Saif Badar: Development and Team

[unemployedgm]

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...b-pakistan-6th-match-national-t20-cup-2019-20

What do you see in this scorecard? I see a young player that has marshaled a chase with confidence, maturity, and talent. Badar is a talented cricketer. In fact we've lost sight of his unique ability to bowl leg spin. Now look at this scorecard.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...b-pakistan-9th-match-national-t20-cup-2019-20

What happened? Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik returned. As a result, Umer Siddiq was moved out of the opening position and Saif Badar dropped down to the power hitting spots. The result, both Badar and Siddiq struggled.

Who is to blame?

1. Coaching. Our coaches, captains, and selectors have no idea how to develop a player. They use the recent Misbah ul Haq formula. Throw things against the wall. If the result is good, it was a well planned and coordinated strategy. If the result is poor, "we were experimenting." Good Chief Selectors and Coaches don't experiment. They know exactly what they want to achieve and they know how to achieve it.

2. PCB. There is enough talent in Pakistan to have at least 8 to 10 teams of top quality cricketers. Enough teams where you can include the TTF's who still retain enough quality to play domestic cricket. Enough teams where players like Saif Badar get an opportunity to bat up the order at 4 or 5 and bowl 2-4 overs. But wait, you can't do that now because we only have six teams so good cricketers who can add value to competition like Haider Ali, Fawad Alam, and Hammad Azam languish on the bench. Sami Aslam an opener bats at no.4.

Finally, I am surprised that no one attempted to sit down with the powers that be and actually analyze the talent and ability of every player in our domestic system. That exercise was necessary to deduce how many teams should exist in our domestic structure.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

I don't see the hype at all. Yeah he plays some nice shots,.but his first class record is very poor. He probably has no temperament or defensive technique.

 

[unemployedgm]

I don't see the hype at all. Yeah he plays some nice shots,.but his first class record is very poor. He probably has no temperament or defensive technique.

I never said Saif Badar was a world beater. But he possesses certain skills that can be augmented. Those skills can help Pakistan Cricket.

The basic concept of this post was to discuss how we think about Player Development and other major decisions like our Domestic Cricket Structure. Even if our intentions are good, our thought process, logic, and competence is often found wanting.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Pushed him down to 6 to accommodate 40 years of experience. I don't see the problem. Experience is invaluable as the scorecard shows.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

I don't see the hype at all. Yeah he plays some nice shots,.but his first class record is very poor. He probably has no temperament or defensive technique.

He has played 7 first class games in 3 years. You can't develop if you don't freaking get opportunities.

 

[KingKhan12]

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...b-pakistan-6th-match-national-t20-cup-2019-20

What do you see in this scorecard? I see a young player that has marshaled a chase with confidence, maturity, and talent. Badar is a talented cricketer. In fact we've lost sight of his unique ability to bowl leg spin. Now look at this scorecard.

Not Really. If it wasn't for a freak Wahab Riaz innings his team were going to lose. We start hyping too much on some players. It was a average or best a a good knock but won't say he marshaled the chase with confidence, maturity and talent. It needed a freak knock from Wahab to chase it.

 

[Abdullah719]

Not Really. If it wasn't for a freak Wahab Riaz innings his team were going to lose. We start hyping too much on some players. It was a average or best a a good knock but won't say he marshaled the chase with confidence, maturity and talent. It needed a freak knock from Wahab to chase it.

He revived the innings and was on 43 off 28 when Wahab came to bat, and they needed 50 more off 35 to win. The chase was under control in terms of the run-rate.

 

[unemployedgm]

not really. If it wasn't for a freak wahab riaz innings his team were going to lose. We start hyping too much on some players. It was a average or best a a good knock but won't say he marshaled the chase with confidence, maturity and talent. It needed a freak knock from wahab to chase it.

1. I never make mistakes on talent

2. I never said saif badar was a superstar. I did though say that saif has talent and if developed correctly could represent pakistan at the highest level.

3. You are correct that generally speaking we do hype players.

 

[KingKhan12]

1. I never make mistakes on talent

2. I never said saif badar was a superstar. I did though say that saif has talent and if developed correctly could represent pakistan at the highest level.

