The minnow-basher trio: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq!

[Wonderwoman]

Case 1:

Fakhar Zaman:
current avg: 62.22 highly inflated by minnow bashing of zimbabwe (581 out of his 1120 more than 50% runs are against minnow in 7 games alone)
Without that his avg. drops to 41.50. A good average but nothing extraordrinary in current times.



Case 2: Imam ul haq
Well the poor chap has played only minnows for the most part and made merry. The three games against decent sides (India, NZ) he has had a grand total of 12 runs.


Babar Azam: The longest running minnow basher who has deceived many of the pakistani fans. His mediocre test average should tell you that he is not a complete batsman. Of the 2000+ runs (1100+ runs are against zim, WI and a depleted SL). All his centuries but one are against these three. Remove the minnows and his average drops into 30s. A mediocre average for a top order batsman. People need to see the reality for what it is.

 

[Napa]

Case 1:

Fakhar Zaman:
current avg: 62.22 highly inflated by minnow bashing of zimbabwe (581 out of his 1120 more than 50% runs are against minnow in 7 games alone)
Without that his avg. drops to 41.50. A good average but nothing extraordrinary in current times.

View attachment 84186

Case 2: Imam ul haq
Well the poor chap has played only minnows for the most part and made merry. The three games against decent sides (India, NZ) he has had a grand total of 12 runs.
View attachment 84187

Babar Azam: The longest running minnow basher who has deceived many of the pakistani fans. His mediocre test average should tell you that he is not a complete batsman. Of the 2000+ runs (1100+ runs are against zim, WI and a depleted SL). All his centuries but one are against these three. Remove the minnows and his average drops into 30s. A mediocre average for a top order batsman. People need to see the reality for what it is.
View attachment 84188

Your stats cannot be refuted. I would however say that Zaman's century in the CT final still counts for a lot.

 

[Shandarchowka]

Zaman and Babar have a cup to show inspite of their poor averages. I think we need to show some patience during these tough times

 

[Cric1234]

Fakhar still has good stats excluding minnows Imam will make a career because of the Zimbabwe series Babar is ok nothing special against top teams but his place is secure.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Imam will never be good enough. Fakhar and Babar are mentally shot, and need a break. Don’t expect either of Imam or Fakhar to last long against Bangladesh, while Babar might end up with a 40-60 odd score with a 50-60 SR. That pretty much sums up our top three in this tournament so far.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Babar is Pakistan's answer to Virat Kohli never mind he plays at a SR of 50 for first 100 balls.

 

[Hawkeye]

Wrong.

It's Sarfraz and Malik who are the true minnow bashers.

Those you mentioned are too young and untested. Malik's been minnow bashing for 20 years.

 

[Cric1234]

Babar is Pakistan's answer to Virat Kohli never mind he plays at a SR of 50 for first 100 balls.

More of a Kane Williamson type lacks the extra gear to be a truly great batsman his cousin U Akmal does have that gear but isn't composed enough to build an innings like Babar mixing them might produce a great batsman.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Players who win an ICC trophy for Pakistan get a 2 year leeway minimum.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

They deserve it.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

They deserve it.

Not sure if you are serious, but if you think that's the leeway they deserve, we shouldn't bother showing in the World Cup in 1 years time.

 

[iiqbal]

Babar is Pakistan's answer to Virat Kohli never mind he plays at a SR of 50 for first 100 balls.

Everyone agree on this point that Virat show excellent improvement in his skill set after joining India Team.

Here Baber is at same level after around 3 years in team. Even he is forgetting his best shot with fear of getting out.

Saeed Anwar always mentioned try to improve u strong point instead of wasting time on your weak point. Here everyone is working on his Weak point and forgetting strong point

 

[hussain.r97]

The sample size you are judging these players from is ridiculously small.

And second, Babar Azam's games against top sides have all been outside Asia (except a game or two against India and England). I can easily just apply a few filters to the stats of a player like Rohit Sharma, and prove to you that Babar's stats are quite decent:

As you can see, Rohit Sharma, an established cricketer, takes a dip into the 30s against top opposition outside of Asia. Not such a big deal, Babar will get there. If cricket was played on spreadsheets we wouldn't need a chief selector, you just need to watch Babar bat to know that he is something special.

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

Technically we have Fakhar the slogger, Asif the slogger and Imam the impotent in top5, this sums up our misery

 

[Joseph Gomes]

The sample size you are judging these players from is ridiculously small.

