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Rahat Ali - a lack of basic understanding of cricket

Saj

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This guy has been in and around the Pakistan set-up for a number of years but I watch him and he looks like he is in his own little bubble, with very little awareness of what is required of him and what he needs to do for himself and the team.

As a bowler he bowls some good deliveries and has the ability to bowl some decent spells, but there seems to be very little consistency in his bowling in terms of line and length and pitch/conditions awareness. It just seems to be a case of mainly run in and bowl and hope for the best.

His batting and fielding, the less said about both the better. He doesn't back up when batting, no clue regarding shot selection or strike rotation or ensuring that he supports his partner. Yesterday there was an incident where he should have run 2 with Yasir Shah on strike but he was half asleep and only ran one. I don't expect big things from him as a batsman, but come on man, do the basics right.

In the field, he's allowing easy singles when his captain his telling him that he is there to stop the single. Misfields, dropped catches and a lack of awareness of what he is supposed to be doing. In the England tour I watched him in fielding drills and frankly it was embarrassing.

Basic things are missing from this guy and it makes me wonder just how hungry he is to do well, the levels of coaching he has received and whether he is actually understanding and doing what the coaches are telling him to do.
 
This is nothing but a reflection of the cricket we have in the streets. We have this unofficial rule in street cricket that whoever bats will not bowl and whoever gets the bowl will go in last as a batsman. So cricketers are indoctrinated unconsciously with this idea that you are either a batsman or a bowler. So players don't take the liberty to improve on other facets of their game.

Regarding match awareness, this is something that not only Rahat but almost every member of our team lacks barring Misbah. We've never been judged in the lower levels of cricket on team efforts. Individuality has always been rewarded and it's no surprise we see that in our national team as well. If you score 25 runs in 150 balls while trying to save a match, it will not be rewarded by our selectors but if a batsman scores a 100 while trying to save a match he will be hailed. But that 25 off 150 was equally remarkable. Therefore the team concept is alien to us overall. We need a mindset overhaul at the lower levels of cricket.
 
Afraid it's reflecting badly on the management

Someone needs to watch and act upon such things
 
No offence to him and he comes across as a nice, down to earth guy but he seems a bit dim to me. Definitely not sharpest tool in the box and this is me saying it after observing him for a number of years
 
Afraid it's reflecting badly on the management

Someone needs to watch and act upon such things

What reflects badly on management is that they have not explored more alternatives to Rahat. If
you want to talk about what is wrong with Pakistani cricket culture then let's start with the inability
to regularly rotate in new talent, quite irrespective of whether the existing options appear to be doing
"an alright job," "playing their part" or some other such euphemism. The debate over Rahat is likely
to go on forever because he perfectly straddles this category of barely passable mediocrity. Not awful,
sometimes very useful, never excellent.
 
Afraid it's reflecting badly on the management

Someone needs to watch and act upon such things

Yes and no. I think that that is a harsh conclusion.

The reason why Misbah has become the undisputed leader of the team is that hardly any modern Pakistan players seem to have any powers of self-analysis and evaluation.

This is not unusual in sport - indeed the historical status of various codes of football as a way out of poverty led to this being a phenomenon in football, rugby league and American football.

Rahat is one of the most deficient players in terms of analysis. But when Waqar was the coach I got the impression that he could tell Rahat what to do on a session by session basis and that Rahat was a much better bowler as a result.

At the end of the day Rahat is tall enough, quick enough and bowls from a tricky angle and is therefore a passable international bowler.

But any expectation of him learning to think for himself is probably hopelessly optimistic.
 
It's a shame that teams like England and South Africa seem to select players Who are good in most facets of the game let alone their primary skill. Yet we have selected a few guys who are just about good enough in their primary skill and atrocious in every other area. Fielding, fitness and the kind of batting that would embarrass a tail ender from other countries
 
Afraid it's reflecting badly on the management

Someone needs to watch and act upon such things

It's reflecting badly on him as he is not doing/understanding the basics.

