Should Pakistan try Azhar Ali and Usman Salahuddin as the Test opening combo?

[HappyWarsFan]

On tests, the Pakistan openers have been beyond awful. There is a lack of options in domestics too.

Both Azhar and Usman play at 3 a lot, similiar players who have good defensive technique and can grind out the new ball. They could give solid starts to an innings.

This would free up a spot for Saud Shakeel to get into the team as well.

Hopefully Pakistan can try something new for their next test series v Zimbabwe.

Discuss this option and other options.

 

[shamaan]

I think imran butt should be given the next series abid should be dropped and azhar should open.usman should be part of the squad thou

 

[Shoaibbtt]

On tests, the Pakistan openers have been beyond awful. There is a lack of options in domestics too.

Both Azhar and Usman play at 3 a lot, similiar players who have good defensive technique and can grind out the new ball. They could give solid starts to an innings.

This would free up a spot for Saud Shakeel to get into the team as well.

Hopefully Pakistan can try something new for their next test series v Zimbabwe.

Discuss this option and other options.

You raise an excellent point but i think Imran Butt and Usman Salhuddin might not be a bad opening option. I would leave the middle order as is i.e. Azhar, Babar and Fawad.

I feel that this Zimbabwe series will be a good first assignment for Imran to get some confidence. I think we need to realise that for our newbie players a team like South Africa is never a first easy assignment.

I don't think we should employ Azhar as an opener cause then that creates a "get of jail free card" for him if he fails against a high quality opponent. He should remain at 3 since he is performing there, leave him be i say.

Potential openers can be someone like Usman or even Muhammad Saad.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

I think imran butt should be given the next series abid should be dropped and azhar should open.usman should be part of the squad thou

I mean i wish the best for Abid but no way did he merit a grade B central contract (nobody is discussing the central contracts i notice). Asad as well got a grade B central contract again something i don't understand.

 

[Canistani Hero]

Agree, Usman could be the perfect opener.

 

[Extra_Cover]

Imam is the opener that Pakistan should invest in. Make shift opener like Usman is not good for either Pakistan or Usman himself. Also why would you tinker with Azhar when he is finally getting more stable after 3 years of struggle.

 

[BigShak]

Yes definitely. It’s a no brainer.

 

[Markhor]

I'm willing to try just about anything at this point.

Yes those two have the most solid defensive techniques against seam. They'd be a better option than persisting with Abid and Butt.

 

[shamaan]

I mean i wish the best for Abid but no way did he merit a grade B central contract (nobody is discussing the central contracts i notice). Asad as well got a grade B central contract again something i don't understand.

You make a valid point that no one is talking about abid in B contract and its true.and same with asad shafique does this suggest they make a come back ?

 

[shamaan]

Imam is the opener that Pakistan should invest in. Make shift opener like Usman is not good for either Pakistan or Usman himself. Also why would you tinker with Azhar when he is finally getting more stable after 3 years of struggle.

He has a weekness in playing the short ball he must improve in this aspect

 

[Barragan]

Salahuddin is more than good enough to play in the middle order.

He doesn't need to open, just to find a place in the 11.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

You make a valid point that no one is talking about abid in B contract and its true.and same with asad shafique does this suggest they make a come back ?

Perhaps i mean a lot of media people want Asad back after his success in the recent QeA season. However, nobody points out that many other middle order batsmen performed better than him i.e. Muhammad Nawaz, Hammad Azam, Saud Shakeel, Usman Salhuddin, Kamran Ghulam (how exactly he fits in, i don't understand even with our middle order already performing i.e. Azhar, Babar and Fawad).

I wish Asad the best just like Abid but there was simply more better performers than him this QeA season plus 1 good season should not merit an automatic return, I mean Usman/Saud have been performing season after season and how Asad leap frogs them is a bit of a mystery to me?

On to Abid he should have been awarded a C level contract, I mean he's done nothing and performing against weak (no offence) teams like SL and Bang proves nothing.

Fawad (don't care what people like Mamoon and Junaids say) was awarded a C level contract which is kind of an insult seeing as he performed much better than Abid and Asad who hasn't played a test since the England series in which he failed plus someone who hasn't had a graceful return to test cricket with any easy series.

The contracts this year were a joke i feel, I can only agree with the A level contract others are a joke.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

There isn't a single credible test opener in Pakistan at the moment. Azhar Ali has aged now and slowing of his body has meant he isn't comfortable with opening something he has hinted as well. I was against him slotting down to no.3 after MisYou retirements but now he doesn't really feel confident opening.

I would go with make shift openers and try if they can succeed. They can't really do worse than what Imran and Abid Ali or Shan Masood have been doing for last 1 year. I would make Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam open for the upcoming series. Think they were the highest run scorers. Opening in tests is just as much mental as it is technical/skill based.
Nick Compton, Peter Fulton, Boeta Dippenaar, Ashwell Prince, Rahul Dravid, VVS, Sourav, McCullum, Watson, all of them weren't regular openers but did open in Tests at various points in their careers to varying success.
We don't really have other options.

 

[Markhor]

I think it's time we start thinking outside the box on this Test opening issue.

With no viable alternatives in FC cricket, many different combinations tried and failed, Azhar Ali refusing to open, Usman Salahuddin written off by another Chief Selector because of his low SR, and youngsters like Haider and Shafique far too raw for Tests yet - options are limited.

Perhaps it's worth rewarding the white ball performances of Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, especially with FZ rediscovering his form and improving his technique against the short ball. Plus the two are familiar as an opening pair.

Also considering our tours this year - slow, low wickets in ZIM, BAN and SRL, I'd be tempted to try this pair as their technical flaws are less likely to be exposed.