Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan or Imran Khan?

[Saj]

Given that Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir seem to be first picks for Pakistan going into the first Test match and Yasir Shah will definitely play. That leaves Pakistan with the choice of a 3rd seamer against New Zealand.

Who should play out of the 3 remaining seamers?

 

[mz123]

rahat ali, because of his swing. On his day, he can be more dangerous than Amir.

 

[Abdul]

Think Rahat Ali is the ideal option as Sohail Khan has fitness issues.

Imran Khan is not cut for international cricket with his below average trundling.

 

[The_KING]

Sohail Khan despite his fitness issues. In these conditions, he will be our most dangerous bowler at least in the first innings. We saw this in England when he took two five wicket hauls in somewhat similar conditions.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

IK bit hard done by. He deserves another test at some point.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Rahat

 

[kingusama92]

I don't trust Sohail Khan's fitness. He has failed to impress in the second innings of each test match he's played. A clear sign of someone who fades as his body wears down.

Rahat Ali makes the most sense.

Imran Khan won't be of use in these conditions.

 

[Pakprideuk]

Imran Khan because he deserves another go. See no reason why he was dropped and also because I'm not in favour of playing 3 left armers.

 

[Mamoon]

I think Rahat Ali type bowler is disastrous in a place like Australia. As I said in the other thread, Australian batsmen thrive on bowlers who lack discipline and cannot bowl dry.

They want bat on ball and boundary delivers, and that is what Rahat gives them. Yes he will produce an unplayable delivery every now an then, but that doesn't really help in Australia if you do not have good control.

Besides, since Amir and Wahab will definitely play, a left-arm only pace attack will become too one dimensional, and that is what happened in England in the first two Tests.

Amir, Wahab and Rahat were essentially bowling with the same angle and it became net practice for the English batsmen. Sohail refreshed our attack and by the end of the series, he was our best pacer.

His control is somewhat better than Rahat and he is a better option for Australia, but his fitness is terrible due to which he trundles for long periods so it is a big problem.

Imran offers control and persistence, but I feel that he is simply not penetrative enough to cause trouble.

Bottom-line is that our pace attack is pretty ordinary. None of them are close to producing the stuff Rabada, Philander and Abbott have produced. Our pacers are hacks who lack everything - control, penetration and ability to take wickets in clusters. None of them are reliable wicket-takers and yes I am not interested in delegating all the blame to the fielders for dropping catches.

People are getting too excited over how the SA pacers have dismantled the Australian batsmen but they ignore the gulf in class. Our pacers are nowhere near theres and I'm not interested in the excuses for Amir and 'when he gets his stride back' and bla bla bla.

Wahab is a hack who is can't land the ball on the same spot twice and that is what Australian love. Also, stay tuned for his cringeworthy attempt at sledging and getting under the batsmen's skin - the useless clapping thing that he does with a few mutters.

Rest have been covered already. Once again our hopes rest on Yasir and if Australia is smart enough, they will produce Old Trafford and Edgbaston style pitches for him.

 

[Ahson8]

Rahat, Amir, Sohail for NZ.
Amir, Sohail, Wahab for AUS

 

[Justcrazy]

Rahat, Aaamir and Sohail should play in Australia.

Wahab should not get a free ride.

 

[Slog]

Think Rahat Ali is the ideal option as Sohail Khan has fitness issues.

Imran Khan is not cut for international cricket with his below average trundling.

ironically has the best record and has played in the most unhelpful conditions

 

[Slog]

its true our pacers dont hold a candle to Saffer ones (even post Morkel and Steyn)

They are literally streets ahead

very impressed with their discipline. hardly give any loose balls thus mounting insane pressure

 

[Obstructing_the_field]

Aamir, Wahab, Sohail/Imran

would go with Sohail bcz he has played and is in the grove... Imran Khan isnt too far behind but Sohail just gets the nudge bcz he has played recently.... Rahat not cut for it.. he will end up as a backup to Aamir/Wahab but not with both of those...

 

[Ahson8]

Rahat, Aaamir and Sohail should play in Australia.

Wahab should not get a free ride.

Wahab is going to be our best bowler in Australia; you heard it here first.

 

[Rayyman]

b/c of variety, swing and batting.

 

[aloo paratha]

IK bit hard done by. He deserves another test at some point.

3rd test was a golden opportunity but our management...

