Should Mohammad Amir be considered for a leadership role for Pakistan in the future?

[Abdullah719]

Following on from my earlier thread about Sarfaraz's workload, I've been thinking about a backup option for captaincy, i.e. someone who can function as a vice-captain for Sarfaraz and take over if Sarfaraz is rested/injured.

There are no signs from the PCB that they're thinking about a vice-captain which is not right in my opinion. If Sarfaraz was to miss a match, it looks like they would just go for a short term fix which might mean appointing Hafeez or Malik in the shorter formats if required and perhaps Azhar in Tests.

Ideally, we need to appoint a vice-captain who can be groomed to eventually take over the reins in future so that any time Sarfaraz misses a match, it can be a chance for the next potential captain to showcase his skills rather than Hafeez or Malik pointlessly taking charge for a one-off match towards the end of their careers.

Amir has integrated really well into the team since his return. He is well respected by his peers, both in Pakistan and outside the country. Most cricket supporters are also OK with him playing - only a few are still miffed about his making a comeback.

The thing is that Pakistan just don't appear to have many options with regards to a deputy for Sarfaraz. The youngsters like Babar, Hasan and Shadab are all relatively young and inexperienced while seniors like Hafeez and Malik are nearing the end of their careers while Azhar has shown that he doesn't want to take a leadership role. So that basically leaves Amir as the only established player in the Pakistan team who can be considered for a long term leadership role. He's just over 25 years old and he's played almost 100 matches for Pakistan. He should be at his best during the next few years of his career.

So should he be considered for a leadership role?

 

[Rayyman]

Depends whether or not he is a good leader. I don't think he is. Maybe he can be considered for the role of Test match vice-captain; But in LOIs, I think Imad Wasim is a better option.

 

[King-Misbah]

Depends whether or not he is a good leader. I don't think he is. Maybe he can be considered for the role of Test match vice-captain; But in LOIs, I think Imad Wasim is a better option.

Mad needs to learn how to bat and bowl first

 

[The Googly]

I think he should be left to focus on his bowling. He does not appear to be a leader based on his interviews and his body language. I know these are insufficient attributes to judge someone but he just doesn't have the LOOK of a leader. To be honest, Hasan Ali is more of a leader in my eyes. He has the passion, aggression and determination required of a leader and you can actually see these qualities on and off the pitch.

 

[KhalidRafi]

No. Fast-bowlers are just not right for captaincy (maybe in the old days) and Amir never struck me as captaincy material. Better for him to just focus on his bowling, which still needs quite some work. Imad Wasim could be considered if he actually starts contributing substantially instead of in bits and pieces and Babar Azam maybe a few years down the line. But right now, we'll just have to stick with a stand-in captain like Hafeez or Malik if Sarfraz gets injured or misses out. Azhar Ali or Asad Shafiq in test matches.

 

[Khan12]

Depends whether or not he is a good leader. I don't think he is. Maybe he can be considered for the role of Test match vice-captain; But in LOIs, I think Imad Wasim is a better option.

Lol at imad. He should be even in the team let alone being the captain.

 

[Rayyman]

Lol at imad. He should be even in the team let alone being the captain.

Clearly the captain, management and selectors disagree with you. He plays every game in LOI.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Don't think he is leadership material.For the record,neither is Babar.

 

[Jabo]

NO.

And it goes to back to fixing scandal.

He should just play as a player.

 

[badsha001]

I think that's the price he needs to pay, you can't have everything... He should just play as a player.

 

[DRsohail]

he is a bowler ,mentally strong so definitely an option..

 

[Sam99]

Problem is fast bowlers gets injured (mostly these days) and you can't have others as your temp captain when your fast bowler get injured or when their performance is bad.

 

[mak36]

Clearly the captain, management and selectors disagree with you. He plays every game in LOI.

To be fair, the fact he is part of the team does not mean he should be part of the team.

His bowling, particularly in t20s, is an asset but he really needs to work on his batting and ideally start to develop some variations with the ball. It might not be a bad idea to try out a few others in the upcoming series, even if it is to let Imad know he cannot rest on his laurels.

 

[backfootpunch]

Has the best cricketing brain, big match player and better educated man who knows how to handle the media since his spot fixing. He will play with an attacking brand of cricket and go for the win unlike Misbah who was tactically inept and clueless. If Sarfraz needs replacing in any format. by any chance Amir should be next in line but for now Sarfraz is delivering and couldn't be happier for him.

 

[Leo23]

he cannot be trusted because of his history

 

[Abdullah719]

Don't think he is leadership material.For the record,neither is Babar.

Babar and Amir are very different. Amir is very enthusiastic in the field, he doesn't mind getting in the face of the opposition and doesn't back down. Babar is a little timid and in terms of mannerisms, he is very dissimilar to Amir.

