The case AGAINST Shan Masood's inclusion for Pakistan's white-ball sides

[MenInG]

I like many others are slightly bewildered here.

Shan Masood, probably, also!

His name is in both squads chosen for the series against NZ.

Question really is why?

Here are some stats.

T20Is

ODIs

Unless I am missing some vital piece of information, I as a selector would not be picking him for any ODI or T20I.

In fact the likes of Azam Khan could well argue that they could easily be given his place in the side as well.

So what's happening here?

These are not the stats of a sure pick for any self-respecting white-ball side in the world!

So exactly what has he done so far that makes him a pick in the white ball formats?

 

[ads101]

I think his inclusion isn’t terrible. In t20s those stats are better than his competition in middle order. We have been truly dreadful there. No good average or SR. Masood at least has that. He also was arguably the best batsman in the World Cup for us (bar maybe the impact of Haris), scored at an average over 40. Masood has been performing in PSLs and English domestic t20s middle order despite having a recent poor PSL.

As for ODIs he has one of the best domestic records ever. I can’t begrudge him for having that.

Yes Azam should have been given another chance. That was the clear alternative. Especially considering middle options are so few. But it feels management were so irritated by his fitness and keeping they dropped him for good. So naturally they will go back to the previous guys in the middle order that did ok like masood and iftikhar. The guys who performed even worse like Khushdil and Asif Ali are dropped.

The only alternative right now is picking guys like Saim, Abdullah and making them play middle order. I’m not sure they’ll do well at that and it will damage their confidence. And I’m sure if they did that, people would be complaining they’re not playing their natural position. Better to play guys you can afford to destroy not playing their natural position than youngsters you can’t. Already seen this with Haider Ali.

The biggest error with the squads was the non inclusion of imad in ODIs.

 

[Mamoon]

There is no case for including him in any format. He was, is and always will be an awful player at international level.

He just doesn’t have the ability but unfortunately, PCB is influenced by his English and of course his family background.

Arguably the luckiest player to ever play for Pakistan. He should have never played international cricket in the first place.

Far, far better players than him have 0 international caps or only played for a very brief period while this failure has stuck around for 10 years and has even been rewarded with leadership roles.

 

[proud_pakistani]

He's included because he had 2 semi decent innings in the world cup. That's about it. More than his batting he's an easy going guy in the dressing room. Also him being there ensures there's not too much pressure on the actual playing 11 to play him. If Saim made the ODI squad pressure would build to play Saim ahead of maybe Fakhar. Can't say the same for Shan Masood. He's a great tactical and political selection. Plus good English

 

[topspin]

I think his inclusion isn’t terrible. In t20s those stats are better than his competition in middle order. We have been truly dreadful there. No good average or SR. Masood at least has that. He also was arguably the best batsman in the World Cup for us (bar maybe the impact of Haris), scored at an average over 40. Masood has been performing in PSLs and English domestic t20s middle order despite having a recent poor PSL.

As for ODIs he has one of the best domestic records ever. I can’t begrudge him for having that.

Yes Azam should have been given another chance. That was the clear alternative. Especially considering middle options are so few. But it feels management were so irritated by his fitness and keeping they dropped him for good. So naturally they will go back to the previous guys in the middle order that did ok like masood and iftikhar. The guys who performed even worse like Khushdil and Asif Ali are dropped.

The only alternative right now is picking guys like Saim, Abdullah and making them play middle order. I’m not sure they’ll do well at that and it will damage their confidence. And I’m sure if they did that, people would be complaining they’re not playing their natural position. Better to play guys you can afford to destroy not playing their natural position than youngsters you can’t. Already seen this with Haider Ali.

The biggest error with the squads was the non inclusion of imad in ODIs.

I'd like to think Imad's exclusion in the ODIs is a blunder but I think it's more to do with Babar's personal dislike of him. Some will argue that this isn't the case as otherwise Imad wouldn't have been selected for the T20Is. However, Imad's performances with the bat during the PSL gave Pakistan no choice but to select him so Babar had no choice but to accommodate him for the side.

 

[reversehook]

I am super nice, i can speak english fluently, i should be in the squad too, but i guess i just dont have as solid a parchi as him perhaps... otherwise I too was a no brainer selection...

 

[UP]

A big, big parchi.

 

[Rana]

You think Babar and Rizwan have a poor balls per six ratio?

