Should Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez be in the T20 World Cup squad?

[Markhor]

I don't know why you're being sarcastic because yes, we had great success with Malik. I would characterize rising to the top of the T20I ranking as success, would you?

Also, your assertion that Malik has been awful for a decade has no basis in reality. Here are Malik's numbers in T20Is 2016 onwards:

2016 - average: 52.85, SR: 131
2017 - average: 45.50, SR: 144
2018 - average: 41.00, SR: 164
2019 - average: 24.33, SR: 143 (3 innings)
2020 - average: 72, SR 128 (2 innings)

His stats show that he has only scored runs quickly over the last few years but also finished off innings, and remaining unbeaten alot of the time. He earns a place in the side based on merit.

Those numbers are inflated by bashing weak teams.

Since 2016, Malik averages 24 at SR of 135 against the top teams.

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...6;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

Both is a must for the T20 world cup, the youngsters are not ready

 

[Bewal Express]

Talking to you is akin to banging ones head against a brick wall. Newsflash: it isn't 2004 anymore. Have you seen his numbers since 2016? Those are actual numbers based on actual performances against actual teams. Teams that had fast-bowlers in their side against whom he batted.

He is awful and has been for years. He should have been dropped a decade ago and. But to give you a chance tell me the numbers against the different teams in different conditions

 

[Bewal Express]

Those numbers are inflated by bashing weak teams.

Since 2016, Malik averages 24 at SR of 135 against the top teams.

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...6;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

And I thought I was mistaken. Thanks

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Those numbers are inflated by bashing weak teams.

Since 2016, Malik averages 24 at SR of 135 against the top teams.

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...6;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

Out of these teams the only side he has a genuinely bad record against is England. And you could argue, New Zealand.

On top of that his numbers in India are outstanding. And if anything, show how much Pakistan needs him for the T20 World Cup. Because he is one of the best players of spin in the world, along with Hafeez. Contrary to what OP was saying his numbers against Australia (a side that is known for its pace attacks) are very good too.

Across the board his strike rates range from good to great. And when you have guys in the side struggling to strike at 100 and where 120 is a barometer of success for many, these numbers look even better.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Pakpassion XI:

1. Sharjeel Khan
2. Babar Azam (c)
3. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
4. Mohammad Hafeez
5. Shoaib Malik
6. Khushdil Shah
7. Zafar Gohar
8. Usman Qadir
9. Shaheen Afridi
10. Haris Rauf
11. Mohammad Hasnain

Good luck.

 

[ahmed16]

Hafeez should be there, he's undroppable at the moment based on form.

Malik is debatable, struggled in the recent LPL and it's the domestic leagues is where he has been a stalwart. I would only select him if youngsters continue to fail and theres a need for an experienced hand in the batting order alongside Hafeez, otherwise (and ideally) Malik should be shown the door permanently.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Malik only.

And at 4.

Lmao

 

[shamaan]

Hafeez doubters punching the air

He needs to continue batting at 4 were hes been successful

 

[stevewittry]

Yes, both these players are better than anything Pak has at the moment.

 

[shamaan]

After looking at the current batting performance, Shoaib Malik merit a place.

Haider Ali should also be there, Abdullah Shafique need more time.

What was the overal stats from shaoib in the sri lanka league

 

[shamaan]

Misbah is getting a chastening lesson in this series. The batting performances have shown how much the side needs Malik. When he would score 20 to 30 at a strike-rate of 147 people would take his presence for granted. Now when Abdullah Shafique can't buy a run and Khushdil is struggling to crack a strike-rate of 100 we are reminded what he brought to the team.

His strike rate in sri lanka league was 120 what makes you think hes going to strike at 150

 

[shamaan]

Yes we had great success with Malik and we need him back. The guy is awful and has been for a decade.

this is what pakistan fans are like then they complain no youngesters are given enough chances.hes strike rate was 120 in sri lanka league hardly impressive

 

[shamaan]

Undoubtedly Malik should be there too.

However the most obvious selection blunder is the omission of Haris Sohail. Why the heck is not playing?? He didn't play in the Shaheens game either and so what on earth is going on?

