Should Babar Azam and Mohamamd Rizwan open for Pakistan in ODIs as well?

[Savak]

The formula is working in T-20 Cricket, why not extend it to ODI Cricket as well. The two best batsmen go out upfront and leave the hitters in the middle order. Fakhar has been an inconsistent opener and might be better served where the team has had a reasonable start which gives him the license to hit out.

 

[UzmanBeast]

I believe [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] mentioned this idea a few weeks back.

I certainly believe that Babar Azam can come out to open the innings, but in conditions where the ball is likely to swing, I don't think he will be that successful because he has not yet established himself as a reliable test batsman.

The issue with Mohammad Rizwan opening is the fact that it is a very demanding role, to be a keeper and an opener. If Pakistan can replace Mohammad Rizwan with a young wicket-keeper in the middle-order, then I believe that this option could become more feasible.

 

[Unbiased-Fan]

Pakistan already have aggressive opener like Fakhar in the team..Rizwan can make good opening pair with Zaman as he has better technique than Imam and has wide range of strokes. Left right combo is ideal for any formats.
Azam's best position is three to guide and stabilize innings..

Fakhar
Rizwan
Azam
Haris
Haider/Sarfaraz
Asif
Shadab
Imad
Hasan
Shaheen
another pacer

 

[GreenKhan]

Why remove Fakhar. Averages 48 @SR of 95.

Great stats .

 

[TeymurBlake]

Babar is solid at No.3. Rizwan is not a bad idea for opening.

 

[shujaatraza]

IMO Fakhar should open with Abdullah followed by Babar and Rizwan.

 

[shokz1408]

Yes they should. The way they go about their innings initially isn’t too much different from how they’d play the 50 over format. I think it’s our best opening partnership.

 

[Rana]

Yep let’s casually ignore Imam ul Haq who has been one of the best and most reliable openers for Pakistan just so that we can accommodate Rizwan who can’t bat anywhere else

 

[CricLegend]

I will go with is line up on boxy ODI

Imam
Shafique
Babar
Fakhar
Rizwan
Asif / or another Hitter
Shadab
Nawaz
Shaheen
Rauf
Dahani

 

[Barragan]

Definitely Rizwan!

Him and Zaman at the top.

 

[Concerned]

Not that easy for a wicket keeper to keep for 50 overs and then open the batting.

Rizwan is a elite wicket keeper and should always be the first choice keeper and then batsmen.

 

[gazza619]

I am concerned we asking too much of Rizwan. He is a full time keeper. 50 overs is a different ball game and I think we should invest in a new opener

 

[Omer2002]

Hundred percent .. they are more suited in one days then 2020s. Besides i always wanted a keeper batsman who plays in top order

 

[Bewal Express]

Too much burden on Riz. I like the idea of Babar opening because it gives him a chance to bat more balls.

 

[cricketerB94]

Would like to see the opening pair of Rizwan and Imam and Babar and Fakhar to follow. Rizwan has mostly failed at number 4 in ODIs. Maybe he likes pace on ball at the start of his innings. Next ODI world cup is in India and Fakhar is a good option to tackle spin in the middle overs when he gets set. I would like to see the following team prepared for the next ODI world cup:

Rizwan
Imam
Babar
Fakhar
Haider
Kamran Ghulam
Qasim Akram
Shadab
Rauf
Shaheen
Dahani


Pakistan A:

Abdullah Shafiq
Tayyab Tahir
Saud Shakeel
Agha Salman
Sahibzada Farhan
Mohammad Haris
Iftikhar Ahmed
Muhammad Nawaz
Hasan Ali
Waseem Jnr
Naseem Shah

Pakistan A are the reserve players for Pakistan and performing players from Pakistan A can replace non-performing players in Pakistan team.

 

[GreenKhan]

Would like to see the opening pair of Rizwan and Imam and Babar and Fakhar to follow. Rizwan has mostly failed at number 4 in ODIs. Maybe he likes pace on ball at the start of his innings. Next ODI world cup is in India and Fakhar is a good option to tackle spin in the middle overs when he gets set. I would like to see the following team prepared for the next ODI world cup:

Rizwan
Imam
Babar
Fakhar
Haider
Kamran Ghulam
Qasim Akram
Shadab
Rauf
Shaheen
Dahani


Pakistan A:

Abdullah Shafiq
Tayyab Tahir
Saud Shakeel
Agha Salman
Sahibzada Farhan
Mohammad Haris
Iftikhar Ahmed
Muhammad Nawaz
Hasan Ali
Waseem Jnr
Naseem Shah

Pakistan A are the reserve players for Pakistan and performing players from Pakistan A can replace non-performing players in Pakistan team.

