Team of the tournament - National T20 Cup 2020

[GoUgandaCranes]

The fielding wasn't always good & was even abysmal at times, some old faces popped up a lot more than they should have, & the broadcasting had some issues but overall, the tournament sets a perfect template for what Pakistan's domestic cricket should be like.

The amount of scrutiny has been such that coaches "had to" draft people from the second 11 to replace nonperforming players. I'm not sure if I have seen this kind of contingency planning or accountability in any Pakistani domestic tournament before.

Because of the covid crisis and HD option availability, the tournament was a good distraction and an entertaining watch even though this format isn't the most rewarding of the lot.

Here's a selection of sixteen players who I feel dominated or announced themselves in the tournament

1. Babar
2. Maqsood
3. Haider
4. Shafiq (Abdullah)
5. Rizwan (keeper)
6. Khushdil
7. Shadab
8. Amir (Yameen)
9. Wahab
x. Rauf
c. Shaheen

Hassan, Azam, & Danish from Sindh all announced themselves in the tournament and while the latter two need immense work on fitness and fielding, Azam has put his name forward as a left-field choice for a wicket keeping batsman.

Zahid from S. Punjab despite playing less has also served notice of his talent.

Qasim Akram from C. Punjab is also one to keep an eye on even though he didn't get as many opportunities with the bat, he looks to have some spark in him.

Honorable mention to Akif (Balochistan), Muhammad Imran and Ali Imran (SP & Northern) respectively and Fakhar (KPK).

Some older faces like Akmal, Tanvir, Irfan, Bhatti & Rahat look to be in the fading stages of their career which also seems like a good news. There was no mystery spinner or even a left-arm chinaman which is a minor bummer. Hasnain and Naseem seem to either be injured or out of form which is not an encouraging news for the future. No one knows where Amir's heart is anymore but it certainly isn't in the cricketing field from the looks of it.

Short reviews on the teams after the tournament:

Balochistan picked a team that had no middle order whatsoever.

C. Punjab invested on the wrong Akmal and a club level player as captain for half the tournament.

Sindh had so many heavy weights sometimes it was hard to remember which sport was being played.

The Northeners continued to believe in Asif as if he was a savior which he diligently disproved match after match. Also, you have to be mad to think that Imad is a good captain, Shadab despite his theatrics is light years ahead in that department.

KPK are probably the oldest domestic side in the world in terms of average age even if we consider Iftikhar to be 29.

SP have the spirit of 92 tattoeed on the insides of their heads and have one of the smartest "tareen" players in Pakistan as their captain. Good on you Shan, we laughed at you once for thinking of you as a nothing player but you continue to prove that hardwork can get you places.

After the onesided semis, I hope the final is competitive in nature but
whatever happens tomorrow is irrelevant as cliched as it is, the tournament (not cricket) itself is a winner no matter who lifts the trophy.

Here's hoping to more HD coverage, qualifier/eliminator style final matches, less shoddy commentary, & better graphics the next time PCB schedule some cricket.

Har haal main cricket!!

 

[Ummii]

1: Zeeshan Malik
2: Haider Ali
3: Babar Azam
4: Abdullah Shafique
5: Muhammad Rizwan (c) (w)
6: Shadab Khan
7: Danish Aziz
8: Amir Yamin
9: Wahab Riaz
10: Haris Rauf
11: Shaheen Shah Afridi

 

[coy0607]

1: Zeeshan Malik
2: Haider Ali
3: Babar Azam
4: Abdullah Shafique
5: Muhammad Rizwan (c) (w)
6: Shadab Khan
7: Danish Aziz
8: Amir Yamin
9: Wahab Riaz
10: Haris Rauf
11: Shaheen Shah Afridi

You left our the 3 highest run scorers of the tournament. Of the top 7 scorers, you only selected 2

Also, Ehsan Adil outperformed Wahab. He has a better average, SR, economy, and wickets/match than Wahab

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Team of the Tournament

1. Babar Azam
2. Zeeshan Ashraf (wk)
3. Haider Ali
4. Shadab Khan (c)
5. Sohaib Maqsood
6. Khushdil Shah
7. Danish Aziz
8. Aamer Yamin
9. Zahid Mahmood
10. Shaheen Afridi
11. Haris Rauf

Bench: Zeeshan Malik, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Azam Khan, Ehsan Adil, Qasim Akram.

Obviously some of these players are too undercooked or overcooked to be selected (thus some bench players like Abdullah Shafiq should be selected ahead of Sohaib Maqsood), but these are the best performers of the tournament.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Also, the keeper’s call is tough. Rizwan is hands down the best batsman and best keeper from all the keepers, yet he also bats a little slow for the first 30 runs and then tries to compensate after that.