Surely it has to do with fitness thier cant be any other reason

 

[adzzy786]

I don't know why you're being sarcastic because yes, we had great success with Malik. I would characterize rising to the top of the T20I ranking as success, would you?

Also, your assertion that Malik has been awful for a decade has no basis in reality. Here are Malik's numbers in T20Is 2016 onwards:

2016 - average: 52.85, SR: 131
2017 - average: 45.50, SR: 144
2018 - average: 41.00, SR: 164
2019 - average: 24.33, SR: 143 (3 innings)
2020 - average: 72, SR 128 (2 innings)

His stats show that he has only scored runs quickly over the last few years but also finished off innings, and remaining unbeaten alot of the time. He earns a place in the side based on merit.

How many matches did he play in 2016, 2017 and 2018?

Also how much runs did he actually score? His averages boosted because of his not outs, he hasn’t scored many runs.

Your stats are very misleading. Please can you include number of matches, runs as well as the average and this will give us a better indicator

 

[Canistani Hero]

Sharjeel
Babar
Haider
Hafeez
Malik

 

[shamaan]

Out of these teams the only side he has a genuinely bad record against is England. And you could argue, New Zealand.

On top of that his numbers in India are outstanding. And if anything, show how much Pakistan needs him for the T20 World Cup. Because he is one of the best players of spin in the world, along with Hafeez. Contrary to what OP was saying his numbers against Australia (a side that is known for its pace attacks) are very good too.

Across the board his strike rates range from good to great. And when you have guys in the side struggling to strike at 100 and where 120 is a barometer of success for many, these numbers look even better.

He averages 24 and 125 in the sri lanka premier league against third class bowlers

 

[shamaan]

Pakpassion XI:

1. Sharjeel Khan
2. Babar Azam (c)
3. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
4. Mohammad Hafeez
5. Shoaib Malik
6. Khushdil Shah
7. Zafar Gohar
8. Usman Qadir
9. Shaheen Afridi
10. Haris Rauf
11. Mohammad Hasnain

Good luck.

No shadab whats changed all of a sudden

 

[UzmanBeast]

Malik and Hafeez are a must.

Our youngsters have no common sense to rotate strike and give set batsmen a chance to take on the opposition. Moreover, they don't understand T20 cricket at all, going for the big glory shots as opposed to playing for the team. Malik and Hafeez are veterans. Malik is one of the greatest T20 batsmen on the basis of experience and runs scored, he is an absolute must given our current performances.

The team for the 2021 T20 World Cup should be:

Babar Azam (c)
Sharjeel Khan
Haider Ali
Mohammad Hafeez
Shoaib Malik
Shadab Khan
Sarfaraz Ahmed/Azam Khan
Imad Wasim
Faheem Ashraf
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Haris Rauf

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

His strike rate in sri lanka league was 120 what makes you think hes going to strike at 150

I couldn't care less about the third rate Lankan Premier League. Any performance good or bad is meaningless in it.

What makes me think so? How about the fact that he has actually struck over 140 in international cricket over the last four years.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

How many matches did he play in 2016, 2017 and 2018?

Also how much runs did he actually score? His averages boosted because of his not outs, he hasn’t scored many runs.

Your stats are very misleading. Please can you include number of matches, runs as well as the average and this will give us a better indicator

2016 - average: 52.85, SR: 131 - 370 runs (13 innings)
2017 - average: 45.50, SR: 144 - 273 runs (10 innings)
2018 - average: 41.00, SR: 164 - 369 runs (15 innings)
2019 - average: 24.33, SR: 143 - 73 runs (3 innings)
2020 - average: 72.00, SR: 128 - 72 runs (2 innings)

That's a myopic way of looking at it. Considering the fact that he has been batting at 5-6, has been striking at an average strike-rate in excess of 140 with a high average to boot, it means that he has been playing the role of the finisher well.

 

[Bewal Express]

I couldn't care less about the third rate Lankan Premier League. Any performance good or bad is meaningless in it.

What makes me think so? How about the fact that he has actually struck over 140 in international cricket over the last four years.

