Should Asad Shafiq continue at number 6 or bat higher up the order?

[Saj]

He's broken the record for the most Test 100s batting at number 6, but in his interview with PakPassion recently he made it clear that he wants to bat higher up the order.

It's a tough decision for the Pakistan think-tank. What do you reckon, leave him at 6 or move him up the order?

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Promote him to 5. #3 was always too high for him.

 

[yasir_shah_fan]

Bat him at 4 so he can shield YK and Misbah

 

[Pete Rose]

If Pakistan plans to continue to field a team with 4 bowlers, then I think he should continue to bat at 6. He is showing in this match how important this position can be. At the same time it is a thankless position: if the top order scores and the number six scores no one gives credit as it's considered charging in. If the top order fails and the number 6 is left to bat with the tail and if he fails, he is considered soft.
Either way, I think the decision will be made for him as he might get a promotion when the uncles retire.

 

[On_the_up]

When Misbah or Younis retires, he can take one of their spots, at no 5 probably.

 

[Syed1]

Should take the number 4 spot after YK and Misbah leave. Haris/Umar Akmal can take the number 5 spot. The number 6th spot will be a tricky one to fill. Perhaps Usman Salahuddin could be tried there.

But now all of a sudden we are devoid of all that experience.

Sami
Babar
Haris/Umar
Usman

Four inexperienced bats in your top six is a sure-shot recipe for disaster.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Your #3 has to be extremely consistent which he is not. So, at best promote him to #5 or keep him at #6 where he has occasionally played some good innings.

 

[Hasan123]

4 or 5 is the best place for him.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Should bat at 4. Babar is ideal for 3 and Azhar should keep opening

 

[Barragan]

No team plays a specialist no. 6 batsman because it is generally reserved for a youngster making his way into the Test format or playing an A/R.

Either, he needs to move up and start scoring consistently or Pak can wait for a hundred every 2nd or 3rd series, plus he is nearly 31 and still very inconsistent.

He is the batting equivalent of Wahab Riaz.

 

[Barragan]

No team plays a specialist no. 6 batsman because it is generally reserved for a youngster making his way into the Test format or playing an A/R.

Either, he needs to move up and start scoring consistently or Pak can wait for a hundred every 2nd or 3rd series, plus he is nearly 31 and still very inconsistent.

He is the batting equivalent of Wahab Riaz.

Except he isn't a match-winner like Riaz.

 

[aloo paratha]

5 once Misbah retires, probably after this series. All rounder to fill #6 Nawaz/Imad or Yamin.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Why are we even trying to fix something that isn't broken ???

Number 6 is a specialist position and he should be left at that !! Is a gun batsman at that number and his stats prove the latter as well...

 

[Mamoon]

Can't hide an inconsistent player at any position, but he seems more comfortable at 6 so let him stay there.

 

[Ab Fan]

Have been saying it for long.

He is made for that no.5 position.6 is a little too low given the fact that he has got great potential although he hasn't utilized it. He doesn't have temperament to bat at 3 or even 4.

Hence, the best position for him is no.5.

 

[Zohaib Shah]

Keep him at 6. Bring Sarfraz up the order to 5 when Misbah retires. Put Sharjeel at 4 when Younis retires.

 

[Protea Fan]

Shafiq is only 400 runs away (at number 6) from being the most successful test number 6(going by runs aggregate) EVER

Keep him their where he looks comfortable

 

[Slog]

he looks like a #4 or #5

i dont understand why YK and misbah are untouchable at #4 and #5

 

[ExpressPacer]

No.6, forever. He's quite experienced now. He's played, what, 50 odd tests? We tried him at No.3 and it didn't work out. Also, the ability to bat with the tail is very unique and every team wants someone who can do that. Shafiq is an excellent example. I reckon he's right up there with anyone in the world when it comes to batting with the tail. You could see him telling each one of the tailenders what to do and giving them confidence. I would go as far as saying the entire tail wouldn't have made 20 runs had there been any other batsman with them.

Also, he has problems playing the new ball.

 

[Seamer]

Next Test series he should bat at number 5, hopefully Misbah will retire This should be the team.

