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Shoaib Malik and Sarfaraz Ahmed Must Play in the 2023 World Cup In India

ataullah

ataullah

First Class Captain
Joined
Feb 9, 2005
Runs
4,598
The way Pakistan batsmen have struggled against spin, India will take advantage and prepare spin friendly conditions. Pakistan's best players against spin are Sarfraz and Malik. I hate the fact that we need to turn to Malik again but he's our best option in them conditions. Also Azam Khan has the best strike rate vs spin and would be a smart choice. My team in India:

Fakhar
Imam
Babar
Sarfraz
Malik
Azam (wk)
Shadab
Nawaz
Shaheen
Naseem
Rauf

Your opinions?
 
This reminds me of the legendary thread (Should Shoaib Malik play the 2011 World Cup featuring WL vs. Black Zero) started more than 12 years back. Good ’ol days.
 
You said something that was exactly on my mind yesterday.

Shoaib Malik is a senior with a lot of hunger of runs against with India. He plays spin really well and has played a lot of matches in India.

Sarfraz plays spin great too. Rizwan is a huge liability against spin and has never batted in India. Sarfraz is the much better batsman and a senior player with a high IQ. I would highly caution against playing Rizwan.

Azam Khan is a must in the batting line up. But I would play him in the top order. I do not prefer forcing him to slog. He scored a century in the BPL as opener, he plays in the PSL as opener. Having Azam Khan in PP overs is a good fit, he is an absolute champion.

Your XI is almost identical to mine.

Fakhar
Azam (vc)
Imam
Babar
Sarfraz (c)
Malik
Azam (wk)
Shadab
Shaheen
Naseem
Rauf
Shan (12th)
Nawaz (cs)
 
Sarfaraz probably yes if your keeper/Batsman is going to bat in top 5

Malik’s time is up I’m afraid
 
The damage Baba has done is irreparable his dragged Pak cricket to the pits..miandad & imran need to make comebacks Khan with 1 leg is still better than Kushdil & co.
 
What will Malik do as soon as the opposition introduces someone who bowls quicker than 120kph ?

Better to start developing his nephew instead.
 
ataullah said:
Who's a better player of spin in Pakistan than Malik and sarfraz? How many in Pak's current lineup play the sweep shot effectively?
Click to expand...

Your confusing Ind test wickets with the Ind limited overs wickets. We need to stop looking backwards and it's done nothing for our cricket. Malik is a poor player and should have finished over a decade ago.
 
Markhor said:
What will Malik do as soon as the opposition introduces someone who bowls quicker than 120kph ?

Better to start developing his nephew instead.
Click to expand...

His main issue is on faster pitches of SENA. PSL has the fastest bowlers and he had no issues with the at all 😆
 
The wickets in India will not be rank turners. Salman Agha showed how to bat on this pitch and had Babar and Rizwan batting with a little more brain, this game could and should have been won.

Babar has been playing competitive cricket for over a decade and he's yet to understand how to chase a target. He has hit his celling and it's apparent that he cannot chase down scores on his own. It's better that to accept his weakness and find a work around rather than continue to rely on him and continue to lose in such games.
 
Malik 40 years 344 days old (almost 41)

Last ODI played in 2019

Performance in last series 41, 4, 8, 0, 0

Did not score a single 100 in his last 40 ODIs.

His last performance in India 2013

His last fifty in India 2007

So many red flags :)
 
It is incredible how much Pak batters struggle against spin.


And we are not talking about quality trap set spin.


Average (no disrespect intended) part-timer-esque spinners making a comeback after almost half a decade are wiping the floor with us! In all formats!
 
ataullah said:
The way Pakistan batsmen have struggled against spin, India will take advantage and prepare spin friendly conditions. Pakistan's best players against spin are Sarfraz and Malik. I hate the fact that we need to turn to Malik again but he's our best option in them conditions. Also Azam Khan has the best strike rate vs spin and would be a smart choice. My team in India:

Fakhar
Imam
Babar
Sarfraz
Malik
Azam (wk)
Shadab
Nawaz
Shaheen
Naseem
Rauf

Your opinions?
Click to expand...

It's a world cup they don't decide the pitches I believe
 
WhenSultansBowled said:
It is incredible how much Pak batters struggle against spin.


And we are not talking about quality trap set spin.


Average (no disrespect intended) part-timer-esque spinners making a comeback after almost half a decade are wiping the floor with us! In all formats!
Click to expand...

They have Tayyab and Kamran Ghullam who are good players of spin.
 
jnaveen1980 said:
Malik 40 years 344 days old (almost 41)

Last ODI played in 2019

Performance in last series 41, 4, 8, 0, 0

Did not score a single 100 in his last 40 ODIs.

His last performance in India 2013

His last fifty in India 2007

So many red flags :)
Click to expand...

Age is just a number and he's got better with age. Who's a better option vs spin and an off spin option? Iftikhar? How old is he?
 