Do you agree that your stats were to say the least selective. He is awful and should have gone a decade ago. In no other country would him and Hafeez got more than one 4 Yr cycle, in PK they got 4 or 5 cycles

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

To the posters here saying that Malik's excellent T20I numbers in the last four years are boosted by performances against weak sides.

Take a good hard look at your T20I team and ask yourself if many of these players are even capable of scoring big against weak teams.

Malik may have bashed minnows but he has also scored runs against big teams. Rather than reverting to the automatic impulse of criticizing senior players because some performance of theirs decades ago ruined your childhood, its much better to live in the now.


Malik and Hafeez are not going to be around for long and its ludicrous for both to not be regular fixtures in the T20 team when they have been the ones holding Pakistan's middle-order together in T20Is. There was a reason the team was doing well and that was because there was an established dynamic. Babar and Fakhar at the top. Hafeez at 3. Malik at 5-6. And Imad, Shadab at 7,8. You could put anyone at 4 or 5/6 and the team would still win most times because there were certain players who delivered consistently. Why? Because their roles were clearly defined.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Do you agree that your stats were to say the least selective. He is awful and should have gone a decade ago. In no other country would him and Hafeez got more than one 4 Yr cycle, in PK they got 4 or 5 cycles

It's funny how you point your knives towards Malik and Hafeez, two guys who have actually been scoring runs. Instead of criticizing them just because they are senior players and nitpicking insignificant little things, ask yourself how many guys in the side are capable of delivering consistently, striking the ball over 140 consistently and winning Pakistan games consistently.

And the answer to that question has already been infront of you a number of times. It was infront of you in the home series against Sri Lanka, it was infront of you in the T20I series in Australia and it is infront of you now in the T20I series in New Zealand.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Hafeez with his form merits selection, Malik can go home

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Hafeez and Malik in India would make a stronger and more stable middle order.

Sharjeel Khan
Babar Azam
Haidar Ali
Mohammad Hafeez
Shoaib Malik

This our Top 5 in Asia.

Hafeez and Malik can also give you 2 overs each, which would then allow us to play an extra batsman at 6, maybe Asif Ali.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Hafeez and Malik in India would make a stronger and more stable middle order.

Sharjeel Khan
Babar Azam
Haidar Ali
Mohammad Hafeez
Shoaib Malik

This our Top 5 in Asia.

Hafeez and Malik can also give you 2 overs each, which would then allow us to play an extra batsman at 6, maybe Asif Ali.

I would take a mannequin dressed in a Pakistan kit over Sharjeel any day of the week.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

I would take a mannequin dressed in a Pakistan kit over Sharjeel any day of the week.

Tbf, the mannequin probably has better footwork than Sharjeel.

 

[Bewal Express]

It's funny how you point your knives towards Malik and Hafeez, two guys who have actually been scoring runs. Instead of criticizing them just because they are senior players and nitpicking insignificant little things, ask yourself how many guys in the side are capable of delivering consistently, striking the ball over 140 consistently and winning Pakistan games consistently.

And the answer to that question has already been infront of you a number of times. It was infront of you in the home series against Sri Lanka, it was infront of you in the T20I series in Australia and it is infront of you now in the T20I series in New Zealand.

They have had their 2 decade long careers which the spineless selectors and the PCB refused to end. They are both dreadful players over their careers and should have been dropped a decade ago. In no other country in the World would they have got selected except by us. Are you saying we couldn't have found 2 other guys to fail over a decade.
To move forward you need to try new players, most will fail but you only have to hit the bullseye once and you have a good batsmen on your hand, and if not, you haven't lost anything because these guys are poor players. I am not falling for temporary stats in Hafeezs case, just look at his performances in the WC 19 and his soft dismissals over and over again.

 

[Bewal Express]

Hafeez and Malik in India would make a stronger and more stable middle order.

Sharjeel Khan
Babar Azam
Haidar Ali
Mohammad Hafeez
Shoaib Malik

This our Top 5 in Asia.

Hafeez and Malik can also give you 2 overs each, which would then allow us to play an extra batsman at 6, maybe Asif Ali.

