South Africa v Pakistan | 4th T20I | Pretoria | 16 April 2021 | Pre-Match Thread

[MenInG]

2-1 up and with some momentum on their side - how can Pakistan ensure they win this series by winning the final T20I?

Discuss

 

[Ab Fan]

This is 4 T20 series? I think SA might well draw the series in that scenario.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Make better bowling plans for the SAF batsmen.

Bowl wide yorkers in the death.

Keep one over from Shaheen in the death, but allow him to bowl one over in the middle overs to use his variations like bouncer, slower-ball, yorkers, slower-bouncer, etc.

 

[naseem]

Win toss and bowl.....it won't be as flat though...but batting 2nd is an advantage esp against this inexperienced attack

 

[naseem]

This is 4 T20 series? I think SA might well draw the series in that scenario.

Why r u this confident

 

[sindhiboy]

South Africa can consider opening with George linde.
Make him into a sunil narine like kkr did

 

[angrypathan]

Should really look at resting Shaheen for this game since there's no way he'll be rested for the test matches against Zimbabwe

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Should really look at resting Shaheen for this game since there's no way he'll be rested for the test matches against Zimbabwe

There’s many adequate replacements for Shaheen in the tests, we’ve got Tabish or Dhani so not really short on seamers.

Since it’s a decider on Friday play him and then rest him completely in Zimbabwe

 

[Sunzi]

There’s many adequate replacements for Shaheen in the tests, we’ve got Tabish or Dhani so not really short on seamers.

Since it’s a decider on Friday play him and then rest him completely in Zimbabwe

Agreed - give Dhani a go, since they've decided to include him in the squad - why not.

As for tomorrow, the bowling needs to be better - plans and execution. I can't see that it will transform over 2 days but it was terrible last time out. Erratic and tactless.

 

[Rana]

Make better bowling plans for the SAF batsmen.

Bowl wide yorkers in the death.

Keep one over from Shaheen in the death, but allow him to bowl one over in the middle overs to use his variations like bouncer, slower-ball, yorkers, slower-bouncer, etc.

Rauf bowling in the middle overs is pointless

He is cannon fodder on these tracks when he hits length or short of a length

I keep reiterating Rauf should be bowling the 13th, 15th, 17th and 19th over as the specialist Death bowler.

Babar wastes his overs in the power play and before over number 10!

 

[Extreme Pace]

My team:

1. Mohammed Rizwan (WK)
2. Babar Azam (C)
3. Fakhar Zaman
4. Mohammed Hafeez
5. Haider Ali
6. Mohammed Wasim
7. Hasan Ali
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Mohammed Nawaz
10. Usman Qadir
11. Arshad Iqbal

 

[b.lesner]

1.Sharjeel
2. Fakhar
3. Babar
4. Rizwan
5. Hafeez
6. Haider
7. Wasim jr
8. Hassan
9. Nawaz
10. Usman
11. Arshad

 

[Omer2002]

Agreed - give Dhani a go, since they've decided to include him in the squad - why not.

As for tomorrow, the bowling needs to be better - plans and execution. I can't see that it will transform over 2 days but it was terrible last time out. Erratic and tactless.

Dhani is still in Pakistan he is in test swuad flying direct to Zimbabwe

 

[Sunzi]

Dhani is still in Pakistan he is in test swuad flying direct to Zimbabwe

Yeah sorry dude - I meant give Dhani a go in Zimbabwe and rest Shaheen then.

For now, play Shaheen in the final T20I and rest him for the Zimbabwean leg.

 

[NeVerMind]

What about Mo Wasim? Do we give him a go?

 

[Omer2002]

Yeah sorry dude - I meant give Dhani a go in Zimbabwe and rest Shaheen then.

For now, play Shaheen in the final T20I and rest him for the Zimbabwean leg.

Absolutely hundred percent agreed.

Absolute pointless Shaheen playing tests against Zimbabwe and his performances have been going down hill recently as well

 

[Canistani Hero]

Asif Ali out, Usman Qadir in. Rest same.

 

[Firebat]

I doubt Asif Ali will be dropped sadly, considering he didn't get to face a ball.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Agreed - give Dhani a go, since they've decided to include him in the squad - why not.

As for tomorrow, the bowling needs to be better - plans and execution. I can't see that it will transform over 2 days but it was terrible last time out. Erratic and tactless.

Yep, no excuse as to why we should be playing Shaheen after Friday, I would be sending Shaheen home and bringing in Waqas Moqsood in his place or even Taj Wali.

 

[ugem]

Arshad Iqbal should be played for sure.

 

[gazza619]

Unfair to give Sharjeel only one game.

Lets try him at no.5?

