three years ago he was best left arm fast going around . internal team politics did him in. He needs to look at Bumrah and how he evolved in last 5 years

 

[Bewal Express]

This saffer team is a shadow of the yesteryear teams. Bowling is still good- Rabada is a force in helpful conditions and the other guys are very good at home. The batting is very average with Markram out of form and the other guys barely international quality.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

I was expecting Fakhar Zaman to be included in this tour because he is the only one who can handle the African bounce and pace with his hara huri style of play.

 

[gazza619]

Who is king?

King means Raja.

Jis kaa raaj ho.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Should have taken another pacer for tests atleast. Khurram has a pretty poor injury record. And in 2013 both Junaid and Umar Gul got injured leading Pakistan to rely on Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil, Tanvir Ahmed and a 2 test old Irfan.

Last time Abbas played tests, he played the role Maharaj does for SA. Even Roach was playing him easily in seam friendly conditions.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

he will probably be forgotten in years to come and fade away. Three years ago he was best left arm fast going around . internal team politics did him in. He needs to look at Bumrah and how he evolved in last 5 years

He hasn't done himself many favors either. Hopping into playing PSL when he wasn't fully recovered and then jumping towards playing in every ABC league he got a chance to. Don't know if he has played a FC for a domestic team or county in last 2 years. Naseem is currently playing a FC match in Pakistan for Peshawar atleast. He has an erratic advisor in The OG Afridi too.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

King means Raja.

Jis kaa raaj ho.

u meant to say Ramiz Raja? lol

 

[mominsaigol]

Saud bats like a tailender out side Pakistan, we saw his performance in WC and in Australia.

Sajid would not be successful in SA

ONly two spinners NOman and Abbas for test .

Average pace of out Phast bowling attack will be the lowest ever. Abbas, Khurram, Hamza all trundlers under 130 and Naseem now 132-135 kmh.

Kamran Ghulam and Saud will fail, they don;t knwo how to bat against quality fat bowling in other than roads in Pakistan.

Fakhar praised Imran Khan ( the cricketer, not the politician ) in a recent interview , hence is " banned ".

Agha in T20, a joke

None of or test specialists, who were not on national duties played on QE Trophy , Babar , Shaan , Saud.

Omair Yusuf should not be made a T20 specialist only, he is good all format batter, should have been in ODI also, if notin tests too.

That doesn't matter.

Saud Shakeel is 20x the batter that rizwan, Abdullah, Usman Khan are. It's a myth that he can't play pace just because he had one bad aussie tour where even the likes of Jaiswal struggled in the first innings.

If saud can't play pace, then what was the point of including him in sa test where the pitches are primarily suited for pace?

Saud makes it into any pakistani odi team plain and simple.

And what does fakhar praising IK have anything to do with anything? A cricketer ain't a politician, they don't have any power or influence over a political party .

 

[mominsaigol]

Oh yaar kabhi toh khush ho jaya ker

Why? I dont expect selectors to choose a perfect squad, And I actually back aqib javed.

However their are a few things I will critise about him.

A) The inclusion of Abdullah shafique. Abdullah is useless and is a parchi who for some reason aqib backs.

B) While I don't hate aqib for appointing rizzu as captain as their was no one else, I do wonder as to why Agha was made t20 vc.

C) Saud Shakeel should be your vc in all formats and should play odi 100%. He isn't suited for t20, but he's still 100x the t20 batter that Agha is.

 

[Wasim Ghulam]

He hasn't done himself many favors either. Hopping into playing PSL when he wasn't fully recovered and then jumping towards playing in every ABC league he got a chance to. Don't know if he has played a FC for a domestic team or county in last 2 years. Naseem is currently playing a FC match in Pakistan for Peshawar atleast. He has an erratic advisor in The OG Afridi too.

I believe OG afridi now his FIL is the one who has put stupid ideas in his head and made him run after captaincy

 

[Omer2002]

Both him and Abbas could be lethal there

I actually think abbas is past it now..

 

[Omer2002]

I actually think abbas is past it now..