Well this guy averaged 1 six in 120+ balls in the PSL

On what basis is he a T20 player?

 

[Rana]

His natural inclination is to hit every ball into the ground straight away

He is too scared to get out, far worse than Babar is. He isn’t at all built for T20s to say the least and is an absolute failure in Test cricket.

 

[gazza619]

His natural inclination is to hit every ball into the ground straight away

He is too scared to get out, far worse than Babar is. He isn’t at all built for T20s to say the least and is an absolute failure in Test cricket.

With Mickey Arthur & Sethi in charge, Shan aint going anywhere. Lets just accept this. May be he can be used to attend the post match conferences.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

If I was Shan I would retire from international cricket.

He can make a massive impact at Yorkshire and be a able to enjoy a lucrative post cricket career on thr back of facilitating their rehabilitation.

A few random T20 and ODI caps at his age aren't worth it.

 

[reversehook]

If I was Shan I would retire from international cricket.

He can make a massive impact at Yorkshire and be a able to enjoy a lucrative post cricket career on thr back of facilitating their rehabilitation.

A few random T20 and ODI caps at his age aren't worth it.

Thats a solid advice if our parchi boy would take it...

 

[ahmadharis1]

Not a fan of him in T20's, wouldn't mind him in the ODI squad however

 

[Kianig89]

Modern day Faisal Iqbal he is, Pakistan's Stuart Binny shameful

 

[volcyz]

Influential Connections get you very far i. All facets of life

 

[Colorblind Genius]

i like many others are slightly bewildered here.

Shan masood, probably, also!

His name is in both squads chosen for the series against nz.

Question really is why?

Here are some stats.

T20is

odis

unless i am missing some vital piece of information, i as a selector would not be picking him for any odi or t20i.

In fact the likes of azam khan could well argue that they could easily be given his place in the side as well.

So what's happening here?

These are not the stats of a sure pick for any self-respecting white-ball side in the world!

So exactly what has he done so far that makes him a pick in the white ball formats?

potw!

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Shan was easily the best Pakistani batter after Fakhar in the previous season of PSL. Additionally, he is a strong backfoot player and his selection for a World T20 in Australia was a no brainer. But he was horrible this PSL and the next World T20 is in the Caribbean where there will be better options. So not sure he is needed now.

 

[Major]

I would disagree slightly.

Shan Masood is hated because the guy has connections. His education and good family background helped him in developing the right connections. Education plays a big hand. The PCB upper management is made up of educated people, the cricketers are illiterate but the face of our cricket. When the upper management meets the players they feel it as an insult talking to them as to how illiterate our cricketers are, no offence.

Younis Khan and tantrum of him being made to wait outside PCB's office is the best example of this.

People like Shan Masood, who are educated know how to talk and know how to develop a connection and network. The upper management than likes to talk to such players than. This played a big part in Shan Masood in developing his connections and I dont blame him. Any sane person would do this.

Now as for his playing capabilities, he is not as bad as people have made him to be.

In List A cricket, he avgs at 56. He should had been in out one day squad long time ago, instead he was added in our test sqaud, where he was terrible and always got exposed. PCB did the same mistake with Fawad Alam, a test and odi batter, who was part of our t20 squad. Guy gets exposed in t20, and was axed from the squads in which he was good at. Shan Masood improved his one day game, he knows how to take a single.

After Sharjeel Khan got caught doing corruption, Shan Masood was the answer. Even Imam ul haq is also very good and i dont mind having Imam and Shan as openers.

Now as for T20, some might say I am playing the devils advocate, but the guy proved his T20 worth aswell. Yes he is not a six hitter or big boundary hitter, but remember what happened in Australia?

Australian cricket grounds are big. You dont survive their by scoring runs through fours and sixes, you need to rotate strike, convert doubles to tripples and singles to doubles. Melbourne is very big and the reason why we lost the world cup final was because we had no clue what to do at Melbroune. Shan Masood did. The two games that Shan Masood played at Melbroune, he was able to rotate strike very well and scored the runs. If we had another person like him, with his thinking, we would had won the final at Melbroune that night (along with a good captain).

Shan Masood is a player that might not be needed in the 11, but is needed in the squad, because we have Rizwan and Babar in the line up. Any place where the ground is big and scoring would be done through rotation of strike, thats when Shan would be needed to be added in the playing 11. Because in such a situation, no other player would be able to turn up and score runs.

