The captaincy dilemma: Is the PCB trying to eliminate Mohammad Rizwan from the leadership race?

[jeeteshssaxena]

Being the highest run scorer is hardly an achievement in t20s if it's not coupled with good str rate and impactful innings.

Buttler is the best t20 opener in the world, not Babar or Rizwan.

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

There is some serious madness with people either in the sarfraz or rizwan camp.

First and foremost whoever is the best player of the two should play for Pakistan in that format at any given time.

i.e. form / Fitness. Rizwan is streets ahead in both aspects and is without a doubt the NO1 keeper in Pakistan.

sarfraz is the test No 2 and should fill in when ever rizwan is rested for workload reasons or his form is not great.

sarfraz s glovework needs to be spot on for test cricket otherwise it is the difference between winning / drawing or loosing a test or series.

Also some might argue sarfraz didn't play rizwan during his captaincy despite scoring back to back ODI centuries against the aussies.

In summary the best should play.

 

[Rana]

They rested them due to playing against a small side. You really think they would drop shaheen?

Shaheen is the only one being rested

The other three are being told they are not really in the future plans for the T20 side

Fakhar also is being rested

 

[Rana]

Being the highest run scorer is hardly an achievement in t20s if it's not coupled with good str rate and impactful innings.

Buttler is the best t20 opener in the world, not Babar or Rizwan.

Butler
Bairstow
Roy
Hales

Each one of them is better than Babar and Rizwan

 

[topspin]

They rested them due to playing against a small side. You really think they would drop shaheen?

I think this might be a turning point for Babar and Rizwan in T20Is because I don't remember the last time when Pakistan had rested their first string players (even against minnows) in the shortest format.

Shaheen has genuinely been rested because his workload needs to be managed as he's a fast bowler, so therefore more prone to injury. Pakistan can ill afford to have him injured again, as we get closer to the ODI World Cup in India later this year.

As for Babar and Rizwan, it's not clear whether they've been "rested" or whether they're experimenting with the squad so they can work out what the best opening combination is for the T20I side.

During Sarfraz's era as captain of the side, I don't ever remember him getting rested for Rizwan so I have my doubts whether him and Babar are automatic selection for Pakistan.

 

[topspin]

I think this might be a turning point for Babar and Rizwan in T20Is because I don't remember the last time when Pakistan had rested their first string players (even against minnows) in the shortest format.

Shaheen has genuinely been rested because his workload needs to be managed as he's a fast bowler, so therefore more prone to injury. Pakistan can ill afford to have him injured again, as we get closer to the ODI World Cup in India later this year.

As for Babar and Rizwan, it's not clear whether they've been "rested" or whether they're experimenting with the squad so they can work out what the best opening combination is for the T20I side.

During Sarfraz's era as captain of the side, I don't ever remember him getting rested for Rizwan so I have my doubts whether him and Babar are automatic selection for Pakistan.

In the shortest format

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

I think this might be a turning point for Babar and Rizwan in T20Is because I don't remember the last time when Pakistan had rested their first string players (even against minnows) in the shortest format.

Shaheen has genuinely been rested because his workload needs to be managed as he's a fast bowler, so therefore more prone to injury. Pakistan can ill afford to have him injured again, as we get closer to the ODI World Cup in India later this year.

As for Babar and Rizwan, it's not clear whether they've been "rested" or whether they're experimenting with the squad so they can work out what the best opening combination is for the T20I side.

During Sarfraz's era as captain of the side, I don't ever remember him getting rested for Rizwan so I have my doubts whether him and Babar are automatic selection for Pakistan.

During Sarfi’s time our batting bench strength was absolutely appalling. Remember, this began coming on the back of the 2015 WC. Thus Sarfi not resting was because he couldn’t.

As regards RizBabar, the true indication will come from Mickey’s directive.

For Mickey this is a new situation as well. Given that Sarfi was captain during Mickey’s time, Mickey didn’t have the batting (or bowling) bench strength at the time. So he may be more willing to experiment in t20s in this calendar year.

