Shoaib Akhtar picks his all time ODI XI

[MenInG]

His all time ODI XI:

Gordon Greenidge, Sachin Tendulkar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar, MS Dhoni (wk), Adam Gilchrist, Yuvraj Singh, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Kapil Dev, Shane Warne (captain).

His justifications:

"The opener has to be Gordon Greenidge and Sachin Tendulkar. In the middle-order- Inzamam-ul-Haq, then followed by Saeed Anwar, you will be surprised why I have put Saeed Anwar in the middle. Because if he would have played in recent times, he would have murdered everyone. Fifth I would get classic keeper MS Dhoni and a batsman At No. 6 I would get Gilchrist."

"At No. 7 I would have Yuvraj Singh. At 8 Wasim Akram and then Waqar Younis at No.9. At No. 10, to be very honest with you, I think he is the greatest fast bowler and great talent Kapil Dev. At No. 11 I would keep Shane Warne. And my captain would be, not many would agree on this one, but my captain is Shane Warne."



==

So no Kohli in it!

 

[angrypathan]

Shane Warne captain over Dhoni? Gilchrist purely as a batsman? Odd

 

[PakLFC]

His all time ODI XI:

Gordon Greenidge, Sachin Tendulkar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar, MS Dhoni (wk), Adam Gilchrist, Yuvraj Singh, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Kapil Dev, Shane Warne (captain).

==

So no Kohli in it!

With 8 Indo-Pak players in the side the man clearly doesn't know what he's on about. So many great players from other sides he has ignored. I don't even want to start with non subcontinental players who should be in the side. Saeed Anwar is not a number four batsman.

 

[Local.Dada]

Gordon Greenidge really? I mean he was an ATG but really seems out of place coming from
Shoaib Akthar. I would expect him to pick Hayden/Sehwag/ G Smith etc but surprising for sure

Really didn’t see this coming

 

[PakLFC]

He chose Warne instead of Murali to prove he was not against others

 

[street cricketer]

Interestingly no Imran in it.

Shane Warne captain over Dhoni? Gilchrist purely as a batsman? Odd

Tbf a lot of Australians do consider Warne as their best ever captain they never had. But I get that having him as a captain over Dhoni who had a lot of success is weird.

 

[Mamoon]

I never thought he would have the intelligence and acumen to pick Kapil over Imran in ODI cricket, so I am certainly impressed.

 

[gazza619]

I never thought he would have the intelligence and acumen to pick Kapil over Imran in ODI cricket, so I am certainly impressed.

So you have forgiven him for picking Waqar who you have never really rated?

 

[Mamoon]

So you have forgiven him for picking Waqar who you have never really rated?

Waqar benefited from ball-tampering but you cannot argue against his numbers. You cannot take that away from him.

Inzamam over Kohli was laughable though.

 

[Ab Fan]

Tendulkar
Jayasuriya
Kohli
Babar
de Villiers
Buttler(wkt)
Klusenar
Wasim
Warne
Donald
McGrath

 

[gazza619]

Waqar benefited from ball-tampering but you cannot argue against his numbers. You cannot take that away from him.

Inzamam over Kohli was laughable though.

Yes and the selections of Yuvi and Anwar also didnt make any sense to me.

 

[Mamoon]

Tendulkar
Rohit
Kohli
Viv Richards
De Villiers
Dhoni (c)
Klusener
Kapil
Wasim
Warne
McGrath

Unbeatable.

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

Adam Gilchrist
Rohit Sharma
Kohli
ABD
Ben Stokes (fire starter) (Captain)
Michael Bevan
Hardik Pandya >>> Kapil Dev
Wasim
Gillespie
McGrath
Murali

Odi

 

[street cricketer]

Tendulkar
Rohit
Kohli
Viv Richards
De Villiers
Dhoni (c)
Klusener
Kapil
Wasim
Warne
McGrath

Unbeatable.

I wondered if Stokes could make the team due to his WC final heroics but didn't realise Klusener had such a great record. I mean I knew he was known for his heroics in the 1999 WC and was one of the great all rounders, but didn't realise he had such good numbers until I took a peek into his cricinfo profile.