Saud shakeel is awful too they all are he has started well just like agha which is a fluke but keep watching both will go down hill even though i am saud fan myself

 

[gazza619]

u meant to say Ramiz Raja? lol

Ramiz Raja ka favourite

 

[Aami]

Why? I dont expect selectors to choose a perfect squad, And I actually back aqib javed.

However their are a few things I will critise about him.

A) The inclusion of Abdullah shafique. Abdullah is useless and is a parchi who for some reason aqib backs.

B) While I don't hate aqib for appointing rizzu as captain as their was no one else, I do wonder as to why Agha was made t20 vc.

C) Saud Shakeel should be your vc in all formats and should play odi 100%. He isn't suited for t20, but he's still 100x the t20 batter that Agha is.

Oh nai yaar...

Abdullah Shafique is standby till Fakhar comes back in odis... no harm in keeping him as back up opener.

Salman not a T20 player I agree, he is only there for his bowling, rightly or wrongly, may be he needs time to adapt his game to T20 mode. Unless we can find a decent middle order batter who bowls too in T20, he is here to stay Im afraid.

Saud Shakeel is Babar/Kamran type of player, no place for him as long as they're there. Cant have him in coming at no 5. Need players like Usman, Tayyab and Irfan to take the game forward from no 5 onwards. We need to be looking at 320+ not 270/80.

I agree with most of Aaqibs selections; people have been picked for a reason, its not just our likes/dislikes which is absolute irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

There is some method to his madness.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Oh nai yaar...

Abdullah Shafique is standby till Fakhar comes back in odis... no harm in keeping him as back up opener.

Salman not a T20 player I agree, he is only there for his bowling, rightly or wrongly, may be he needs time to adapt his game to T20 mode. Unless we can find a decent middle order batter who bowls too in T20, he is here to stay Im afraid.

Saud Shakeel is Babar/Kamran type of player, no place for him as long as they're there. Cant have him in coming at no 5. Need players like Usman, Tayyab and Irfan to take the game forward from no 5 onwards. We need to be looking at 320+ not 270/80.

I agree with most of Aaqibs selections; people have been picked for a reason, its not just our likes/dislikes which is absolute irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

There is some method to his madness.

Ya true aqib selection has made sense he is picking squad with balance looking at conditions but i have one thing why did aqib dropped arafat minhas any valid reason bro?

 

[Aami]

Ya true aqib selection has made sense he is picking squad with balance looking at conditions but i have one thing why did aqib dropped arafat minhas any valid reason bro?

I think the spinners he tried worked and he looks to have settled on Sufyan, Abrar, Salman and Saim Ayub for the Champions Trophy.
Remember, even Faisal Akram has been ditched for the time being after doing well.

From what Ive heard of Arafat, bowling and batting, it wont be long before he takes Salmans role in T20s at least and after that who knows?

My only worry is ...nos 5, 6 and 7, i hope they do well because the likes of ifti, haider, khushdil, asif, azam and my uncle down the street are only a shout away.

 

[mominsaigol]

Oh nai yaar...

Abdullah Shafique is standby till Fakhar comes back in odis... no harm in keeping him as back up opener.

Salman not a T20 player I agree, he is only there for his bowling, rightly or wrongly, may be he needs time to adapt his game to T20 mode. Unless we can find a decent middle order batter who bowls too in T20, he is here to stay Im afraid.

Saud Shakeel is Babar/Kamran type of player, no place for him as long as they're there. Cant have him in coming at no 5. Need players like Usman, Tayyab and Irfan to take the game forward from no 5 onwards. We need to be looking at 320+ not 270/80.

I agree with most of Aaqibs selections; people have been picked for a reason, its not just our likes/dislikes which is absolute irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

There is some method to his madness.

I don't hate aqib however aqib needs to boot rizwan plain and simple.

Rizwan, Abdullah, Misbah, and many such players in the past have always hidden behind this rubbish clause.

For Misbah, Despite the fact that he was a selfish, Slow as molasses ans downright atrocious run chasing batter, his loyal fans hid behind the captaincy clause aka we don't have any other captain as well as hid behind the clause of failures aka the openers are rubbish so misbah has to play.