 

[Rana]

I think this might be a turning point for Babar and Rizwan in T20Is because I don't remember the last time when Pakistan had rested their first string players (even against minnows) in the shortest format.

Shaheen has genuinely been rested because his workload needs to be managed as he's a fast bowler, so therefore more prone to injury. Pakistan can ill afford to have him injured again, as we get closer to the ODI World Cup in India later this year.

As for Babar and Rizwan, it's not clear whether they've been "rested" or whether they're experimenting with the squad so they can work out what the best opening combination is for the T20I side.

During Sarfraz's era as captain of the side, I don't ever remember him getting rested for Rizwan so I have my doubts whether him and Babar are automatic selection for Pakistan.

Yeah it’s not like they wanted to be rested and didn’t try their best to put pressure on the selectors to not rest them. They knew where this was heading for them

 

[PakEngFan]

Babar and rizwan haters are getting very happy. They will be back next series. Don’t get too excited.

 

[Rana]

Babar and rizwan haters are getting very happy. They will be back next series. Don’t get too excited.

Bad news for Pakistan cricket

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

Bad news for Pakistan cricket

If Riz can improve his good length offside game, If they both can work more on their 360 shots and their power game, they can both be options in the future for Pakistan in 2024.

If Hafeez can reinvent himself so late in his career then so can these two. But they need to go away, play loads of franchise cricket to develop these skills. In the meantime we try other options.

 

[shamaan]

Rizwan and Babar wearnt dropped they were rested so they can give the youngsters a chance.

 

[daytrader]

Chothi chothi khushiyan for some getting delight in Babar and Rizwan being rested in an inconsequential T20i series.

Both are the back bones of our team in all formats and they've been playing a lot. Both deserve the rest. We have a World Cup to win this year and we need our top performers in the best of shape.

 

[Rana]

Chothi chothi khushiyan for some getting delight in Babar and Rizwan being rested in an inconsequential T20i series.

Both are the back bones of our team in all formats and they've been playing a lot. Both deserve the rest. We have a World Cup to win this year and we need our top performers in the best of shape.

Did they want to rest though?

They were desperate to play and maintain their rankings

Personal goals over national interest every time for them

 

[daytrader]

Did they want to rest though?

They were desperate to play and maintain their rankings

Personal goals over national interest every time for them

Everyone appreciates days off and being able to spend quality time with their loved ones. That's what they need. They also have a guarantee from Najam Sethi that they will be back-

"Babar will remain our captain in all the three formats. I have taken all the senior players into confidence and they all will be part of the team in future, there's no question about this."

As for their rankings, we will need a lot more series with Afg and other minnows for a Pakistani batter not named Babar or Rizwan, to break into the top 3.

 

[Saj]

If it was a choice between Shaheen and Rizwan to take over from Babar as T20 captain, I would at this stage in their careers prefer Rizwan.

 

[iPakistani]

If it was a choice between Shaheen and Rizwan to take over from Babar as T20 captain, I would at this stage in their careers prefer Rizwan.

As much as change would be great, it could also be a shot in the foot. Rizwan becoming captain would ensure his selection indefinitely at a time when Pakistan are producing very promising openers (Haris, Saim, Fakhar, Abdullah).

Shaheen becoming captain at an age where he should be mastering the art of bowling will probably take his focus away from improving his bowling. He still has a lot to work on bowling wise and it's best for Pakistan in the long-term that he works on this before anything else.

Babar has been pretty uninspiring as a leader but he is the biggest sports personality in Pakistan, even if his performances dip to zero he isn't being discarded from any format. He's probably the best and only choice Pakistan has.

 

[Cric1234]

Babar and rizwan haters are getting very happy. They will be back next series. Don’t get too excited.

Babar and Rizwan fans must want Pakistan to lose big matches in tournaments and series as that’s all they have been doing with their amazing batting upfront.

