So you're telling me Shan Masood/Sami Aslam are better than what Fawad Alam can do?

[Sherlock]

Surely, surely Fawad is a better player than two atop of the list. I say openers because I think he can fit in nicely at the top and last time he played there he was excellent.

If Inzi did indeed watch domestic games he'd see Fawad scoring centuries galore, as he did again, today.

Baffling as to see why he keeps being ignored.

 

[Big Mac]

Don't make him open.

Move Azhar to opener, Babar/Haris at 3/4, Fawad #5 and Shafiq goes back to 6.

 

[shah_1]

Fawad is not an opener

Azhar Ali should open along with any tail ender(Shehzad/Fakhar/Sami).

 

[Mamoon]

There is no doubt that Fawad would outscore these two cowards even if he opens, but if you look at the bigger picture, is recalling a 30+ player to the side a forward step?

Pakistan needs batsmen in their 20s who can play for a long time. Fawad will be past his prime in a couple of years if that is not already the case.

 

[Rana]

I dont understand how Fawad Alam is the solution in each and every thread here. Fawad Alam na ho gaya balke Fawad Miandad these days on PP.

 

[shaz619]

There is no doubt that Fawad would outscore these two cowards even if he opens, but if you look at the bigger picture, is recalling a 30+ player to the side a forward step?

Pakistan needs batsmen in their 20s who can play for a long time. Fawad will be past his prime in a couple of years if that is not already the case.

Not everyone can be a Misbah / Younis Khan who did so well past their prime but Fawad has earned his place in the team if selected whatever way you want to look at it

 

[Rana]

This is what fans and the management need to realise...

Its not about who you call back or who you give a chance to debut. The way things go for Pakistan cricket that a replacement will emerge and impress immensly with a blinder of a performance in the beginning of his career or his return. Fans will go wild and rave on about how he was always the missing piece etc. Then, this amazing talent, Messiah will go into his shell and start worrying about how he can ensure he plays the next game. He will end up having a slump and wont have a clue about how to regain that initial form that puts a heap of expectations on him to continue the way he started. I can list plenty of examples such as this.

 

[IMMY69]

My top 6 would be as follows:-

Azhar
Fakhar
Sohail
Barber
Alam
Shafiq

There is an argument that we should invest in youth and leave Alam out however I do think he;s been hard done by and deserves a chance.

If youth is the way forward then we have two players in Barbar and Shafiq who are yet to hold down their places. So youth can replace either of them in the future.

Fakhar has to open in tests. I think playing test matches will improve him and give us impetus at the top.

 

[sachin100]

it is very very strange to continuosly ignore fawad even after miss you retired also.

they r giving chances to shan masood of all people.if azar opens then u r weak middle order is a disaster waiting to happen

 

[Mamoon]

Actually, it is quite straightforward for any pair who are going to replace Masood and Sami, be it Butt or Shehzad or whoever.

Look at how Masood and Sami play, and do exactly the opposite. You might succeed.

 

[Hasan123]

He's 32. Time to move on. He would score in the UAE but don't see him scoring outside of Asia.

 

[proud_pakistani]

Fawad would be a very good 5 or 6. But comparing him with openers is pointless. Pushing Shan Masood and Sami Aslam has been poor decision making when you have had guys like Khurrum Manzoor and Shehzad who have scored in the test arena. For me Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad should be opening in tests with Fawad slotting into the middle order.

 

[Big Mac]

He's 32. Time to move on. He would score in the UAE but don't see him scoring outside of Asia.

Beta, have you learned nothing? Age is just a number

 

[Hasan123]

Beta, have you learned nothing? Age is just a number

Not everyone can be a Misbah

 

[Big Mac]

Not everyone can be a Misbah

Or a Younis...

Or a Herath...

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Haven't tried usman and can't drop babar for the promise he showed in ODIs and also some glimpses in tests here and there. Due to the strategy in this series costing two loses on the trot opens a wide discussion on who can be chopped and many names come out for head rolling. Asad is only batsman to score a ton in this series will that keep him out of the chopping list, NO. Every single batsman struggled or not turn up when needed the most. It is a combination of many things in this series to put behind to move on. Next test is after 8 months gap so many things can be fixed in this time. And by that time fawad will be 33 or 34. Also can fawad score runs in the UK against Anderson and broad which is unknown. Sami have shown that he can on the last tour. Azhar proved to be the best opener in the world, dropping him down to no.3 is the most stupid decision which we all agreed even before the series started and it showed in the results. Unnecessary shuffling in batting order proved costly.