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. Hassan Ali

 

[asfandyar]

Please don't try to mend a thing that isn't broken. Openers and and upper middle order need some shuffling and squad changes. Shafiq onwards, the order is perfect, with Sohail replacing Rahat of course, and Hafeez/Imad/Nawaz/Agha Salman in place of Yasir Shah for tours to non-spin friendly nations.

 

[TeymurBlake]

I personally would leave him at No.6 until Misbah or Younis retire cause I feel No.5 will be a better position for him with No.6 going to a Batting Allrounder eventually one day

 

[srh]

I want to see him bat at #4 same as Moyo

 

[Saj]

Leave him at 6 clearly in the lead.

 

[Abid Z]

Should be at 5 or 6 no higher.

 

[WC-Passion]

5 or 6.

 

[MenInG]

Number 6 is fine but is that where he wants to play?

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Number 6 is fine but is that where he wants to play?

He can have the hopes and dreams of becoming the best opener in History of Test Cricket but would that enable him to actually go out and achieve the feat ?? I clearly think it would not !!

He's scoring runs at six, a crucial positing in test cricket - The problem right now is ??? Why are we trying to fix something that isn't broken ??

Haven't we just witnessed how the jump from 6-3 backfired as started Asad bagging pairs as some sort of prized possession

 

[o_ahsan99]

Leave him at 6 for now. Once Younis retires he can move to number 4, if that's his preference. Otherwise, after Misbah, he can bat at 5, Sarfraz should come in at 6 and we should play a batting all rounder at 7.

 

[Haroon786]

Swap with Misbah at 5.

 

[Ab Fan]

Shafiq had a batting average of 37 this year in comparison to YK's 39 and Azhar's 52.

 

[Rayyman]

Should play at 3 imo.

 

[The intelligent Supporter]

No.6, forever. He's quite experienced now. He's played, what, 50 odd tests? We tried him at No.3 and it didn't work out. Also, the ability to bat with the tail is very unique and every team wants someone who can do that. Shafiq is an excellent example. I reckon he's right up there with anyone in the world when it comes to batting with the tail. You could see him telling each one of the tailenders what to do and giving them confidence. I would go as far as saying the entire tail wouldn't have made 20 runs had there been any other batsman with them.

Also, he has problems playing the new ball.

Completely Disagree

He was really bad with his strike farming and was selfish right when we started batting with tail, exposing Amir to full overs of Starc and to the point where it looked he was shielding him self.

He again could not really bat well with Wahab and exposed to lyon a lot of times. I did not see him setting a plan for the tail too, like walking up to Wahab telling him not slog. Wahab was just lucky that a few connected or we was ready to throw his wicket away.

Then he did not really shield yasir on day 5 at start. I agree he played much more fluently later half of his innigs. But if you want to see how an actual player looks like handling the tail, watch dhoni batting with tail enders. Its very clever way of plannign shots and gaps in a way to maximize and shield the tail. Even to the point of runnig 3 instead of 2 to farm the strike and facing the spear head yourself

I jsut think our tail was very gutsy that night and Yasir , Amir have some batting talent . Wahab was a tad lucky but I dount Asad made much difference. Like if it was Sarfraz he might have managed tail a lot better taking nothing away from his innings though

 

[Seamer]

Actually when Misbah/Younis retire He should remain at 6 because he is doing excellent at that position. I think the batting order should look like this :

1. Sami Aslam
2. Imam ul Haq
3. Azhar Ali
4. Usman Salahuddin
5. Sarfaraz Ahmed
6. Asad Shafiq
7. Imad Wasim
8. Amir
9. Yasir Shah
10. Wahab Riaz
11. Hassan Ali

 

[cric_fanatic]

He is the most solid bet at number 6 right now, till the time Misbah and YK are around. Once they leave, then he can be at 4 or 5

 

[waleed88]

Technically Asad Shafiq should play at no.3, because he is an accumulator, whereas Babar Azam with his gung ho approach should be more suited to play with the tail as a no.6, since he can score quick runs, and can farm the strike better than Shafiq... Sarfaraz and Babar can make a deadly combination..

Babar Azam has got out playing the wrong shots at no.3..

I was wondering had Shafiq played a 130 at no.3? Would we have won the match? It certainly would've increased our chances of winning..