If he thinks he can get away with just running in and bowling and having an occasional good day, then he is in for a wake-up call soon as I don't think Mickey Arthur will accept this.
 
I do admit that his lack of awareness is a problem, I mean that was a definite second run and he refused to take it, that was a second run but he was just being lazy

I feel he'll probably be benched for Wahab in the next game, because we need a bowler who can bounce the opposition out as there is good bounce on these wickets..

Rahat not being given the new ball is wasting his skills and he's better on the bench than being given the old cherry.. which will probably be used better by Wahab..

Also don't see Yasir playing the next game, so maybe we might see Imran Khan in action too
 
This guy has been in and around the Pakistan set-up for a number of years but I watch him and he looks like he is in his own little bubble, with very little awareness of what is required of him and what he needs to do for himself and the team.

As a bowler he bowls some good deliveries and has the ability to bowl some decent spells, but there seems to be very little consistency in his bowling in terms of line and length and pitch/conditions awareness. It just seems to be a case of mainly run in and bowl and hope for the best.

His batting and fielding, the less said about both the better. He doesn't back up when batting, no clue regarding shot selection or strike rotation or ensuring that he supports his partner. Yesterday there was an incident where he should have run 2 with Yasir Shah on strike but he was half asleep and only ran one. I don't expect big things from him as a batsman, but come on man, do the basics right.

In the field, he's allowing easy singles when his captain his telling him that he is there to stop the single. Misfields, dropped catches and a lack of awareness of what he is supposed to be doing. In the England tour I watched him in fielding drills and frankly it was embarrassing.

Basic things are missing from this guy and it makes me wonder just how hungry he is to do well, the levels of coaching he has received and whether he is actually understanding and doing what the coaches are telling him to do.

Agree almost 100%, with Mir Hamza in great form, Rahat should be replace by him.
 
Stats would tell you that he was the best bowler in the 1st innings, but far from it. I thought he'd do well but he's honestly been poor. People will say "but he got 4 wickets" but anyone who watched him would say that it was one of the most undeserving 4fers.

Simply looks like he's just there, not trying much, just there, I'd be willing to give Wahab a go over him.
 
His body language irks me the most. Always has a 'laanti' look on his face.

Looks defeated and dejected. Psychology plays a big part in this sport and with the way he carries himself, no batsman will take him seriously and that is why he is never able to sustain pressure in spite of bowling some great deliveries every now and then.

The intimidation factor is zero.
 
Send him home, we have better cricketers than him in every gully mohallah of Pakistan. Can't bat, can't bowl, can't field. Just making up the numbers.
 
Send him home, we have better cricketers than him in every gully mohallah of Pakistan. Can't bat, can't bowl, can't field. Just making up the numbers.

I'm confused

Lot of people here are bashing him for his bowling whereas he had a very good match with the ball. Admittedly I only saw like 20% of the match live so missed big stretches but What am I missing?
 
I'm confused

Lot of people here are bashing him for his bowling whereas he had a very good match with the ball. Admittedly I only saw like 20% of the match live so missed big stretches but What am I missing?

He was the highest wicket taker in the first innings, but that is where stats shouldn't be taken on face value. He bowled straight up filth when he first came in to ball and was hit for like 11 runs of his first over completely releasing the pressure. Picked up the wicket of Ross Taylor to a shot off which even Yuni bhai would be ashamed off. Then mopped up the tail.

Rahat is like Umar Gul, he would pick up wickets here or there but in between will chuck pies so that the opposition keeps ticking the score board over.
 
Imo it's time for someone like Junaid Khan, Ehsan Adil, Irfanullah Shah, Mohammad Asif, or Hasan Ali to replace him.
 
Yasir was furious with his running.

Contrast between one guy who is passionate and determined and the other who is a passenger.
 
Also am I right in saying he always concedes a boundary off his first over?

Seems to be happening a lot recently.
 
Also am I right in saying he always concedes a boundary off his first over?

Seems to be happening a lot recently.

