Shan Masood in the ODI squad for the Asia Cup - Good selection?

[Abdullah719]

On one hand, there's this ^ which shows he is GOAT.

But on the other hand, his international career so far has shown that he is mediocre at best, specially against good bowlers, despite his work ethic.

So what's the verdict? Good selection, on the basis of his stats? Or otherwise?

 

[Major]

Thats one hell of an avg.

Good selection based on merit.

Besides, we have seen his in Test not in oneday

 

[saadsahabjee]

based on merit he deserves to be selected.

 

[MoJoJoJo]

His selection is on merit. His FC stats suggest he is not a test player and was included in the wrong format. If he is being an opener averaging 55+ in LA, must be doing something right (probably everything right). However, not impressed with his strike rate (81).

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Hate to say this..but he probably deserves the selection on merit.

He probably won't get a game though.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

His selection is on merit. His FC stats suggest he is not a test player and was included in the wrong format. If he is being an opener averaging 55+ in LA, must be doing something right (probably everything right). However, not impressed with his strike rate (81).

Think his strike rate also improved in his bumper season.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Yes he deserves it due to the stats BUT all that we have seen of him points to the fact he will flop. Azhar Ali has an amazing list a record as well. Shafiq also have an amazing list a record if we take out his Odis.

We need to look a bit deeper when we select players, look at their style of play and how/when they score runs.

 

[topspin]

This epitomises the problems of Pakistan's domestic cricket. Too many teams with mediocre and players with poor fitness lowering the talent pool allowing batsmen to target inferior bowlers for cheap runs. Along with Shan, Shafiq and Azhar Ali have scored heavily in List A but are they international standard? Not even close.

You need to look at this objectively rather than taking this average at face value, for instance why despite such a record did he not a game in the PSL for Multan Sultans this year? Tom Moody and co are not clueless and I would trust their judgement. Yes it is a slightly different format to 50 over cricket however in the modern game we're seeing the selection of ODI players on the basis of IPL and other T20 leagues, like with the PSL we've seen the international births of Sharjeel, Fakhar, Shadab and Hasan Ali following successful PSL campaigns.

We know he's always scored runs in List A but in a nutshell if he can't get a game for Multan then there is no basis for why he should get a call up to the ODI squad let alone a game.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Nope we have better players.

Pitches in last few one day cups were massively batting friendly.

 

[Slim]

The list is very misinformative as other players have played more than 100 matches where Shan has played less than them.

I hope he gets nowhere near the playing 11.

 

[mak36]

Notwithstanding the fact he was dropped multiple times and had the advantage of opening (= facing maximum number of deliveries on very flat wickets), he was the top run scorer in both the regional and department One Day Cup so, as much as it pains me, there is some merit in his selection. I imagine his fitness and fielding impressed Mickey too.

However, I would much rather Sahibzada Farhan/Zeeshan Malik was selected.

 

[Mamoon]

His numbers in List-A are great and perhaps he deserves an opportunity based on a social justice, but:

- one can almost guarantee that he will fail in ODIs against serious opposition. He is unlikely to develop international pedigree because of colored clothing and white balls.

- most of our high performing List-A batsmen have not cut the mustard in ODI cricket, which suggests a systematic failure.

- I see little intelligence in going with three left-handed openers.

 

[Amjid Javed]

The guy was a sitting duck against the moving red ball and he will be same against white ball as well.

 

[Asif321]

Let’s wait and watch . I personally didn’t want to see anywhere near Pakistan team but give him 3 games and we will know what he is made of

 

[coy0607]

he's arguably the most prolific LOI batsmen in the history of Pakistan List A
he's a fantastic fielder
he's consistently at or near the top of yo-yo test fitness results / one of the fittest guys in the team

if his ODI performances are not significantly better than his test performances, then his international career should end

It is also difficult to ignore the best batsmen in the previous domestic season. What does that say to everyone else who is fighting in domestic tournaments - there has to be some reward for performing in domestic

 

[fluke]

he surely deserves a go i am sure imam will fail against quality bowling line up and secondly imam is extremely slow too.