The only all rounder who comes remotely close to having the same impact as Zulu had with bat and the ball is probably Watto. Kallis had good numbers but his strike rate with the bat is very low while Imran's average with the bat doesn't compare to Zulu or Watto. Stokes has a long way to go with his performances with the ball in ODIs.

 

[Bhaijaan]

So finally a Pakistan with enough guts to put Kapil Dev over Imran in an ODI XI.

Great stuff as expected from Shoaib.

You can clearly see his vision in the playing XI. He's picked famous match winners and impact players.

There is no full player in his XI.

A very typical, unique team which only Shoaib Akhtar could pick..

I'm only surprised he couldn't find a place for Ponting. I thought he considered him a match winner.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Yes and the selections of Yuvi and Anwar also didnt make any sense to me.

Saeed Anwar was a gun opener in 1990s. I will never have a complaint if someone picks him or Jayasuriya in an ODI XI for as long as Tendulkar is rightfully picked as the other first choice opener

Yuvraj , an ODI specialist, expert at chasing, has the 5th gear, big match performer , match winner... And a former World Cup MOTT. Spearheaded India's two World Cup winning campaigns. I am surprised someone with this many accolades would be a surprise entry for anyone.

 

[Ashmal]

I am surprised that he didn't include himself in the team

 

[Bhaijaan]

Tendulkar
Hitman
Kohli
V. Richards
Yuvraj
Dhoni
Kapil Dev
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Allan Donald
Shoaib Akhtar


Hate to admit it but India has nailed just too many batting positions in white ball cricket.

 

[gazza619]

Saeed Anwar was a gun opener in 1990s. I will never have a complaint if someone picks him or Jayasuriya in an ODI XI for as long as Tendulkar is rightfully picked as the other first choice opener

Yuvraj , an ODI specialist, expert at chasing, has the 5th gear, big match performer , match winner... And a former World Cup MOTT. Spearheaded India's two World Cup winning campaigns. I am surprised someone with this many accolades would be a surprise entry for anyone.

Anwar and Yuvi were gun players no doubt but when the likes of Viv Richards, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and De Villiers are benched, then eyebrows will be raised.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Tendulkar
Rohit
Kohli
Viv Richards
De Villiers
Dhoni (c)
Klusener
Kapil
Wasim
Warne
McGrath

Unbeatable.

Rohit out Gilchrist in. Dhoni out Bevan in. Both teams are unbelievably good though.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Gilchrist
Tendulkar
Viv
Kohli
ABD
Bevan
Watson/Klusener/Stokes
Wasim
Warne
Mcgrath
Lee/Saqlain (Saqlain on slow or turning wickets. Lee everywhere else)

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Saeed Anwar
Sachin Tendulkar
Virat Kohli
AB DeVilliers
Yuvraj Singh
MS Dhoni
Kapil Dev
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Younis/Murali
Glen McGrath

Waqar and Murali depending on opposition and conditions as Yuvi can roll a few as well.

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

Comical 11. I'm surprised he hasn't picked himself

 

[Shafi]

My 11

1. Bairstow
2. Tendulqar
3. Kohli
4. Viv Richard
5. De Villiers
6. Klusner/Kallis
7. Dhoni (Captain)
8. Wasim
9. Warne
10. Donald
11. Mcgrath

 

[Yasir_ch]

LOL he is trying to make his indian viewers happy.very shrewd.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Anwar and Yuvi were gun players no doubt but when the likes of Viv Richards, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and De Villiers are benched, then eyebrows will be raised.

It's all about batting position.

Eyebrows would be raised if Yuvraj is put in top 4 where he does not compete with the likes of Kohli, ABD

However Yuvraj is a better #5 than both of them.

Similarly, Saeed Anwar is a better opening prospect than ABD. He was ome of the best openers of the 1990s, benching him for Gilchrist, Jayasuriya makes sense but as an opener he is ahead of ABD, Kohli

 

[adzzy786]

I never thought he would have the intelligence and acumen to pick Kapil over Imran in ODI cricket, so I am certainly impressed.

Imran was better than Kapil Dev, Imran has better stats, had more impact as a player.