Fakhar at 4? Why can’t we leave what’s not broken. If a man who averages 48 at a SR of 95 is being shifted down the order , then that’s just a recipe for disaster . In ODIs he is the only modern dynamic opener we have and it was only early this year he scored 193 and 100 in South Africa.
Rizwan can stay at 4 for the time being .

 

[Ami]

Yes...lovely idea!

We have so many world class middle order batters who are dying for an opportunity; the likes of Fakhar and Imam are just holding them off...

....here's my odi line up for the top six...

Babar
Rizwan
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
Imad
Shadab
Hasan
Afridi
Haris

 

[DRsohail]

Yep let’s casually ignore Imam ul Haq who has been one of the best and most reliable openers for Pakistan just so that we can accommodate Rizwan who can’t bat anywhere else

To be honest imam haa been good but his performance has been below par as far as SR is concerned, impacless runs ,but runs are runs.

 

[Nasty Naz]

No, obviously not. It's a disaster batting lineup once Babar gets out and it's a 50 over match. Pakistan have plenty of talented openers coming up and two openers who are good anyways.

In T20's, it matters less because its a very short format and Babar is not a big enough hitter to be coming into the game later on and eating deliveries before getting going.

 

[Abdurmirr]

Don't think both should open. Babar should bat 3 and Rizwan should come open alongside Fakhar, giving us a decent platform upfront. It will also give us some flexibility to put another accumulator at 4 and allow for our power hitters - who ever they maybe- to play their natural game

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Rizwan should open with Fahkar

That would allow us to add more dynamism in the middle order


Imam should focus on getting into the test team

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan already have aggressive opener like Fakhar in the team..Rizwan can make good opening pair with Zaman as he has better technique than Imam and has wide range of strokes. Left right combo is ideal for any formats.
Azam's best position is three to guide and stabilize innings..

Fakhar
Rizwan
Azam
Haris
Haider/Sarfaraz
Asif
Shadab
Imad
Hasan
Shaheen
another pacer

Fakhar should with Abdullah

Fakhar
Abdullah
Babar
Saud
Rizwan
Haider ali

 

[shamaan]

No, obviously not. It's a disaster batting lineup once Babar gets out and it's a 50 over match. Pakistan have plenty of talented openers coming up and two openers who are good anyways.

In T20's, it matters less because its a very short format and Babar is not a big enough hitter to be coming into the game later on and eating deliveries before getting going.

Saus shakeel needs to be given a run he's similar to Babar in terms of strike rate.

 

[shamaan]

My two lines up for odis.


Fakhar
Abdullah
Babar
Saud Shakeel
Rizwan
Haider Ali
Qasim Akram
Shadab
Hassan Ali
Dahani
Shaheen

Second option
Rizwan
Fakhar
Babar
Saud
Abdullah
Haider ali
Qasim Akram
Shadab
Hassan Ali
Dahani
Shaheen

Bench Combined
Qadir
Kamran Ghullam
Wasim Jnr
Asif ali/Khushdil/iftikhar
Muhammed Harris/Rohail Nazir

 

[OmarKhan99]

It would be foolish to dismantle the opening pair of Imam-ul-Haq (Average: ~50, 100s: 7) and Fakhar Zaman (Average: 47.5, 100s: 6), since they have been performing prolifically. Both of them have played quite a few clutch innings in the past couple of years. Pushing Rizwan up the order would unnecessarily unsettle a good combination and will also keep out one of the two openers (both of whom are the essential to the team). If one of them loses form in a dramatic fashion, then that change could make more sense, although I'd still prefer shielding Babar and Rizwan from the new ball, esp since 50 overs affords time.

Rizwan would make for a great #5.