May be masood can give some quick starts and it can help us to put some big totals on board

 

[bilawal666]

Really good selection, he's amongst the runs and technically sound too.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Do not mix up his poor FC/test record with LOs. Rohit Sharma and Alex Hales are also poor test batsmen but great ODI batsmen.

 

[MMHS]

His stats of 58/** (my hunch his SR is around 85) for 77 games doesn't tell what he has done in past 7-8 months. His last 10 List A scores are : 128*, 90, 71, 182*, 51, 7, 100*, 50, 31, 52 > 762 runs@108.86, and SR should be close to 100, if not more.

Indeed deserves a chance, and also I think Mickey likes him for his fitness, work ethics & English language skills.

 

[TeymurBlake]

He deserves a chance based on the domestic one day form. He might not be our first pick but he does deserve a chance.

 

[ChuckLee]

This only stemgthenes the point that Pakistan domestic scene is a joke. Anyone that can pick up a bat can do well there.

Like all before him we will fail.

 

[hadi123]

Awful selection. We've seen how bad he is in Tests, yes I know that's a different format but the basic things you can see he is lacking, I've seen club cricketers with better technique. He hasn't even played PSL so that shows he's not really an aggressive batsman suited for this format. No prizes for guessing what option I voted for.

 

[Snowflake]

Yes. He's done everything he can to get selected for the national team.

State of domestic cricket,his shortcomings in test cricket, his style of play etc. are all separate debates.

 

[Snowflake]

His numbers in List-A are great and perhaps he deserves an opportunity based on a social justice, but:

- one can almost guarantee that he will fail in ODIs against serious opposition. He is unlikely to develop international pedigree because of colored clothing and white balls.

Lol, what?! )

- most of our high performing List-A batsmen have not cut the mustard in ODI cricket, which suggests a systematic failure.

- I see little intelligence in going with three left-handed openers.

Dr Nauman Niaz, is that you?

 

[Mamoon]

Lol, what?! )



Dr Nauman Niaz, is that you?

No sure what is the reason behind this reference, or where you are going with this or why you are rolling on the floor, or perhaps you are Shan Masood himself, but my skepticism is more or less along the same grounds as that of everyone else. Let me reiterate to make it less amusing for you:

Shan Masood has looked completely out of his depth in international cricket so far. Yes failure at Test level does not necessarily translate into failure in Limited Overs, but in all the innings that he has played in Test cricket, he has not shown any glimpses of ODI potential.

He has been a rabbit caught in headlights and has not looked like someone who is capable of dealing with international quality bowling. He hasn't been dismissed playing aggressive and expansive shots that could people hope that he is cut for ODIs. He has simply been very ordinary and unsuitable for any format at the top level.

I don't see how his ability to play international standard bowling will change because of a change in format. A poor Test batsman but a good ODI batsman will definitely have shown glimpses of his ability to do well in ODI cricket after numerous opportunities in Tests, but Masood has not done that.

 

[nextover666666]

I wouldnt mind giving Shan Masood a chance but maybe not during Asia Cup, also will he get any games, seems like its almost certain that the opening slot would be occupied by Imam and Fakhar Zaman

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Calling his test career mediocre is a major overstatement. Despite a couple of good innings, it was a failure of epic proportions. Have not seen a technically and temperamentally worse test opener than him in a very long time.

That said, his L-A record demands selection. So we'll just have to wait and see if he has what it takes to be succeed in ODI cricket.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

His stats of 58/** (my hunch his SR is around 85) for 77 games doesn't tell what he has done in past 7-8 months. His last 10 List A scores are : 128*, 90, 71, 182*, 51, 7, 100*, 50, 31, 52 > 762 runs@108.86, and SR should be close to 100, if not more.

Indeed deserves a chance, and also I think Mickey likes him for his fitness, work ethics & English language skills.

hahaha Does that mean he'll be MoM and MoS in this cup and deliver good interviews?

