Sahibzada Farhan versus Abdullah Shafique

[mominsaigol]

I fail to understand why Farhan can't be selected in all formats over Abdullah Shafique?

First lets take a look at their stats




Farhan's stats are ironically better in list and fc then they are in t20. He is clearly more suited towards these formats yet PCB keeps on selecting him for t20 only.

Farhan has only recently improved in t20 cricket however prior to that it was his worst format with stats similar to babar and rizwan. Yet pcb never selected him.

Now I am not stating that Farhan isn't a t20 player. He improved leaps and bounds and deserves to be in the team. I am simply pointing out a fact that Farhan is clearly superior to Abdullah Shafique in List A. Age wise they are only 4-5 years apart and Farhan is still yet to hit 30, so it's not like you can use the grooming youngsters excuse for Abdullah like you can with Saim Ayub.

Now lots of people will highlight the fact that due to failure in International cricket Abdullah Shafique's stats have declined which is a fair point, however keep in mind before his debut

Abdullah had only played 7 tests and 15 List A games. With such a tiny sample size he was promoted to open for Pakistan in a world cup, which is the grandest stage of all.

Such a brain dead decison is reminiscent of Australia promoting Sam Konstas to open in BGT despite playing less then 10 FC games at the time over Campbell Kellaway who is clearly a ready product and had an unreal Shiffield season in recent times. Once again both their age gaps being only 3 years apart.

Furthermore it proves that Abdullah is a failure in international cricket excluding his performance against Sri Lanka which even the tired aged out Usman Khawaja recently managed to score a double ton against.

Lastly while PSL isn't a fair metric to judge a player, you can atleast determine which player is in form and who isn't. It doesnt always work as Usman Khan proved himself to be a failure but Farhan has clearly replicated his form from psl into international scoring 2 back to back 50's against WI alone.

Why is Abdullah being favoured over Shahibzada Farhan? Especially now that Babar isnt in charge and Hesson is? It just doesnt make sense?

Farhan is also an aggressive opener and would be a semi decent replacement to the now 35 year old ageing Fakhar Zaman.

 

[shehz]

When I watch Farhan bat, much like other dynamic players such as Ayub and Nawaz, I see hope. He has the ability to change the course of an innings with his blistering sixes. In contrast, with Shafique, it’s more of a “wait and see” approach. We've seen what he brings to the table over the years, solid technique but lacking that X factor. Occasionally, he surprises with an aggressive knock, but the inconsistency is a red flag.

A one-off explosive performance in the PSL shouldn't be the sole criteria for national selection. Unfortunately, PCB management often seems fixated on players based on one or two good innings in the league. Take Tayyab and Usman, for example, it was painful to watch them struggle after being selected based on limited performances. Plus they had terrible techniques.

Farhan, on the other hand, has continued to evolve. He doesn’t rely on reckless shots..he plays with intelligence, conviction, fearlessness, and excellent shot selection. With him, the sky is the limit and he brings the excitement. HE should be featured in all formats.

 

[mominsaigol]

When I watch Farhan bat, much like other dynamic players such as Ayub and Nawaz, I see hope. He has the ability to change the course of an innings with his blistering sixes. In contrast, with Shafique, it’s more of a “wait and see” approach. We've seen what he brings to the table over the years, solid technique but lacking that X factor. Occasionally, he surprises with an aggressive knock, but the inconsistency is a red flag.

A one-off explosive performance in the PSL shouldn't be the sole criteria for national selection. Unfortunately, PCB management often seems fixated on players based on one or two good innings in the league. Take Tayyab and Usman, for example, it was painful to watch them struggle after being selected based on limited performances. Plus they had terrible techniques.

Farhan, on the other hand, has continued to evolve. He doesn’t rely on reckless shots..he plays with intelligence, conviction, fearlessness, and excellent shot selection. With him, the sky is the limit and he brings the excitement. HE should be featured in all formats.

He has a very good technique. His issue is chest height deliveries where he struggles a bit and hence pitches like Australia might cause him issues.

He is a gun batsmen for Asian conditons though and for English bazzball conditons

 

[sweep_shot]

Farhan is better obviously. He reminds me of 2009 Umar Akmal.

 

[mominsaigol]

Farhan is better obviously. He reminds me of 2009 Umar Akmal.

2009 Umar Akmal wasnt that good. He was talented yes but not the best.

He had poor technique bit extremely good reactions until his weight gain caused his reflexes to deteriorate.

Farhan has a solid technique for Asian and English conditions.

NZ, Aus and SA would be a nightmare for him tbf. But thats for a majority of batters. Root has struggled in aus and SA as well.