3. You are correct that generally speaking we do hype players.

Sorry maybe i took it in the wrong way.

And yes I agree he has talent but when it comes to developing talent especially batsmens we are the worst. I also see him representing Pakistan too in future.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Some great points made by OP.

Happy birthday Saif Badar

How highly do PP'ers rate him?

 

[Thunderbolt14]

I think he’s a decent talent, nothing exceptionally exceptional. Can play for Pakistan if developed properly, but I don’t think he will be developed properly. So it will come down to his own hunger to learn.

If he has it in him to fight against the odds, he will make it. However, I fear it may not be for some time as there are some other domestic talents that are more appealing (Saud Shakeel, Abdullah Shafique, Haider Ali, even Rohail Nazir as he can keep).

Also, I am saying the above based on the few shots I have seen him play. The OP here is making an argument based on T20 performance which should not be worth looking into.

 

[Rayyman]

Some great points made by OP.

Happy birthday Saif Badar

How highly do PP'ers rate him?

He is the best young middle order bat when it comes to limited overs cricket.

Should be in the T20I XI.

Better than Haider Ali (who played 10+ innings at #3 for Zalmi and only had a HS of 61) at the moment, but unfortunately this is how the Pakistani selectors are thinking. They are preferring PSL over proven domestic performers like Saif Badar, Abdullah Shafique, Zeeshan Malik and Saud Shakeel.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

He is the best young middle order bat when it comes to limited overs cricket.

Should be in the T20I XI.

Better than Haider Ali (who played 10+ innings at #3 for Zalmi and only had a HS of 61) at the moment, but unfortunately this is how the Pakistani selectors are thinking. They are preferring PSL over proven domestic performers like Saif Badar, Abdullah Shafique, Zeeshan Malik and Saud Shakeel.

PSL performers are better than National T20 performers. Hence I rate Haider Ali better. If Saif Badar wants to make it to T20I, he must get selected by a franchise first.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

He is the best young middle order bat when it comes to limited overs cricket.

Should be in the T20I XI.

Better than Haider Ali (who played 10+ innings at #3 for Zalmi and only had a HS of 61) at the moment, but unfortunately this is how the Pakistani selectors are thinking. They are preferring PSL over proven domestic performers like Saif Badar, Abdullah Shafique, Zeeshan Malik and Saud Shakeel.

Proven domestic performer and saif badar? Have you checked his stats?

 

[Forum363]

He is the best young middle order bat when it comes to limited overs cricket.

Should be in the T20I XI.

Better than Haider Ali (who played 10+ innings at #3 for Zalmi and only had a HS of 61) at the moment, but unfortunately this is how the Pakistani selectors are thinking. They are preferring PSL over proven domestic performers like Saif Badar, Abdullah Shafique, Zeeshan Malik and Saud Shakeel.

Time will tell and they both need more exposure - but anyone who’s watched them bat knows there is a huge difference between Haider Ali and Saif Badar. Haider played some insane shots and has unlimited potential. Badar looked like a Shoaib Malik type batsman. Compact and decent at building an innings but nothing special for the shorter formats at least.

Those players deserve a chance. But Haider Ali is the most exciting and important batting talent we have had for the last 15 years after Babar.

 

[Bullet Drive]

He is the best young middle order bat when it comes to limited overs cricket.

Should be in the T20I XI.

Better than Haider Ali (who played 10+ innings at #3 for Zalmi and only had a HS of 61) at the moment, but unfortunately this is how the Pakistani selectors are thinking. They are preferring PSL over proven domestic performers like Saif Badar, Abdullah Shafique, Zeeshan Malik and Saud Shakeel.

Agree completely.

Saif Badar, Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel are the best 3 batsmen in Pakistan(young ones)

Ali Zaryab very very good too.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Proven domestic performer and saif badar? Have you checked his stats?

man of match in national t20 final. 39* off 23 whilst chasing under pressure with 2 wickets left!!!!

 

[shamaan]

Agree completely.

