South Africa upcoming home series: Do not take a backward step, PCB!

[Energy]

To the PCB management: Please do not bring in Manzoor or Sharjeel as openers and Shafiq in the middle order. Or Bilal Asif as the second spinner. Do not be short-sighted midgets and give your ego's a rest.

This is a plea, and we are tired of seeing Pakistan cricket rot for a decade and unfortunately do not have the stamina that some of you on the payroll have excelled in.

Bring in promising domestic talent that have room for growth and development, while their bodies are fit. Have some vision to take our cricket forward. Yes, the talent pool is running dry but the least you can do is try and get the best out of them, that's your freaking job.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

You’ll be pleasantly surprised. Mohammad Wasim is very forward thinking, and I am quite certain he will make some tough calls.

 

[James Steven]

I think your worst dreams will come true and get ready for stats padding from Azhar, Fawad, Asad because the current team of SA is not much better than WI.

Pakistan would probably give Test caps to Nauman Ali, Kashif Bhatti etc and Imran Butt will be the next victim of PCB policy of "carrying drinks and then dropped".

 

[waheed_sofi]

What is so special abou Imran Butt?
Just one good QeA trophy (last season) which of course was batting paradise. Otherwise, has been mediocre.
He has been playing first class cricket since 2012 and is still averaging mid 30s that too in the middle order.

 

[b.lesner]

What is so special abou Imran Butt?
Just one good QeA trophy (last season) which of course was batting paradise. Otherwise, has been mediocre.
He has been playing first class cricket since 2012 and is still averaging mid 30s that too in the middle order.

Do you watch domestic?
Then you must know he is a opener and has always been.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

What is so special abou Imran Butt?
Just one good QeA trophy (last season) which of course was batting paradise. Otherwise, has been mediocre.
He has been playing first class cricket since 2012 and is still averaging mid 30s that too in the middle order.

Exactly... he is another mediocre stuff, people will see when plays an international side..

 

[shamaan]

Exactly... he is another mediocre stuff, people will see when plays an international side..

Who else woukd you sujjest

 

[shamaan]

I hope wasim makes some brave and tough decisions

 

[unemployedgm]

I think Imran Butt is a good player. But I think he only really had one good domestic season. In fact he was pretty average this year prior to getting selected. He's been picked out of turn. To expect someone who averages less than 40 in Domestic FC to suddenly become an elite international batsman is almost impossible. There's no real precedent for it.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

I think Imran Butt is a good player. But I think he only really had one good domestic season. In fact he was pretty average this year prior to getting selected. He's been picked out of turn. To expect someone who averages less than 40 in Domestic FC to suddenly become an elite international batsman is almost impossible. There's no real precedent for it.

He was good in 2019/20 version of QeA but not this season. However, i saw some confident strokes in the practise game against NZ A during his knock of 27.

In my eyes need to possibly look at someone like Saud Shakeel and maybe Omair Bin Yousaf (or perhaps a tad too early for him).

 

[Energy]

Salahuddin, Saud, Ghulam have been scoring heavy and should be on the radar. Then you have Nawaz with his left arm finger spin, or Zafar can be considered. Definitely need an accurate finger spinner to be on board asap.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

There is not a single decent middle order batter in domestic cricket. What a horrible culture we have cultivated post 90s. We bat like Afghanistan.

 

[waheed_sofi]

Do you watch domestic?
Then you must know he is a opener and has always been.

In last NT20, he was playing in the middle order.
Still, if he is an opener, mid 30s is a mediocre avg.
He is in the mould of Azhar, others strokeless wonder.
He was hardly able to clear circle in NT20.
Also, he seems to be age fudger and has poor fitness.

 

[shamaan]

He was good in 2019/20 version of QeA but not this season. However, i saw some confident strokes in the practise game against NZ A during his knock of 27.

In my eyes need to possibly look at someone like Saud Shakeel and maybe Omair Bin Yousaf (or perhaps a tad too early for him).