No need for Malik we have a good players of spin on the bench Tayyab and Kamran
 
If Shoaib Malik had played in Asia cup 2021 and WT20 2021, we would’ve won both tournaments with flying colors. He’d be not out in both finals with a match winning half century (or century) and not a match losing one.
 
WhenSultansBowled said:
It is incredible how much Pak batters struggle against spin.


And we are not talking about quality trap set spin.


Average (no disrespect intended) part-timer-esque spinners making a comeback after almost half a decade are wiping the floor with us! In all formats!
Click to expand...

Bracewell has made them look like tailenders. It's shocking
 
WhenSultansBowled said:
It is incredible how much Pak batters struggle against spin.


And we are not talking about quality trap set spin.


Average (no disrespect intended) part-timer-esque spinners making a comeback after almost half a decade are wiping the floor with us! In all formats!
Click to expand...

Lol exactly.

Bracewell 33 list A wickets in 123 games torturing us every game :sree
 
Bumrah will make Malik look like a schoolboy on even the flattest of wickets. So will Cummins. And Jamieson. And any other good fast bowler.
 
Disappointed with Harris Sohail today

He is an elite class Pakistani batsman. That was a poor show by him today
 
ataullah said:
Age is just a number and he's got better with age. Who's a better option vs spin and an off spin option? Iftikhar? How old is he?
Click to expand...

As you get older you reflex will wane. He can get out to spinners just like others. Besides you can always stifle with him with pace. Sarfraz is definitely an option they must consider as he most recently did well against spin at the international level provided you are okay with occasional spilled catches. or play both.
 
shamaan said:
Tayyab Tahir is good player of spin and Kamran is okay aswell.
Click to expand...

They should be playing now and planning for the world cup. Its so sad. Shadab injury is a blessing in disguise that we have usama for bench strength. Similarly tayyab should be playing at least.
 
Can't wait for the day where the words 'World Cup' and 'we need Shoaib Malik' aren't connected in any way.

At this rate looks like a few more editions to go.
 
If I am not mistaken didnt, Shoaib Malik retire from ODIs, I doubt he himself would comeback in this format, we need to look passed him, sarfaraz I dont mind, But Malik should not be in the team, he is passed it, and did his time, we thank him for serving Pakistan.
 
Why Shoaib Malik ?--------------Oh yeah, he's married to an Indian , makes sense lol. Can't see any other reason.

Sarfraz has shown some form on a Karachi highway , his home ground, not sure how he will perform in a high profile match at this age and fitness.
 
I’d play sarfaraz down the order, I think he should definitely be a given a go in some ODIs leading up to the World Cup! See how he does in the next Odi tour of Pak by NZ in April.
 
Indians would be happy to play against a 43 year old veteran and a 35 year old harmless wicketkeeper batsman. Moreover india must be focussing on winning the tournament instead of only the game against pakistan. Pakistan should also do the same. If they will focus too much on playing against india then another world cup thrashing is on the cards for them against india.
 
Suleiman said:
If Shoaib Malik had played in Asia cup 2021 and WT20 2021, we would’ve won both tournaments with flying colors. He’d be not out in both finals with a match winning half century (or century) and not a match losing one.
Click to expand...
Malik played the entire t20 world cup games in uae. Why pakistan didn't won and how many half centuries he scored.
 
Last edited:
People really need to move on, seriously. Stop talking about a 40 + Year old Shoaib Malik, as he ruined the career of youngsters by hogging his spot and did next to nothing in his career.

Move on, stop dreaming, stop creating these useless fantasies of Shoaib Malik

This guy is finished, and plus we need to move on from a 40 + year old player. Seriously how about those Shoaib Malik fan boys have a think about this.

These fan boys need to stop dreaming, just move on, he did next to nothing in his career apart from "a good player of spin" and the other obvious thing
 
Sarfraz in Asia is a no brainer.

Malik has had enough of a run over 22 years or so, can’t go back to him.
 
Suleiman said:
If Shoaib Malik had played in Asia cup 2021 and WT20 2021, we would’ve won both tournaments with flying colors. He’d be not out in both finals with a match winning half century (or century) and not a match losing one.
Click to expand...

Yes he did play 2021 T20 WC, he may have looked fancy against the mighty Afghanistan and Scotland, but got cleaned up when it mattered against Australia.

Move on, stop dreaming, stop creating these useless fantasies of Shoaib Malik
 
Bilal Ahmad15 said:
People really need to move on, seriously. Stop talking about a 40 + Year old Shoaib Malik, as he ruined the career of youngsters by hogging his spot and did next to nothing in his career.

Move on, stop dreaming, stop creating these useless fantasies of Shoaib Malik

This guy is finished, and plus we need to move on from a 40 + year old player. Seriously how about those Shoaib Malik fan boys have a think about this.

These fan boys need to stop dreaming, just move on, he did next to nothing in his career apart from "a good player of spin" and the other obvious thing
Click to expand...

