Yes, Nawaz and Faheem have played well recently and have won some games. But we should remember that they are unlikely to win big matches especially against India. There’s a reason they’re viewed as Tried and tested failures, and their trajectory appears to be declining. Now with Shadab back in the picture it feels like we’re right back where we were 8–10 years ago.
India has already developed new players and bowlers, while our bowling options are still stuck with the same losing combination.
Sufyan is extremely talented and at times almost unplayable. He could follow a path similar to Kuldeep Yadav, but unfortunately we only bring him in for a few games and then drop him for the likes of Nawaz, Faheem and now Shadab. These “bits and pieces” players are not going to win big tournaments. Many of them are past their prime ...if they ever peaked at all.
If T20 is considered too risky for Sufyan, why not give him a consistent run in ODIs? He has genuine wicket taking ability which is exactly what you need in the 50-over format. Salman Mirza is another very good option but we seem hesitant to trust him in big games.