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[REPORTS] Azhar Ali to be appointed Test captain and Mohammad Rizwan as vice-captain

Short term fix, but if it means getting rid of Sarfraz and allowing us to draft in Rizwan then I’m all for it.
 
Kroll said:
That was three years ago, and it's obvious Azhar has regressed since then, he's probably done. With Misbah in charge now, everything is going to script.
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Take a good hard look at you test team and the players you think are capable of replacing them from the domestic level, before you make such knee-jerk statements. Azhar had one terrible series in a country that is considered to be the toughest for touring batsmen. Doesn't mean you get amnesia about his performances in the recent past. And by recent past I mean the Pakistan vs New Zealand series in UAE in which he was Pakistan's leading run-scorer.
 
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RedwoodOriginal said:
Take a good hard look at you test team and the players you think are capable of replacing them from the domestic level, before you make such knee-jerk statements. Azhar had one terrible series in a country that is considered to be the toughest for touring batsmen. Doesn't mean you get amnesia about his performances in the recent past. And by recent past I mean the Pakistan vs New Zealand series in UAE in which he was Pakistan's leading run-scorer.
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I'm not actually advocating booting him out just yet, just stating that he has regressed. This is clear from the fact that his average has dropped to 36 in the last three years from 46 at the time of Misbah's retirement as you stated.

Moreover, this is is about the captaincy. I think it would be pointless handing him the captaincy as a short term fix. It would make more sense to have someone like Babar leading the side if they are grooming him for the role than Azhar who may not last long with another failure.

Another thing we have to note, albeit it was another format, he was a massive failure when handed the captaincy. It was uninspiring and also led to a series defeat at Bangla for the time in our history. So play him but don't think it would be a good decision to make him captain.
 
topspin said:
He has just been made captain of Southern Punjab, following the shake-up of Pakistan's domestic cricket which led to forming six new regional teams.

The reason why he's the best man to lead the side is firstly because he leads by example with his work ethic and fitness. He is the fittest cricketer in Pakistan and spends a lot of time practising his batting.

Secondly, he's an intelligent guy and having watched his interviews it's clear that he has a good cricketing brain.

Thirdly, he is rational and very much socially-aware. Unlike him, many of players do not how to carry themselves well on and especially off-the-field, as evident from their social media activity and from some of their interviews.

Finally, he makes the team on merit with his batting. If he can deliver on the toughest wickets for batting in world cricket, he should have no issues of cementing a place in this side. His technique is solid and is very proficient on the back-foot.

So as you can see from the points made above, it has nothing to do with his command of the English language. That is just a bonus. Salman Butt had good English but look what he did nine years ago! Ahmed Shehzad is relatively decent as well, however if you were to look at his social media activity, this guy comes across as a clown.

Babar Azam is the best alternative, however he is far too timid for my liking and secondly his response to Zainab Abbas on Twitter shows he needs to grow in regards to his social awareness. As there are no other viable candidates for the test captaincy, we have to settle for Babar as Vice-Captain.
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This looks like a good explanation. I am sold. I would take a guy like him over Azhar any day. Azhar admits defeat before the match even starts. We won’t move forward with him.
 
The oldest batsman in world cricket, who has averaged Under 30 since his 32nd birthday.

Who averaged 9.83 in his last Test series.

Why not appoint Javed Miandad? Or Hanif Mohammad?

Azhar showed all his leadership qualities after MisYou retired.

None whatsoever.
 
HappyWarsFan said:
You are a very good poster, the best in PP, and post very sensibly, but come on, let's not join the Misbah hate brigade.

Let's wait until he announced the squad and wait for results before completely formulating opinions.
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You call people who dislike Misbah as some hate brigade when I see them as sensible fans who want a new brain to run our cricket. People who support Misbah genuinely come across to me as those who are part of the reason why we have not moved forward in our cricket. They support mediocrity. When you do that you will only garner minnow results. Let us see how his stint goes. If it fails it will easily be a “I told you so” moment.
 
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I feel Babar can be made captain. He is young and the best player in the team.

Azhar showed in the past that he isn't captaincy material.
 