Also I watched them both play Kapil was great but Imran was better.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Imran was better than Kapil Dev, Imran has better stats, had more impact as a player.

Also I watched them both play Kapil was great but Imran was better.

ODIs:-
Kapil Dev just operated at another level

Tests:-
Kapil Dev outperformed every AR against West Indies. Also till this day the greatest Asian fast bowler in Australia

 

[gani999]

I never thought he would have the intelligence and acumen to pick Kapil over Imran in ODI cricket, so I am certainly impressed.

Shoaib is all set to be back as coach in next years IPL then.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

ODIs:-
Kapil Dev just operated at another level

Tests:-
Kapil Dev outperformed every AR against West Indies. Also till this day the greatest Asian fast bowler in Australia

Lmao even Mamoon will admit there is no comparison between Kapil and Imran in Tests overall

 

[Titan24]

Saqlain to me was a superior ODI spinner than Warne and his numbers support my take. If two spinners are playing than Shane would be my 2nd option for his leg spin variety.

 

[SangasCoverDrive]

I am surprised he didn't put Mohammad Zahid in the team.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Saqlain to me was a superior ODI spinner than Warne and his numbers support my take. If two spinners are playing than Shane would be my 2nd option for his leg spin variety.

Shane Warne was a big moment ODI spinner.

His performances in 1996 SF, 1999 SF are legendary.

Besides he won the 1999 Final MOTM

 

[Mamoon]

Imran was better than Kapil Dev, Imran has better stats, had more impact as a player.

Also I watched them both play Kapil was great but Imran was better.

Imran was far better in Tests but Kapil is the GOAT ODI all-rounder.

Kapil’s batting SR in ODIs is insane for his era. He was consistently ranked above Imran as an ODI all-rounder throughout the 80’s.

His 1983 World Cup triumph at the age of 23 was a far bigger achievement than Imran’s 1992 World Cup nearly 10 years later.

Beating arguably greatest ODI side twice including in the final was the real Cornered Tigers moment.

The difference between Kapil and Imran is that Kapil was a team man and not a narcissist who put personal glory above the team.

Imran’s speech in the presentation ceremony of the 1992 World Cup final where he did not even acknowledge his team said everything about him.

That whole Cornered Tigers gimmick and that white t-shirt at the toss was not about the team; it was about Imran’s own image.

Kapil did not politicize his World Cup victory and did not do any propaganda over it. He could have milked it and done so much for himself, but he didn’t because he was always an unbelievable team-man who had no interested in personal glory.

For Kapil, it was never about him; it was always about India. He didn’t use the 1983 World Cup for personal gains.

The 1983 World Cup was by far the most significant moment in Asian cricket history. It completely changed the landscape of the game.

It shifted the balance of power out of London and the uptight MCC club where they would wear their hats and smoke their pipes and praise each other while overrating mediocre English cricketers of the past with great revisionism.

It broke the duopoly of England and Australia in terms of decision-making power and brought Asian cricket well and truly on the map.

It created craze for ODI cricket in India and without the 1983 World Cup that turned the establishment of cricket upside down, the 1987 and 1996 World Cups would not have been hosted in the subcontinent.

It was a pivotal moment in history of subcontinent cricket achieved due to the lionhearted leadership and courage of Kapil the magnificent and selfless leader.

 

[MesonK]

Shoaib Akhtar's knowledge of the game is as good as any fan in the crowd.

 

[par]

Tendulkar
Rohit
Kohli
Viv Richards
De Villiers
Dhoni (c)
Klusener
Kapil
Wasim
Warne
McGrath

Unbeatable.

That is a good team. Bit light on spin though.

 

[Saurav]

My ODI XI

Sachin
Gilchrist
Kohli
Viv
ABDV
Stokes
Klusener
Wasim
Warne
Murali
McGrath

 

[OMB]

My ODI XI

Sachin
Gilchrist
Kohli
Viv
ABDV
Stokes
Klusener
Wasim
Warne
Murali
McGrath

OK
Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam, Bevan, Hayden, Jayasuria are some who have great ODI averages over a long career

 

[wrongun]

Did he bat Waqar above Kapil Dev? You could actually argue batting Dev above BOTH Waqar & Wasim- he had a SR of 95 in olden days ODI when 4.5 per over was decent going & 6.5 rpo for the last 20 overs was a pretty big ask. That's like a 150 SR today... and he's got 8 test centuries... mystifying.