 

[topspin]

During Sarfi’s time our batting bench strength was absolutely appalling. Remember, this began coming on the back of the 2015 WC. Thus Sarfi not resting was because he couldn’t.

As regards RizBabar, the true indication will come from Mickey’s directive.

For Mickey this is a new situation as well. Given that Sarfi was captain during Mickey’s time, Mickey didn’t have the batting (or bowling) bench strength at the time. So he may be more willing to experiment in t20s in this calendar year.

The batting strength may have been appalling but I don't remember Rizwan getting many chances prior to the 2019 World Cup whilst Sarfraz was struggling with the bat.

If it wasn't for Sarfraz's ban for what he said to Phelukwayo, Rizwan wouldn't have played Australia in that 2019 bilateral series in the UAE. Despite scoring 2 x tons, he couldn't even get a place in the side during the ODI WC that year.

The point is Pakistan cricket has always been reluctant to experiment and test our bench strength.

The fact this is probably the first time I've ever seen two regular batsmen in the team suggests there is more to it than being "rested".

 

[Rana]

Our captain not picked in the hundred

His 140 strike rate in PSL should have landed him a contract

 

[topspin]

Yeah it’s not like they wanted to be rested and didn’t try their best to put pressure on the selectors to not rest them. They knew where this was heading for them

I'm certain if they had the choice to play or rest, they would've wanted to play especially when you have promising upcoming players in pursuit of your place in the side.

 

[Rana]

I'm certain if they had the choice to play or rest, they would've wanted to play especially when you have promising upcoming players in pursuit of your place in the side.

Shadab Khan confirmed they didn’t want to rest

Seriously, how selfish can you get?

 

[topspin]

Our captain not picked in the hundred

His 140 strike rate in PSL should have landed him a contract

I'm glad those English coaches and analysts could probably see that it's 10% higher than expected due to the Rawalpindi pitches.

 

[Rana]

[MENTION=147314]topspin[/MENTION] don’t worry, ECB understands our concerns and have decided to rest Babar and Rizwan from the hundred. They worry so much about our countries main players workload in the World Cup year

 

[topspin]

[MENTION=147314]topspin[/MENTION] don’t worry, ECB understands our concerns and have decided to rest Babar and Rizwan from the hundred. They worry so much about our countries main players workload in the World Cup year

The workload is heavy due to the Ramadhan Cup. Maybe those runs might help them secure a 2024 Hundred contract.

 

[topspin]

Shadab Khan confirmed they didn’t want to rest

Seriously, how selfish can you get?

Shady spilling it out. Love it.

Very selfish indeed.

 

[Markhor]

As much as change would be great, it could also be a shot in the foot. Rizwan becoming captain would ensure his selection indefinitely at a time when Pakistan are producing very promising openers (Haris, Saim, Fakhar, Abdullah).

Shaheen becoming captain at an age where he should be mastering the art of bowling will probably take his focus away from improving his bowling. He still has a lot to work on bowling wise and it's best for Pakistan in the long-term that he works on this before anything else.

Babar has been pretty uninspiring as a leader but he is the biggest sports personality in Pakistan, even if his performances dip to zero he isn't being discarded from any format. He's probably the best and only choice Pakistan has.

There's also something called accountability. You should not oversee 8 winless Tests at home, including a first ever 0-3 home whitewash, and remain captain.

You shouldn't oversee a declaration that nearly giftwraps the opposition a Test, in act of phony bravado to show the public how "aggressive" you are.

Babar has never been a successful captain at ANY level be it U19, domestic, PSL or national. What makes anyone think he'll transform his leadership now ?

 

[Markhor]

Rizwan should not be the next captain. We've had enough nicey nicey, good vibes leadership over the last few years.

We need someone to whip this sorry lot into shape and not be afraid of making tough decisions, not someone who seemingly wants to win the Nobel Peace Prize with displays of OTT piety and humility.

He has enough on his plate with keeping and batting, which wasn't too hot in Tests last years. Let him be vice captain.