Azhar has been rubbish with bat in tests last 18 months and shouldnt even be in the team any more. But misbah thinks he should be captain? Great stupid logic as per usual.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Take a good hard look at you test team and the players you think are capable of replacing them from the domestic level, before you make such knee-jerk statements. Azhar had one terrible series in a country that is considered to be the toughest for touring batsmen. Doesn't mean you get amnesia about his performances in the recent past. And by recent past I mean the Pakistan vs New Zealand series in UAE in which he was Pakistan's leading run-scorer.
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Top run scorer in NZ series, i guess uve clearly forgotten his pathetic inns in most of that series where he killed the scoring momentum of the team and lost us the 1st test in that series aswell.
 
The tour to Aus means defeat so making Babar capt makes no sense and Safaraz looks to be in terminal decline, so it makes sense in the short term. AA has himself been poor on the bouncier tracks so this will be a real challenge for him
 
Big mistake If this is true! I'd rather see Shan Masood given a good test run as opener and captain. Why not?
 
I'd honestly rather have Sarfraz stay in the team than see Azhar as captain. Sarfraz was a HUGE upgrade over Azhar as captain, let's not forget that.
 
Mamoon said:
Give Wasim a pay rise. 30 lakhs per month are just spare change for the stellar job that he is doing.
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You sound disappointed you didn't get the job, or maybe your jealous of his pay, who knows. His pay is 300,000 USD, how is that too much for the role he is in. Do you expect him to be paid 50,000 USD instead.
 
Danyaalr01 said:
You sound disappointed you didn't get the job, or maybe your jealous of his pay, who knows. His pay is 300,000 USD, how is that too much for the role he is in. Do you expect him to be paid 50,000 USD instead.
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This is some Pakistani trait - everyone is so curious about how much someone else is paid etc!

But mostly with Wasim its a matter of some anti Imran politics as well so almost expected by the usual suspects.
 
1) Azhars never shown any decency or leadership qualities in past.
2) hes decline as a player alone has been terminal
3) misbah doesnt seem to learn from when Azhar was made ODI captain

Current regime will make pakistan a minnow in all formats of the game.
 
Danyaalr01 said:
You sound disappointed you didn't get the job, or maybe your jealous of his pay, who knows. His pay is 300,000 USD, how is that too much for the role he is in. Do you expect him to be paid 50,000 USD instead.
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I believe that works out at just over 19k USD per month if the stated pay is correct. But of course as he's living and working in Pakistan, the 30 lakh per month will have a comparatively much higher value than if he was earning that in a 1st world country.
 
Kroll said:
I believe that works out at just over 19k USD per month if the stated pay is correct. But of course as he's living and working in Pakistan, the 30 lakh per month will have a comparatively much higher value than if he was earning that in a 1st world country.
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I still don't see the problem, he is working in a very high position. The ECB Chief executive is paid a bit over 700,000 pounds, that is about 900,000USD. Running the biggest sporting board in the country is a huge job and obviously will pay heaps. He worked hard for it and is getting rewarded with high pay. Living costs are less in Pakistan compared to first world conutries so salaries are less too, Wasim Khan's salary is 3 times less than the ECBs Chief Executive.
 
Danyaalr01 said:
I still don't see the problem, he is working in a very high position. The ECB Chief executive is paid a bit over 700,000 pounds, that is about 900,000USD. Running the biggest sporting board in the country is a huge job and obviously will pay heaps. He worked hard for it and is getting rewarded with high pay. Living costs are less in Pakistan compared to first world conutries so salaries are less too, Wasim Khan's salary is 3 times less than the ECBs Chief Executive.
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Yeah, I don't have a problem with it, the going rate or above should be remitted. You can only attract the top talent with good pay. (unless you're Misbah of course)
 
Number of posters seem shocked but havent read a single decent alternative captain for a year or two after which Babar can take over.

Haris Sohail has played total of 10 test matches while Shan Masood has 16 matches with avg of 26. Yes Shan Masood is improving but I dont see any such successful captaincy decision made by any country in the last decade or two other than maybe Greame Smith becoming captain of SA.

Babar is undoubtably the future captain but he needs 3-4 big scores under his belt in tests to be more confident in the format and meanwhile he is gonna captain in the domestic tournaments. He is ready to take over ODI captaincy but Test captaincy is a but early in my opinion.

Asad Shafiq is also struggling for his place while Abbas and Yasir havent captained even in domestics if I am not wrong.

