Sarfaraz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mickey Arthur - Time to go

[Amjid Javed]

We are a low ranked test team for a reason after losing misbah and younis khan. In test series abroad i expected us to keep struggling with odd occasion our bowlers maybe winning a test here and there. But our performances in UAE against SL, Aus (in parts) and this NZ series have been dire and to be quite frank not acceptable.

We have a captain who barring one decent test vs Australia isnt worth merit in side as a player alone. Negative team approach with batting, negative in the field, shockingly bad with reviews and use of bowlers. His whole body language is defeatist.

Inzi - some of his selections have been a joke, hafeez, imam, selection of 1 frontline spinner in these conditions, promoting senior selection culture when they aint worth place in side.

Mickey - clearly doesnt have tactical nous to set game plans for conditions in UAE and is just as much to blame as sarfraz and inzi.

Losing series in UAE is such manners as we have is pathetic.

Id rather lose games with new players, new captain and selectors then continue on with garbage served up in last 18-24 months under current trio.

 

[ikky47]

I agree, Mickey is absolutely clueless in Asian conditions. We needed a SLAO spinner to partner Yasir instead we got a 33 year offie who looks completely out of his depth. We have had walking wickets at 1 & 2. What was the reason to push Azhar back to no 3?.

 

[in_cutter]

No- time for all of these ‘batsmen’ to be sacked. The first Test loss from the winning position set the tone for a series loss.

 

[DRsohail]

Teas they have to go atleast selector and captain if they can’t afford new coach till 2019 WC.

 

[Peter Osgood]

I agree, Mickey is absolutely clueless in Asian conditions. We needed a SLAO spinner to partner Yasir instead we got a 33 year offie who looks completely out of his depth. We have had walking wickets at 1 & 2. What was the reason to push Azhar back to no 3?.

1,2,7,8,9,10 & 11

 

[in_cutter]

WC is around the corner. Will be crazy to let him go now. It’s the players that need to have a long look at themselves in the mirror.

 

[ikky47]

1,2,7,8,9,10 & 11

Well our tail starts at 7.. so yes they are also walking wickets.

 

[Hitman]

Who were the captain, selector, and the coach when Pak drew their last Test series in England?

 

[Amjid Javed]

It was clear to see across the series our openers were good enough, our back up spin bowling options werent good enough and captaincy was poor but none of that changed.

Yasirs magic spell in 2nd test pretty much papered over the cracks which have shown all series!

The fact twice we could have batted NZ out of a match on 1st inns and failed due to pathetic collapses says it all.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Who were the captain, selector, and the coach when Pak drew their last Test series in England?

Our bowlers won us the test at lords and now and then away from home that will happen, but to lose games at home (UAE) In such a pathetic manner is not acceptable.

 

[161]

Mickey can stay on til the World Cup after which we should try to convince Misbah to come on.

Sarfraz should have been sacked years ago but the question remains who will replace him.

 

[sam_ahm]

Don't worry, looks like it's just another 'blessing in disguise' coming up for Pakistan, which is normal.

 

[Hitman]

Our bowlers won us the test at lords and now and then away from home that will happen, but to lose games at home (UAE) In such a pathetic manner is not acceptable.

Let's see how Sarfaraz performs today. He is getting the stick when he is yet to come to bat.

 

[DRsohail]

Mickey can stay on til the World Cup after which we should try to convince Misbah to come on.

Sarfraz should have been sacked years ago but the question remains who will replace him.

Replacing a 20 aveaging pathetic captain ya not deficult. Everyone can replace him.

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

Rizwan need to Replace Safraz he is in good form, sack mickey and inzi foolish mind's,

These players also sacked Asad,imam and bilal

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

Mickey can stay on til the World Cup after which we should try to convince Misbah to come on.

Ugh.

No thanks. We suffered terribly in limited overs cricket under him.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Havent seen such gutless negative cricket at home since we lost to england in 2000/01 under moin khan. Sarfrazs captaincy ranks right up there with it.