Omair has potentional but his average is less than 30 this year i think he will be a very good player in future one of my favourite players in domestic.

As for saud he should be in the squad but should not be battinf in the top 4

 

[shamaan]

There is not a single decent middle order batter in domestic cricket. What a horrible culture we have cultivated post 90s. We bat like Afghanistan.

do you not think saud is decent ?

 

[shamaan]

In last NT20, he was playing in the middle order.
Still, if he is an opener, mid 30s is a mediocre avg.
He is in the mould of Azhar, others strokeless wonder.
He was hardly able to clear circle in NT20.
Also, he seems to be age fudger and has poor fitness.

he shouldn't have played the NT20 hes not a t20 player for sure.what makes you say he has poor fitness

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Omair has potentional but his average is less than 30 this year i think he will be a very good player in future one of my favourite players in domestic.

As for saud he should be in the squad but should not be battinf in the top 4

I reckon no. 4 is Saud's natural slot and will go well with Fawad coming in at 5. I reckon play the team according to conditions i.e. players that know them best.

 

[shamaan]

salahuddin,saud and ghullam should be in the selectors radar atleast of the 2 should be in the next tour squad

 

[shamaan]

I reckon no. 4 is Saud's natural slot and will go well with Fawad coming in at 5. I reckon play the team according to conditions i.e. players that know them best.

Thats means babar will have to bat 3 and i dont think they will play him at 3 unless its in asain conditions

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Thats means babar will have to bat 3 and i dont think they will play him at 3 unless its in asain conditions

No i reckon no. 3 is perfect for Babar.

My playing XI for Karachi is:

1. Shan Masood
2. Imran Butt/Abid Ali
3. Babar Azam (c)
4. Saud Shakeel
5. Fawad Alam
6. Muhammad Rizwan (wk)
7. Sajid Khan/Nauman Ali/Zafar Gohar
8. Zahid Mehmood/Yasir Shah
9. Muhammad Abbas
10. Shaheen Afridi
11. Hassan Ali/Tabish Khan

Play to win and i think the above will trouble SA.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Shan Masood (1st Test is his last chance in SA series)
Usman Salahuddin (should open)
Kamran Ghullam
Babar Azam
Fawad Alam
Saud Shakeel
Mohammad Rizwan
Zafar Gohar/Yasir Shah/Sajid Khan
Hasan Ali
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Mohammad Abbas

This is the team I'd make for the coming years. Usman will have to open because we don't have other openers in domestic. Babar should play at 4 where the best batsman usually plays. Saud Shakeel should come in at 6 and Zafar Gohar should be given a run, or Sajid Khan.

Leg spinners are not very reliable in test cricket now, and we ought to switch to a good finger spinner.

 

[b.lesner]

In last NT20, he was playing in the middle order.
Still, if he is an opener, mid 30s is a mediocre avg.
He is in the mould of Azhar, others strokeless wonder.
He was hardly able to clear circle in NT20.
Also, he seems to be age fudger and has poor fitness.

Same goes for Fawad, Asad, Shan and Azhar they aren't t20 players as well

 

[hitthestump]

There is not a single decent middle order batter in domestic cricket. What a horrible culture we have cultivated post 90s. We bat like Afghanistan.

It took a while but the old system was indeed producing nothing in the way of batsman.

From this seasons QeA we can see that Saud Shakeel, Kamran Ghulam and Saad Ali are all decent middle order batsmen. Most people feel confident that the new system will now start producing more. Should just be a matter of time.

 

[Kaddy]

There is not a single decent middle order batter in domestic cricket. What a horrible culture we have cultivated post 90s. We bat like Afghanistan.

On the contrary I think there is not a single very good opener in our domestic.

For middle order, at least we have some options.

 

[shamaan]

No i reckon no. 3 is perfect for Babar.