So who exactly should have been the captain realistically?
 
It's a tour of Australia. Don't think it's going to make any difference who the captain is if you don't have the players. If Azhar is captain he will have to deliver against SL in UAE though. If Lanka whitewash Pakistan again in the UAE though, there should be a complete overhaul of the test team and Misbah will be under tremendous pressure.
 
Danyaalr01 said:
You sound disappointed you didn't get the job, or maybe your jealous of his pay, who knows. His pay is 300,000 USD, how is that too much for the role he is in. Do you expect him to be paid 50,000 USD instead.
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I am only disappointed that his unbelievable incompetence is being rewarded with such a luxurious salary.

It is unbelievable how bad he is. After years in ECB, he hasn’t learned that you cannot appoint someone as coach and selector when he has zero prior experience in both departments.

ECB are probably relieved they got rid of him. Imagine him as ECB head. They will turn into minnows in 2 years.
 
Actually good that Azhar is being appointed - we will lose by innings in each test white wash and then like all Australian tours there will be a cleansing and hopefully Azhar and shafiq will be gone once and for all
 
Fair appointment, he's a sold top order bat, regular in the side - probably gets stick because he isn't dashing to watch - though he drives very well through mid-off and cover.

Too early for Babar in Test cricket, if he claims the LOI captaincy soon, that could work. Besides 3 formats captain is a position that only really works for some of the very best players, WITH experience - Dhoni/Sanga.
 
To be honest PCB has very little options , they have taken bad decisions and now trying to save themselves but the wrongs list has been too long.
 
Amjid Javed said:
Top run scorer in NZ series, i guess uve clearly forgotten his pathetic inns in most of that series where he killed the scoring momentum of the team and lost us the 1st test in that series aswell.
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If you don't like slow innings, don't watch test cricket. And we didn't lose the first test because of him.
 
Kroll said:
I'm not actually advocating booting him out just yet, just stating that he has regressed. This is clear from the fact that his average has dropped to 36 in the last three years from 46 at the time of Misbah's retirement as you stated.

Moreover, this is is about the captaincy. I think it would be pointless handing him the captaincy as a short term fix. It would make more sense to have someone like Babar leading the side if they are grooming him for the role than Azhar who may not last long with another failure.

Another thing we have to note, albeit it was another format, he was a massive failure when handed the captaincy. It was uninspiring and also led to a series defeat at Bangla for the time in our history. So play him but don't think it would be a good decision to make him captain.
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There's a difference between test and ODI captaincy. Plenty of examples of players (like Cook) who made good test captains but terrible ODI captains
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
There's a difference between test and ODI captaincy. Plenty of examples of players (like Cook) who made good test captains but terrible ODI captains
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What's going to make Azhar a good Test captain? As far as Cook is concerned; he retired at a younger age than Azhar is right now knowing is time was up. English players know when to call it a day, ours don't.
 
Disagree with this. He seems on the decline but biggest reason is he's already captained and didn't do well. He's not going to instil confidence in the team as captain as a result when he lost/stepped down from captaincy before.

Asad or Masood would have been better picks. Neither are great, but at least haven't had previous failed captaincy stints. If either fail, no harm done we can just drop them/sack them. Babar on the other hand too much of a risk to mess about like that, far too important.

Azhar would be someone I'd considering shafting down the order to try and make use of his experience despite his age getting on. Or out of the team altogether. Too much to focus on without the extra captaincy burden.
 
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Kroll said:
What's going to make Azhar a good Test captain? As far as Cook is concerned; he retired at a younger age than Azhar is right now knowing is time was up. English players know when to call it a day, ours don't.
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I'm not saying he will make a good Test captain. But looking at the current crop of players he has experience as a senior player and a mainstay in the Test team. Worth giving him a chance because none of the younger players are ready for test captaincy at the moment.

As for Cook, he had a pretty long career and English/South African/Australian players always tend to retire earlier than Asian players who usually play till their late 30s, if they are permanent fixtures in their respective sides. Also worth noting that Cook was way past his prime when he retired. He hadn't been scoring consistently for a long time but managed to end his career on a high because he went out on his own and because he scored that hundred in his last innings.
 
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Look with current state we are in , if we remove safest he is the only logical replacement.