 

[IcedEarth]

There is no doubt that Fawad would outscore these two cowards even if he opens, but if you look at the bigger picture, is recalling a 30+ player to the side a forward step?

Pakistan needs batsmen in their 20s who can play for a long time. Fawad will be past his prime in a couple of years if that is not already the case.

And do you know that Dilruwan Perera was recalled when he was 30+? Now he's delivering with ball, and delivering with bat, even at age of 3.

 

[Mamoon]

And do you know that Dilruwan Perera was recalled when he was 30+? Now he's delivering with ball, and delivering with bat, even at age of 3.

SL is not exactly a team that we need to mimic. They are as bad as we are.

 

[IcedEarth]

SL is not exactly a team that we need to mimic. They are as bad as we are.

SL's issue is we don't have talent. Our selections generally make sense. Pakistan always have talent. Their selection is god awful. They can take a leaf out in selection from SL.

 

[srh]

My top 6 would be as follows:-

Azhar
Fakhar
Sohail
Barber
Alam
Shafiq

There is an argument that we should invest in youth and leave Alam out however I do think he;s been hard done by and deserves a chance.

If youth is the way forward then we have two players in Barbar and Shafiq who are yet to hold down their places. So youth can replace either of them in the future.

Fakhar has to open in tests. I think playing test matches will improve him and give us impetus at the top.

Replace Fakhar with Sharjeel. Replace Babar with someone else.

 

[Big Mac]

Replace Fakhar with Sharjeel.

He's still banned isn't he?

 

[MMHS]

Probably yes & no.

No in a sense that Sami or Shan won't improve their 23-25 average batting at 5/6.

Yes, because with his hockey GK stance, and 3 feet open sight of 3 sticks - don't see Fawad averaging 23-25 as opener.

This is called comparing apple with pineapple.

 

[MMHS]

And do you know that Dilruwan Perera was recalled when he was 30+? Now he's delivering with ball, and delivering with bat, even at age of 3.

I believe, Dilruhan is 35 - that's because he was born 35 years back with zero balance; not like Waquar or Afridi with 5 years at stock.

 

[Mamoon]

SL's issue is we don't have talent. Our selections generally make sense. Pakistan always have talent. Their selection is god awful. They can take a leaf out in selection from SL.

Pakistan's batting talent is rubbish. SL have far better young batsmen.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Only if PCB had not banned Sharjeel without conclusive (or any, basically) evidence at all. Just shows you how things are Pakistan. I admire Sethi for bringing back cricket to Pakistan, even if it may be for his personal vendettas but the fact remains that Sharjeel was quickly growing into a world class LOI batsman, if not one already and that SURELY would have had an impact on his growth in Tests.

Sharjeel Khan getting banned will always be and remain one of the greatest travesties of Pakistan cricket. It has become sort of subdued and forgotten with the emergence of Fakhar Zaman, an almost perfect replacement but had FZ not emerged, Sethi would have had to answer a lot of questions. It is mere fate that he got so lucky. The PCB in its report indirectly (and even directly) mentions and writes that there was no evidence against Sharjeel Khan which could be presented. Not even a single photograph, or even a test message.

And I can say this with a lot of assurance that had this case been handled more professionally, Sethi would be behind bars for vilification charges while PCB would have had to pay a HUGE price to Sharjeel Khan for defamation. In Pakistan however, corrupt officials can get away with such minor mistakes. Not taking any names but we all know that the system reeks of fraud.

I'm pretty sure we wouldn't have had half as many problems with regards to our team had this entire FORCED episode to show someones own false sense of rigidity not happened. Embarrassing to say the least.

 

[Sirris]

Selectors are unaware of Fawad's existence. You can't do better than the other guys if you don't even exist.

This is Pakistan, Fawad's nice boy persona won't get him far. He needs to fight for his cause. You know this guy is so far off the selectors radar when a convicted fixer hated by the majority is making a better case for his return than Fawad is.

If Fawad really wants to make a comeback he needs to be proactive come to talk shows and demand answers. For God sakes a 40+ years old chacha riffatullah was able to get a place in the t20i line up by making some noise.