 

[Mamoon]

Cosmetic changes will not do anything. A better selector cannot do much when they are no world class players waiting to be selected.

Cricket is a batsman's game, and not a single batsman in the country is good enough to score heavily and quickly against the top teams in all formats home and way. It is primarily down to our structural failings, and we can only hope for a miraculous prodigy like Tendulkar to save us.

However, such a player has not arrived yet and I do not think al these Saads and Shakils and other hopefuls with "talent spotter" threads on PP are going to amount to much against the top teams. Same goes for the captaincy, but that of course does not mean that Sarfraz should not be sacked. If you are failing at a job, you have to go - regardless of whether things will change after you go or not.

 

[superman]

Ugh.

No thanks. We suffered terribly in limited overs cricket under him.

Misbah no thanks

 

[arehaan]

The biggest culprit is Inzamam for his selection blunders right from Asia Cup to this series. I am having jitters thinking about South Africa now given his Stubbornness about inducting new faces. We will have another squad of duds awaiting another disaster

 

[Amjid Javed]

so Inzi shows once again hes happy picking Tried and test failures in test cricket regardless of pathetic results.

 

[Savak]

Cosmetic changes will not do anything. A better selector cannot do much when they are no world class players waiting to be selected.

Cricket is a batsman's game, and not a single batsman in the country is good enough to score heavily and quickly against the top teams in all formats home and way. It is primarily down to our structural failings, and we can only hope for a miraculous prodigy like Tendulkar to save us.

However, such a player has not arrived yet and I do not think al these Saads and Shakils and other hopefuls with "talent spotter" threads on PP are going to amount to much against the top teams. Same goes for the captaincy, but that of course does not mean that Sarfraz should not be sacked. If you are failing at a job, you have to go - regardless of whether things will change after you go or not.

The pakistani players have lost this series primarily due to the inability to handle pressure

 

[topspin]

Inzi and Sarfraz have to go.

I would keep Mickey Arthur and be grateful we have him as coach, it could be a tactically inept and incompetent coach like Waqar Younis.

We need a foreign CS who will not bow down to external pressure from the media and etc. Sarfraz needs to be dropped out of the team. Like I said with Hafeez after his failure in the first innings, if specialist captain has any dignity left in him he would resign from test captaincy at the very least.

 

[Abid Z]

The pakistani players have lost this series primarily due to the inability to handle pressure

Couldn’t agree more. This is not about “bad players”. Yes a couple of selections have been questionable such as hefeez...but he did make a 100 and flattered to deceive as he always does..but with such a long tail and Bilal Asif there I don’t see the point of hafeez when a genuine opener gives more.

I think imam needs time...the rest of the selections are ok, given that Abbas would have been the no1 choice seamer.

In reality this appears to be lack of experience and lack of ability to handle pressure. Possibly over coaching and over thinking things. I doubt anybody else in the line up can captain better.

 

[Savak]

Couldn’t agree more. This is not about “bad players”. Yes a couple of selections have been questionable such as hefeez...but he did make a 100 and flattered to deceive as he always does..but with such a long tail and Bilal Asif there I don’t see the point of hafeez when a genuine opener gives more.

I think imam needs time...the rest of the selections are ok, given that Abbas would have been the no1 choice seamer.

In reality this appears to be lack of experience and lack of ability to handle pressure. Possibly over coaching and over thinking things. I doubt anybody else in the line up can captain better.

To be honest, the players are not aiming big and no one is putting their hand up to take real responsibility to score the big 150's-200's. Sarfaraz's inconsistency with the bat is really hurting the team, his inability to bat responsibily with the tail. The tailenders collapsing like 9 pins after the batsmen get the team off to a good start is another problem.

Poor on field captaincy resulting in NZ escaping from precarious positions to match winning positions, Sarfaraz is just not improving as a captain. But do we really have other options?

Our batting line is too one dimensional with excessive slow accumulators, the addition of Fakhar Zaman at the top was welcome, Sarfaraz is a busy player but he is far too inconsistent atm.