 

[Saurav]

OK
Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam, Bevan, Hayden, Jayasuria are some who have great ODI averages over a long career

Rohit's average is mainly due to pattas of today.Goes missing whenever there is movement

Babar hasn't played enough vs top teams

Bevan is strong contender as is Dhoni but ABDV can do what these two did plus some more

Hayden had low SR specially for someone batting in powerplays

Sanath averaged 32.Gilchrist edged him by performing in WC finals thrice

 

[Bhaijaan]

Bevan is strong contender as is Dhoni but ABDV can do what these two did plus some more

That is a disasterous statement comign from someone who has been ehre since a long time.

First of all both Bevan and Dhoni are more accomplished ODI batters than ABD.

Secondly, if the above is contextualized in terms of respectice batting positions ABD is no where near in touching Bevan and MSD. When Bevan & MSD are the game's greatest finishers. ABD is all but statistics in useless bilaterals and no player has ever become a legend banking on performance in bilaterals.

ABD , amogn the game's best batsmen, is right up there among the biggest of the chokers in the big moment plays of all time. In fact i will struggle to name someone to compete.

 

[Justcrazy]

Tendulkar
Rohit
Kohli
Viv Richards
De Villiers
Dhoni (c)
Klusener
Kapil
Wasim
Warne
McGrath

Unbeatable.

No team is Unbeatable

 

[Justcrazy]

LOL he is trying to make his indian viewers happy.very shrewd.

That is the main reason, he is trying to get more views .

 

[Justcrazy]

Tendulkar , Richards , Wasim Akram , Bevan , Saqlain , GilChrist should make every dream OD teams , rest can be argued about

 

[Saurav]

That is a disasterous statement comign from someone who has been ehre since a long time.

First of all both Bevan and Dhoni are more accomplished ODI batters than ABD.

Secondly, if the above is contextualized in terms of respectice batting positions ABD is no where near in touching Bevan and MSD. When Bevan & MSD are the game's greatest finishers. ABD is all but statistics in useless bilaterals and no player has ever become a legend banking on performance in bilaterals.

ABD , amogn the game's best batsmen, is right up there among the biggest of the chokers in the big moment plays of all time. In fact i will struggle to name someone to compete.

knew someone would bring that up.

AB scored 65* in WC semis v NZ in 2015.Scored 30 odd in 2011 but got run out by Faf.His team might be chokers but hes done okay

Dhoni apart from WC final 90 didnt play any impact inning.His 60 odd in 2015 came when the game was lost,and his 50 in 2019 semi was match losing as he left it too late

Both have been poor in CT with Dhoni failing in both finals of 2013 & 2017

Bevan for his era I guess did okay but his SR even for that era is too low for a finisher.He was more of a consolidator

 

[Third_Umpire]

I never thought he would have the intelligence and acumen to pick Kapil over Imran in ODI cricket, so I am certainly impressed.

Isn’t Imran miles better than Kapil? Quicker, swing bowler, more steady bat vs slogger Kapil

 

[Bhaijaan]

knew someone would bring that up.

AB scored 65* in WC semis v NZ in 2015.Scored 30 odd in 2011 but got run out by Faf.His team might be chokers but hes done okay

Dhoni apart from WC final 90 didnt play any impact inning.His 60 odd in 2015 came when the game was lost,and his 50 in 2019 semi was match losing as he left it too late

Both have been poor in CT with Dhoni failing in both finals of 2013 & 2017

Bevan for his era I guess did okay but his SR even for that era is too low for a finisher.He was more of a consolidator

Zero trophies.
Not even an IPL

Literally ran away from cricket.

His lasting legacy is that of a quitter.

Sports analysis is often hard hitting but that's how sports are meant to be.

 

[Jazx]

Anwar at number 4 will not even fit into a pak all time eleven.