My playing XI for Karachi is:

1. Shan Masood
2. Imran Butt/Abid Ali
3. Babar Azam (c)
4. Saud Shakeel
5. Fawad Alam
6. Muhammad Rizwan (wk)
7. Sajid Khan/Nauman Ali/Zafar Gohar
8. Zahid Mehmood/Yasir Shah
9. Muhammad Abbas
10. Shaheen Afridi
11. Hassan Ali/Tabish Khan

Play to win and i think the above will trouble SA.

This line up is fine for the test series against south africa but i would play gohar and sajid Khan i would not play either zahid or yasir as they both leak runs

 

[shamaan]

No i reckon no. 3 is perfect for Babar.

My playing XI for Karachi is:

1. Shan Masood
2. Imran Butt/Abid Ali
3. Babar Azam (c)
4. Saud Shakeel
5. Fawad Alam
6. Muhammad Rizwan (wk)
7. Sajid Khan/Nauman Ali/Zafar Gohar
8. Zahid Mehmood/Yasir Shah
9. Muhammad Abbas
10. Shaheen Afridi
11. Hassan Ali/Tabish Khan

Play to win and i think the above will trouble SA.

in sena i would play babar at 4 normaly your best batter bats at 4

 

[silent ischemia]

Masood
Butt/Abdullah Shafiq
Azam
Salahuddin/Tallat/Shakeel
Alam
Rizwan
Nawaz
Sajid
Hassan
Shaheen
Abbas

 

[TeamPak95]

I'd go:

Shan, Abid, Babar, [blank], Fawad, Rizwan, Faheem, Gohar, Hasan, Shaheen, Abbas/Yasir

Shan and Abid won't be received well overall, but the last time they played at home, regardless of the fact that it was vs SL & BANG, they scored heavy so it's only fair; it would also serve as a potential last chance for them to prove themselves (this is assuming they both, or one of them, fail in the 2nd test vs NZ)

Babar, assuming Azhar fails in the 2nd NZ test and is dropped, would fittingly bat at #3 and Fawad and Rizwan can safely be given the rope for #5 and #6 respectively

Since in this XI Azhar would be dropped (unlikely), #4 would most likely be a debutant. So I'm thinking giving Imran Butt a go and give him the full series and see what he's about. Salahuddin could be an option as well as he has a test under his belt.

Faheem, I think, with that 91 in the first innings of the first test should be given a proper run in test cricket to finally see if he's worth all those years of investing. Overall in this NZ tour, he's been compact with the ball and improved with the bat.

Pakistan desperately needs to groom a proper spinner who, along with Yasir, can be a threat in Asian conditions and for me I'd go Gohar (also is a decent batsman as well). I'd be ok with Sajid Khan as well. Regarding the quicks, Hasan Ali has been in excellent form this QeA Trophy season and should be selected and played for both tests. Shaheen is self-explanatory, and depending on the pitch conditions, the final player should be either Abbas or Yasir. Abbas can, at least, play the container role but I wouldn't be too surprised if he's dropped. Yasir should be in his element since these are home tests and if he fails, then Pakistan going forward could look at a potential Gohar-Sajid spin combo.

Overall, I am eagerly looking forward to this home series vs SA and hopefully it goes smoothly iA. As mentioned in the OP, I hope PCB do not take a backwards step in terms of selection and overall approach.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Exactly... he is another mediocre stuff, people will see when plays an international side..

Move Azhar up to open the inns. Groom Abdullah Shafique in domestics to replace him.

Also would like to make Imam or Shan as the no.3 I’m sure they will do better than being openers.

 

[shaaik]

1. Azhar Ali (farewell series for him).
2. Abid/Shaan ( last chance for both).
3. Usman Sallahuddin/ Harris Sohail (last chance for Haris)
4. Babar Azam
5. Kamran Ghulam
6. Saud Shakeel
7. Mohammad Rizwan
8. Yasir Shah/Zahid Mahmood ( we must restrict Yasir to Asian conditions only)
9. Sajid Khan
10. Hasan Ali
11. Shaheen S Afridi

This is the team we shd try for at least next 2 years in Asian conditions and for SENA we can replace 1 spinner with a fast bowler and the other with a fast bowling all rounder like Faheem , Amad or Amer Yamin or even keep one spinner if it’s a turning track.

