Should Pakistan play five pacers against India in the Champions Trophy final?

[Macho Mann]

drop shadab and imad for amir and faheem

faheem, amir, rumman, junaid, hasan

faheem may go for runs and may remain wicketless though

but india plays spinners better than pacers so how about playing 5 pacers?

faheem may also provide needed batting support unlike imad and shadab

 

[Savak]

Can't have a one dimensional attack. Indians are much better against pace compared to previous era. The likes of Sharma, Kohli, Yuvraj, Dhoni can hit pacers at will for sixes. Need to have a spinner as well and Shadab is no ordinary spinner.

 

[Macho Mann]

hafeez and malik are already present to have spinning option

 

[Coconut]

No, pak shouldn't change the winning combination. There's no point in fixing something if it's not broken.

Even in the first match shadab was one of the pick of the bowlers against India.

 

[LongOn4421]

Spin option should be there, not only we need Hafeez and Malik,we also need Shadab or Imad.

 

[Plumb]

Key to success is only in playing fearless and brave cricket. Just like fakhar and the youngsters have showed in last couple of games, Azhar's body language at the crease changed just by watching fakhar at the other end.

 

[90MPH]

No way drop shadab.

Pitch might spin because conditions will be dry - forecast to be hottest day this year on Sunday in England.

 

[ToeCrusher2]

Bring Amir in place of hafeez, that's the only change you guys need to make, Amir the batsman is greater than hafeez anyway

 

[ExpressPacer]

Shadab needs to play under any circumstances. Have we all forgotten that beautiful six he hit vs India? And his bowling was too notch too. Dropping Imad for Amir may not be a bad decision though.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Why the hell would you drop Shadab? Bowled beautifully against India in the last game and has the X factor. Imad out, Fahim in. Rumman out, Amir in. That's it.

 

[Rudi hater]

Pakistan should play:

F Zaman
A Ali
B Azam
M Hafeez (Bat/bowl)
H Sohail (Bat/bowl)
S Malik (Bat/bowl)
S Ahmed
S Khan
M Aamir
H Ali
J Khan

Pakistan needs to strenthen the batting their bowling is well placed. Imad has not done anything with the bat and dare I say Indians always play spin well and he is one dimensional.

 

[sali]

Shadab and Raees out for Amir and Fahim. Don't need three spin options against India. Fahim and Hafeez will make the 5th bowler with Junaid, Amir, Imad, and Hasan doing most of the overs. Fahim adds lower order hitting.

 

[ChachaPakistani]

Anyone calling for Shadab to be taken out might have a screw or two loose.

Amir in for Imad, that's the only change. Keep Rumman in.

 

[Pollack]

Would be bad idea. It is going to be a belter and if 4 couldn't on such wicket so couldn't 5. Better make sure batting isn't compromised further.

 

[Rudi hater]

Anyone calling for Shadab to be taken out might have a screw or two loose.

Amir in for Imad, that's the only change. Keep Rumman in.

So we will chase with batting that is already thin. Trust me if they ever go with five pacers with two spinners they would no batting. Pakistan needs solid batting line up. I can tell you now it will Raees out Amir in and may be Imad out for Faeem. your idea of 5 pacers Pakistan would have zilch chance of chasing or setting a target.

 

[Macho Mann]

So we will chase with batting that is already thin. Trust me if they ever go with five pacers with two spinners they would no batting. Pakistan needs solid batting line up. I can tell you now it will Raees out Amir in and may be Imad out for Faeem. your idea of 5 pacers Pakistan would have zilch chance of chasing or setting a target.

rumman is a wicket taker, amir is not and potentially injured and would repeat the same attitude of leaving the game as injured when thing go tough

rumman frankly is a much better option than amir, can accept amir less PCT but not rumman after his performance in the semi final

 

[Speedster777]

rumman is a wicket taker, amir is not and potentially injured and would repeat the same attitude of leaving the game as injured when thing go tough

rumman frankly is a much better option than amir, can accept amir less PCT but not rumman after his performance in the semi final

Amir is a not a shadow of his former self plus he's not playing honestly for the team. We should play Ruman atleast he 'll give his 100%.

 

[Sultan Baba]

I agree with you

azhar
fakhar
babar
hafeez
malik
sarfraz
fahim
amir
hassan
raees
junaid

 

[Arsalan Pro]

4 pacers and Shadab is the way to go.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Azhar Mahmood has already informed that if Amir is fit, he will replace Rumman Raees.

 

[Haz95]

Indians have and always will be monstrous vs wrist spin. When they do struggle, it's usually against finger spin so...........

 

[New Yorker]

drop shadab and imad for amir and faheem

faheem, amir, rumman, junaid, hasan

faheem may go for runs and may remain wicketless though

but india plays spinners better than pacers so how about playing 5 pacers?

faheem may also provide needed batting support unlike imad and shadab

I like all of the bowlers in the current team, Faheem included. But we know Kohli has recently been dismissed twice by Kiwi legspinner Sodhi. I think the question has to be about who are our wicket taking options? Shadab is surely one of them, more so I would imagine than Imad, Faheem, and certainly Hafeez. Calls to drop the youngsta are I think very unfortunate. He adds so much value on every front; dropping him for Faheem in order to strengthen batting is completely wrongheaded; if anything Shadab is the more creative batsman, though Faheem may be a better late order hitter. Hafeez's supposedly economical overs are I think hugely overrated. He hardly ever takes a wicket against top ODI sides, and his economy rate is not significantly better than Shadab's. If both bowl out Shadab may concede 10 more, but could take 2-3 wickets, as could have been the case in the last game if catches had been held. People who are death scared that Shadab will get tonked by the Indians need to understand that trying to take wickets always carries that risk. And if we play as if we were afraid we will see merely a repeat of the last game. Shadab is the we-want-to-win choice. As far pacers, I would frankly rather keep Rumman than bring in Amir; we need wickets, not near-wickets and low economy.