 

[aloo paratha]

Ideally it should be Rahat and Sohail. Wahab won't be as effective on green pitches, so might as well play the 2 bowlers who are better suited for conditions. Wahab should play in Australia no doubt, and he can play the 2nd test if conditions suit his bowling.

 

[cricketInsight]

If it was a Rahat vs Sohail - I would pick Rahat because Sohail lacks the fitness even though he can give us good spells.

But I will end up picking Sohail since we already have 2 left armers.

Imran could have made things more difficult but the guy doesnt have games under his belt and we couldn't see him play in England so he will miss out unless he gets a game in NZ due to another injury

 

[R1ddlR]

Rahat bhai for life - extremely underrated - workhourse type mentality and works hard.. is a bit wayward at times but gives his all.

 

[Square Drive]

Rahat.

Sohail should only play in a five man attack whereas Imran lacks match practice.

 

[hur rizvi]

CAnt have 3 left armers. Sohail

 

[Big Mac]

Can't look past Rahat's superlative nightwatchman ability. A true legend of the modern game.

 

[Hasan123]

Rahat

 

[Amjid Javed]

If his fitness has improved some how then has to be sohail khan... rahats waywardness and in ability to use the new ball means he should sit out.

 

[TeymurBlake]

I actually have to say Rahat Ali and again it is for his swinging ability with the bowl. Also NZ are definitely likely to play with more RHB than LHB.

 

[Hamza_]

Rahat bhai for life as someone said. Unfairly criticized on this forum because he lacks that star aura but very gifted bowler.

 

[waleed88]

People forget Imran Khan's contribution easily, the guy got a 5'fer against Srilanka in the 3rd Test Match in Pallekele where we chased down 383.. and that wicket was as flat a wicket as you'd get on any pitch...

The pitch was playing even paced even on the 5th day.. His contributions are massively underrated, that match couldn't have been won without Imran's 5'fer

 

[Fahdi]

I think Imran Khan fits perfectly in to the Philander position/role. Bowls a tight probing line with a bit of movement.

 

[Jan Sher]

Rahat Ali is an almost failure at International level, yet the majority have voted for him, lol. This clearly exposes the majority mindsets, which prefer hype over application. Sorry state of affairs, sorry.

 

[Saj]

Rahat for me.

I think his length will be more suited to NZ wickets than the other two.

 

[Hamza_]

Rahat Ali is an almost failure at International level, yet the majority have voted for him, lol. This clearly exposes the majority mindsets, which prefer hype over application. Sorry state of affairs, sorry.

Lol worthy comment. Rahat is a very good bowler who though has been inconsistent particularly early in his career but is gifted. He has been bowling very well so no reason not to prefer him.

 

[Jan Sher]

Lol worthy comment. Rahat is a very good bowler who though has been inconsistent particularly early in his career but is gifted. He has been bowling very well so no reason not to prefer him.

Lol, averages 37.90, and he has been bowling very well? Come again please. We have the habit of preferring skills over application.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Should be Sohail & probably would be Sohail incase the wicket is suited for pacers like Southee & Boult.


His two fivefers in England won't be forgotten that early by looking at 2 Tests in UAE.


His fitness has improved since he played his 1st test in England but it needs to improve further.


If he does not impress with his performance and fitness in the 1st test than he will be replaced in the second test by Imran or Rahat because than it would mean 3 poor Tests. But if the wicket is pacers friendly and Sohail remains injury free in 1st Test than I expect him to perform.


Sohail Khan has an Fc SR of 42, Rahat has 50 while Imran has 52. So he is more of a wicket taker especially in pacers friendly conditions compared to other two. And with Pakistan probably going in with only 4 bowlers you need 3 to be wicket takers.


But with 4 specialist bowlers there is a huge risk of 1 bowler breaking down or Azhar/Asad/Babar releasing the pressure by giving easy runs.


So for Tests in Australia we need Amad Butt at number 7 or Hafeez at number 7 since I think Australia will again opt for Flat wickets after current humiliation at the hands of SA.


If Hafeez doesn't get cleared than I think Misbah might push for Hussain Tallat who he rates highly especially if he performs in last 3-5 matches of QEA aswell.

 

[Hamza_]

Lol, averages 37.90, and he has been bowling very well? Come again please. We have the habit of preferring skills over application.

Every X, Y and Z will show up his bowling average and what. If a guy could alone take out English Top Order contributing immensely to the win, He should play.

 

[Jin Chacha]

The only thing going against Rahat is that we will end up having 3 left handers if he plays. Otherwise he is the most underrated and unnecessarily criticized bowler we have.

