Should Mohammad Rizwan play as a specialist batsman?

[RyanRyan10]

Rizwan has been excellent with the bat off late. He played as a specialist batsman with Sarfaraz donning gloves. Should this trend continue? The likes of Danish Aziz, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed have all failed to impress.

 

[Ab Fan]

If Sarfaraz does well as keeper batsman on a consistent basis, then Rizwan can play as specialist batsman and in my opinion, he should open the batting.

Rizwan
Fakhar
Babar
Haris ( preferably I would want Viv, ZA or ABD over here)
Haider
Sarfaraz(wkt)
Imad
Faheem
Hasan
Shaheen
Bowler

 

[Rana]

Imam, Fakhar and Babar are the best top 3 we have had for over 2 decades at least.

Rizwan has no business here. For the next 10 years at least

 

[angrypathan]

No. He's the best keeper in the country.

 

[Hasan123]

Rizwan is still the first choice keeper.

 

[TheNightWatchman]

No. He's better behind the stumps than Sarfraz. No point wasting a spot a batsman could easily fill especially knowing Rizwan is a better bat than Sarfraz on top of his better keeping ability

 

[Justcrazy]

NO

Rizwan should keep , you can use that spot to get in an extra batting all rounder .

 

[Bewal Express]

No. Riz should play as WK/bat and bat at 5 or 6.

 

[Mirpur express]

No *

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Pakistan has a luxury problem.

Rizwan can only succeed opening the batting in limited overs cricket while Fakhar and Imam are in form.

How will Babar, Misbah solve this problem?

 

[Saj]

No. He's the best keeper in the country.

Absolutely.

We don't have the English problem of Buttler and Bairstow where both are excellent keepers and batsmen. At the moment Rizwan is the standout wk/batsman in Pakistan.

 

[Saj]

Poll added.

 

[gazza619]

The question is that is Safaraz a better batsman than Asif & Danish? The answer is yes.

The question is that who is the better outfielder between Sarfaraz & Rizwan. The answer is Rizwan.

This automatically means that from the current ODI squad in SA, Safaraz should have played as a keeper and Rizwan as a batsman.

You pick better batsmen than Sarafraz in the squad, and then that would put this issue to bed.

 

[srh]

If Pakistan is planning to play Sarfraz as WK then they should drop Rizwan from the squad.

 

[IMMY69]

Taking away the keeping duties could put pressure on his batting.
So don't fix what isn't broken plus he's the best wicket keeper in Pakistan and arguably the best keeper in the world.

 

[shamaan]

No hes the best wicket keeper bateman that we currently have.

 

[salahuddin10]

If its to include azam khan at 6 than yes.Otherwise no

 

[The Viper]

Not to accommodate a over the hill Sarfaraz.

 

[Junaids]

Rizwan should play as a specialist batsman in every format - but that is to strengthen the batting.

Which means that the keeper should be Rohail Nazir.

In Test cricket:

Rizwan could bat in the Top Four and average 45.

Rohail could bat at Six and average 40.

1. Imam or Sharjeel or Abdullah Shafique
2. Mohammad Rizwan
3. Saud Shakeel
4. Babar Azam
5. Mohammad Nawaz
6. Rohail Nazir (wk)
7. Shadab Khan
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Hasan Ali
10. Sajid Khan (Asia) / Naseem Shah (elsewhere)
11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

That’s a strong team for the 2021-23 World Test Championship cycle.

It bats down to number 9, and there are either:

4 quicks + 2 part-time spinners
3 quicks + 1 lead spinner + 2 part-time spinners.

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

He is best wicketkeeper in Pakistan

Can be become 50+ average batsman as just pure batsman

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Rizwan should play as a specialist batsman in every format - but that is to strengthen the batting.

Which means that the keeper should be Rohail Nazir.

In Test cricket:

Rizwan could bat in the Top Four and average 45.

Rohail could bat at Six and average 40.

1. Imam or Sharjeel or Abdullah Shafique
2. Mohammad Rizwan
3. Saud Shakeel
4. Babar Azam
5. Mohammad Nawaz
6. Rohail Nazir (wk)
7. Shadab Khan
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Hasan Ali
10. Sajid Khan (Asia) / Naseem Shah (elsewhere)
11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

That’s a strong team for the 2021-23 World Test Championship cycle.

It bats down to number 9, and there are either:

4 quicks + 2 part-time spinners
3 quicks + 1 lead spinner + 2 part-time spinners.

Age brigade back in action.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I can't believe this is even a serious question. Rizwan is the best wicketkeeper in the world, and a supremely talented batsman. He should be keeping wickets in all formats and its quite ridiculous to insinuate that his batting will be affected by his keeping, or vice-versa.

It reminds me of the same argument certain posters were positing here not too long ago; that Babar's batting will be affected by becoming captain. Well, guess what? He averages 89 as captain in ODIs.

The truly world-class players thrive under the added responsibility.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

There is very little logic behind Sarfraz being in the squad. And sooner or later even that little logic will disappear. Because Sarfraz is done. He has been done for a very long time. Some people here might choose to forget but I remember all the times Sarfraz dropped dolly after dolly behind the stumps and got back to screaming at the bowlers the next over. Or all the times he himself hid in the batting order, or all the countless times he just flat-out failed to deliver with the bat. He is a club level cricketer who had a couple of good years and fluked his way to the captaincy. He can't bat, he can't keep wickets. he can't field, he can't keep a lid on his mouth. And its about time he is shown the door for good.

 

[PakistanMeriJaan]

Where is the poll results?

 

[Slim]

If there were any more shut up calls needed. Sarfraz bhai, leave the spot for Rohail and retire please.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I doubt Sarfraz could have taken that catch of Markram today if he was keeping. We should oh so thankful that we have a keeper like Rizwan in the side whose as good as they come behind the stumps.