mominsaigol
Test Debutant
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- Apr 14, 2021
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Babar in recent times has been a topic of Hot debate, However their is an interesting fact I wish to bring up
During Babar Azam's under 19 Days
He was primarily used as an opener. He and sami aslam back in 2012 would open together, and the pair at the time achieved success, What's interesting to note is that Imam ul Haq was in the same team and would bat at no 3 rather then open.
During his early years when headlines were made, alot of people assumed he'd enter the team at the opening slot rather the no 4 slot he was initially given.
2018 Pakistan T20 Team
In 2018 Pakistan was ranked no 1 in t20 even managing to defeat peak Australia in the aussie, Zimbabwe tri series. Babar and Fakhar use to be our most succesful opening pair with fakhar zaman playing the X factor role while he was on song( his best 91 of 46 innings ensuring Australia's defeat in the final) and babar mostly batting through often getting match winning 70's and ensuring a collapse doesn't occur
Now that Imam ul Haq has been dropped from the test squad and if all sense prevails he gets dropped from the odi squad, I don't think it's inherently a bad idea to have Babar be an allformat opener alongside Fakhar Zaman.
Arguments favouring Babar to open
1) These 2 were our most succesful pair back in 2018, and I trust babar at opening more then Imam, Abdullah(Still back him), Hurraira, Saim etc.
I don't think it's a bad option if he's paired with Fakhar in odi and t20 and it would free up some space in the middle order where players like saud can actually develop.
2) Another reason to have him open is that Babar struggles against spin and if he comes at 3 or 4(in test) when the spinners are on, he might struggle off the bat. Opening and playing 10+ overs of pace could help him get back in form as he'd have the confidence of remaining at the crease for multiple overs before encountering spin.
3) Lastly it would take pressure off ove him on being a star batsmen for pakistan and having all eyes be on him, if he's allowed to play his natural game( just opening, no captaincy, no expectation of him being our best batter at no 3), he could improve and be more free flow in general.
Arguments against Babar opening
1) It could block pathways for upcoming youngsters such as Abdullah or Saim or Hurraira .
2) In t20 he's frowned upon as an opener although personally i believe it's because he's batting with an unsuited partner, Fakhar zaman worked due to one being aggressive and the other being free flow who could bat for 20 overs, while rizwan is just a discounted legsode version who doesn't gell well with Bobby.
3) It could backfire. He's been batting at no 3 in odi and no 4 in test for years, So might be difficult to adjust right off the bat and would be a backtrack going back to his under 19 days.
Anyway tell me your thoughts, I personally feel that if the upcoming openers include the likes of Hasebullah, then I'd rather just have babar and fakhar open for ct 2025 and wc 2027 and go back to the integral core that had us maintain the no 1 rank in 2018 in the first place.
During Babar Azam's under 19 Days
He was primarily used as an opener. He and sami aslam back in 2012 would open together, and the pair at the time achieved success, What's interesting to note is that Imam ul Haq was in the same team and would bat at no 3 rather then open.
During his early years when headlines were made, alot of people assumed he'd enter the team at the opening slot rather the no 4 slot he was initially given.
2018 Pakistan T20 Team
In 2018 Pakistan was ranked no 1 in t20 even managing to defeat peak Australia in the aussie, Zimbabwe tri series. Babar and Fakhar use to be our most succesful opening pair with fakhar zaman playing the X factor role while he was on song( his best 91 of 46 innings ensuring Australia's defeat in the final) and babar mostly batting through often getting match winning 70's and ensuring a collapse doesn't occur
Now that Imam ul Haq has been dropped from the test squad and if all sense prevails he gets dropped from the odi squad, I don't think it's inherently a bad idea to have Babar be an allformat opener alongside Fakhar Zaman.
Arguments favouring Babar to open
1) These 2 were our most succesful pair back in 2018, and I trust babar at opening more then Imam, Abdullah(Still back him), Hurraira, Saim etc.
I don't think it's a bad option if he's paired with Fakhar in odi and t20 and it would free up some space in the middle order where players like saud can actually develop.
2) Another reason to have him open is that Babar struggles against spin and if he comes at 3 or 4(in test) when the spinners are on, he might struggle off the bat. Opening and playing 10+ overs of pace could help him get back in form as he'd have the confidence of remaining at the crease for multiple overs before encountering spin.
3) Lastly it would take pressure off ove him on being a star batsmen for pakistan and having all eyes be on him, if he's allowed to play his natural game( just opening, no captaincy, no expectation of him being our best batter at no 3), he could improve and be more free flow in general.
Arguments against Babar opening
1) It could block pathways for upcoming youngsters such as Abdullah or Saim or Hurraira .
2) In t20 he's frowned upon as an opener although personally i believe it's because he's batting with an unsuited partner, Fakhar zaman worked due to one being aggressive and the other being free flow who could bat for 20 overs, while rizwan is just a discounted legsode version who doesn't gell well with Bobby.
3) It could backfire. He's been batting at no 3 in odi and no 4 in test for years, So might be difficult to adjust right off the bat and would be a backtrack going back to his under 19 days.
Anyway tell me your thoughts, I personally feel that if the upcoming openers include the likes of Hasebullah, then I'd rather just have babar and fakhar open for ct 2025 and wc 2027 and go back to the integral core that had us maintain the no 1 rank in 2018 in the first place.