Overall too mamy loose deliveries and is unable to build pressure on the batsmen as they know that sooner or later a garbage delivery will be bowled.
 
He was a different fast bowler when Waqar Younis was coach.. I'll say this much..

Being demoted as first change since Amir has comeback hasn't done alot of good to his confidence either.. he already appears to have a fragile self esteem/self confidence in himself..

That dropped catch off Wahab Riaz is still in the minds of many people, and alot of them judge him/hate him even to this day for that dropped catch, specially on this forum
 
Looks bored at times and not eager to get the wickets. In terms of body language and aggressiveness Wahab is ahead of the rest. Amir isn't all that either.. yes he bowls well and looks to get wickets usually but other than that spell against India in the Asia Cup, he has never looked hungry as enough.
 
Saj spot on. What's worse is that his batting and fielding has not improved. Rahat is not such an amazing bowler that he can walk on a team with no skills other than bowling.
 
Every team Pakistan have a foreign tour we all agree on the same analysis but nothing can be done about it
And then once the tours over and they all go back home we find some unhyped talent from the kp who is 6 foot 3 to bang on about

I understand the Australian tours bring their own pressure but the bowlers really need to put some effort in at the nets absolutely
 
Replace him with Mohammad Asif.

The bloke, despite his controversial history, has an understanding of the game like no other. He would really help the Pakistani bowlers out given how intelligent he was in working batsmen out and making plans to suit their weaknesses.

And as far as his form is concerned, he has been performing reasonably well in FC cricket.
 
I have never been convinced with Rahat.

If the guy doesn't believe in himself then how can we the fans have faith in him ??

He's very frustrating to watch because he doesn't lack ability but lacks application. His body language looks like one of a scared cat and his batting or fielding shouldn't be mentioned because it's pointless.

The team management have to take responsibility because if someone keeps getting selected despite very little improvement then it's not his fault if he keeps getting in, despite already hitting the ceiling on how high he can get.
 
He's a bit like your modern age Windian quick. Bit of pace, talent. Just never grows up though. It's a shame but I think education is a big factor in such cases.
 
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Overall too mamy loose deliveries and is unable to build pressure on the batsmen as they know that sooner or later a garbage delivery will be bowled.

I have said this numerous times on this board already hes the left arm version of Muhammed Sami.. just runs up and bowls and hopes for the best and to be brutally honest should be nowhere the test side.
 
He is Pakistan's most talented pacer imho.

But just too brainless. No awareness.

You can't do much with these fellas. Just have to guide them in a desi danda style. The moment the danda vanishes, so will their performance.

If they don't become consistent even with constant monitoring, then throw them out and invest in more honest triers.
 
I don't really care about the demeanor and all that, think all this "how you carry yourself" nonsense is bs mostly. Sachin had 0 personality as a batsman and look where he ended, same with someone like Broad, barely talks or has the "aggressive" look yet he is world class.

He is not a thinking cricketer however. Has the gifts but no idea what to do with them, every ball is like a coin flip with him. If heads it will be a cracking delivery if tails it will be some short and wide garbage to be thrashed.
 
I don't really care about the demeanor and all that, think all this "how you carry yourself" nonsense is bs mostly. Sachin had 0 personality as a batsman and look where he ended, same with someone like Broad, barely talks or has the "aggressive" look yet he is world class.

You what...Sachin let his batting do the talking. When bowlers seen him come out from the dressing room they'd realise what an uphill task it was.

Also Broad "barely talks" or hasn't got the "aggressive look" is laughably ignorant. I guess you've missed the last few years of his aggressive demeanour and bowling :))
 
You what...Sachin let his batting do the talking. When bowlers seen him come out from the dressing room they'd realise what an uphill task it was.

Also Broad "barely talks" or hasn't got the "aggressive look" is laughably ignorant. I guess you've missed the last few years of his aggressive demeanour and bowling :))

Haha Broad barely talks bit was too funny
 
You what...Sachin let his batting do the talking. When bowlers seen him come out from the dressing room they'd realise what an uphill task it was.