 

[Madplayer]

So we will chase with batting that is already thin. Trust me if they ever go with five pacers with two spinners they would no batting. Pakistan needs solid batting line up. I can tell you now it will Raees out Amir in and may be Imad out for Faeem. your idea of 5 pacers Pakistan would have zilch chance of chasing or setting a target.

I agree with the changes you proposed. Need a longer batting order.

PS- Your username is hilarious

 

[b.lesner]

Fakhar
Azhar
Babar
Hafeez
Shoaib
Sarfraz
Fahim
Shadab
Aamir
Hasan
Junaid

 

[Justcrazy]

If I was the captain I will play this team

fakhar
Malik
Babar
Harris
Sarfaraz
hafeez
fahim
Shadab
aamir
hassan
Junaid / raees

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Rumman Raees is a must if you want to contain India in the last 10 overs.

 

[ChachaPakistani]

So we will chase with batting that is already thin. Trust me if they ever go with five pacers with two spinners they would no batting. Pakistan needs solid batting line up. I can tell you now it will Raees out Amir in and may be Imad out for Faeem. your idea of 5 pacers Pakistan would have zilch chance of chasing or setting a target.

yea I've felt this dilemma and thought hard about it. My approach was that these are all bowlers who are a. doing well and b. indian batsmen have not seen rumman's bowling so that can prove to be an advantage esp with his variations and nagging line and length.

i dont consider imad to be a good batsman at all so i'd consider faheem but he sucks as a bowler to me.

its a matter of really thinking if faheem will be that strong a support for the batting side of the team.

 

[adil_909]

This is a difficulty situation for the team management. If we lose and we didn't play the extra spinner, people will say "we would have won with Shadab." If we lose and we didn't play Rumman, people will say "we would have won with Rumman's variations." Basically whichever decision is made will be criticized if we lose.

If Rumaan was right handed I would pick him for sure over Shadab to help balance our attack. But I'm not sure adding another left arm pacer is helpful. Tough call!

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Are we planning to play 9 bowlers here or what ??

 

[PakLFC]

No. Shadab should play as Hafeez and/or Shoaib are not expert spinners. If Faheem is to play then Imad should make way for him. An attack of Amir (Raees if Amir is unfit)), Hasan, Junaid, Faheem and Shadab look good to me. Should consider Haris as well.

 

[khurram39]

not agree with the idea. if you add amir and rumman both in the team then please don't include imad and faheem.

amir
rumman/ fahim
junaid
hassan
shadab

 

[Kamil1979]

Amir and faheem should replace imad and roman, but this time whoever will play inshallah pak will win

 

[itsme]

I think they will go with 4pacers with two spinners and shadab

 

[The Yorker]

4 pacers and Shadab is the way to go.

Yes agree with Raees in and not Fahim.

 

[English August]

Yes, please do!

 

[jnaveen1980]

and get bowled out for 75 runs? lol Pakistan team is the last team who should look for such a silly move.

 

[daytrader]

Would be a bad move as we are weak on batting. 5 pacers would be overkill. Only change we need to make is Fahim in for Imad

 

[nads_rocks]

We need Fahim as our lower order hitter and we need Rumman too for his yorkers and variations plus India has not seen him bowl yet either.

Imaad has to be dropped for Amir. Azhar must make way for Fahim and Hafeez to open to support Fakhar

Hafeez
Fakhar

Babar
Malik
Safraz
Fahim
Shadab

Amir
Junaid
Hassan
Rumman

 

[Speedster777]

Fakhar
Hafeez
Babar
Haris
Malik
Sarfraz
Fahim
Amir
Ruman
Hassan
Junaid

 

[Haseeb 22]

Do some people seriously want Rumman dropped after the last matxh? Probably the smartest bowler in the team and India havent faced him before.

I would drop Imad "one dimensional" Wasim for Amir if he is fit. Amir is a better batsman than him anyway.

Fahim in for Shadab is an option but dont mind if Shadab plays

 

[Hasan123]

Posters are making as though India are amutuers vs pace. There batsmen can score off pace. I'll play 4 pacers and Shadab.

Imad darts will be useless vs Indian batting line up.

 

[hass]

Four pacers: Amir, Junaid, Hassan and Raees.
Three spinners: Shadab, Haris/Hafeez and Malik.

 

[fareedymohammad]

1- Azhar Ali
2- Fakher Zaman
3- Babar Azam
4- Shoaib Malik ( I wouldn't even mind Sarfaraz here if there is an early collapse).
5- Sarfaraz Ahmed
6- Mohammad Hafeez (With few overs to spare he plays better, when he has to play his shots).
7- Shadab Khan
8- Mohammad Amir
9- Hassan Ali
10- Junnaid Khan
11- Rumman Raees ( He has to play! If we have Shadab, Hafeez and Malik. We don't really need Immad.I like him in the 15 man squad but if you are going to tell me he can bat. Then I will say with his given performance Rumman bhi utnay bana hi lay ga and if all your top order fails Immad isn't going to bring you home. He is not AbdulRazzaq!)


I really hope they play Rumman, Amir, Junnaid, Hassan And Shadab tomorrow.