Some people will never move forward Only backwards They talk as Mr Malik was Javed Miandad or Inzamam ul haq

When in reality he was a glorified tailender when the ball bounced above waist high and over 70mphr
 
jnaveen1980 said:
Malik 40 years 344 days old (almost 41)

Last ODI played in 2019

Performance in last series 41, 4, 8, 0, 0

Did not score a single 100 in his last 40 ODIs.

His last performance in India 2013

His last fifty in India 2007

So many red flags :)
Click to expand...

This post, agreed.
To add he has much more appalling stats abroad but Malik's supporters never tire of this nonsense.
 
I concur with the recent sentiments about moving on from mediocre malik. I would go as far to argue that Shoaib Malik started the trend of mediocre “seniors”

We’ve had a seniority problem from the beginning, but at least up to 2007, our “seniors” were world class like Imran, Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, 2 Ws, Salim Malik, Inzi, Yousuf

recently our “seniors” have been shoaib malik, hafeez, Misbah, Azhar Ali. The pure and unadulterated definition of mediocre.
 
Pitches will be prepared by ICC however the nature of surface will remain similar.
But I think Pakistan should practice playing against pace better on bouncy tracks. The current pitches they are playing have no carry at all and unless bowler puts in real effort the ball barely bounces above knee. This will hurt Pakistan in long run. Pitches like Mohali will seem like MCG pitch to them.
 
Last edited:
BreadPakoda said:
This reminds me of the legendary thread (Should Shoaib Malik play the 2011 World Cup featuring WL vs. Black Zero) started more than 12 years back. Good ’ol days.
Click to expand...

Oh that brings back some memores, some peak PP content there


Going back to the point in hand, forget about Malik, but i think Sarfraz merits a shout

Rizwan is a mess, and i think its too late to try Mohammad Haris (he is also more of a hitter rather than a batsman)


Sarfraz at 4 may be the best option we have, only issue is his keeping
 
Sarfraz only yes

Malik has retired while Azam khan doesn’t make it
 
Can't believe we're still talking about Malik in 2023. We do need a senior that can tackle spin in the middle though and Sarfraz can play that role. I would have both Sarfraz and Rizwan (wk) in the lineup
 
I have to agree and I was of the same view yesterday while watching the game. We struggle to play spin well and particularly struggle during 15-40 overs to rotate strike. Sarfraz and Malik are our best players of spin
 
Fakhar
Imam
Babaar
Sarfaraz
Harris
Nawaz
Shadab
Imad
M. Amir
Shaheen
Rauff

This is the XI pakistan should consider , batting is deep , lots of bowling options as well.
 
While we are at it lets bring back Inzamam, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi.
 
Justcrazy said:
Fakhar
Imam
Babaar
Sarfaraz
Harris
Nawaz
Shadab
Imad
M. Amir
Shaheen
Rauff

This is the XI pakistan should consider , batting is deep , lots of bowling options as well.
Click to expand...

Need an off spinner in 3 man spin attack. Ifitkhar fits the bill more than Agha.
 
jnaveen1980 said:
Malik 40 years 344 days old (almost 41)

Last ODI played in 2019

Performance in last series 41, 4, 8, 0, 0

Did not score a single 100 in his last 40 ODIs.

His last performance in India 2013

His last fifty in India 2007

So many red flags :)
Click to expand...

this should be enough to close this thread i believe..

Sarfraz can be in.. Rizwans poor form in ODIs continue and risky free scratchy stat pads + theatrics should be put to bed...
 
ataullah said:
They should be playing now and planning for the world cup. Its so sad. Shadab injury is a blessing in disguise that we have usama for bench strength. Similarly tayyab should be playing at least.
Click to expand...

Yes they should be but unfortunately always the case with Pakistan.
 
Tayyab Tahir should be in the xi.
Shadab,nawaz and Usama should be in the squad and in the xi if pitches are turning.
 
Hindsight bias but both these gentlemen are known to be good batters on the subcontinental pitches and their experience would have been a great value addition to this Pakistan World Cup
 
Can't imagine guys wanting to bring back sarfaraz and Malik. They are done and dusted.
Might as well get miandad waqar saqlain then.. no wonder pak cricket is in such shambles...
 
Suleiman said:
If Shoaib Malik had played in Asia cup 2021 and WT20 2021, we would’ve won both tournaments with flying colors. He’d be not out in both finals with a match winning half century (or century) and not a match losing one.
Click to expand...
Bilal Ahmad15 said:
Yes he did play 2021 T20 WC, he may have looked fancy against the mighty Afghanistan and Scotland, but got cleaned up when it mattered against Australia.

Move on, stop dreaming, stop creating these useless fantasies of Shoaib Malik
Click to expand...
Hey Suleiman,

I would just like to apologise for this rather mean response I wrote. I hope everything is going fine.
 
Bilal Ahmad15 said:
Hey Suleiman,

I would just like to apologise for this rather mean response I wrote. I hope everything is going fine.
Click to expand...
I’ll think about it.

J/k.

All good brother, didn’t even remember it until you quoted me today.
 
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