 

[Bilal7]

His numbers in List-A are great and perhaps he deserves an opportunity based on a social justice, but:

- one can almost guarantee that he will fail in ODIs against serious opposition. He is unlikely to develop international pedigree because of colored clothing and white balls.

- most of our high performing List-A batsmen have not cut the mustard in ODI cricket, which suggests a systematic failure.

- I see little intelligence in going with three left-handed openers.

Rohit Sharma, Martin Guptill, Aaron Finch and a bunch of the West Indies players prove that yes, a player can be hopeless in tests but very good in ODIs.

On the basis of that average, he 100% deserves being picked for this tournament and beyond that, potentially. This is despite merely reading his name in the squad list making a Pakistan fan throw up a bit.

 

[MMHS]

hahaha Does that mean he'll be MoM and MoS in this cup and deliver good interviews?

For a week, I traveled Paris - beautiful city, and lovely ...

Now, I can communicate in few languages, but French wasn't one of them. That time, I realized, in a foreign country, how important it is to have someone with whom you can talk outside essential business, share jokes and be at home (in conversation). Cricket is such a game that more or less our Rafique managed well with Grineedge & Whatmore (initially, he used to sign club contracts with thumb mark), but that doesn't serve the purpose out side cricket. Mickey might have found a way to explain PAK players cricket, but ... you know. Shan Masood can give him great company at dining table, or bus ride

 

[Mamoon]

Rohit Sharma, Martin Guptill, Aaron Finch and a bunch of the West Indies players prove that yes, a player can be hopeless in tests but very good in ODIs.

Of course, and there are many, many more examples as well. However, Shan has played 20+ innings in Test cricket. Has he ever shown any semblance of ability that he is cut for ODI cricket?

Has he played any knock with a high strike rate, or has he hit big shots or has he been dismissed playing aggressive strokes? I don't think so.

If all the players that you mentioned played Test cricket before making their ODI debuts, they would have shown glimpses of their ability to play ODI cricket.

Masood has looked completely out of his depth as an international level batsman, and he has shown nothing to suggest that he can do well in ODI cricket against top-flight opposition.

 

[Bilal7]

Of course, and there are many, many more examples as well. However, Shan has played 20+ innings in Test cricket. Has he ever shown any semblance of ability that he is cut for ODI cricket?

Has he played any knock with a high strike rate, or has he hit big shots or has he been dismissed playing aggressive strokes? I don't think so.

If all the players that you mentioned played Test cricket before making their ODI debuts, they would have shown glimpses of their ability to play ODI cricket.

Masood has looked completely out of his depth as an international level batsman, and he has shown nothing to suggest that he can do well in ODI cricket against top-flight opposition.

No, that makes no sense because a player needs to have a completely different mindset in test cricket as compared to ODI cricket. If Masood came into the test team playing ODI shots against the new ball, he wouldn't get to play more than six test innings, let alone 20.

 

[Mamoon]

No, that makes no sense because a player needs to have a completely different mindset in test cricket as compared to ODI cricket. If Masood came into the test team playing ODI shots against the new ball, he wouldn't get to play more than six test innings, let alone 20.

A quality ODI batsman who who is not cut for Test cricket will definitely give some indication over 20+ innings that he has the potential to be a good ODI player.

For example, Rohit Sharma scored a hundred at a 90+ strike rate in his second Test.

Finch hasn’t played Tests yet, but if he does, he will play a quickfire knock every now and then, but will obviously struggle for consistency.

The various West Indies Limited Overs specialists that you mentioned have at some point shown glimpses of their aggressive batting in Test cricket as well.

The point is that if you put Masood’s List A average aside, he has given zero indication that he is a high quality ODI player who is simply struggling because of playing the wrong format.

The only thing that Masood has shown so far is that he is not good enough to play international cricket. If you are getting knocked out by 78 mph bouncers on UAE pitches, I don’t think you can blame the format.