Which is funny because people confidentially ignore how rubbish misbah use to be in 2011 when the team was actually strong or how it took fawad alam 2 innings to expose this fraud batter.

Same with rizwan. When rizzu first appeared he had a purple patch. In 2015 to 2019 he frequently flunked games and wasn't a regular but he eventually got his chance.

From 2019-2023 he was decent however it's because he was new and their just wasn't enough footage available. Now the whole planet knows that to get rizzu out you just gotta bowl on the offside and he can't do anything due to his technical limitations.

But his loyal fans are hiding behind the keeping clause.

With Abdullah it's the technique, opening and he's a good stand in clause.

Like maaf karo bhai. Pakistan can easily remove rizwan and slot Haris in at no 8 and tell him to slog a few.

Give the no 4 slot to a batter like saud who's just better then rizwan and is vc of test anyway so might as well make him test and odi cap.

Similarly Abdullah can be axed for literally any opener except for farhan who's rubbish in whiteball.

 

[Aami]

I don't hate aqib however aqib needs to boot rizwan plain and simple.

Rizwan, Abdullah, Misbah, and many such players in the past have always hidden behind this rubbish clause.

For Misbah, Despite the fact that he was a selfish, Slow as molasses ans downright atrocious run chasing batter, his loyal fans hid behind the captaincy clause aka we don't have any other captain as well as hid behind the clause of failures aka the openers are rubbish so misbah has to play.

Which is funny because people confidentially ignore how rubbish misbah use to be in 2011 when the team was actually strong or how it took fawad alam 2 innings to expose this fraud batter.

Same with rizwan. When rizzu first appeared he had a purple patch. In 2015 to 2019 he frequently flunked games and wasn't a regular but he eventually got his chance.

From 2019-2023 he was decent however it's because he was new and their just wasn't enough footage available. Now the whole planet knows that to get rizzu out you just gotta bowl on the offside and he can't do anything due to his technical limitations.

But his loyal fans are hiding behind the keeping clause.

With Abdullah it's the technique, opening and he's a good stand in clause.

Like maaf karo bhai. Pakistan can easily remove rizwan and slot Haris in at no 8 and tell him to slog a few.

Give the no 4 slot to a batter like saud who's just better then rizwan and is vc of test anyway so might as well make him test and odi cap.

Similarly Abdullah can be axed for literally any opener except for farhan who's rubbish in whiteball.

Give me a week ...lol

 

[Aami]

I don't hate aqib however aqib needs to boot rizwan plain and simple.

Rizwan, Abdullah, Misbah, and many such players in the past have always hidden behind this rubbish clause.

For Misbah, Despite the fact that he was a selfish, Slow as molasses ans downright atrocious run chasing batter, his loyal fans hid behind the captaincy clause aka we don't have any other captain as well as hid behind the clause of failures aka the openers are rubbish so misbah has to play.

Which is funny because people confidentially ignore how rubbish misbah use to be in 2011 when the team was actually strong or how it took fawad alam 2 innings to expose this fraud batter.

Same with rizwan. When rizzu first appeared he had a purple patch. In 2015 to 2019 he frequently flunked games and wasn't a regular but he eventually got his chance.

From 2019-2023 he was decent however it's because he was new and their just wasn't enough footage available. Now the whole planet knows that to get rizzu out you just gotta bowl on the offside and he can't do anything due to his technical limitations.

But his loyal fans are hiding behind the keeping clause.

With Abdullah it's the technique, opening and he's a good stand in clause.

Like maaf karo bhai. Pakistan can easily remove rizwan and slot Haris in at no 8 and tell him to slog a few.

Give the no 4 slot to a batter like saud who's just better then rizwan and is vc of test anyway so might as well make him test and odi cap.

Similarly Abdullah can be axed for literally any opener except for farhan who's rubbish in whiteball.

Its not Rizwan, Babar or Abdullah's fault for being selected then? Misbah still in news?