The bowling line up depends on 50 overs per innings from Yasir Shah which is detrimental to his career now.

The overall structure and balance of the squad needs to be looked into.

 

[CricketDon]

Who were the captain, selector, and the coach when Pak drew their last Test series in England?

How long you going to keep milking that cow? It’s dead.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

We lost this series due to human stupidity Azhar couldn't score 4 damn runs

Second test was a proper phainta to kiwis

Third was decided from the moment we lost the toss imo. Pakistan just can't chase anything above 120.

Great news is Hafeez has left the team. I am still excited about this. Team will visit South Africa without the handicap. We gonna be alright.

Changing skipper might help but coach/selector shouldn't be changed.

Sarfi has to retire from test cricket.

 

[Abid Z]

To be honest, the players are not aiming big and no one is putting their hand up to take real responsibility to score the big 150's-200's. Sarfaraz's inconsistency with the bat is really hurting the team, his inability to bat responsibily with the tail. The tailenders collapsing like 9 pins after the batsmen get the team off to a good start is another problem.

Poor on field captaincy resulting in NZ escaping from precarious positions to match winning positions, Sarfaraz is just not improving as a captain. But do we really have other options?

Our batting line is too one dimensional with excessive slow accumulators, the addition of Fakhar Zaman at the top was welcome, Sarfaraz is a busy player but he is far too inconsistent atm.

The bowling line up depends on 50 overs per innings from Yasir Shah which is detrimental to his career now.

The overall structure and balance of the squad needs to be looked into.

Yes all of the above are valid points. Nobody can disagree with this being the worst tail in the world.
The question is..are there other bowler batsmen around better than these? No
Is there a better keeper batsman..no , Rizwan still has lots to prove but Sarfaraz bats too high

Hafeez ok he’s gone..fakhar will replace. So fz, imam, Harris, azhar.asad bAbar..they are ok for now.

The real issue is mental.. they look like they are playing in strait jackets. So much under pressure. It’s about junior team development..I think the talent just isn’t there.

 

[Titan24]

When you lose 2 out of 3 homeseries in recent times, definitely some people need to go.

 

[Barragan]

inzi needs to be sacked before anyone else, otherwise nothing will change.

He has been absolutely garbage and to think, he is actually getting paid - makes me angry.

 

[Last Monetarist]

The captain needs to go, it was painfully clear after last year's defeat to Sri Lanka that the guy isn't cut out to lead at test cricket and nothing has changed. Arthur and Inzi need to redeem themselves in South Africa, although that is highly improbable because the team isn't good enough.

 

[Hasan123]

Inzi should go. Has no clue on how to select a team for the conditions. Just picks the same players since PSL 2.

Sarfraz has to go. Awful player and awful captain. How can you have a captain who doesn't make the team on merit? And this guy has fans who support him to the hill. . Done with the specialist captain.

Mickeys tactics in the UAE have been a joke. If we can get another overseas coach I wouldn't be against but if he stays I don't complain.

 

[shaz72]

We are a low ranked test team for a reason after losing misbah and younis khan. In test series abroad i expected us to keep struggling with odd occasion our bowlers maybe winning a test here and there. But our performances in UAE against SL, Aus (in parts) and this NZ series have been dire and to be quite frank not acceptable.

We have a captain who barring one decent test vs Australia isnt worth merit in side as a player alone. Negative team approach with batting, negative in the field, shockingly bad with reviews and use of bowlers. His whole body language is defeatist.

Inzi - some of his selections have been a joke, hafeez, imam, selection of 1 frontline spinner in these conditions, promoting senior selection culture when they aint worth place in side.

Mickey - clearly doesnt have tactical nous to set game plans for conditions in UAE and is just as much to blame as sarfraz and inzi.

Losing series in UAE is such manners as we have is pathetic.

Id rather lose games with new players, new captain and selectors then continue on with garbage served up in last 18-24 months under current trio.

