"Shaheen Afridi can prove to be a good bowler for us for the tour of South Africa" : Sarfaraz Ahmed

[MenInG]

"Shaheen Afridi can prove to be a good bowler for us for the tour of South Africa" : Sarfaraz Ahmed

Sarfaraz Ahmed speaking to the media:

"Overall the series went well for us, we lost the first game but made a good comeback in the 2nd ODI and if the match had been played to completion tonight, we could have ended up with a positive result for us"

"Today we tried a new combination as we felt that our batting was a little weak"

"As far as the 5th bowler is concerned, we will try and cover that by using Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and Haris Sohail"

"This is keeping in mind that we have to play our next series in South Africa"

"If the three players share the 5th bowler slot then our batting [strength] can be better as we saw today"

"With this batting order, we feel we can make good scores in the future"

"Its still early to say but the way Shaheen Shah Afridi is improving day by day, he has all the capabilities to become a very good bowler"

"We have included him in the Test squad so that he can be part of a development program with the bowling coach here"

"As you know we have Test matches coming up in South Africa and in our minds, on pitches such as Jo'burg, Shaheen Shah Afridi can prove to be a good bowler for us"

"We always knew that New Zealand always plan ahead and study their opponents well, unlike Australians who like to play lot of shots, New Zealand have players who like to play out the 50 overs"

"They gave us a tough time and we learnt a lot from it, and hopefully this experience will help us in the future"

 

[Square Drive]

Very good. This means Haris stays.

I guess Asif will go out for Imam then.

Fakhar
Imam
Babar
Haris
Hafeez
Malik
Sarfraz
Faheem
Shadab/Amir/Usman/Junaid
Hasan
Shaheen

That's likely to be our XI against SA and boy is it strong.

 

[Square Drive]

Very good. This means Haris stays.

I guess Asif will go out for Imam then.

Fakhar
Imam
Babar
Haris
Hafeez
Malik
Sarfraz
Faheem
Shadab/Amir/Usman/Junaid
Hasan
Shaheen

That's likely to be our XI against SA and boy is it strong.

After the WC, we can have Saud/Saad and Talat replacing Hafeez and Malik.

Very good times ahead.

 

[Rayyman]

Very good. This means Haris stays.

I guess Asif will go out for Imam then.

Fakhar
Imam
Babar
Haris
Hafeez
Malik
Sarfraz
Faheem
Shadab/Amir/Usman/Junaid
Hasan
Shaheen

That's likely to be our XI against SA and boy is it strong.

I dont like this XI. A bowler short. Very Indian-like.

Ideally Hafeez can open ahead of Imam for the first three games, in which he will inevitably fail.

After the WC, we can have Saud/Saad and Talat replacing Hafeez and Malik.

Very good times ahead.

Tbh I would prefer a fit Umar Akmal at #5 after Babar and Haris at 3 and 4.

 

[Greenstorm]

Very good. This means Haris stays.

I guess Asif will go out for Imam then.

Fakhar
Imam
Babar
Haris
Hafeez
Malik
Sarfraz
Faheem
Shadab/Amir/Usman/Junaid
Hasan
Shaheen

That's likely to be our XI against SA and boy is it strong.

Very poor batting line up. Imam, Malik and Hafeez are potential match losers. And part timers bowling 10 overs will weaken our bowling further which means we will have to score 300+ scores regularly which is beyond this batting lineup that you posted.

 

[pakistani pride]

Pathetic. So Malik and Hafeez are confirmed!
I guess a hard loss with bith seniors failing will probably helpnin removing them!

 

[PakSarZameen]

Good decision with the new combination, but if you want to play a bowler short you need more specialist bowlers so I would sit Faheem out.

Fakhar
Imam
Babar
Haris
Malik
Hafeez
Sarfraz
Shadab
Amir/Junaid
Hasan
Shaheen

 

[coy0607]

Hafeez is good enough to be the 5th bowler by himself.

Malik and Harris can chip in with a few overs. When it comes to bowling, Hafeez is a class apart from Malik/Haris

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Is he gonna repeat the same thing every conference?

Or is this due to our fantastic reporters asking the same brilliant questions every match?