Also Broad "barely talks" or hasn't got the "aggressive look" is laughably ignorant. I guess you've missed the last few years of his aggressive demeanour and bowling :))

Broad definitely doesn't have an aggressive demeanor. He lets his bowling do the talking, which is what I'm saying. Doesn't mean he looks like a wimp on the field, but def not a Mitch Johnson.

Anderson does.

Same thing with Sachin, when he was a new batsman himself at the intl stage he had 0 reputation, he just went about his business, and the bowlers didn't think any of him either because it was a new guy trying to make a name for himself.

Obviously 20-30 games later they realized the cost of his wicket, but he didn't change his demeanor.

He let his batting do the talking which is what I was saying. Maintaining your demeanor or whatever is overrated when you should let your performance do the talking.
 
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He has to fix this or he will be on the way out. He is one of those bowlers who has potential but is not applying it.

Sohail Khan has already overtaken him in the test pecking order and looks like Hasan Ali is ahead of him in the ODIs. So not many opportunities left for Rahat to change things up.
 
Broad definitely doesn't have an aggressive demeanor. He lets his bowling do the talking, which is what I'm saying. Doesn't mean he looks like a wimp on the field, but def not a Mitch Johnson.

Anderson does.

Same thing with Sachin, when he was a new batsman himself at the intl stage he had 0 reputation, he just went about his business, and the bowlers didn't think any of him either because it was a new guy trying to make a name for himself.

Obviously 20-30 games later they realized the cost of his wicket, but he didn't change his demeanor.

He let his batting do the talking which is what I was saying. Maintaining your demeanor or whatever is overrated when you should let your performance do the talking.

How someone can say Broad isn't aggressive shows his utter (lack) of cricket knowledge. Rahat's face to his body language is entirely depressing and devoid of any sort of confidence, the fear factor while playing him would be zero. There is no consistency to his bowling, run up and bowl and hope for the best is his plan. No idea how to set up a batsman either.
 
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Run up and hope for the best, is the best way to describe Rahat and his bowling.
 
IIRC arthur really likes this guy and to paraphrase, he said that he will be a really good performer once thet get his action to be repeatable
 
Gee Whiz.

:))

I'm being genuine here dude, I really don't see it with Broad.

I've seen the guy bowl many a times, I can't see his aggressive side, I just don't.

Maybe he looks more confident than Rahat, but that's about it.
 
How someone can say Broad isn't aggressive shows his utter (lack) of cricket knowledge. Rahat's face to his body language is entirely depressing and devoid of any sort of confidence, the fear factor while playing him would be zero. There is no consistency to his bowling, run up and bowl and hope for the best is his plan. No idea how to set up a batsman either.

I wasn't talking about Rahat the bowler, I already admitted his medocrity.

As for Broad's aggressiveness it's a matter of opinion. He's not a wimpy or dejected bowler for sure, but I don't see him as an aggressive personality.
 
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I wasn't talking about Rahat the bowler, I already admitted his medocrity.

As for Broad's aggressiveness it's a matter of opinion. He's not a wimpy or dejected bowler for sure, but I don't see him as an aggressive personality.

Didn't he once throw a ball at a Pakistani batsman, forgot his name?
 
Didn't he once throw a ball at a Pakistani batsman, forgot his name?

I recall Stokes being particularly vocal and aggressive against us in UAE, he was doing it a lot.

Broad may have done it too, but personality wise I don't see the same fierceness in him as a Stokes for e.g. I recall Irfan throwing the ball at Hales in the same tour as well lol, but Irfan doesn't seem particularly aggressive either. A cricinfo article even called him gentle giant.
 
There is a difference between calm and being cowardly.

Players like Tendulkar etc. don't have much a personality but they don't give a nervous vibe either.

Rahat on the other hand seems like someone who has been plucked out of nowhere to play international cricket and has no idea what he's doing there.
 