This team has depth both in bowling as well as batting for both home and away conditions.

 

[shaaik]

1. Azhar Ali (farewell series for him).
2. Abid/Shaan ( last chance for both).
3. Usman Sallahuddin/ Harris Sohail (last chance for Haris)
4. Babar Azam
5. Kamran Ghulam
6. Saud Shakeel
7. Mohammad Rizwan
8. Yasir Shah/Zahid Mahmood ( we must restrict Yasir to Asian conditions only)
9. Sajid Khan
10. Hasan Ali
11. Shaheen S Afridi

This is the team we shd try for at least next 2 years in Asian conditions and for SENA we can replace 1 spinner with a fast bowler and the other with a fast bowling all rounder like Faheem , Amad or Amer Yamin or even keep one spinner if it’s a turning track.

This team has depth both in bowling as well as batting for both home and away conditions.

I forgot to add Fawad Alam to it .. I would hv him in place of Saud Shakeel for the first test and if Usman fails in the first test I will debut Saud in the 2nd Test.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

Azhar
Saud
Kamran
Babar
Haider
Rizwan
Agha Salman
Nawaz
Fahim
Hassan
Yasir/Zahid

 

[coy0607]

Sharjeel has been the best opener in QAE, has earned a call up. Imam may be worth another shot as well

Ghulam and Saud have been phenomenal and should be in the middle order, pair them with Babar and Fawad.

Hasan Ali is another standout, should be second pacer with Shaheen

 

[Pakpak]

I hope Shan, Azhar, Abid are all shown the door. Absolutely have had enough of old geriatrics occupying the team, if we do need a 35 year old then let it be Fawad who has spent most of his career being ignored.

In other formats too I hope to never see Iftikhar, Wahab, Yasir Shah ever again.

 

[CricLegend]

I will go with the following 11.

Shan
Azhar
Saud
Babar
Fawad
Rizwan
Faheem
Yasir
Zafar
Abbas
Shaheen

Faheem should be given an extended run to show he is test standard. This should be Azhar farewell series.

 

[Nasty Naz]

This isn't applicable to the upcoming SA series but one interesting thing to try going forward in SENA conditions would have using Agha Salman and Ghulam in the matches and going strictly with 4 legitimate fast bowlers since those two can bowl RH and LH off-spin and can be used according to matchup situations.

I'm not sure if Agha Salman will get selected but I do think he deserves consideration since Pakistan has badly lacked an allrounder who can also bowl offspin since Hafeez.

Have to think Ghulam and Saud get selected at this point considering the horrific state of the current Test team.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

We don't need two spinners at home. Pakistan hasn't played two spinners at home since the 90s.

Hopefully Hasan Ali will be back. And Sohail Khan will be dropped hopefully for good this time.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Pakistan need to identify some new openers for the series which arent shan/imam.

Also haris sohail and Azhar ali need to go.

 

[Extra_Cover]

I would personally like to see some positivity from PCB think tank in the upcoming SAF series. Pakistan play very few home games in a calendar year hence it makes no sense for these games to go to likes of Abid Ali or Haris Sohail to fill their boots. I would like PCB think tank to showcase their investment strategy for future with next test championship to play for.

Ideally, in the upcoming series we should do away with Abid, Shan and Haris. This should be end to their test journey with exception of Shan as I feel he is still fit enough to mount another comeback in 1-2 years time. Further, this should be the farewell series for Azhar. PCB will not have a better time to plan for Azhar's farewell, this time is right. I would want Azhar to walk away with head held high as he has achieved great stuff for Pakistan cricket in his time. I would like fans to back Azhar with one final hurrah as he deserves one.

This series should mark the core of the test team for PCB for upcoming test championship. The following players should make the core of our team and others should play around them respectively.
Imam, Babar, Rizwan, Faheem/Shadab and Shaheen.
These 5 players are the backbone of our test line-ups, all changes should revolve around them.