Hasn't a decade of failure taught you anything

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Hasn't a decade of failure taught you anything

What’s wrong? I see one of the highest T20 scorer in the team, I see a god mode Hafeez v3, I see a brian lara-esque Sharjeel Khan with the late cut shot and the hook shot with one leg in the air, I see a young and confident Haidar Ali, and Babar Azam, the number 2 batsman in T20s

 

[Bewal Express]

What’s wrong? I see one of the highest T20 scorer in the team, I see a god mode Hafeez v3, I see a brian lara-esque Sharjeel Khan with the late cut shot and the hook shot with one leg in the air, I see a young and confident Haidar Ali, and Babar Azam, the number 2 batsman in T20s

I see a guy that has decades to do something and has achieved zilch. I see a guy that wilts under pressure and throws his wicket away.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

They have had their 2 decade long careers which the spineless selectors and the PCB refused to end. They are both dreadful players over their careers and should have been dropped a decade ago. In no other country in the World would they have got selected except by us. Are you saying we couldn't have found 2 other guys to fail over a decade.
To move forward you need to try new players, most will fail but you only have to hit the bullseye once and you have a good batsmen on your hand, and if not, you haven't lost anything because these guys are poor players. I am not falling for temporary stats in Hafeezs case, just look at his performances in the WC 19 and his soft dismissals over and over again.

Repeating the same things won't make your argument any stronger. I'm not talking about their entire careers, I am talking about their performances in the recent past. Also please stop peddling this myth that Pakistan is bursting with unrecognized talent. It is not. There is talent but for talent to reach its full-potential takes time. With the T20 on the horizon now is not the time to be rebuilding the team. If Misbah has any sense he will select Malik and Hafeez for the World Cup. Otherwise this is just a trailer for what we will see in the World T20.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Tbf, the mannequin probably has better footwork than Sharjeel.

The mannequin would be more useful in the field aswell.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

I see a guy that has decades to do something and has achieved zilch. I see a guy that wilts under pressure and throws his wicket away.

If the WT20 was being played in Aus then I’d be the first to say keep Shoaib Malik out of the team, but it’s now been moved to India, and Shoaib Malik in the Sub Continent is a different player and the stats tell you that as well.

Malik in T20’s in INDIA - Ave: 156
S/R: 140
Malik in T20’s in PAK - Ave: 51
S/R: 170

In UAE, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh he averages less than 30, which isn’t great but for someone that bats down the order it’s not bad either.

Malik will likely retire after this WT20 so I don’t see why we shouldn’t give him his farewell, it might actually benefit Pakistan with Malik giving wanting to go out with a bang.

 

[adzzy786]

2016 - average: 52.85, SR: 131 - 370 runs (13 innings)
2017 - average: 45.50, SR: 144 - 273 runs (10 innings)
2018 - average: 41.00, SR: 164 - 369 runs (15 innings)
2019 - average: 24.33, SR: 143 - 73 runs (3 innings)
2020 - average: 72.00, SR: 128 - 72 runs (2 innings)

That's a myopic way of looking at it. Considering the fact that he has been batting at 5-6, has been striking at an average strike-rate in excess of 140 with a high average to boot, it means that he has been playing the role of the finisher well.

Again very misleading stats. You want him in the team to score runs at a high rate, not just be not out at the end of the innings. I have watched most Pakistan games and this is why I remember him many times scoring little runs and saving his wicket

2016 he actual RUNS average per innings is 28
2017 - actual RUNS average per innings 27
2018- actual RUNS average per innings drops to 24
2019 and 2020 only couple matches

So his actual average is mid 20’s, you will argue he bats lower down the order- if that’s the case his strike should be higher for a ‘finisher’ he isn’t a finisher he himself is finished

Needs to be nowhere near the team, invest in new talent and rewards will eventually come.

This is against all teams, when you takeaway the minnows his average drops massively, I’ll save you the embarrassment

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Again very misleading stats. You want him in the team to score runs at a high rate, not just be not out at the end of the innings. I have watched most Pakistan games and this is why I remember him many times scoring little runs and saving his wicket

2016 he actual RUNS average per innings is 28
2017 - actual RUNS average per innings 27
2018- actual RUNS average per innings drops to 24
2019 and 2020 only couple matches

So his actual average is mid 20’s, you will argue he bats lower down the order- if that’s the case his strike should be higher for a ‘finisher’ he isn’t a finisher he himself is finished

Needs to be nowhere near the team, invest in new talent and rewards will eventually come.