 

[Savak]

Sharjeel was a huge dissapointment

 

[Titan24]

Team of the Tournament

1. Babar Azam
2. Zeeshan Ashraf (wk)
3. Haider Ali
4. Shadab Khan (c)
5. Sohaib Maqsood
6. Khushdil Shah
7. Danish Aziz
8. Aamer Yamin
9. Zahid Mahmood
10. Shaheen Afridi
11. Haris Rauf

Bench: Zeeshan Malik, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Azam Khan, Ehsan Adil, Qasim Akram.

Obviously some of these players are too undercooked or overcooked to be selected (thus some bench players like Abdullah Shafiq should be selected ahead of Sohaib Maqsood), but these are the best performers of the tournament.

Pretty good, considering the style of play each player offer for team composition. I will probably add Sohail Khan to the bench as well over Qasim and probably even in the XI over Zahid depending upon the conditions as Danish, Khushdil can also provide bit of a spin option if necessary. While Sohail Khan doesnt have much future in LOIs but bowled really well in the tournament.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Pretty good, considering the style of play each player offer for team composition. I will probably add Sohail Khan to the bench as well over Qasim and probably even in the XI over Zahid depending upon the conditions as Danish, Khushdil can also provide bit of a spin option if necessary. While Sohail Khan doesnt have much future in LOIs but bowled really well in the tournament.

Very true, but the only reason I didn’t include him is because the first XI already has 3 new ball bowlers. Performed surprisingly well though.

 

[DandyFellow]

Team of the Tournament

1. Babar Azam
2. Zeeshan Ashraf (wk)
3. Haider Ali
4. Shadab Khan (c)
5. Sohaib Maqsood
6. Khushdil Shah
7. Danish Aziz
8. Aamer Yamin
9. Zahid Mahmood
10. Shaheen Afridi
11. Haris Rauf

Bench: Zeeshan Malik, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Azam Khan, Ehsan Adil, Qasim Akram.

Obviously some of these players are too undercooked or overcooked to be selected (thus some bench players like Abdullah Shafiq should be selected ahead of Sohaib Maqsood), but these are the best performers of the tournament.

I really like your team but I would put Rizwan in instead of Zeeshan Ashraf and I will tell my logic behind it too. In your team, everybody except Babar is an aggressive hitter and your team has all the potential to collapse and lose badly. It is a team which will win flamboyantly but will lose crucial matches too. Due to that I would prefer a steady opening partnership which can score at 7 or 8 run a over without losing a wicket in the Powerplay and that would be with Babar and Rizwan. With that, some flamboyant victories will go away but that team would win much more than lose. From No. 3 to No. 8 all can hit from ball one which makes a steady opening combo sensible.
However, I am just saying this because of the team you made. In the Pakistan team we have consolidators who need 5 to 10 deliveries at least for hitting out. That means we need a striker with Babar which right now is Fakhar.
Feel free to disagree but this is how I put my argument.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

I really like your team but I would put Rizwan in instead of Zeeshan Ashraf and I will tell my logic behind it too. In your team, everybody except Babar is an aggressive hitter and your team has all the potential to collapse and lose badly. It is a team which will win flamboyantly but will lose crucial matches too. Due to that I would prefer a steady opening partnership which can score at 7 or 8 run a over without losing a wicket in the Powerplay and that would be with Babar and Rizwan. With that, some flamboyant victories will go away but that team would win much more than lose. From No. 3 to No. 8 all can hit from ball one which makes a steady opening combo sensible.
However, I am just saying this because of the team you made. In the Pakistan team we have consolidators who need 5 to 10 deliveries at least for hitting out. That means we need a striker with Babar which right now is Fakhar.
Feel free to disagree but this is how I put my argument.

That makes a lot of sense. Rizwan is also the much better keeper, and he’s working hard on his power hitting game. So not a bad choice at all to have him open with Babar.

Regarding flamboyance, I feel the most flamboyant batting lineups are often most successful in T20s because it translates to high strike rates while utilizing all the wickets available, so even if there is a collapse of 2-3 quick wickets, those players do some good damage before getting out.

Also, in addition to Babar we have players like Shadab and Haider who have the ability to dig in deep if need be, and so does Danish Aziz, so I don’t think it’s completely full of aggressive hitters who might get out quickly. That’s why for me it’s more of a tossup between Rizwan and Zeeshan (though as I think more and more about it, Rizwan’s keeping skill might just edge him out).