Also, the success that the majority of our 50+ averaging List A players have enjoyed in ODI cricket is depressing low.

I hope Masood magically transforms into a top class ODI batsman all of a sudden, but the chances of that happening are extremely low. I agree with the general consensus that he is just doesn’t have the ability to play international cricket.

 

[Saj]

He's had some good performances in domestic one-day cricket so has probably nudged the selectors. But it's a surprise call really, a big surprise.

 

[Majid Khan]

He's had some good performances in domestic one-day cricket so has probably nudged the selectors. But it's a surprise call really, a big surprise.

His domestic stats in limited-over cricket are very impressive, especially looking at his 10 most recent innings as showing on his CricInfo profile:
http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/player/233901.html

He has scored 3 unbeaten 100s (with highest of 182*), 5 fifties in his last 10 outings -- 8 scores of 50 or 100 in 10 innings, that is really outstanding and fully deserving of a place in the ODI team.

On first impressions, from what I have seen of Shan Masood he has looked like a batsman with limited ability and suspect technique -- but one thing is he also came across as a reasonably well educated and smart youngster, and if he has gone back and worked hard on improving his game , which sadly is something you rarely see among young Pakistani cricketers, but would be refreshing to see if Shan Masood can break this trend and Shan Masood V2.0 is indeed a much improved batsman and determined to succeed. It can only be a good thing for Pakistan cricket -- and let's face it , 8 successful innings out of 10 at any level of cricket for a Pakistani batsman is an achievement , I mean I would not back someone like Hafeez to get 8 scores over 50/100 in 10 innings even against the 2nd XI of Zimbabwe's Under 16 team.

 

[gazza619]

Thats one hell of an avg.

Good selection based on merit.

Besides, we have seen his in Test not in oneday

I quite like the look of Shan Masood. I think he will be a better ODI player than a test player. He may not get a game though as the only option to select him will be to drop Imam.

This seems unlikely unless Imam badly fails in the first 2-3 games.

 

[Canistani Hero]

Pleasantly surprised to see generally majority at PP is in favor of his selection. Merit needs to be upheld.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of his selection because I think his game is extremely limited and will be exposed on the international circuit, having said that to be able to produce results as consistently as he did last season in the domestic arena, he deserves a go. It sends the right message to other batsmen toiling in domestic cricket. Doubt he'll get a game because Imam and Fakhar are pretty secure.

 

[moghul]

If this performance doesnb't deserve a reward then whats the purpose of playing domestic cricket. Good selection on merit.

 

[Nasty Naz]

I just don't get why he is selected for Asia cup but wasn't selected vs Zimbabwe. If the selection is on merit, why not get him few games vs Zimbabwe to see how he does before putting him in a big tournament?

I don't think he can play fast enough to be quality LOI batsmen but he is at least worthy of getting a shot based on his domestic stats (though he should be completely and thoroughly ignored for Tests).

 

[giri26]

His average is great, so obviously has been rewarded for that.

 

[CadPakFan]

I think he had a good average and you need to trust domestic performances so his selection was required.

 

[Sultan Baba]

I don't know about Avg but one thing i know Umar Amin is better than Shan Masood............

 

[Sultan Baba]

He do nothing in Test cricket then why we trust on his Avg if everything is domestic Avg then we should go for Kamran Akmal and Fawad Alam......

 

[MoJoJoJo]

Don't think he is going to get a chance unless imam fail miserably. Good as a back up option though.

 

[Bilal7]

A quality ODI batsman who who is not cut for Test cricket will definitely give some indication over 20+ innings that he has the potential to be a good ODI player.

For example, Rohit Sharma scored a hundred at a 90+ strike rate in his second Test.

Finch hasn’t played Tests yet, but if he does, he will play a quickfire knock every now and then, but will obviously struggle for consistency.

The various West Indies Limited Overs specialists that you mentioned have at some point shown glimpses of their aggressive batting in Test cricket as well.