Micky should not be blame. Why don't we accept the reality that we don't have batsmen who has technique or temperament to even play 50 overs game, 5 days test match is asking for moon. We have only players who can play 20 overs and i can bet days are not far away when we will not be able to last 20 overs. We are weak hearted batsmen no grooming at all.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Micky should not be blame. Why don't we accept the reality that we don't have batsmen who has technique or temperament to even play 50 overs game, 5 days test match is asking for moon. We have only players who can play 20 overs and i can bet days are not far away when we will not be able to last 20 overs. We are weak hearted batsmen no grooming at all.

Our batsmen are clueless, in 1st inns of a match they dead bat anything when conditions are best of batting and score at snails pace, then come pressure time they come out and play daft shots. Its clearly obvious they have been sent out with a game plan that doesnt work.

I said after Aussie, series pakistan would be exposed if they played same negative cricket and sadly they have.

 

[aukhan]

Someone needs to go. If not right now then after the SA Test series is over. Ideally both Inzi and Sarfraz from (Test and ODIs) should go.

 

[goran]

Cosmetic changes will not do anything. A better selector cannot do much when they are no world class players waiting to be selected.

Cricket is a batsman's game, and not a single batsman in the country is good enough to score heavily and quickly against the top teams in all formats home and way. It is primarily down to our structural failings, and we can only hope for a miraculous prodigy like Tendulkar to save us.

However, such a player has not arrived yet and I do not think al these Saads and Shakils and other hopefuls with "talent spotter" threads on PP are going to amount to much against the top teams. Same goes for the captaincy, but that of course does not mean that Sarfraz should not be sacked. If you are failing at a job, you have to go - regardless of whether things will change after you go or not.

I usually don't agree with your views but here you are spot-on with your analysis of the current batting talent at our disposal. Things are looking really bad, SA tour will be a complete nightmare with this fragile batting. Times have changed but we are still stuck with our obsession with bowling when we should be looking to develop competitive batting talent. We need to come out of this bowling-dominated mindset and concentrate on our batting big time.

 

[Mirpur express]

Inzi & Sarfaraz must go I would keep Mickey

 

[Mirpur express]

Oh mr Flower should walk too, another one enjoying the free ride for too long

 

[ShahidDar08]

At least Sarfaraz should go, tired of him failing again and again.

 

[Sirris]

We need someone to make another "Blessing on disguise" thread to lighten up the mode.

 

[Asher]

I hope you're not serious about Mickey Arthur. Our batsmen have failed time and time again. The coaches job is to coach, not to bat for the batsmen. Sarfaraz has no clue about this current team. His attitude and body language stinks. Cannot lead from the front. Cannot bat, ordinary keeper and pathetic clueless defensive captain.

 

[ManFan]

What you need is a captain whose not self-conscious about his place in the team so he can have the authority to challenge the chief selectors’ and coach’s’ decisions.

 

[ManFan]

In one years time, we will once again pick up where we left off after Misbah retired.

A two-match Test series against SL in the UAE. You cannot expect new results with the same approach. A complete overhaul is needed like post 2003 WC.

I made a thread after our lost in England that Pakistan was going the route of SL because of a lack of strong middle-order batsmen. And what do you know?

The best possible XI NEEDS to be selected. That means no regional biases, no religious biases but this is wishful thinking on my part. Pakistan cricket is embedded in mediocrity and in order to get out, we’ll need to dig up or own graves.

 

[MRSN]

WC is around the corner. Will be crazy to let him go now. It’s the players that need to have a long look at themselves in the mirror.

Excuses like these and like "we don't have other replacement ' have really helped Sarfraz prolong his mediocrity. Shame Pakistan can't replace this average garbage. Need to look into another sports it seems. Pak cricket is done.

 

[TeamPak95]

Pakistan would have to completely bomb the test series vs SA if any one of these three will be sacked. Although, they're on thin ice as it is..

 

[Greenstorm]

Inzi has to go but I am afraid that the one who replaces him will do even worse.

Sarfaraz should resign as captain from test matches, as a batsman he can be useful in home matches with captaincy burden off from him.

Mickey is doing fine.