 

[Rayyman]

"As far as the 5th bowler is concerned, we will try and cover that by using Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and Haris Sohail"

Hafeez is good enough to be the 5th bowler by himself.

Malik and Harris can chip in with a few overs. When it comes to bowling, Hafeez is a class apart from Malik/Haris

Poor idea. This could cost us in SA. Bowling is Pakistan's strength and part timers should not be relied on.

 

[161]

Does anyone know what his fastest delivery has been ?

 

[rhony]

"As far as the 5th bowler is concerned, we will try and cover that by using Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and Haris Sohail"



Poor idea. This could cost us in SA. Bowling is Pakistan's strength and part timers should not be relied on.

Rameez interviewed Arthur later. Coach wants a proper bowling attack and said part timers were just intended for this game in UAE. He wants a full blown bowling attack in SA with Faheem as the 5th bowler

 

[AFM]

Rameez interviewed Arthur later. Coach wants a proper bowling attack and said part timers were just intended for this game in UAE. He wants a full blown bowling attack in SA with Faheem as the 5th bowler

Any quotes or link for that interview?

 

[coy0607]

"As far as the 5th bowler is concerned, we will try and cover that by using Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and Haris Sohail"



Poor idea. This could cost us in SA. Bowling is Pakistan's strength and part timers should not be relied on.

my point is that we shouldn't be looking at Hafeez as a part timer just because he is a batsmen as well

the fact is Hafeez is an excellent LOI spinner, his bowling capability far exceeds his batting. Look at his ODI stats and tell me the last time Hafeez performed poorly as a bowler. I looked back 3 years and didn't find anything worse that 54-0 in 9 overs, and thats the worst performance.

you can argue whether we should rely on 2 spinners in SA or not, but if that is the plan, than Hafeez is as good as anyone.

 

[aloo paratha]

Best bet is to drop Imam and have one of Babar or Haris open. A bad SA series for Hafeez could mean he finds himself out of the side.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

What a great find for Pakistan. He was by far the best bowler on show. Mighty impressed!

 

[PakSarZameen]

my point is that we shouldn't be looking at Hafeez as a part timer just because he is a batsmen as well

the fact is Hafeez is an excellent LOI spinner, his bowling capability far exceeds his batting. Look at his ODI stats and tell me the last time Hafeez performed poorly as a bowler. I looked back 3 years and didn't find anything worse that 54-0 in 9 overs, and thats the worst performance.

you can argue whether we should rely on 2 spinners in SA or not, but if that is the plan, than Hafeez is as good as anyone.

Agree with this. I always hear fans and commentators calling Hafeez a part time spinner or at most a batting all rounder. He isn't a 4-5 overs bowler. He should be bowling his full quota as long as he is able to.

 

[Abdullah719]

Just did presser quotes then closed the window without saving

Can't do again right now, but in summary, Sarfaraz pointed out that batting has improved but stressed that we need to do much better overseas as well specially with 2 new balls on faster pitches.

Also singled out Haris for praise today and said that his innings was a key reason behind the total and that he played really well during a tough period where batting wasn't easy.

He mentioned SSA being useful in SA (yes, again, journo asked) and said that his height and style of bowling can work there. Said they would play him against NZ if they felt it was suitable but he was selected mainly to be around the squad and to get accustomed to it etc., Azhar M will be working with him in the nets.

 

[rhony]

Any quotes or link for that interview?

None. Its the interview they usually have after the game. Bazid and Rameez interviewed Arthur

 

[NauV]

No no no no no no no no!!!

Our combination is all kinds of messed up stemming from captains thinking which also seems clouded to say the least . .

I have said previously as well that our combination and recognizing players ability is what stands between us being a mid table team (4/5) vs. lower table team (6/7) . .

As some people point out, I don't the squad that we have will lose 8/10 games against top sides . . I genuinely believe that if we play to our strengths, pick the best team and sort out our combination, this team is good enough to win at least 5/10 of those games.

Anyway, coming to Sarfaraz's comment:

"As far as the 5th bowler is concerned, we will try and cover that by using Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and Haris Sohail"

Does he know what he is talking about? This is an absolute recipe for disaster!! Hafeez can bowl good overs on these low and slow UAE wickets. In SA, Eng, Aus, NZ, he wouldn't be as effective. Let's not even mention the fact that there is a very likely possibility of him being called again. Haris and Malik will go for plenty . . You can NOT have Hafeez, Haris and Malik play the role of your 5th bowler!