This is against all teams, when you takeaway the minnows his average drops massively, I’ll save you the embarrassment

Whatever buddy. You twist stats any way to justify your biases. Fact is there is no one besides Hafeez and Babar who can even match these stats or this consistency. Instead of acting like we're India or Australia where players are knocking down the door to be selected, accept the fact that we are a mediocre side and Malik is one of the best we have.

And FYI he averages 38.75 against Australia, which I am guessing is a minnow side according to you.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

If the WT20 was being played in Aus then I’d be the first to say keep Shoaib Malik out of the team, but it’s now been moved to India, and Shoaib Malik in the Sub Continent is a different player and the stats tell you that as well.

Malik in T20’s in INDIA - Ave: 156
S/R: 140
Malik in T20’s in PAK - Ave: 51
S/R: 170

In UAE, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh he averages less than 30, which isn’t great but for someone that bats down the order it’s not bad either.

Malik will likely retire after this WT20 so I don’t see why we shouldn’t give him his farewell, it might actually benefit Pakistan with Malik giving wanting to go out with a bang.

This is the single biggest reason to select Malik for the T20 World Cup.

 

[volcyz]

Malik is a absolute joke.

Like a parasite that refuses to go away.

Hafeez is actually playing better than ever while playing Malik would be like playing with 10 men.

 

[Hasan123]

I don't want Malik to come back but he is clearly better than Khushdil,Ifitkhar, and Asif Ali.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

One of the things Pakistanis do is create pairs - which cause bias.

For example, hard to talk to Waqar without Wasim, Umar Akmal without Ahmed Shahzad, Rashid Latif without Moin Khan and Shoaib Malik without Hafeez and vice versa.

Both Shoaib and Hafeez have done well for their countries. However, one has slowed down while other has just become that much stronger.

Best is to decouple the two and talk about them on their own merits.

In that case, I'd take Hafeez for as long as he is producing - which can go for 10 years I don't care. Shoaib Malik can make way for one of the new one's to be groomed.

 

[Bewal Express]

If the WT20 was being played in Aus then I’d be the first to say keep Shoaib Malik out of the team, but it’s now been moved to India, and Shoaib Malik in the Sub Continent is a different player and the stats tell you that as well.

Malik in T20’s in INDIA - Ave: 156
S/R: 140
Malik in T20’s in PAK - Ave: 51
S/R: 170

In UAE, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh he averages less than 30, which isn’t great but for someone that bats down the order it’s not bad either.

Malik will likely retire after this WT20 so I don’t see why we shouldn’t give him his farewell, it might actually benefit Pakistan with Malik giving wanting to go out with a bang.

When did he last play a T20 in India?

 

[Thunderbolt14]

One of the things Pakistanis do is create pairs - which cause bias.

For example, hard to talk to Waqar without Wasim, Umar Akmal without Ahmed Shahzad, Rashid Latif without Moin Khan and Shoaib Malik without Hafeez and vice versa.

Both Shoaib and Hafeez have done well for their countries. However, one has slowed down while other has just become that much stronger.

Best is to decouple the two and talk about them on their own merits.

In that case, I'd take Hafeez for as long as he is producing - which can go for 10 years I don't care. Shoaib Malik can make way for one of the new one's to be groomed.

Very good post. Another decoupling: Iftikhar without Misbah.

 

[ChTab]

Hafeez is probably our best T20 player so he is a must but Pakistan should get rid of Malik, he is not a good player anymore we should definitely look beyond Malik, even Ifti chach is better than Malik.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Very good post. Another decoupling: Iftikhar without Misbah.

Good one. Iftikhar should be judged on his own merits and not whether Misbah loves him or not.

 

[ShahidDar08]

Mohammad Rizwan
Babar Azam
Haider Ali
Mohammad Hafeez
Shoaib Malik
Iftikhar Ahmed
Shadab Khan
Fahim Ashraf

 

[shamaan]

Hafeez will play t20 world cup but Malik shouldnt his stats in sri lanka is not that good.