 

[Greenstorm]

Rauf bowling in the middle overs is pointless

He is cannon fodder on these tracks when he hits length or short of a length

I keep reiterating Rauf should be bowling the 13th, 15th, 17th and 19th over as the specialist Death bowler.

Babar wastes his overs in the power play and before over number 10!

This. Its obvious that Harris's strength is death overs bowling.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Rauf bowling in the middle overs is pointless

He is cannon fodder on these tracks when he hits length or short of a length

I keep reiterating Rauf should be bowling the 13th, 15th, 17th and 19th over as the specialist Death bowler.

Babar wastes his overs in the power play and before over number 10!

Shaheen is also quite poor in the death. He should finish his overs earlier than the death in my opinion.

 

[ads101]

1. Haider Ali
2. Fakhar
3. Asif Ali
4. Hafeez
5. Babar
6. Rizwan
7. Nawaz
8. Hasan
9. Qadir
10. Rauf
11. Hasnain

Give the rest of the batsmen a shot up the order before Rizwan and Babar, they’ve had enough time there already. Especially Haider.

 

[Rana]

Shaheen is also quite poor in the death. He should finish his overs earlier than the death in my opinion.

It should be Shaheen who bowls the middle overs looking for a break through and Rauf bowling at the end where he is most useful

The most Shaheen should be afforded is one over, either the 19th or 20th

 

[Rana]

The other issue that Pakistan are having is that the Medium pace all rounders do not seem to be the most reliable with the ball at the moment. Hassan Ali is fit and bowling 100% but he hasn’t been good enough. His batting is pretty useful so he gets selected

People keep laughing at this suggestion but we desperately need Dilbar Hussain as our post powerplay to 14th over bowler. He is far more skilled than Hassan Ali and Faheem Ashraf, especially with our soft spinners operating as well.

 

[Yasir_ch]

The other issue that Pakistan are having is that the Medium pace all rounders do not seem to be the most reliable with the ball at the moment. Hassan Ali is fit and bowling 100% but he hasn’t been good enough. His batting is pretty useful so he gets selected

People keep laughing at this suggestion but we desperately need Dilbar Hussain as our post powerplay to 14th over bowler. He is far more skilled than Hassan Ali and Faheem Ashraf, especially with our soft spinners operating as well.

Dilbar Hussain is a special talent.He is very skillful.He bowls at good pace.He has decent Yorker and other variations.He should definitely be picked ahead of Hasan and others

 

[UzmanBeast]

It should be Shaheen who bowls the middle overs looking for a break through and Rauf bowling at the end where he is most useful

The most Shaheen should be afforded is one over, either the 19th or 20th

Agreed. Management is destroying his confidence levels by bowling him in a phase where he isn't successful.

Compared to Rauf, Shaheen has more utility in the middle overs. Rarely does Shaheen use the bouncer in the powerplay (because of the ball being new) and in the death (where there's too much risk).

Similarly, he's stopped using his slower-balls as well, and I fail to understand why.

Needs to bowl in the powerplay and in the middle overs. Rauf can bowl in the death, which should be his role for the upcoming world cup as well.

 

[UzmanBeast]

The other issue that Pakistan are having is that the Medium pace all rounders do not seem to be the most reliable with the ball at the moment. Hassan Ali is fit and bowling 100% but he hasn’t been good enough. His batting is pretty useful so he gets selected

People keep laughing at this suggestion but we desperately need Dilbar Hussain as our post powerplay to 14th over bowler. He is far more skilled than Hassan Ali and Faheem Ashraf, especially with our soft spinners operating as well.

I can understand why you'd want Dilbar, the guy has control over variations and stuff, but last I recall, he's injured.

From our medium-pace all-rounders, none are reliable bowlers. Amad Butt gets whacked all the time, Faheem is useful only on bouncy tracks, and Aamir Yamin got absolutely carted in the PSL. Last option left to try is Mohammad Wasim Jr., which wouldn't be a bad idea doing so in the final game.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

I can understand why you'd want Dilbar, the guy has control over variations and stuff, but last I recall, he's injured.

From our medium-pace all-rounders, none are reliable bowlers. Amad Butt gets whacked all the time, Faheem is useful only on bouncy tracks, and Aamir Yamin got absolutely carted in the PSL. Last option left to try is Mohammad Wasim Jr., which wouldn't be a bad idea doing so in the final game.

I don't know i reckon Arshad Iqbal is getting overlooked and for me i don't think Shaheen has done anything significant this series so i'm half tempted to rest Shaheen and play Arshad.

 

[UzmanBeast]

I don't know i reckon Arshad Iqbal is getting overlooked and for me i don't think Shaheen has done anything significant this series so i'm half tempted to rest Shaheen and play Arshad.