Fawad has to make some noise now or he would only have himself to blame.

Sharif people aren't taken seriously in Pakistan and everyone walks over them, unless their last name rhymes with Sharif only.

It's sad and it shouldn't be that way but that's Pakistan for you.

 

[GreenKhan]

What is the obsession with age? He's only 32 so definetly has 3-4 years left and even longer . Misbah, younis , gooch, all performed at a good level post 35 so why exclude Fawad. Besides you need a mixture of youth and experience to provide stability to a batting line up. Fawad has earned his stripes in the domestic arena and deserves a good few series . England 2018, Zimbabwe 2018 and the UAE. In these 7-8 tests we will have a good idea of where we are with him .

 

[Hedz]

He Defo is better than both of them. After Azhar Ali he is the most natural selection for the test team, I don’t understand why the PCB can not see that. Shan Masood should be dropped for good. As for Sami Aslam his career is still very short, let’s not jump the gun. Given him an extended run to prove himself, otherwise get rid.

 

[Markhor]

The argument that we shouldn't pick Fawad as he wouldn't score outside Asia is forgetting the fact our batsmen are struggling to score in Asia right now where we play the majority of our Tests.

He's still fit for his age, has a proven track record in FC cricket and bags of experience. To not give him a fair shake in his most suited format would be killing the concept of merit in selection. There aren't any Joe Roots and Virat Kohlis waiting in the wings.

I wouldn't open with him, but he'd bolster our brittle middle-order which is lacking in players who can score consistently like he's done over many years. Guys like Shafiq who have 1 good innings a series aren't reliable enough.

I'd bring in Salahuddin too who's been scoring centuries for fun in QEA Trophy.

 

[waleed88]

Move Azhar to opener again, bring in Fawad Alam and play Shafiq as one down. There is no two ways about it. Fawad needs to be in the side, and needs to be in the middle order, no messing around with his batting order, no bringing him as a tailender, and no bringing him as an opener when he clearly isn't one.

He has been messed around with enough, its an embarrassment the variety of positions he has played in but has to be used as a makeshift at different places according to whoever is incharged at that time

 

[Sherlock]

My issue is this...Arthur claims he didn't pick Asghar because of his inexperience and wanted someone with more experience. Surely that would mean a recall for Fawad then?

I want to see youngsters blooded, but what did Fawad do wrong to be dropped so easily? Why keep giving preferential treatment to others but not to the one that actually deserves some patience?

I'm gobsmacked at times like this where you have a performing player in domestic cricket, not just for 1 year but the last few years, and he's been ignored consistently. Why even bother performing in domestic cricket and being ignored?

Such an irksome decision making by the selectors.

 

[Cric1234]

My issue is this...Arthur claims he didn't pick Asghar because of his inexperience and wanted someone with more experience. Surely that would mean a recall for Fawad then?

I want to see youngsters blooded, but what did Fawad do wrong to be dropped so easily? Why keep giving preferential treatment to others but not to the one that actually deserves some patience?

I'm gobsmacked at times like this where you have a performing player in domestic cricket, not just for 1 year but the last few years, and he's been ignored consistently. Why even bother performing in domestic cricket and being ignored?

Such an irksome decision making by the selectors.

It's not even a few years it's 10 years of averaging 50+ where only a few others do.

 

[Sherlock]

He's 32. Time to move on. He would score in the UAE but don't see him scoring outside of Asia.

Some of you guys make it sound like being in your 30s is a death sentence. You should also realise that could well be their prime cricketing years, as they'll know they strengths & weaknesses.

 

[Sherlock]

It's not even a few years it's 10 years of averaging 50+ where only a few others do.

Exactly.

Lest not forget 10 years ago we had better quality bowlers in domestic cricket too.

 

[Cric1234]

Some players bear the brunt of dislike from the selectors and captain Fawad wasn't preferred by Yousuf and hasn't been seen since.
Akmal wasn't preferred by Misbah and was dropped and never seen Again in test cricket and became a lower order hitter.

 

[Mainul]

There is no doubt that Fawad would outscore these two cowards even if he opens, but if you look at the bigger picture, is recalling a 30+ player to the side a forward step?

Pakistan needs batsmen in their 20s who can play for a long time. Fawad will be past his prime in a couple of years if that is not already the case.

Lehman,Hussy,Misbah