Only thing i can think of for Rahats continual inclusion in sqauds and team is that he must have strong connections in PCB just like Muahmmed sami did quite a few years ago...! One of worst bowlers ever to play for pakistan and god knows why he keep been picked.
 
I genuinely agree with OP but I still feel the guy has the ability of taking the wicket of any batsman in the world when he truly puts in the effort.

However, International cricket and especially playing for a top Test side like Pakistan requires the utmost professionalism and determination to do the correct things. The management needs to review this instead of always feeling sorry for the guy all the time
 
Not a great effort by Rahat so far on Day 1, far too many short deliveries. Seems to be the case far too often.
 
Not a great effort by Rahat so far on Day 1, far too many short deliveries. Seems to be the case far too often.

he was getting some insane swing at the start but as ever his line was terrible
 
he was getting some insane swing at the start but as ever his line was terrible

He always swings the ball and bowls some great deliveries which is what makes it so frustrating when he tries to bowl a short ball at 129 kph.
 
So damn frustrating. Unless he does something good in this game I'm done supporting this brainless guy
 
Pakistan is missing Asif with the pink ball.

When the main issue is new ball bowling CS is more interested in bowler's ability to strike with old ball.

#Bring back M Asif
 
The only reason Sohail Khan hasn't played today is because of the poor over rate he was costing the whole team..

His laboured run up, and his subsequent time spend in his following spells.. takes ages to actually get done with his overs.. and looks a tired object when he is done..

Otherwise on this pitch he would've bowled a consistent channel and line.. and his batting is a very helpful factor too..

However this guy is causing everyone else 50% of the match fees and I'm pretty sure that must've offended quite a few individuals playing for the side..

Rahat is poor but atleast he is not as laboured as SK is.. the only other option is Imran, I'm sure if Rahat doesn't perform this match, Imran gets the nod ahead of others
 
By far the worst seam/fast bowler in world cricket right now! simply awful and fact he gives away a boundary almost every over is shameful to watch
 
The guy just looks aloof to everything. No expressions no body language nothing.

Something isn't quite right about him today either as it's been talked about a lot already on air.
 
The only reason Sohail Khan hasn't played today is because of the poor over rate he was costing the whole team..

His laboured run up, and his subsequent time spend in his following spells.. takes ages to actually get done with his overs.. and looks a tired object when he is done..

Otherwise on this pitch he would've bowled a consistent channel and line.. and his batting is a very helpful factor too..

However this guy is causing everyone else 50% of the match fees and I'm pretty sure that must've offended quite a few individuals playing for the side..

Rahat is poor but atleast he is not as laboured as SK is.. the only other option is Imran, I'm sure if Rahat doesn't perform this match, Imran gets the nod ahead of others

Don't understand why Sohail Khan having a longer run up than Waqar or Shoaib Akhtar plus the extreme grunting, bowls slower than Shahid Afridi's faster ball.
 
The only reason Sohail Khan hasn't played today is because of the poor over rate he was costing the whole team..

His laboured run up, and his subsequent time spend in his following spells.. takes ages to actually get done with his overs.. and looks a tired object when he is done..

Otherwise on this pitch he would've bowled a consistent channel and line.. and his batting is a very helpful factor too..

However this guy is causing everyone else 50% of the match fees and I'm pretty sure that must've offended quite a few individuals playing for the side..

Rahat is poor but atleast he is not as laboured as SK is.. the only other option is Imran, I'm sure if Rahat doesn't perform this match, Imran gets the nod ahead of others
You've finally given up on Rahat.
 
Pakistan is missing Asif with the pink ball.

When the main issue is new ball bowling CS is more interested in bowler's ability to strike with old ball.

#Bring back M Asif
Your a great poster and all, but this is getting ridiculous, he hasn't set the domestic scene alight nor is he anywhere near contention for selection.
 
You've finally given up on Rahat.

Yesss.. despite him performing exceptionally well in the warmup game (as good as our Lamborghini) this is no way to bowl in a Test Match.. however I'll wait for another innings before giving up on him completely
 
Your a great poster and all, but this is getting ridiculous, he hasn't set the domestic scene alight nor is he anywhere near contention for selection.