This would be my lineup for the immediate future (in a year or two, would like more youngsters [Hasnain, Haider, Naseem, Dahani, etc.] to come in):

1. Imam-ul-Haq
2. Fakhar Zaman
3. Babar Azam
4. Saud Shakeel
5. Mohammad Rizwan
6. Imad Wasim/Iftikhar Ahmed
7. Asif Ali
8. Shadab Khan
9. Hasan Ali/Naseem Shah
10. Shaheen Shah Afridi/Shahnawaz Dahani
11. Haris Rauf/Mohammad Hasnain

The order of Numbers 6-9 should be quite malleable to the situation at hand.

 

[Nasty Naz]

Saus shakeel needs to be given a run he's similar to Babar in terms of strike rate.

I do wonder if he has a fit in this lineup with Imam/Babar & Rizwan in the same lineup. That is a lot of accumulation.

Saud SR in domestic is 84 which is not great. Babar career SR excluding UAE (because well, it's UAE) is 91, which is pretty decent. Maybe if he can bump that up to 90 like Babar, I could see it making more sense.

Long term, I feel like the inclusion of Shafique & Haider is important. Especially Haider, in the middle order if he can become a Bairstow type batsmen.

 

[shamaan]

I do wonder if he has a fit in this lineup with Imam/Babar & Rizwan in the same lineup. That is a lot of accumulation.

Saud SR in domestic is 84 which is not great. Babar career SR excluding UAE (because well, it's UAE) is 91, which is pretty decent. Maybe if he can bump that up to 90 like Babar, I could see it making more sense.

Long term, I feel like the inclusion of Shafique & Haider is important. Especially Haider, in the middle order if he can become a Bairstow type batsmen.

That's why I proberly won't play imaam in my team but I'd play Abdullah and Rizwan opening Babar at 3 and saud at 4 and haider at 5.

It isn't great but I trust Saud his skill level is second to only Babar that's how much I rate him.

 

[smkk]

That's why I proberly won't play imaam in my team but I'd play Abdullah and Rizwan opening Babar at 3 and saud at 4 and haider at 5.

It isn't great but I trust Saud his skill level is second to only Babar that's how much I rate him.

I think your is the best approach for the moment, even though I would prefer Haider Ali at the openning with Abdullah and form a left-right hand approach. Anyway for the time being Pakistan should follow your template to bring youngster in the one day folder and provide them with match experiance.

One question, did you discard Fakhar and why?

 

[shamaan]

I think your is the best approach for the moment, even though I would prefer Haider Ali at the openning with Abdullah and form a left-right hand approach. Anyway for the time being Pakistan should follow your template to bring youngster in the one day folder and provide them with match experiance.

One question, did you discard Fakhar and why?

If you look at the team above I haven't actually discarded him.i just want rizwan to open and i also want to try out Abdullah.Rizwan hasn't quite clicked yet in the middle order.we need to try new combinations.

Abdullah could fit in the middle order.one thing am certain is I'd have Abdullah,fakhar,Rizwan, over imaam ul haq

 

[Officer Barbrady]

Fakhar has done well in odis and should continue as opener. It’s his best format. Rizwan should open with him instead of Imam. It’s nice to have that left/right combo with fakhar having license to attack.

Babar is fine at 3.

 

[shah_1]

We don't have any middle order so it is a flop suggestion

Imam and Fakhar it is

 

[Thanos]

Keeping for 50 overs and then batting as opener is tough ask. Not everyone can be Gilchrist.

What's wrong with Imam opening? I've seen him playing once and I think he is good batsman by current Pak batting standard. (No disrespect intended).
I mean he is no Rohit Sharma but he seems as good as any other current Pak batsman except Babar.

 

[Kroll]

We don't have any middle order so it is a flop suggestion

Imam and Fakhar it is

Absolutely, thanks to Misbah ul-Haq’s flop tenure.

 

[fight_club]

They shouldn't be opening even in T20. Babar and Rizwan will have to take Middle order duties post this WC
they play at right Position's in ODI's and that's where they should play in T20.

However if, Pakistan is hell bent on destroying match winner like Fakhar then it's another matter.

 

[sweep_shot]

Can Rizwan open the batting and keep in an ODI game? It can be physically hard.

Imam/Babar and Fakhar should open in ODI.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Hell no. Babar is perfeclty fine in ODIs as it is. Don't mix up formats, ODIs and T20s are not same. Babar's role is to be an accumulator and finisher in ODIs, not smash from ball 1.