Amir looks to have a good cricketing brain, he is a very good thinking bowler. He's performed in big matches so the occasion doesn't overwhelm him. He's given mostly sensible interviews since his return and answers questions diplomatically. The only concern would be that I don't recall him being given a leadership role previously. However, a deputy type of role could help him in that regard.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

He is the best choice for captaincy after Sarfraz and as he is 5 years younger than him, so he can definitely lead the team post Sarfraz's retirement for a good few years. On his captaincy, he is a thinking player who outsmarts the opposition mostly, this gives him a natural attribute of a good captain. He is very stong mentally and won't panic under pressure which he has shown quite a few times on bigger occasions. Also he is a certain starter for all formats and in next few years will become an experinced player who can guide the youngsters. I think he can become an attacking captain and just like his bowling, might be able to potray Wasim in his captaincy.

 

[hadi123]

I don't think he should be captain because of his spot fixing past. Fair enough he's back, he's served his time but we can't have a spot fixer leading our team, sends a bad message to the rest of the cricketing nation. It's nothing to do with trust, I have 100% confidence that he will never do something like that again or drag anyone else into it like Salman Butt did but need to protect the integrity of the game.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Yes, he should be considered.

He's been through hell. Yet he came back and won us the CT. He'll give his all for Pak now.

 

[Saj]

I don't think at this stage of his career that he wants captaincy or even vice-captaincy.

He has a lot of work ahead of him and I think he should just focus on playing and performing at the moment.

 

[Markhor]

The people who grew up watching Imran and Wasim say a fast bowler is an ideal captain. However Wasim who was tactically adept lacked the man management skills. Waqar lacked both tactical nous and man management skills.

It really should be the best person for the job, ideally someone with previous experience of captaincy at domestic, A team or U19 level like Sarfraz which Amir doesn't have.

Plus there'll always be the question of whether someone who engaged in spot fixing should ever be made captain. Let Amir focus on his bowling for now.

I like Inzamam's initiative of wanting to use domestic cricket as a proving ground for young captains and he's openly questioned why the likes of Sohail Tanvir are skippering teams. I thought Imad did a decent job in the Pentangular Cup for the Federal Areas.

 

[shaz619]

There is Sarfraz at the moment who should get a long run, would prefer it if Amir just focuses on his bowling; also, he has a lot of pressure on him as it is being our spearhead.

 

[Hasan123]

He has served his time so I don't think the spot fixing should be held against him but I think PCB management will hold it against him so I don't see him being the captain. I personally wouldn't be against him being made captain as he is mentally strong enough, can perform in pressure situations, also in his bowling we have see that he is a thinking cricketer and can adjust according to the game situation. He will play in all 3 formats so he isn't the worst choice but don't see PCB going for him.

Some more realistic opitions are Babar and Hasan Ali. The skipper should captain in either both LO formats or tests and ODIs.

 

[Slog]

Asides from the whole spot fixing history which is an immediate turn off for many to begin with, Amir has never done anything for me which remotely suggests him having leadership capabilities

 

[DRsohail]

[mention=79064]mmhs[/mention]

 

[MMHS]

[mention=79064]mmhs[/mention]

Normally, I don't suggest fast bowlers to be the Captain, but PAK probably doesn't have any option after Sarfraz, who shouldn't continue Captaincy after 2021 CT (ideally, it should be 2019/2020 WCs, but Sarfraz deserves a chance to defend the title he won as Captain). Ideally, Amir should be deputy now and by 2020, he should take over with Shadab as deputy, but Sarfraz can continue as player under him. PAK as a team, would never flourish under batting Captains - almost, each one of them had been extremely defensive & they used to protect their spot by playing on batting paradises, where they can score big.

Ideally, it should be a genuine all-rounder, or at least a batting/bowling all-rounder, who understands the bowling & lead the bowlers/fielders to go after wicket. More or less, Inzi, Misbah, Anwar had been leading PAK exactly the way MoYo did in SCG 2010 - only that he got exposed. Top 5 PAK Captains in my order had been Imran, Mushtaq, Wasim, Kardar & Intekhab, while for a short period in LO, Malik was quite decent - each one is an all-rounder.

 

[Leo23]

far too early at the moment but i think fakhar has the qualities to become captain one day. would like to see him take over as t20 captain in a couple of years.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Sarfraz should be captain atleast till 2023 wc but we can try a youngster in t20s after next world t20.

Shadab should be groomed as the next captain but dont think it will go well with senior players as Shadab s youngest. Amir, dont think so! May be Fakhar. Tough task!

 

[Major]

A catch gets dropped. U should see him go crazy. He cant handle a team of 11, not an easy job

 

[coy0607]

he hasn't shown any clear leadership qualities, and we just had a new captain appointed

so NO - he shouldn't be considered

 

[mak36]

A catch gets dropped. U should see him go crazy. He cant handle a team of 11, not an easy job

Do you blame him? Every fast bowler reacts when there is a dropped catch off their bowling. It's natural.

Anyway, I remember many posters used to say the same thing about Sarfaraz- that he was too emotional. Where are those posters now?

Whether Amir should be considered for leadership is another question, but the reasoning you provide is flawed.