This is factually incorrect.


Rahat was horrendous today. Get over him now please.


For details go to match thread and see my post wrt Asif where I quoted JibranAnsari.


Asif has been brilliant this Season.


3 best spells out of 4 bowled by Asif. I don't care about Stats but Asif played 3 of his Total matches this season on flat, slow, dull surfaces.


I just loved the 3 magical spells. And yeah sorry the 4th spell wasn't bowled by Abass, Mir, Tabish, Ghulam etc etc either.


Asif looks like a sharpened diamond post 34. Woww.

I am not even 0.0001 % bothered about Asif's bowling post stomach bug/food poisoning.


And all the nonsense being built up against Asif is based on Post Food poisoning Asif which is very shoddy.
 
Still got no idea what the team management see in him.

He's hopeless and brainless, as harsh as it may sound this is the fairest assessment of Rahat Ali.
 
Rahat Ali is a left-handed Mohammad Sami.

Runs up and bowls hoping for the best. It works well in domestic cricket but you get found out quickly against the pros.

It's poor for an experienced guy like him but Sami never learned either.
 
Yet Rahat, Wahab etc deserve it more than skilled bowlers like Asif. It's an eye opener for most Pakistanis. I hope they are cherishing these bowling performances now.

I feel for Rahat as well. Either you have it or you do not. You could increase pace or learn swing bowling but you just cannot teach anyone some bowling sense or street smartness. Players like Rahat, Wahab will always struggle against better bats.
 
Poor, very poor job by selectors, who juts don;t want to do anything, any change, just interested in taking their salaries.
 
Only thing i can think of for Rahats continual inclusion in sqauds and team is that he must have strong connections in PCB just like Muahmmed sami did quite a few years ago...! One of worst bowlers ever to play for pakistan and god knows why he keep been picked.

To compare him to Sami as some have done in the past is really unfair. Even today Sami could walk into the current line up in Australia and be a better bowler than Rahat and Wahab, this is how much the fast bowling has regressed.
 
Haan Bhai where are all those analysts who thought this guy was a good bowler
 
Sorry, Asif will put a nail to Rahat Ali's discussions on Pakpassion.

Soon He will be history.

Even one or two good spells on this tour will fail to save him.


His overall Int Cricket record is going to be scrutinised soon.
 
Too many loose deliveries that good batsmen will always pounce on.

Fitness levels look poor.

Gameplan awareness is lacking.

A good performance every now and then isn't good enough.
 
Sorry, Asif will put a nail to Rahat Ali's discussions on Pakpassion.

Soon He will be history.

Even one or two good spells on this tour will fail to save him.


His overall Int Cricket record is going to be scrutinised soon.

But don't you think Asif is too old to play cricket? :inzi
 
But don't you think Asif is too old to play cricket? :inzi

After the Age of 34 Richard Hadlee took 230 Test wickets and Walsh took 210. Furthermore Hadlee had career threatening knee injury prior to that. Both had wear and tear 200 plus Fc matches and hundreds of List A matches by than. Both averaged as good as they averaged before 34 age. Infact Hadlee bettered his pre 34 numbers and averaged 22 in his last 6 years. He played Test cricket until he was few months short of Age 40.


Asif never had a serious injury be it be back, hamstring, groin, knees or shoulder and he has only played 92 Fc matches uptil now. I see no reason why He cannot play Int Cricket for next 3-4 years.

Asif should be picked for all Tests uptil 2019 and should only be picked for Odi's in South Africa & England especially Champions Trophy and World Cup 2019. His Odi Career is okayish but his Odi record in England has been excellent. If Fit and in form He can take 1 or 2 wickets of top batsman of opposing teams in England with the new ball while bowling economically.

Asif needs to take special care of his diet and fitness. If he does than he can repay the Nation.
 
Inzamam and selectors should also take the blame if we lose the series. They selected a poor squad.
 
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