Maybe we can say that while he is needed in ODI, for t20, he should be considered when the the World T20 tournament is being held in Australia or South Africa.

 

[iPakistani]

Let's see, a PSL average of 31 with a SR of 136 over the 3-4 seasons he's played, this is better than some of the 'heroes' Pakistan fans have.

A List A average of 56 which is within the top 5 of all time but he's only got to play 6 ODI's, that too sporadically, not a consistent run.

T20s, he shouldn't be in the squad, agreed. He was the top scorer for Pakistan in the World Cup in Australia, where most of our batsmen looked clueless he looked in control.

You can say he's not good enough for international cricket or he's too old but don't be disingenuous and give this dross about him having zero merit and being in the team based on connections. Calling someone a nepotism based selection after they've played over 100 matches in a format averaging 56 isn't just delusional it's completely false.

 

[Major]

Let's see, a PSL average of 31 with a SR of 136 over the 3-4 seasons he's played, this is better than some of the 'heroes' Pakistan fans have.

A List A average of 56 which is within the top 5 of all time but he's only got to play 6 ODI's, that too sporadically, not a consistent run.

T20s, he shouldn't be in the squad, agreed. He was the top scorer for Pakistan in the World Cup in Australia, where most of our batsmen looked clueless he looked in control.

You can say he's not good enough for international cricket or he's too old but don't be disingenuous and give this dross about him having zero merit and being in the team based on connections. Calling someone a nepotism based selection after they've played over 100 matches in a format averaging 56 isn't just delusional it's completely false.

agree with this.

Shan Masood has performance to back himself up

 

[MenInG]

At the moment Shan is missing his County Season for this series.

He must be very sure that he will get a chance to play for Pakistan in the ODI/T20Is for him to do this.

I feel he is better suited for ODIs where a longish innings is needed. T20Is he can only do recoveries - he can never be an attacking option.

 

[msb314]

I would disagree slightly.

Shan Masood is hated because the guy has connections. His education and good family background helped him in developing the right connections. Education plays a big hand. The PCB upper management is made up of educated people, the cricketers are illiterate but the face of our cricket. When the upper management meets the players they feel it as an insult talking to them as to how illiterate our cricketers are, no offence.

Younis Khan and tantrum of him being made to wait outside PCB's office is the best example of this.

People like Shan Masood, who are educated know how to talk and know how to develop a connection and network. The upper management than likes to talk to such players than. This played a big part in Shan Masood in developing his connections and I dont blame him. Any sane person would do this.

Now as for his playing capabilities, he is not as bad as people have made him to be.

In List A cricket, he avgs at 56. He should had been in out one day squad long time ago, instead he was added in our test sqaud, where he was terrible and always got exposed. PCB did the same mistake with Fawad Alam, a test and odi batter, who was part of our t20 squad. Guy gets exposed in t20, and was axed from the squads in which he was good at. Shan Masood improved his one day game, he knows how to take a single.

After Sharjeel Khan got caught doing corruption, Shan Masood was the answer. Even Imam ul haq is also very good and i dont mind having Imam and Shan as openers.

Now as for T20, some might say I am playing the devils advocate, but the guy proved his T20 worth aswell. Yes he is not a six hitter or big boundary hitter, but remember what happened in Australia?

Australian cricket grounds are big. You dont survive their by scoring runs through fours and sixes, you need to rotate strike, convert doubles to tripples and singles to doubles. Melbourne is very big and the reason why we lost the world cup final was because we had no clue what to do at Melbroune. Shan Masood did. The two games that Shan Masood played at Melbroune, he was able to rotate strike very well and scored the runs. If we had another person like him, with his thinking, we would had won the final at Melbroune that night (along with a good captain).

Shan Masood is a player that might not be needed in the 11, but is needed in the squad, because we have Rizwan and Babar in the line up. Any place where the ground is big and scoring would be done through rotation of strike, thats when Shan would be needed to be added in the playing 11. Because in such a situation, no other player would be able to turn up and score runs.

Maybe we can say that while he is needed in ODI, for t20, he should be considered when the the World T20 tournament is being held in Australia or South Africa.

I would agree with you if he was 22-23. But he is 33 and only going to regress further from here…

 

[Mamoon]

Shan Masood’s List A average belongs in the garbage can. Anyone can see that he does not belong in the modern ODI format.

You can’t post or chase 320+ totals with him in the lineup especially when you pair him with Babar and Imam who are both comfortably better than him.