2nd issue . . Faheem Ashraf opening the bowling?! What? Surely, Sarfaraz isn't thinking that!! You need a proper bowler opening the bowling in SA and Eng.

This is where the issue comes . . Imam wasn't playing this game and he will walk back into the side regardless of what a lot of PPers say . . He has performed and doesn't warrant being dropped for no reason at all.

So who goes out? Asif Ali? Aright, sure! so Imam comes in for Asif Ali.

Now, who goes out for you to play another fast bowler . . . . Hafeez! Let's face it. That is not happening unless he gets called for his action. Malik, no way! He has the best record for us in ODIs since 2015. Haris?? Faheem himself?

Very tough! but for me therein lies the biggest worry for Pak! They are very far away from knowing what is there best combination to give them the best shot at trying to win games in England, 2019.

 

[cricketindiafan]

Faheem Ashraf as 4th bowler and Hafeez + Shoaib Malik + Harris Sohail as the 5th bowler.

This combo may work in UAE but very risky on batting pitches.

 

[shaaik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Very well done <a href="https://twitter.com/iShaheenAfridi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iShaheenAfridi</a> on becoming the man of the series. You certainly deserved the recognition on such superb bowling throughout. Keep going soldier!</p>— Azhar Mahmood (@AzharMahmood11) <a href="https://twitter.com/AzharMahmood11/status/1061876637594275840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Junaids]

This interview with Sarfraz was the first evidence that Mickey Arthur - himself a South African - thinks exactly the same thing that I do.

That on the bouncy tracks at Johannesburg and Centurion, Shaheen Shah Afridi could be a lethal weapon, not just for whom he dismisses himself but the risks he makes scared batsmen take against Abbas and Amir.

 

[the Great Khan]

This interview with Sarfraz was the first evidence that Mickey Arthur - himself a South African - thinks exactly the same thing that I do.

That on the bouncy tracks at Johannesburg and Centurion, Shaheen Shah Afridi could be a lethal weapon, not just for whom he dismisses himself but the risks he makes scared batsmen take against Abbas and Amir.

Unfortunately our batting will decide this series..can we bat well enough to give us leads and put SA under pressure..It could be a very close series with both teams suffering low scores at various points..SA will probably win out in the end but I hope Pakistan give them a hell of a fright.

 

[ameemlutfi]

Somehow they need to figure out which one between Malik and Imam should play in SAF and England. Asif Ali should not be part of the plan at all. We ned to resign to the fact that we will never have a batting lineup that can put 300+ frequently. We should aim for a 260-270 average score. This though would mean that the bowling lineup should have no weak point. If one bowler goes for lets say 80 then the match is done. Ideally we should have 6 bowlers to give sarfaraz some room to juggle bowlers around. If we go the 6 bowling option I would have either a Hussain Talat, Aamir Yamin or Ammad Butt in the team. Maybe even Irfan khan the leg spinner.

 

[Junaids]

Unfortunately our batting will decide this series..can we bat well enough to give us leads and put SA under pressure..It could be a very close series with both teams suffering low scores at various points..SA will probably win out in the end but I hope Pakistan give them a hell of a fright.

It’s quite similar to 1997-98 because South Africa’s batting is appalling too.

Pakistan’s chance to win is in a low scoring series, in which 250 is a high innings and the runs of Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Amir at 7, 8 and 9 tip the balance.

It’s not that unlikely - just look at the scores when India toured South Africa in January!

 

[the Great Khan]

It’s quite similar to 1997-98 because South Africa’s batting is appalling too.

Pakistan’s chance to win is in a low scoring series, in which 250 is a high innings and the runs of Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Amir at 7, 8 and 9 tip the balance.

It’s not that unlikely - just look at the scores when India toured South Africa in January!

yes I remember the 98 series, we had a great bowling attack but with Azhar mehmood we would have been toast in our batting. I'm hoping Faheem and Shadab can bat and get us voer 250 plus in most of our innings because the openers will be under the cosh from ball one..