If they are being selected despite their short comings then its up to the selectors?...they need to be answerable not players?

If the players are stats paddlers, not the right sort of attitude/skill set, damaging Pak cricket, holding other players spots (laughable, if there are any) or whatever the reason, good luck to them for getting away with it? Who wouldnt?.

Why would you put your hand up and say, "hey bud, Im crap, please stop picking me" .. no one will.

So, selectors neck mate?

But then, Aaqib/Aleem combo to overhaul Eng last month? ...may be not the right time just yet.

 

[shamaan]

Why no sajid khan who made the decision

It was the correct decision.

 

[shamaan]

Can I ask why saud shakeel is not in odi and Abdullah shafique or Usman Khan are included?

I back usman but not > Saud

And Abdullah? Great another parchi who hides behind the nonsense opening clause.

Misbah = Captaincy clause

Rizwan = Keeping clause

Abdullah = Opening clause.

Unbelievable lanats

Abdullah is a opener and Saud is middle order batter.

 

[shamaan]

Abdullah is a opener and Saud is middle order batter.

But Abdullah should not be in the odi squad.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Bro is sajid dropped permanently or will he be back vs windies series plz confirm this i am quite upset him not getting selected.

Not permanent. They are just taking one spinner for tests. Although Noman VS Sajid is debatable.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Hopefully Abbas can be our Philander

 

[ghalib kichlu]

Abbas played that series right after a major shoulder surgery I think Abbas can do a job here and this could be a really decent attack if we have a 140 plus pacer maybe Naseem could be forced to forget line and length rubbish and go flat out in short spells while others do the bulk bowling

When we see South Africans playing 5m outside their crease like they're facing Mitchell marsh or Mark boucher it'll be like playing that level of your favourite game which you've already completed 92 times

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Hopefully Abbas can be our Philander

I really like his variations as a bowler tbh and he can bat too... i think he can become a handy all rounder for Pakistan.

 

[Maher96]

Who do you select in your t20 team?

I’d drop Salman but then need 5 genuine bowlers which this squad won’t allow either with our batting.

Saim and Salman need to share the 5th bowlers quota.

Saim
Rizwan
Babar
Usman
Tayyab
Salman
Irfan
Abbas
Shaheen
Haris
Sufyan

Or play both Abbas or jahandad over Tayyabirfan

 

[BouncerGuy]

Luckiest guy would be Salman ali agha who did nothing in T20s but still ends up being in the squad.

Arafat and Qasim would be kicking themselves for not being retained.

Also faisal dropped for Sufiyan??? why??

 

[Shafi]

How Salman keeps getting selected for T20. This guy is just rubbish batter in LOI.

 

[Hawkeye]

How Salman keeps getting selected for T20. This guy is just rubbish batter in LOI.

Aqib seems to be obsessed with him for some reason.

Also Rizwan and Babar in T20s, odd.

 

[from_da_lost_dim3nsion]

Making all the right calls ! . refreshing to see. I feel bad for sajid khan but man, dropping SSA couldn't have been easy .

 

[Abdullah]

For tests you want 5 bowling options but we can't weaken the batting. This means
Rizwan Agha Jamal should be locked at 6 7 8 at least 2 of the venues.
3 quicks will be Naseem Abbas and one of Khurram/ Mir

The batting is then interesting. Kamran Saud and Shaan have to play, so Babar can only play if Shaan opens.

If they go with the 6 batter and 4 bowlers Babar gets in, but the bowling becomes light and there is no spinner. Unless Saim is the spinner.

Will be interesting to see what happens!

 

[khyberlion]

For tests you want 5 bowling options but we can't weaken the batting. This means
Rizwan Agha Jamal should be locked at 6 7 8 at least 2 of the venues.
3 quicks will be Naseem Abbas and one of Khurram/ Mir

The batting is then interesting. Kamran Saud and Shaan have to play, so Babar can only play if Shaan opens.

If they go with the 6 batter and 4 bowlers Babar gets in, but the bowling becomes light and there is no spinner. Unless Saim is the spinner.

Will be interesting to see what happens!