 

[MMHS]

For a change, I'll make this squad based on SR - there has been significant numbers of games (10 each) and most players have got 6-7 outing. Also, I'll pick players on their batting position - no point picking someone at 6 for his stats at three. Also, players have to play at least 5 games to be considered, otherwise the stats can be misleading. This will be my 16 men squad

1. *Babar
2. Haider
3. Maqsood
4. +Rizwan
5. Shadab
6. Khusdil
7. Azam/Danish Aziz
8. Sohail Khan
9. Shaheen
10. Rauf
11. Akif
----------------------------------
13. Amir Yamin
14. +Zeeshan Ashraf
15. Gohar
16. Imam

 

[naseem]

The team I hoped to see....
Sharjeel
Babar
Haider
Abdullah
Rohail
Khushdil
Danish
Zafar
Amad Butt
Amir
Rauf
Saheen

The team that should be...
Babar
Rizwan
Maqsood
Abdullah
Danish Aziz
Khushdil
Shadab
Yamin
RAuf
Sinwari
Saheen

 

[ezy9]

This is something PCB should do as well. Release a official team of the tornument. And have some rewards/recognition to all who make it. Good to boost player morales who make it and them knowing their hard work is being recognised.

 

[ameemlutfi]

Rizwan
Khurram
Abdullah
Maqsood
Shadab
Khushdil
Yamin
Zahid/Danish Aziz
Rauf
Shaheen
Sohail

 

[Loralai]

1. Babar Azam
2. Haider Ali
3. Sohaib Maqsood
4. Mohammed Rizwan
5. Danish Aziz
6. Khushdil Shah
7. Aamir Yamin
8. Sohail Khan
9. Shaheen Shah Afridi
10. Zahid Mahmood
11. Haris Rauf

 

[ataullah]

Muhammad Rizwan
Sohaib Maqsood
Abdullah Shafiq
Azam Khan
Khushdil Shah
Danish Aziz
Amir yamin
Sohail Khan
Shaheen Shah
Zahid Mehmood
Haris Rauf

 

[shamaan]

Babar
Zeeshan Ashraf
Abdullah shaifque
Azam khan
Khushdil
Danish aziz
Shadab khan
Yamin
Qadir
Shaheen
Rauf

 

[Titan24]

This is something PCB should do as well. Release a official team of the tornument. And have some rewards/recognition to all who make it. Good to boost player morales who make it and them knowing their hard work is being recognised.

Agreed.

 

[DandyFellow]

That makes a lot of sense. Rizwan is also the much better keeper, and he’s working hard on his power hitting game. So not a bad choice at all to have him open with Babar.

Regarding flamboyance, I feel the most flamboyant batting lineups are often most successful in T20s because it translates to high strike rates while utilizing all the wickets available, so even if there is a collapse of 2-3 quick wickets, those players do some good damage before getting out.

Also, in addition to Babar we have players like Shadab and Haider who have the ability to dig in deep if need be, and so does Danish Aziz, so I don’t think it’s completely full of aggressive hitters who might get out quickly. That’s why for me it’s more of a tossup between Rizwan and Zeeshan (though as I think more and more about it, Rizwan’s keeping skill might just edge him out).

I agree with you that the most flamboyant teams win the most. In this tournament, it was Northern. But did they win the tournament? Nope. Flamboyant teams often fail in pressure games where scoring 200 is not required. On your team if two wickets fall early including Babar and Haider then the team becomes really vulnerable. If you have 15 overs to play and you have Shadab, Khushdil, Sohaib, Danish and Amer Yamin they all do not know how to set up the innings at international level or a crucial tournament game.
Your team will give epic phainta to teams in normal matches and less pressure games. Statistically flamboyant teams win the most in T20 but the world cup or the tournament is won through a strong and consistent bowling line up. All the teams including West Indies had the bowling line up suitable for T20s.

 

[MenInG]

As long as that team does not have the likes of Malik, Shafiq - think I will be fine with it.

Seriously speaking

Haider Ali
Khushdil
Rohail
Haris Rauf
Zahid Mahmood
Abdullah Shafiq
Rizwan
Shaheen Shah Afridi

all of these are core for my team of the tournament.

 

[silent ischemia]

Babar
Rizwan (wk)
Haider
Maqsood
Shadab (c)
Khushdil
Danish/Azam
Yameen
Sohail/Zahid
Shaheen
Rauf

 

[Ertugrul_Bey]

Knowing Misbah, we will be seeing Malik, Hafeez, Iftikhar, Wahab, Sarfaraz getting selecting for Zimbabwe series.

 

[Markhor]

I agree with most of these names listed here, but can I just say how damn easier it is as a fan to properly monitor the players with only six teams.