Saif Badar, Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel are the best 3 batsmen in Pakistan(young ones)

Ali Zaryab very very good too.

What about zeeshan ashraf,omair bin Yousuf

 

[Rayyman]

Time will tell and they both need more exposure - but anyone who’s watched them bat knows there is a huge difference between Haider Ali and Saif Badar. Haider played some insane shots and has unlimited potential. Badar looked like a Shoaib Malik type batsman. Compact and decent at building an innings but nothing special for the shorter formats at least.

Those players deserve a chance. But Haider Ali is the most exciting and important batting talent we have had for the last 15 years after Babar.

Haider Ali is a top order batsman yet he couldn’t play long innings when required. He should be developed in the longest format first. Do not throw him into T20s this early otherwise he will likely end up like Shehzad.

Saif Badar is a middle-order batsman, for these players you look at their pressure handling ability not necessarily their statistics, he has played some clutch innings in domestic matches.

 

[Rayyman]

Agree completely.

Saif Badar, Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel are the best 3 batsmen in Pakistan(young ones)

Ali Zaryab very very good too.

Saif Badar is unlucky as he does not get opportunities. With Multan he played at #7 while Haider was batting at #3 almost every game.

Don’t think Shafique, Zaryab and Haider have played enough domestic cricket to get selected, but Saud Shakeel should be in the Test squad as soon as possible.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

man of match in national t20 final. 39* off 23 whilst chasing under pressure with 2 wickets left!!!!

He needs PSL opportunities. Too soon to call him the best middle order talent in the country based purely on domestic T20 performance

 

[ask_analyse_act]

What about zeeshan ashraf,omair bin Yousuf

Forget about them for 3 yrs. They will not be selected or not even play if selected.

 

[Titan24]

Haider Ali is a top order batsman yet he couldn’t play long innings when required. He should be developed in the longest format first. Do not throw him into T20s this early otherwise he will likely end up like Shehzad.

Saif Badar is a middle-order batsman, for these players you look at their pressure handling ability not necessarily their statistics, he has played some clutch innings in domestic matches.

Haider scored 2 100s in his first 7 FC matches which he played this season itself with an avg of 49 while Saif Badar has 1 100 in 8 matches at an avg of 20. Not to forget Saif Badar has been given opportunities with emerging teams and A teams but unfortunately he hasn't created much impact as of now.

Saif is still just 22 but he needs to create an impact in any format to create an impact. Its a shame that he didnt play much even for 2nd xi in the last QAE season.

Coming to Shehzad while he showed something when he was young but he was pretty limited on good deliveries and didnt exactly improve his game and had a pretty poor temperament overall. Babar Azam averaged around 29 in FC cricket and only had 1 100 before he made his test debut while Shehzad and Umer Akmal had multiple but we all know where Babar Azam stands. You not only have to show talent but rather temperament as well as progressive improvement.

Haider has shown pretty positive signs till now.

 

[Forum363]

Haider Ali is a top order batsman yet he couldn’t play long innings when required. He should be developed in the longest format first. Do not throw him into T20s this early otherwise he will likely end up like Shehzad.

Saif Badar is a middle-order batsman, for these players you look at their pressure handling ability not necessarily their statistics, he has played some clutch innings in domestic matches.

I’m not looking at Saif’s statistics. All I’m saying is, from the limited watching of both those players - Saif currently has a more limited game for the shorter formats. That’s not to say he couldn’t be a great longer format player or that he could improve. But he is not close to playing some of the insane shots that Haider Ali displayed in the PSL. But then no young batsmen has played shots like that since perhaps Umar Akmal.

 

[Abdullah719]

Babar Azam averaged around 29 in FC cricket and only had 1 100 before he made his test debut

Around ~41ish with 2 hundreds

 

[Titan24]

Around ~41ish with 2 hundreds

Thanks for the correction. One FC hundred was before his ODI debut in 2015, his second hundred came in when he scored a 150 odd opening during 2015-16 QAE trophy before he made his test debut in 2016.

 

[Bullet Drive]

What about zeeshan ashraf,omair bin Yousuf

Don't rate Omair much

Zeeshan is good but for white ball only