 

[Abdullah719]

A catch gets dropped. U should see him go crazy. He cant handle a team of 11, not an easy job

Considering the number of catches our fielders drop, I think his reactions are pretty low-key.

Didn't even make much of a fuss when Azhar dropped Kohli in the CT final.

Anyhow, a fast bowler will always be extremely distraught when a catch is dropped off his bowling.

From what I can see, he has some of the traits a captain needs but for the others, we'd have to actually see him leading a side to be able to judge. Him not having been in a leadership role previously is a concern, sure.

 

[DRsohail]

Normally, I don't suggest fast bowlers to be the Captain, but PAK probably doesn't have any option after Sarfraz, who shouldn't continue Captaincy after 2021 CT (ideally, it should be 2019/2020 WCs, but Sarfraz deserves a chance to defend the title he won as Captain). Ideally, Amir should be deputy now and by 2020, he should take over with Shadab as deputy, but Sarfraz can continue as player under him. PAK as a team, would never flourish under batting Captains - almost, each one of them had been extremely defensive & they used to protect their spot by playing on batting paradises, where they can score big.

Ideally, it should be a genuine all-rounder, or at least a batting/bowling all-rounder, who understands the bowling & lead the bowlers/fielders to go after wicket. More or less, Inzi, Misbah, Anwar had been leading PAK exactly the way MoYo did in SCG 2010 - only that he got exposed. Top 5 PAK Captains in my order had been Imran, Mushtaq, Wasim, Kardar & Intekhab, while for a short period in LO, Malik was quite decent - each one is an all-rounder.

yonus was exception in hos short career as a captain...i think pak wasted a golden chance to make him captain,he had that things which street fighters of karachi have,although he was a batsman,..

 

[AsadRaza1]

I think that Shadab shall be the best option in t20is and odis as I even saw him setting the field with Sarfaraz

 

[MMHS]

yonus was exception in hos short career as a captain...i think pak wasted a golden chance to make him captain,he had that things which street fighters of karachi have,although he was a batsman,..

It's not that only allrounders or bowlers can be great Captains, because some of the best captains ever were batsmen - Chappells, Tubby Taylor, Rantunga, Lloyd, Howarth, Border, Strauss, G Smith, Fleming, Wadekar, Brearley ...... while there are opposite examples as well - Waquar, Afridi, Walsh, Pollock, Mathews, Botham ...... but, historically the best Captains of most other countries outside PAK were either all rounders or bowlers - Benaud, Greig, Worrell, Gabby Allen, Reid, Goddard, Lals Amarnath, Pataudi, Werakuni, Sammy, Jardin, Dexter, Illingworth.... that too after few of the best cricket minds ever not given Captaincy - Miller, Warne, Lillee, Marshall, McGrath, Hadlee......

YK was good, so could have been Butt guy, but those are few exceptions. For a team like PAK, it's essential that the captain should have bowling orientation, rather than a specialist bat. One reason being the core strength of the team - it's built on aggressive, attacking bowling to get batsmen out rather than restricting them. Even if it tries with best case strategy, PAK will never be able to choke teams like SAF, IND or SRL could do, because the team isn't tuned to play cat & mouse game. There is a thread on PAK's lost talent - if I were to post, first few names would have been Sami, Afridi, Razzaq, Saqline, Azhar Mahmood, Zahid, even Mushi, who took over 300 County wickets after playing last match for PAK........ these are all bowlers or bowling all arounders that's been wasted by Captains after Akram, none more than Sami, who should have been one of the bowlers of last decade.

2nd is that, if you are to lead a side as specialist bat, you have to lead from the front as a batsman. The risk premium of a batsman is much higher, because a bowler can have a bad over, spell, or bad day, but he can make a come back; batsman can't. Also, his KPI isn't measured directly by numbers - that's a bowler might not get wickets, but he is doing his job perfectly if he keeps it tight & keeps the pressure on. No one is going to give a batsman space if he gets out for a low score, even for an unplayable ball. This keeps bowlers relaxed during match even on a bad day, but that luxury is not for batsman. For a batting weak team, PAK doesn't have any batsman who can overcome this pressure. Despite all his tactical short comings, Inzi was quite successful as Captain, because he could compensate his tactical limitations with his batting, could take the batting pressure; which I don't see from anyone in current bunch. Azhar may be in Test, but he is about 3 years older than Sarfu & both are 30+ - even for PCB's standard, it'll be stupid to appoint a 33 years old deputy under a 30 years old captain.

It's not a popular choice, but only choice to be honest. If he was smarter than mistaking wife's pill; I said many times that Yasir isn't a bad choice for Test Captaincy and if not Amir, I don't mind Hasan (at least for LO for sure) - the bottom line is that PAK must be led by a bowler or all-rounder; otherwise last few regular batting Captains from Saeed, Inzi, MoYo, Misbah & Azhar doesn't give much confidence.

 

[light]

He is not a leader, he is more of a follower. Great player, but not a leader.