 

[waleed88]

According to the great Imran Khan, your match winners and your most experienced batsmen should play in the top 3... Its clear Shafiq has proved that with probably the greatest 4th innings knock by a Pakistani on Aussie soil.. the guy is a match winner but is criminally underrated by his own management..

 

[waleed88]

With Misbah and YK on a decline, it should be Shafiq at no.3 and not Baby Azam, who's only 20-21 years old mind you

 

[Pete Rose]

Completely Disagree

He was really bad with his strike farming and was selfish right when we started batting with tail, exposing Amir to full overs of Starc and to the point where it looked he was shielding him self.

He again could not really bat well with Wahab and exposed to lyon a lot of times. I did not see him setting a plan for the tail too, like walking up to Wahab telling him not slog. Wahab was just lucky that a few connected or we was ready to throw his wicket away.

Then he did not really shield yasir on day 5 at start. I agree he played much more fluently later half of his innigs. But if you want to see how an actual player looks like handling the tail, watch dhoni batting with tail enders. Its very clever way of plannign shots and gaps in a way to maximize and shield the tail. Even to the point of runnig 3 instead of 2 to farm the strike and facing the spear head yourself

I jsut think our tail was very gutsy that night and Yasir , Amir have some batting talent . Wahab was a tad lucky but I dount Asad made much difference. Like if it was Sarfraz he might have managed tail a lot better taking nothing away from his innings though

Actually all of the above is wrong. When you are off by more than 200 runs, you can't shield the tail. You have to give them confidence and hope for the best. Luckily for him they all shown guts and form that day

 

[Pete Rose]

Technically Asad Shafiq should play at no.3, because he is an accumulator, whereas Babar Azam with his gung ho approach should be more suited to play with the tail as a no.6, since he can score quick runs, and can farm the strike better than Shafiq... Sarfaraz and Babar can make a deadly combination..

Babar Azam has got out playing the wrong shots at no.3..

I was wondering had Shafiq played a 130 at no.3? Would we have won the match? It certainly would've increased our chances of winning..

He will end up getting a promotion one or the other after this series

 

[umerz]

Till the time Misbah and Younis are playing he should continue at 6 and bat at 4 after both retire

 

[KB]

I think Shafiq would make an ideal number 4 when Younis retires. Sure, Shafiq may have scored more centuries than anybody at 6, but that is because the best batsmen bat higher up and those that start well at 6 eventually move up the order.

In the top 4, good batsmen can influence the game more. At 6, a batsman is often responding to the match situation, whereas in the top 4 there is more scope to set the agenda. Because he can score at a good rate and has a decent technique, I think in the long run, he could make a good number 4.

 

[shaz619]

Leave him at no.6 but when Misbah/Younis retire he can bat at no.5

 

[ExplicitAI]

He should remain at number 6, it's a difficult position to bat at and he's scored tons in SA, Eng and Aus. Leave him there and don't change it.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

It was the right move to promote him to number 3 spot where he played a cluck innings and scored a ton.

Until Misbah & Younis's retirements Babar should be slotted at number 6. And then He can be promoted to 4 or 5.

 

[Rayyman]

It was the right move to promote him to number 3 spot where he played a cluck innings and scored a ton.

Until Misbah & Younis's retirements Babar should be slotted at number 6. And then He can be promoted to 4 or 5.

I agree. If anyone should be hiding down the order, it should Babar. It's not like Hazlewood and Starc swing it miles so there is no reason for Shafiq to be scared of the new ball.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Oh the likeable guy.

Suljha hua acha player. MashaAllah.

Asad hope you kick on finalllllyyyyy

 

[Pete Rose]

Oh the likeable guy.

Suljha hua acha player. MashaAllah.

Asad hope you kick on finalllllyyyyy

Big match for him.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Big match for him.

Yes. Would love to see another hundred.

 

[ali ray]

Can Asad shafiq scores century tomorrow?

So the question is CAN HE?

 

[Mamoon]

If he scores one tomorrow, I will personally feel very excited because it will be something out of the blue for Shafiq.

Inconsistency has always been his forte and back-to-back hundreds in Australia will mean that maybe he is finally turning a corner which I have been hoping for years. However, as I said last week, I am not going to get my hopes up and will simply go with the flow.

 

[JibranAnsari]

How is the wicket playing? Any movement?