It’s too early for babar who needs to perform in test cricket, which he has not done on a regular basis.

I would let him be captain for next year and see how we go.
 
Hmm, not much choice as Sarfraz cannot remain part of the test team no matter what. For some weird reason, I would like Asad to be appointed test captain. When he was vice captain and had spells leading the team as vice captain, he did pretty well. The responsibility may make him better and he seems to an astute tactician. But it looks like it be Azhar due to lack of choice.
 
In the two years since Misbah and Younis retired:

Azhar Ali averages 28 compared with 46 previously.

Asad Shafiq averages 37 compared with 38 previously.
 
Great Idea Tuk Tuk coach, captain will be tok tok.

It will only be a matter of tik tik before they are both sacked.
 
Junaids said:
In the two years since Misbah and Younis retired:

Azhar Ali averages 28 compared with 46 previously.

Asad Shafiq averages 37 compared with 38 previously.
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Therefore better to cut our losses with Azhar Ali and keep Asad Shafiq going
 
Not too many options really if Sarfaraz is removed.

Azhar, Shan. Can't think of many others?
 
Saj said:
Not too many options really if Sarfaraz is removed.

Azhar, Shan. Can't think of many others?
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Would you consider Azhar an option? Hes declined as a batsmen in last 18 months and isnt even worth a place in side.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
If you don't like slow innings, don't watch test cricket. And we didn't lose the first test because of him.
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He comes in and bats and kills all momentum of scoring for team and starves the other batsmen of strike and momentuk to. His pathetic attempt batting with tail was to blame for loss in 1st test. Learn some context when watching games.
 
Amjid Javed said:
Would you consider Azhar an option? Hes declined as a batsmen in last 18 months and isnt even worth a place in side.
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The other option is Babar Azam I guess, but then you could have the skipper in 3 formats scenario again.
 
Saj said:
The other option is Babar Azam I guess, but then you could have the skipper in 3 formats scenario again.
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I think the T20 captaincy should be given to someone like imad wasim. Then in ODIs and tests give it to babar. Foe once PCB need to start thinking longterm and quit with pointless short term stop gap nonsense we have to put up with.
 
Amjid Javed said:
I think the T20 captaincy should be given to someone like imad wasim. Then in ODIs and tests give it to babar. Foe once PCB need to start thinking longterm and quit with pointless short term stop gap nonsense we have to put up with.
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Appears to be the only viable option, Imad taking charge of T20 side and Babar handling the ODI and Test teams.
 
Saj said:
The other option is Babar Azam I guess, but then you could have the skipper in 3 formats scenario again.
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Azhar Ali is very much the Mike Denness option: everyone can see that he no longer merits his place in the team, and making him captain simply hands an advantage to the opposition.

When a Test batsman is 34 years old and has seen an 18 run reduction in his batting average since his 32nd birthday, the writing is on the wall. Especially when that was precisely when he needed to exhibit a bit of leadership after Misbah and Younis retired. Only for him to fail dismally.

But of course the reality is that Azhar as skipper is another part of Misbah-ul-Haq's grab for Total Control.

In international cricket the Head Coach is the servant of the Captain - the opposite of football.

But Misbah knows that if he appoints a weak has-been as captain, he will enjoy the total loyalty of that weak captain.

There was already an element of that with Mickey Arthur retaining Sarfraz long after his sell-by date. But this takes it to a new level - a particularly venal and cold-blooded choice to appoint a weak and completely dependent captain who is happy to be the puppet to his master.
 
Saj said:
The other option is Babar Azam I guess, but then you could have the skipper in 3 formats scenario again.
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I don't think that Babar has demonstrated any leadership credentials.

I would go with:

Red ball captain: Shan Masood
White ball captain: Shadab Khan
 
Amjid Javed said:
He comes in and bats and kills all momentum of scoring for team and starves the other batsmen of strike and momentuk to. His pathetic attempt batting with tail was to blame for loss in 1st test. Learn some context when watching games.
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Just because you have an opinion, doesn't make it so. Azhar Ali is Pakistan's best test batsman whether you like it or not. And I don't need to learn context. I saw the final session as batsman after batsman threw his wicket away in the most stupidest of ways. And yet somehow we're still blaming the one guy who scored a fifty and would have finished the game off had he gotten an ounce of support from the other end. Not every player is Kohli or Smith, when every fielder is deposited on the boundary and you only have a handful of wickets left, you can't just hit out.
 