The point is that if you put Masood’s List A average aside, he has given zero indication that he is a high quality ODI player who is simply struggling because of playing the wrong format.

The only thing that Masood has shown so far is that he is not good enough to play international cricket. If you are getting knocked out by 78 mph bouncers on UAE pitches, I don’t think you can blame the format.

Also, the success that the majority of our 50+ averaging List A players have enjoyed in ODI cricket is depressing low.

I hope Masood magically transforms into a top class ODI batsman all of a sudden, but the chances of that happening are extremely low. I agree with the general consensus that he is just doesn’t have the ability to play international cricket.

Sharma is an idiot and he should have known that trying to play ODI cricket in the test arena would end with him out of the team. Are you criticizing Masood for playing test cricket like it is meant to be played? He showed enough quality during his fourth innings chase of a 300+ total to be given a chance in ODI cricket on the basis of his 50+ average. He might fail or he might succeed but we won't know until we try him out, which is why Inzamam and company have given him a chance.

 

[Hasan123]

He has proven not to be good enough for tests so I don't see that changing in ODIs. Why not select a younger opener instead of selecting a proven failure in international cricket?

I really hope he proves me wrong.

 

[asifp]

Just because he is not good in Test, does not mean squat about ODI.

Younus is a Test Legend and an ODI flop
Bevan is a Test Flop and an ODI legend

He should be given a chance in the next game

 

[Baigel]

Drop Imam and play Shan next match...Doesn't deserve a game after the shot he played today

 

[saadsahabjee]

Bring shan masood instead of that minnow basher imam ul haq plaease.

 

[MenInG]

if imam does well vs Afghanistan then he will be persisted with so Shan wont get a chance imo

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Id have Shan over imam any day, and i reckon Shan epitomises so much of what's wrong with Pak cricket

 

[Shafi]

Shan is not the solution either.

 

[Baigel]

Shan is not the solution either.

Surely isn't worse than Imam either

 

[superman]

Surely isn't worse than Imam either

Much much worse, he is not even a good sunday league cricketer its not a meritious selection either

 

[Salman4.]

Much much worse, he is not even a good sunday league cricketer its not a meritious selection either

Performance and fitness is the merit. He averages around 58 in List A cricket and is also very fit. What else do you want?

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Performance and fitness is the merit. He averages around 58 in List A cricket and is also very fit. What else do you want?

The standard of our list a cricket must be pretty bad for him to get an average like that, friendly pitches for the batsman too, players should only be selected in I ODI’s if they perform in PSL.

 

[Baigel]

The standard of our list a cricket must be pretty bad for him to get an average like that, friendly pitches for the batsman too, players should only be selected in I ODI’s if they perform in PSL.

Yet Pakistani wickets get thrashed for being to bowler friendly hence the amazing averages domestic bowlers have

 

[DRsohail]

The standard of our list a cricket must be pretty bad for him to get an average like that, friendly pitches for the batsman too, players should only be selected in I ODI’s if they perform in PSL.

And our imam averaging 34 with mighty strike rate of 72 in that format.

 

[asifp]

And our imam averaging 34 with mighty strike rate of 72 in that format.

Agreed, the amount of Jahalat on this forum is amazing. We pick guys that are in average in domestic and expect them to do well in international.


Shan Masood is deserving of a debut, he was a record breaker last year.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Should do better than Imam ul Hack atleast. Worth giving him a go against Afghanistan.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Agreed, the amount of Jahalat on this forum is amazing. We pick guys that are in average in domestic and expect them to do well in international.


Shan Masood is deserving of a debut, he was a record breaker last year.

Look mate, if Faisal Iqbal can average 42 in list a and khurram manzoor can average 53 then it really isn’t a massive achievement to average 58 and it shouldn’t get you a selection into the odi squad! If Shan was good enough he’d be opening in the psl, not selfie!

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

They are not going to drop Imam after one failure. His runs may have come against minnows but they are runs nonetheless. Although personally I'd like to see Shan inplace of him but I don't see Imam being dropped.