Its the right time to reward domestic performers, the likes of Hasan Ali and Kamran Ghulam should be fast tracked into the teams given the monster season they just had. Also the likes of Imran Butt and Usman Salahuddin should be rewarded for their years of continuous performances in domestic circuits.

Ideally the line-up for SAF series should look as follows:
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Imran Butt
- Azhar Ali (replaced by Usman Salahuddin for future series)
- Babar Azam
- Fawad Alam (replaced by Kamran Ghulam if fail)
- Mohammad Rizwan
- Faheem / Shadab (depending on conditions)
- Yasir Shah (only for tests in home conditions)
- Hasan Ali
- Shaheen Afridi
- Naseem Shah

We have started cricket at home and our struggle away from home has ended, this is the right time to build a confident team for next decade. I really hope PCB doesn't blow this chance away.

 

[moghul]

Unfortunately Pakistan selectors play so defensively and never take a bold ( and obvious ) decision to drop a senior even after prolonged failure. Remember how Misbah had a very long run of failure in his last years, same was the story with Younis Khan and now Shaan and Haris having a free ride for so long.

 

[shamaan]

I will go with the following 11.

Shan
Azhar
Saud
Babar
Fawad
Rizwan
Faheem
Yasir
Zafar
Abbas
Shaheen

Faheem should be given an extended run to show he is test standard. This should be Azhar farewell series.

What should yasir be given a extended run for

 

[shamaan]

My line up vs south africa

Azhar ali
Shan masood/imaam
Imran butt/kamran ghullam
Babar
Saud
Rizwan
Agha salman/sajid Khan
Gohar
Hassan ali
Shaheen
Abbas

Bench
Kamran ghullam
Usman salahdin
Agha salman
Naseem

 

[Markhor]

I would personally like to see some positivity from PCB think tank in the upcoming SAF series. Pakistan play very few home games in a calendar year hence it makes no sense for these games to go to likes of Abid Ali or Haris Sohail to fill their boots. I would like PCB think tank to showcase their investment strategy for future with next test championship to play for.

Ideally, in the upcoming series we should do away with Abid, Shan and Haris. This should be end to their test journey with exception of Shan as I feel he is still fit enough to mount another comeback in 1-2 years time. Further, this should be the farewell series for Azhar. PCB will not have a better time to plan for Azhar's farewell, this time is right. I would want Azhar to walk away with head held high as he has achieved great stuff for Pakistan cricket in his time. I would like fans to back Azhar with one final hurrah as he deserves one.

This series should mark the core of the test team for PCB for upcoming test championship. The following players should make the core of our team and others should play around them respectively.
Imam, Babar, Rizwan, Faheem/Shadab and Shaheen.
These 5 players are the backbone of our test line-ups, all changes should revolve around them.

Its the right time to reward domestic performers, the likes of Hasan Ali and Kamran Ghulam should be fast tracked into the teams given the monster season they just had. Also the likes of Imran Butt and Usman Salahuddin should be rewarded for their years of continuous performances in domestic circuits.

Ideally the line-up for SAF series should look as follows:
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Imran Butt
- Azhar Ali (replaced by Usman Salahuddin for future series)
- Babar Azam
- Fawad Alam (replaced by Kamran Ghulam if fail)
- Mohammad Rizwan
- Faheem / Shadab (depending on conditions)
- Yasir Shah (only for tests in home conditions)
- Hasan Ali
- Shaheen Afridi
- Naseem Shah

We have started cricket at home and our struggle away from home has ended, this is the right time to build a confident team for next decade. I really hope PCB doesn't blow this chance away.

Imran Butt has not had years of continuous performances. He's had two good QEA Trophies from nine campaigns, one coming on lifeless pitches when most batters filled their boots.

http://www.pcboard.com.pk/Pakistan/Players/510/510680/f_Batting_by_Season.html

I agree SAF at home is the perfect sendoff series for Azhar though. We play ZIM away afterwards so ideal place for a new middle-order batsman to debut.