Junaids said:
I don't think that Babar has demonstrated any leadership credentials.

I would go with:

Red ball captain: Shan Masood
White ball captain: Shadab Khan
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Babar was U19 captain and he makes the team in every format on merit. His skills eill nurture over time just like any other young captain.

Its really important to have a captain who is himself is a performer. With avg of 26 in tests Shan Masood shouldnt be the captain just because he looks a sensible guy as it sets a wrong precedent and Shadab needs to first win Pakistan matches like Babar Azam has been doing for sometime now.

Williamson, Root, Kohli and Smith werent born leaders, they learned a lot of things by doing the captaincy but the important thing was that they both were regular performers and thus lead from the front more often than not.
 
Sir-fraz said:
Fawad wont even get a spot anymore. Its sad but its too late, his international career was over when they picked azhar and shafiq back in 2010
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Oh but younever know, we need stability in test cricket, misbah should ask safi to step down, Azhar ali take lot of balls to make run, let alone he can control field..Fawad alam would be a good caotain.
 
Specialkid said:
Oh but younever know, we need stability in test cricket, misbah should ask safi to step down, Azhar ali take lot of balls to make run, let alone he can control field..Fawad alam would be a good caotain.
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Captaincy is earned in other countries and not given. Its earned by performing for the team, standing up when others are struggling. Fawad unfortunately wasnt even in the team let alone helping the team in any way. As I said in the above post it will be a wrong precedent.

Azhar is fine for now as he is a performer and has won test matches for Pak and in future I hope Babar Azam can stand up for Pakistan and become the captain.
 
Babar Azam should be selected as Captain of PCT across all format. Not one even close to him ATM. He is a thinking and a smart guy. He has that sort of selfishness required to suceed and become great player
 
Azhar Ali is a timid cricketer.

Pure and simple.
 
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saabir said:
Babar Azam should be selected as Captain of PCT across all format. Not one even close to him ATM. He is a thinking and a smart guy. He has that sort of selfishness required to suceed and become great player
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Yes Babar Azam is too fragile with way he asked or speak..he is no appealing, he might be a good choice...I think under Fawad Alam he can be vc...in tests..
 
Regardless of who captains Pakistan in Australia, another whitewash is on the cards.

If Sarfraz is to play the Australian series then the logical choice will be to persist with him on the difficult tour and then sack him.

The next captain, hopefully Babar, should have an easier first assignment. A thrashing in Australia may completely shatter the confidence of the new skipper.

I am not 100% convinced with Shan. He is too unproven to be given such an important role. If his performance is acceptable on the Australian tour then I will have no objection if he's made captain ahead of Babar.
 
Danyaalr01 said:
According to the same report Hafeez will be made LOI captain and Babar will remain Vice captain. Tough times ahead for Pakistan fans.
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This will be criminal and the person should be sacked. I wonder who's bright idea it is. It can't be misbah as loved to play hafeez all the time.
 
Wonderful.

Misbah led Pakistan in the 2015 World Cup at 41. Hafeez will now lead Pakistan in the 2023 World Cup at 43.

Thank you new and professional PCB. Such amazing professionalism that puts BCCI, ECB and CA to shame.
 
we should make fawad alam the captain...actually I would think rohail nazir the cuptaan of the u19's would be a good choice..he is young, and young and not as useless as that waste of space sarfi..actually whats the name of the U16 captain maybe we can draft him in..

oh wait I have a better idea..lets ask imran khan to captain the team..hear me out..he can be a non playing captain..he can stand at the boundary edge and just shout out his instructions, then bat at 11...
 
[REPORTS] Mohammad Rizwan to be appointed Test vice captain?

Credible sources suggesting Misbah is unimpressed with the recent performances of sarfraz and is therefore mulling the possibility of making Azhar Ali captain with Rizwan as the vice captain.
 
Not a bad choice to appoint him vice captain. As captain of KPK, he is taking responsibility and playing big innings consistently in FC and t20. But appointing Azhar as captain is not a good option, he is another Misbah and such defensive tactics are not suitable in Australia, as we found out in 2016/2017.
 
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