In the old system with a hotchpotch of departments and regions, it was impossible to track a player and so many youngsters were simply lost in the system.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

I agree with most of these names listed here, but can I just say how damn easier it is as a fan to properly monitor the players with only six teams.

In the old system with a hotchpotch of departments and regions, it was impossible to track a player and so many youngsters were simply lost in the system.

I principally agree with you but would love to have one more team representing Gilgit Baltistan.

The best bit about fewer teams is that the competition is between the best available talent playing the FC circuit. Take the example of Sohaib Maqsood, he's a good hitter and almost a very good player. If he has to face Taj Wali, an almost retired Gul, Ammad Butt, or some other domestic trundler, he's going to smash them till Multan via G.T. Road. Make him face Shaheen and he's going to be the same rabbit in front of headlights that we saw when he played international cricket.

I have always agreed with IK that domestic cricket should be as close to international cricket as possible if you want to have a constant stream of talent. That's why I don't rate some domestic players who dominate our cricket season after season primarily because of few reasons

1. Talent pool is thinned out so much that every domestic team carries 60 percent passengers
2. The few good international class players left are touring with the Pakistan international team hence diluting the talent pool even more
3. Our fielding is abysmal so we can never really know how many catches were dropped before the batter ultimately got out

I truly hope that they deliver the feeder system below this standard in the next couple of years and we have a thriving club and school cricket scene. That would be the true revolution in terms of cricket and hopefully that will make us become a strong cricketing nation.

 

[Titan24]

I principally agree with you but would love to have one more team representing Gilgit Baltistan.

The best bit about fewer teams is that the competition is between the best available talent playing the FC circuit. Take the example of Sohaib Maqsood, he's a good hitter and almost a very good player. If he has to face Taj Wali, an almost retired Gul, Ammad Butt, or some other domestic trundler, he's going to smash them till Multan via G.T. Road. Make him face Shaheen and he's going to be the same rabbit in front of headlights that we saw when he played international cricket.

I have always agreed with IK that domestic cricket should be as close to international cricket as possible if you want to have a constant stream of talent. That's why I don't rate some domestic players who dominate our cricket season after season primarily because of few reasons

1. Talent pool is thinned out so much that every domestic team carries 60 percent passengers
2. The few good international class players left are touring with the Pakistan international team hence diluting the talent pool even more
3. Our fielding is abysmal so we can never really know how many catches were dropped before the batter ultimately got out

I truly hope that they deliver the feeder system below this standard in the next couple of years and we have a thriving club and school cricket scene. That would be the true revolution in terms of cricket and hopefully that will make us become a strong cricketing nation.

I agree with your points but, we can only easily see these things because of 6 teams now. Imagine what would have been the quality of cricket in the 18 team or so domestic structure along with multiple random tournaments with few involving departments and some involving regions/cities. Some good hitters would have had much easier bowlers to face then almost retired Gul or Taj Wali (Who has better domestic stats than some who used to play in other teams in previous domestic structure).

There were so many free riders and ordinary players in previous domestic structure that we cant even imagine and almost nobody knew as who can follow so many teams and each player in them.

Grass root system can hopefully be developed soon as that would be the heart of this system.

 

[Square Drive]

Babar Azam
Fakhar Zaman
Mohammad Rizwan* (WK)
Sohaib Maqsood
Shadab Khan (VC)
Khushdil Shah
Danish Aziz
Aamer Yamin
Wahab Riaz
Haris Rauf
Shaheen Afridi

Bench: Zeeshan Malik, Haider Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafiq, Ehsan Adil

Don't know how everyone's leaving out the player of the tournament in Fakhar.

 

[hitthestump]

Team of the Tournament

1. Babar Azam
2. Zeeshan Ashraf (wk)
3. Haider Ali
4. Shadab Khan (c)
5. Sohaib Maqsood
6. Khushdil Shah
7. Danish Aziz
8. Aamer Yamin
9. Zahid Mahmood
10. Shaheen Afridi
11. Haris Rauf

Bench: Zeeshan Malik, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Azam Khan, Ehsan Adil, Qasim Akram.

Obviously some of these players are too undercooked or overcooked to be selected (thus some bench players like Abdullah Shafiq should be selected ahead of Sohaib Maqsood), but these are the best performers of the tournament.

The best thing about this is that it is largely a new look side. For once there's several batsmen to be excited about at once, i can't physically remember the last time i had that feeling.

Extremely worried about Misbah's abilities to nurture our youngsters with appropriate international exposure over time. I don't think he has the first clue how to develop young talent.