Should Asad Shafiq be promoted up to #5 for the Melbourne Test?

[msb314]

I would rather play Shafiq at 5 rather than Misbah.

In fact, I would play Misbah at 7 even below Sarfraz since his form has been patchy and at 7 - he would be protected by the old ball and can stop a collapse if he has to.

Whilst Shafiq is not consistent enough to be at 3 - I would play him at 5 for the time being and if his form keeps up - he may later be considered for the no. 4 or 3 slot but it would depend on his performances at no. 5

At no. Shafiq would also have more time at the crease with the no. 6 and 7 batsman rather than have to bat with the tail and also face a slightly older ball compared to the no. 3 slot.

Discuss!

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Yes. He is eventually gonna be a permanent number 4/5 anyway

 

[khalil1986]

Ideally yes but won't happen

 

[Slog]

Ideally he is a number 4 or 5
But we know that Misbah and YK are untouchable

 

[Slog]

I would rather play Shafiq at 5 rather than Misbah.

In fact, I would play Misbah at 7 even below Sarfraz since his form has been patchy and at 7 - he would be protected by the old ball and can stop a collapse if he has to.

Whilst Shafiq is not consistent enough to be at 3 - I would play him at 5 for the time being and if his form keeps up - he may later be considered for the no. 4 or 3 slot but it would depend on his performances at no. 5

At no. Shafiq would also have more time at the crease with the no. 6 and 7 batsman rather than have to bat with the tail and also face a slightly older ball compared to the no. 3 slot.

Discuss!

At number 6 and 7 you end up facing new ball unless you have a collapse

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Oh Khuda ka Wasta hay, please just NO !! Yar tum logon ko Asad kay runs kia buray lag rahen hain @ No 6 - Please leave him there yar !! #smh

 

[Pete Rose]

Cannot do that while the series is still alive. In a strange way it seems to be working. Pretty daunting for australia to first get through a defensive top order before reaching two reasonably fluent batsmen (shafiq and sarfaraz) in the middle of the innings. By this time their bowlers are tiring.

 

[Jabo]

So he fails and his supporters can use the excuse of he wasn't batting in his correct position?

Though really

He should be a middle order batsman

 

[Varun]

Don't fix something that ain't broken. You have a line-up that has somehow managed to rattle Australia because of its queer nature from #1 - #7, let it continue.

 

[KhalidRafi]

I don't know why people keep bringing this talk of promoting him up the order. He has 10 centuries at No. 6! Why would you want to promote him when No. 6 is clearly his favorite position? He has been tried at No. 3 too and he flopped. We would you tinker with something that doesn't need to be tinkered with.

 

[KhalidRafi]

Don't fix something that ain't broken. You have a line-up that has somehow managed to rattle Australia because of its queer nature from #1 - #7, let it continue.

The Australian test team of the last few years is an immensely overrated side. Somebody needs to bring them down to earth and tell them they aren't nowhere near as good as they used to be. I'm glad Pakistan are making them sweat and I really hope we can beat them atleast once.

 

[Seamer]

He should remain at number 6 for this series. He should move to number 5 in the next series against WI when hopefully Misbah will retire. This would be my test squad for the series:

1. Azhar Ali
2. Sami Aslam
3. Babar Azam
4. Younis Khan
5. Asad Shafiq
6. Imad Wasim
7. Sarfaraz
8. Yasir Shah
9. Amir
10. Wahab Riaz
11. Ehsan Adil

12. Nawaz
13. Usman Salahuddin
14. Mir Hamza
15. Fakhar Zaman

 

[Syed1]

I'm a firm believer of don't fix something that isn't broken. Each batting position comes with its own set of dynamics and Shafiq seems to be doing really well at the number 6 position. He shouldn't be shifted around just because he is the only batsman who is really performing.

 

[msb314]

I'm a firm believer of don't fix something that isn't broken. Each batting position comes with its own set of dynamics and Shafiq seems to be doing really well at the number 6 position. He shouldn't be shifted around just because he is the only batsman who is really performing.

Whilst what you say is true - it is Misbah who needs protection as he is regularly getting exposed at no. 5 due to his deteriorating reflexes and age.

Whilst no. 3 was a step too far for Shafiq - there is not much difference between 5 and 6 so Shafiq will likely succeed there. Plus - he will have more time out in the middle with proper batsman like YK, Sarfraz and Misbah IMO.

 

[Red Devil]

Oh Khuda ka Wasta hay, please just NO !! Yar tum logon ko Asad kay runs kia buray lag rahen hain @ No 6 - Please leave him there yar !! #smh

This.

No need to change his position in every other match. Promoting him to #3 sounded like a good idea initially but it led to him losing his form. Let him bat where he's comfortable for now and think about promoting him when Misbah retires.

 

[hur rizvi]

No

 

[Bilal7]

Come on, guys. Batting at #5 compared to #6 is not a huge difference. Shafiq and Misbah switching spots will allow the former to cash in on his good form and for the latter to find it.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Move him to 4 next game. Enough of the FTBs above him. Time for Younis and Misbah to retire.

 

[Mamoon]

3,4,5 or 6, it doesn't matter. You cannot hide an inconsistent player anywhere, so it really doesn't make a difference.