 

[Ahmed216]

No doubt Farhan seems to have improved after years of domestic toil. His batting now has good mix of strike rotation and big hitting.

He has a weakness against short balls but he does have the temperament to negotiate with it.

Abdullah on the other hand still seems to be someone who hasn't figured out his approach towards batting in different formats.

Farhan definitely deserves to be picked ahead of Abdullah. Him and Saim can serve as a dynamic opening pair for next few years.

 

[Greenstorm]

He has a very good technique. His issue is chest height deliveries where he struggles a bit and hence pitches like Australia might cause him issues.

He is a gun batsmen for Asian conditons though and for English bazzball conditons

Farhan should have opened in 2023 WC. He is ideal for Asian conditions.

He used to avg 50+ in List A around 2020 but Imam's parchi was strong back then. Just like Fakhar and Sharjeel should have opened in 2015 WC but instead we were stuck with Shehzad and Nasir Jamshed !

We hardly ever play our strongest XI.

 

[mominsaigol]

Farhan should have opened in 2023 WC. He is ideal for Asian conditions.

He used to avg 50+ in List A around 2020 but Imam's parchi was strong back then. Just like Fakhar and Sharjeel should have opened in 2015 WC but instead we were stuck with Shehzad and Nasir Jamshed !

We hardly ever play our strongest XI.

A very good player. Ironically test and odi are his strongest formats yet pcb has a lobe affair with Abdullah.

Australia will rectify its mistake with konstas and JFM and replace them for Owen, Green and Campbell Kellaway.

Pakistan will persist with Abdullah till the end of time.

 

[Shaka81]

TBF, Abdullah Shafique was a solid test cricket prospect early in his career but Pakistan's desire to manufacture all format cricketers ruined his progress. He was never a T20 player but they desperately tried to make him into one and now he's just forgotten how to play longer formats. Farhan has started showing some consistency over the last few seasons but many are forgetting he was known widely as a "hack" before that. He's shown a lot of improvement so deserves a chance now but let's not pretend he was some superstar who was being wrongly ignored for ages.

 

[mominsaigol]

TBF, Abdullah Shafique was a solid test cricket prospect early in his career but Pakistan's desire to manufacture all format cricketers ruined his progress. He was never a T20 player but they desperately tried to make him into one and now he's just forgotten how to play longer formats. Farhan has started showing some consistency over the last few seasons but many are forgetting he was known widely as a "hack" before that. He's shown a lot of improvement so deserves a chance now but let's not pretend he was some superstar who was being wrongly ignored for ages.

No he wasn't. That is a myth. He scored against Sri Lanka but a 40 year old usman khawaja recently scored a double century their and Usman Khawaja at his age literally cannot play anything > 135 KPH or semi decent spin for the life of him.

He use to be a very good opener for Australia as he was consistently avg 40+ in most dens but his time is done yet he very recently scored a double century their.

Prior to his debut he had only played 7 FC games in his entire life, I REPEAT 7 FC GAMES.

that is not a large sample size to judge someone on. Farhan who has avg exactly the same as Abdullah in FC and has played a dime a dozen more games is a more accurate metric to judge who is a solid prospect and who isn't.

 

[Rana]

Technique ODI sr of 79 in 2025

Garbage!

 

[mominsaigol]

Technique ODI sr of 79 in 2025

Garbage!

This is what I hate about this technique propaganda. Sure Ricky Ponting is the epitome of perfect technique vs Pace etc etc.

But technique =/= being a good player. Harry Brooks doesnt have the best technique in the world yet is a gun talent in test and will eventually become a good odi and t20 batsmen. Steve Smith is top 5 test players of all time despite having the most awkward technique possible.

Travis Head is a gun t20 and odi batsmen despite not having the best stance or footwork as his hand eye coordination is unmatched.

Cameron Green relies more on power rather them strokeplay as well. Tim David is slowly transitioning into the Brock Lesnar of T20 Cricket.

Besides Abdullah Shafique doesnt have the best technique either. Its a myth, He's simply a good defensive batsmen as in he has a good defense. That's all. His stroke play and power is 0.

 

[Rana]

Besides Abdullah Shafique doesnt have the best technique either. Its a myth, He's simply a good defensive batsmen as in he has a good defense. That's all. His stroke play and power is 0.

He needs Lahore/Pindi type wickets to get best value of his technique and the shots he plays with it.

 

[mominsaigol]

He needs Lahore/Pindi type wickets to get best value of his technique and the shots he plays with it.

Lahore mein log martei hain and pcb is playing Abdullah

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Both will be Mainstays across formats for the next few years

 

[shamaan]

Farhaan should be in the odi squad.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

Since Fakhar is out, they could've drafted Farhan into the squad.