 

[Jan Sher]

Every X, Y and Z will show up his bowling average and what. If a guy could alone take out English Top Order contributing immensely to the win, He should play.

No, he shouldn't. His career average must be taken into account.

 

[Hamza_]

The only thing going against Rahat is that we will end up having 3 left handers if he plays. Otherwise he is the most underrated and unnecessarily criticized bowler we have.

We did well with 3 Left Armers at Worldcup

 

[Jan Sher]

The only thing going against Rahat is that we will end up having 3 left handers if he plays. Otherwise he is the most underrated and unnecessarily criticized bowler we have.

Lol, he deserves the criticism. Check his bowling average, Mister.

 

[Jan Sher]

We did well with 3 Left Armers at Worldcup

This is not a World Cup, lol.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Rahat and Sohail edge out Imran just due to the fact that he has not featured for Pakistan in England or the UAE in the last 6 months that Pakistan has played.

He was hard done by the management as he had previously showed performances on dead wickets of UAE and did deserve a chance at least in one of the tests over the summer.

 

[Jin Chacha]

Lol, he deserves the criticism. Check his bowling average, Mister.

Not saying he is a world beater but he is pretty much on the same level as our other bowlers with the difference being that he is fit enough to bowl long spells and occasionally produce some unplayable deliveries. As far as the averages go, Sohail Khan averages 42 while both Amir and Wahab average around 33 so it is not as if Rahat is competing with Wasim and Waqar for his place in the team.

 

[Jan Sher]

Not saying he is a world beater but he is pretty much on the same level as our other bowlers with the difference being that he is fit enough to bowl long spells and occasionally produce some unplayable deliveries. As far as the averages go, Sohail Khan averages 42 while both Amir and Wahab average around 33 so it is not as if Rahat is competing with Wasim and Waqar for his place in the team.

Imran Khan averages 28 with the ball, you forgot it. By the way, it's not about competing with Wasim and Waqar, it's about not giving other new upcoming bowlers a chance, while giving him free rides. These series against NZ and Australia must be the last free rides for him and Amir, if both fail, then deserve to be axed.

 

[Jin Chacha]

Imran Khan averages 28 with the ball, you forgot it. By the way, it's not about competing with Wasim and Waqar, it's about not giving other new upcoming bowlers a chance, while giving him free rides. These series against NZ and Australia must be the last free rides for him and Amir, if both fail, then deserve to be axed.

I agree with you on Imran Khan and it wouldn't be unfair if he gets a chance. That is why I had mentioned that Rahat Ali is at a disadvantage in being a left hander as he makes the attack a bit one dimensional. But I still feel that Rahat does an ok job given his role is that of a backup bowler. He gets some undeserved criticism because people expect him to perform like the main striker.

 

[Hamza_]

This is not a World Cup, lol.

The world cup matches we played were in NZ and AUS

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

In a Test Career consisting of 6 Tests over last 8 years with 2 Tests played 5-8 years ago will career bowling average of 42 be considered or bowling average of 4 out of 6 total tests played in 2016 will be considered ?


Decision will only be made after assessing match fitness. With respect to bowling Average last 4 Tests bowling average of 30 including 2 match winning fivefers will be considered only.

 

[Barragan]

I would play Amir, Sohail and Imran.

Wahab won't be as effective in these conditions (assuming it will be green pitches) and rahat is far too inconsistent.

 

[super hitter]

Sohail Khan is way more consistent then Rahat

 

[Amjid Javed]

Rahat for me.

I think his length will be more suited to NZ wickets than the other two.

Length? Are you talking about his bowling been more ideally suited to Kiwi batsmen scoring runs off? The guy cant string two deliveries together in the same area. Also never seems to ever have a bowling plan.

Pretty much is a left armed version of Muhammed Sami, pakistan dont need such liabilities in the team.

 

[161]

I dont know why Micky doesn't rate him but Imran is the best of them all.

He bowls the best line and length with out any loose deliveries and moves the ball just enough to get the nick.

Rahat bowls too many bad balls, too short and can't control his swing.

Sohail is not fit enough for test cricket.

 

[Saj]

Length? Are you talking about his bowling been more ideally suited to Kiwi batsmen scoring runs off? The guy cant string two deliveries together in the same area. Also never seems to ever have a bowling plan.

Pretty much is a left armed version of Muhammed Sami, pakistan dont need such liabilities in the team.