I think they will play Salman as spin ar with Jamal at 8. Shan will probably open with saim in order for Babar to play.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ahmed Shehzad criticized the PCB selection criteria:

"You have dropped Sajid Khan from the South Africa series; are you people blind or out of your minds? Do you think you’re the only ones going to play in South Africa, where the entire world doesn’t play? And there, you're taking just Noman Ali."

"You should be thanking Sajid because, in the slump Pakistan cricket has been stuck in for the last three and a half years—where it had hit rock bottom and people had started laughing at your cricket—he won matches for you [referring to the England series]. And this is how you’ve rewarded him? Just as he was becoming a superstar, you discarded him like a fly from milk."

"So, you've dropped Shaheen, brought in your own group, and what did you achieve by dropping Shaheen? Managing workload, right? Such an excellent job managing workload—you've made Haris Rauf play all the matches. Who are you fooling? You're just fooling the public in the name of workload management."

"You've formed your own little group and are obliging all your favorite players. Is this your vision—to bring in such incompetent people, hand over the entire responsibility of Pakistan cricket to them, and let them ruin it before leaving?"

 

[batandballbattle]

I am with most of the fans in feeling bad for Sajid. I get SA is not the ideal place for spinners but he should be in the squad, he can take the place of the lone spinner if Noman doesn't work out.

Good decision to discard Shaheen from red ball too, he had been getting a free ride in that format for too long.

Agree with Abbas being recalled. His good form in domestics deserved to be rewarded. As usual the pace and height police out in force but those two attributes are not everything.

Interesting how they will play both Kamran and Babar though, I think a straight swap would be unfair to a player trying to grow his confidence.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

I am with most of the fans in feeling bad for Sajid. I get SA is not the ideal place for spinners but he should be in the squad, he can take the place of the lone spinner if Noman doesn't work out.

Good decision to discard Shaheen from red ball too, he had been getting a free ride in that format for too long.

Agree with Abbas being recalled. His good form in domestics deserved to be rewarded. As usual the pace and height police out in force but those two attributes are not everything.

Interesting how they will play both Kamran and Babar though, I think a straight swap would be unfair to a player trying to grow his confidence.

Sajid Khan and Fakhar Zaman were the most deserving players to be picked on this tour.

 

[heddie19]

When I see Rizwan and Babar’s name in the T20 squad

What’s the bloody point? What do you think they will do?

Chase 200+ for the 4th time maybe. Record Makers.

 

[heddie19]

- Lacking 1-2 genuine quicks with high release points who can force SA's batsmen onto the backfoot (making fuller length more lethal). Ihsanullah could've fitted the bill but he's on injury list.

Seems selectors decided in absence of such options to select proven FC seamers which's understandable - but Abbas still a curious recall. 34 years old (officially) and if one argument against Shaheen is his drop in pace - unsure how Abbas is the solution unless you're wanting more control or a backup for injury prone Khurram Shehzad.

- Batting options are also limited with almost every PAK batter sitting ducks against high pace and bounce. I'd move Abdullah to #3 to hide his deficiencies against the new ball and pair Saim and Shan with license to attack instead of latter coming in at 10-1 after 10 overs.

- Babar's recall is curious having not played a single FC match since his drop. Would've made more sense if he piled on the runs in QEA.

- Tempted to play Noman. Not necessarily solely for his spin but his lower order runs (which are vital in SA). They may play Babar as the extra batter instead, but I feel Jamal as the 3rd pacer is risky with his high economy and injury record. Therefore a possible lineup:

Saim
Shan
Abdullah
Saud
Agha
Rizwan
Jamal
Noman
Naseem
Hamza
Khurram

Babar was playing international cricket in Australia. He wasn't allowed to register for QEA trophy.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Chase 200+ for the 4th time maybe. Record Makers.

No no. they want farhan and usman + Salman type players in t20s. Let them have it.

 

[heddie19]

No no. they want farhan and usman + Salman type players in t20s. Let them have it.

You forgot Omair Yousuf, the guy is almost 26.

 

[BouncerGuy]

You forgot Omair Yousuf, the guy is almost 26.