Shaheen has also been used in poor fashion.

An ER of 7 in the Powerplay compared with an ER of 10+ in the death, yet our management persists with him in the death.

He is under a lot of pressure, he needs to bowl in the powerplay and middle overs only. In case of emergency, as in if there's a very settled batsman on the crease, then save one over of his in the death.

Otherwise, use Haris Rauf for death overs bowling along with Hasan Ali.

Faheem + Shaheen to bowl in the powerplay with Nawaz for me.

 

[asadee]

They have to play Qadir he is a wicket taker

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Shaheen has also been used in poor fashion.

An ER of 7 in the Powerplay compared with an ER of 10+ in the death, yet our management persists with him in the death.

He is under a lot of pressure, he needs to bowl in the powerplay and middle overs only. In case of emergency, as in if there's a very settled batsman on the crease, then save one over of his in the death.

Otherwise, use Haris Rauf for death overs bowling along with Hasan Ali.

Faheem + Shaheen to bowl in the powerplay with Nawaz for me.

Although very true, I partly feel the guy needs a break like i say bro i'm half tempted to rest him tomorrow but with the series on the line you can't just rest your big gun player now, although i think introducing a dark horse in Arshad might bring some brightness to us. We are probably expecting another high scorer tomorrow.

InshAllah Pak wins the toss and bowls first, Centurion is hard to defend as Klassen said in a recent interview.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Although very true, I partly feel the guy needs a break like i say bro i'm half tempted to rest him tomorrow but with the series on the line you can't just rest your big gun player now, although i think introducing a dark horse in Arshad might bring some brightness to us. We are probably expecting another high scorer tomorrow.

InshAllah Pak wins the toss and bowls first, Centurion is hard to defend as Klassen said in a recent interview.

Yes, hopefully. Arshad is a bit too raw right now, only 23 T20 games under his belt at the moment. Needs another successful PSL before he can be brought in, but he is a good, sharp bowler. One to look out for.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Yes, hopefully. Arshad is a bit too raw right now, only 23 T20 games under his belt at the moment. Needs another successful PSL before he can be brought in, but he is a good, sharp bowler. One to look out for.

Yep, a lot of the podcasts or analysts have said the same about Arshad still will love to see him in Zimbabwe at least.

 

[GreenKhan]

Should really look at resting Shaheen for this game since there's no way he'll be rested for the test matches against Zimbabwe

Pakistan have 3 t20s before the tests. Don’t see him playing them , so he should be ready for tests. He needs to play tomorrow

 

[Visaal-E-Yaar]

Misbah formula go with the winning combination

 

[Line and Length]

A lot depends on who wins the toss tomorrow. If we bat first, even if we get to around 200, I wouldn't past SA to chase that down.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Pakistan have 3 t20s before the tests. Don’t see him playing them , so he should be ready for tests. He needs to play tomorrow

What will he gain from playing those tests? Honestly what will Shaheen gain. Lots of cricket to come, he's got the PSL in June, followed by a series in England. Why overplay the guy????? Back your newbies and give them a shot.

I reckon with t20s in Zimbabwe i go with the following combo:

1. Sharjeel Khan
2. Fakhar Zaman
3. Babar Azam (c)
4. Muhammad Rizwan (wk)
5. Muhammad Hafeez
6. Haider Ali
7. Muhammad Nawaz
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Usman Qadir/Hassan Ali
10. Muhammad Hasnain
11. Arshad Iqbal

In tests i go with the following XI:

1. Abdullah Shafique
2. Imran Butt
3. Azhar Ali
4. Babar Azam
5. Fawad Alam
6. Muhammad Rizwan
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Hassan Ali
9. Numan Ali
10. Tabish Khan/Shanawaz Dhani
11. Zahid Mehmood

 

[nextover666666]

Arshad iqbal needs to be given a game i personally would have wanted him to play the series but i knew that wasnt going to happen but give him atleast 1 game

 

[MenInG]

Must win game for Pakistan, especially as top SA players missing, can they risk to experiment?

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Agreed. Management is destroying his confidence levels by bowling him in a phase where he isn't successful.

Compared to Rauf, Shaheen has more utility in the middle overs. Rarely does Shaheen use the bouncer in the powerplay (because of the ball being new) and in the death (where there's too much risk).

Similarly, he's stopped using his slower-balls as well, and I fail to understand why.

Needs to bowl in the powerplay and in the middle overs. Rauf can bowl in the death, which should be his role for the upcoming world cup as well.

Regardless of what Management is doing SSA should learn to bowl in death overs

he is our main bowler and he should be backed to bowl in death overs. And these t20 series are better for learning