Are you saying that Sohail Khan is a better option than him? Someone who can barely bowl in the second innings of a match.

 

[Indiafan]

No, he shouldn't. His career average must be taken into account.

Will you take career average of Amir into account too? He averages 32.2 mainly because of one good English season and nothing before or after. Rahat will be good in these conditions

 

[aloo paratha]

Lol, averages 37.90, and he has been bowling very well? Come again please. We have the habit of preferring skills over application.

Average is overrated, Starc averages 28 in tests, is he a bad bowler? No. Strike rate is much more importand than average, shows the impact of the bowler. Although Rahat doesn't have a good record, if you watch him you'd be able to tell why most are voting for him

 

[Jan Sher]

Will you take career average of Amir into account too? He averages 32.2 mainly because of one good English season and nothing before or after. Rahat will be good in these conditions

Well, these two tours must be the last free rides for Amir and Rahat, if both fail, should be axed then.

 

[Jan Sher]

Average is overrated, Starc averages 28 in tests, is he a bad bowler? No. Strike rate is much more importand than average, shows the impact of the bowler. Although Rahat doesn't have a good record, if you watch him you'd be able to tell why most are voting for him

Starc is neither a good Test bowler, he is decent at the moment. And how can you even compare an average of 28 with an average of 37? Strange. I have watched him enough, he has had enough free rides, if he fails against New Zealand, then must be axed, as he doesn't own a spot in the squad, also we can't waste other new bowlers in domestic cricket!

 

[sarmad1983]

exactly.... Has IK ever played in conditions that suit fast bowling??

 

[cricwiz]

Are you saying that Sohail Khan is a better option than him? Someone who can barely bowl in the second innings of a match.

If conditions suit swing bowling and are comparable to the ones in Bellerive Oval where Philander was almost unplayable, than Sohail Khan should be first choice. He starts with 140 kphs and when he is tired and huffed and puffed he drops pace to low 130's... But as I remember from SA vs Aus Test match, Philander was constantly 125-130 during his spell and he is simply awesome.

Another very very important factor is Sohail Khan being right handed fast bowler, whose main weapon is outswing. In swinging conditions, most right handed batsmen are vulnerable against out swing bowling if its pitched on 4th-5th stump, and all lefties become lbw candidate as the same delivery becomes an in swinger against them. Having three left arm bowlers could become a liability for Pakistan in the end, as it was shown in England Tests...

 

[aloo paratha]

exactly.... Has IK ever played in conditions that suit fast bowling??

Nope.. Yet people call him out for being "trash" when he has similar (if not better, not sure) stats than his partners.

 

[aloo paratha]

If conditions suit swing bowling and are comparable to the ones in Bellerive Oval where Philander was almost unplayable, than Sohail Khan should be first choice. He starts with 140 kphs and when he is tired and huffed and puffed he drops pace to low 130's... But as I remember from SA vs Aus Test match, Philander was constantly 125-130 during his spell and he is simply awesome.

Another very very important factor is Sohail Khan being right handed fast bowler, whose main weapon is outswing. In swinging conditions, most right handed batsmen are vulnerable against out swing bowling if its pitched on 4th-5th stump, and all lefties become lbw candidate as the same delivery becomes an in swinger against them. Having three left arm bowlers could become a liability for Pakistan in the end, as it was shown in England Tests...

with fatigue, not only pace suffers, accuracy does as well.

 

[srh]

Given that Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir seem to be first picks for Pakistan going into the first Test match and Yasir Shah will definitely play. That leaves Pakistan with the choice of a 3rd seamer against New Zealand.

Who should play out of the 3 remaining seamers?

Rahat Ali actually should be #1 selection in fast bowlers

 

[cricwiz]

so both Rahat Ali & Sohail Khan picked ahead of Wahab Riaz... Pakistan looking to maximize swing options...

 

[Square Drive]

Lol well, that just shows you how unpredictable Pakistan is.

Killed the purpose of this thread.

Well played though [MENTION=70365]Ahson8[/MENTION].

 

[Ahson8]

Lol well, that just shows you how unpredictable Pakistan is.

Killed the purpose of this thread.

Well played though [MENTION=70365]Ahson8[/MENTION].

Thanks. Just makes sense to rest Wahab now; he'll be really useful in AUS, and Rahat will probably get more out of the pitch here.

 

[Abdullah719]

Rahat seems to be struggling with his radar so far while Sohail is showing why the management have faith in him, good spell first up.