He is new so gave him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[gazza619]

With Babar coming back, Kamran Ghulam would most certainly sit out of the playing XI for tests. This doesn’t make any sense. Shan should have been dropped for good and Kamran (or other domestic performers) must be given consistent chances going forward.

 

[Markhor]

Babar was playing international cricket in Australia. He wasn't allowed to register for QEA trophy.

Naseem also played in Australia but still got a QEA game under his belt.

How can the selectors be certain that Babar's issues are resolved without him having played a single red-ball game since his drop ?

Doesn't look like there's even a warmup match arranged before the start of the Tests.

 

[batandballbattle]

Sajid Khan and Fakhar Zaman were the most deserving players to be picked on this tour.

Seems they want to make a permanent example of Fakhar. I would have thought dropping him for the Aus and Zim tours would have been enough really

 

[heddie19]

Naseem also played in Australia but still got a QEA game under his belt.

How can the selectors be certain that Babar's issues are resolved without him having played a single red-ball game since his drop ?

Doesn't look like there's even a warmup match arranged before the start of the Tests.

I am not sure if the issues are resolved and I also think Babar won't play the first test. They will stick with Abdullah Saim and Shan at number 3. Whoever gets exposed the most in the 1st test from Abdullah, Saim and Kamran, Babar will replace him in 2nd test. That is how I am seeing it.

 

[usman.sandhu]

Making all the right calls ! . refreshing to see. I feel bad for sajid khan but man, dropping SSA couldn't have been easy .

Bringing back Babar is a bad call.. He has done nothing to warrant this return...

And dropping SSA is an easy decision - he has been a shadow of his former self for the past 2 years or so...

 

[BouncerGuy]

I am not sure if the issues are resolved and I also think Babar won't play the first test. They will stick with Abdullah Saim and Shan at number 3. Whoever gets exposed the most in the 1st test from Abdullah, Saim and Kamran, Babar will replace him in 2nd test. That is how I am seeing it.

If Babar plays, then Kamran's spot is in jeopardy. I think Babar will play the 1st test match though. The person who needs to get dropped is Abdullah or Shan

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Guys looking at what maharaj amd Jayasuriya are doing pak has to play nauman ali not only he will get wickets he will give you those handy runs down the order plz discuss.

 

[sweep_shot]

I think Pakistan should play both Sajid and Noman.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

I think Pakistan should play both Sajid and Noman.

Ya bro unfortunately sajid is not selected but nauman should definitely play

 

[sweep_shot]

Ya bro unfortunately sajid is not selected but nauman should definitely play

Why wasn't Sajid selected? That's surprising.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Why wasn't Sajid selected? That's surprising.

Ya selectors thought it will help fast bowlers pitches in sa thats why they only went with one spinner.

 

[Markhor]

Guys looking at what maharaj amd Jayasuriya are doing pak has to play nauman ali not only he will get wickets he will give you those handy runs down the order plz discuss.

They're playing in Port Elizabeth which is typically a more spin favourable venue compared to other South African grounds.

However we're playing in Cape Town and Centurion which historically have been dominated by seam. In our Tests there on the last tour in 2018/19, 64 of the 65 wickets to fall were by seam.

That said it's not to say there isn't value to playing a spinner. Noman's left-arm spinning counterpart Keshav Maharaj has a decent average even on SA pitches. Noman offers useful lower order runs too. Given how injury prone our seamers are, he can also offer them physical respite.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

They're playing in Port Elizabeth which is typically a more spin favourable venue compared to other South African grounds.

However we're playing in Cape Town and Centurion which historically have been dominated by seam. In our Tests there on the last tour in 2018/19, 64 of the 65 wickets to fall were by seam.

That said it's not to say there isn't value to playing a spinner. Noman's left-arm spinning counterpart Keshav Maharaj has a decent average even on SA pitches. Noman offers useful lower order runs too. Given how injury prone our seamers are, he can also offer them physical respite.

Ya thats what i am trying to say bro he should definitely play pak can get lot of advantage from him.