 

[Yk313]

Talked about getting Babar to open in ODIs a while ago. Not sure to what extent the current mgmt. will facilitate this idea.

The benefit of these two opening together will be the solidity that PAK has lacked up the order for the good part of two decades now.

Given the embarrassingly homogeneous batting strips across ODIs around the world, they should be able to make hay 6-7 days out of 20. On days where there us protracted swing / seam, they may struggle a bit but that’s fine.

Equally, with a few more ODI tournaments under his belt Abdullah S may be able to break into the top 3 of ODIs. Technically looked good in the National T20 and should not bat below No. 3 in ODIs.

It may also help address the issue of Saud’s batting spot, if he is to be persisted with. Currently below BA and MR at No.5 he can then be promoted to No.3, if he is to be persisted with. His current game is not quite that of a No. 5. However, I feel that only one of SS or AS can play given they will both need to bat in the Top 3, max Top 4.

No.4 will need to be someone who can bat at 10-2 in 5 overs and also at 200-2 in 35 overs.

Iftikhar may end up being a stop gap solution for No.5. Rizwan can also bat No. 5 given his game and ability to play both sorts of innings.

 

[Azeem Zafar]

Babar at #3 is doing perfectly fine for a long time & there is no need to fix something that isn't broke, but Rizwan should definitely be promoted to the opening slot. He is struggling big time in the middle order (avg. of 28 in ODI's) & Fakhar/Imam can partner him to give us a left-right hand combo at the top. Saud can follow at #4 and we can slot an attacking batsman (Haider/Asif) at #5 with Imad, Shadab, Faheem to follow.

 

[sajsultan]

anyone who says Imams strike rate is low.. doesnt really understand ODI.. his strike rate has been improving and anyone who opens rarely has strike rate in the 90s.. you are trying to play out the first ten overs when the ball is at its swingiest.. We finally have an opener who is 45 matches has given us 7 centuries and 10 50's and you just want to throw that away.. Zaman and Imam are absolutely fine and team should give them more confidence instead of making these knee jerk reactions.. if one think England has taught us is you need different teams for different formats..

 

[smkk]

If you look at the team above I haven't actually discarded him.i just want rizwan to open and i also want to try out Abdullah.Rizwan hasn't quite clicked yet in the middle order.we need to try new combinations.

Abdullah could fit in the middle order.one thing am certain is I'd have Abdullah,fakhar,Rizwan, over imaam ul haq

I disagree with Abdullah being at middle order. A opener should always be given his preferred place. Middle order batsman can be floated around.

As for the ODI team selection, I think both Imam and Fakhar should be let go in favour of young player. Reason being both of them are limited in their capability. Instead new player should be preferred in order for them to give them confidence as well as learn their craft.

Imam should concentrate only on Test and Fakhar should concentrate only on T20. That way their maximam potential can be reached.

Team XI:
Abdullah Shafique
Haider Ali (license to play unhinged)/Rizwan
Babar
Saud Shakil
Rizwan/Haider Ali
Fakhar / Asif Ali / Ifthikar Nawaz
Fahim/ Shadab( based on pitch)
Nawaz / Imad
Hassan Ali
Shaheen
Dahani / Naseem Shah

 

[shamaan]

I disagree with Abdullah being at middle order. A opener should always be given his preferred place. Middle order batsman can be floated around.

As for the ODI team selection, I think both Imam and Fakhar should be let go in favour of young player. Reason being both of them are limited in their capability. Instead new player should be preferred in order for them to give them confidence as well as learn their craft.

Imam should concentrate only on Test and Fakhar should concentrate only on T20. That way their maximam potential can be reached.

Team XI:
Abdullah Shafique
Haider Ali (license to play unhinged)/Rizwan
Babar
Saud Shakil
Rizwan/Haider Ali
Fakhar / Asif Ali / Ifthikar Nawaz
Fahim/ Shadab( based on pitch)
Nawaz / Imad
Hassan Ali
Shaheen
Dahani / Naseem Shah

Abdullah preferred position is opening but he has more than a good technique to do a decent job in the middle.i would keep fakhar in odis more than t20s.

Good line up but I wouldn't play both Abdullah and haider at the top at the same time.but we agree Abdullah needs to be brought into the team.

 

[FollowThru]

Babar Rizwan partnership seems to be beyond batting skills. Calm and Spirited and Calculated.