And second, Babar Azam's games against top sides have all been outside Asia (except a game or two against India and England). I can easily just apply a few filters to the stats of a player like Rohit Sharma, and prove to you that Babar's stats are quite decent:

As you can see, Rohit Sharma, an established cricketer, takes a dip into the 30s against top opposition outside of Asia. Not such a big deal, Babar will get there. If cricket was played on spreadsheets we wouldn't need a chief selector, you just need to watch Babar bat to know that he is something special.

Eh, Rohit and Babar can't be compared. Rohit was not an opener for first 1/3rd of his career and he was absolutely crap then (you could say the same for Tendulkar too, interestingly). Rohit changed a lot after being an opener. However for Babar there's not much to change, unless he starts opening (which is highly unlikely). He can improve himself but there's no scope for magic unless he changes his technique.

With that being said, his average against top sides isn't great but it's completely acceptable. He is doing his part. The likes of Sarfraz needs to step up for Pak to win matches.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Rohit is more talented than Babar I am sorry.

Babar wouldn't get to a double hundred if he batted twice in 50 overs.

 

[deems]

Out of the 3, I just can't bear watching Imam bat. He is a pain to watch. Can't rotate strike at all. Yes he has decent stats but I'd rather have Azhar Ali for these stats. This guy just doesn't have the A game. Doesnt know how to build an innings.Can't dictate terms. Simple terms, I hate watching this guy bat.

Babar is pleasing on the eye but same problem, doesn't look to rotate the strike. It's like they automatically go into block mode when under pressure. How hard is it to understand that you need to take singles and put the bad balls away. Due to him not being able to do this, his strike rate is very low untill he gets to his fifty and then amps it up a little.

It's a confidence thing with Fakhar. I've lost count of how many boundary balls he missed out on yesterday against India. On the pads and begging to be put away, all resulting in a this on to the pads and rolling to the side. Could have been a different ball game had he taken the reviews against both, Afghanistan and India.

Out if the 3, Fakhar is the real deal and won't be long before he's winning games for us again. Babar has everything but must learn to finish games now. No more excuses. The earleir nephew leaves Pakistan team, the better cause I can't stand these timid little players who play for themselves.

 

[Majid Khan]

And there was me thinking we've found our Greenidge, Haynes and Richards , or Langer, Hayden, Ponting.

Oh well bring back Bradman the 2nd (Hafeez) in that case, if these guys are only good enough to deliver against minnows which the stats seem to confirm.

 

[hussain.r97]

Eh, Rohit and Babar can't be compared. Rohit was not an opener for first 1/3rd of his career and he was absolutely crap then (you could say the same for Tendulkar too, interestingly). Rohit changed a lot after being an opener. However for Babar there's not much to change, unless he starts opening (which is highly unlikely). He can improve himself but there's no scope for magic unless he changes his technique.

With that being said, his average against top sides isn't great but it's completely acceptable. He is doing is part. The likes of Sarfraz needs to step up for Pak to win matches.

Rohit is more talented than Babar I am sorry.

Babar wouldn't get to a double hundred if he batted twice in 50 overs.

I wasn't comparing the two batsmen, that is a totally different matter.

My point is that the OP is using some ridiculous and baseless logic to judge all three players, and that stats can be twisted in any way possible, which is why we have a chief selector to actually watch and judge a player off his potential.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

I still believe Umar Akmal was better bat than these 3.

 

[Wonderwoman]

The sample size you are judging these players from is ridiculously small.

And second, Babar Azam's games against top sides have all been outside Asia (except a game or two against India and England). I can easily just apply a few filters to the stats of a player like Rohit Sharma, and prove to you that Babar's stats are quite decent:

As you can see, Rohit Sharma, an established cricketer, takes a dip into the 30s against top opposition outside of Asia. Not such a big deal, Babar will get there. If cricket was played on spreadsheets we wouldn't need a chief selector, you just need to watch Babar bat to know that he is something special.

Sharma's stats need to be divided into his opener and non-opener stats. Because its only after he started opening that he has blossomed as a great batsman in LOI. and again the minnow basher term comes from the vast 20+ avg difference that appears in normal and removal of minnows. Almost every player will see their avg. dip by a few percentage points by removing minnows. But standard minnow bashers like Fakhar, Imam and Babar see their avg fall by 20 percentage points.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Rohit is more talented than Babar I am sorry.

Babar wouldn't get to a double hundred if he batted twice in 50 overs.

After ABDV, Sharma is arguably the most talented play of his generation

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Sharma's stats need to be divided into his opener and non-opener stats. Because its only after he started opening that he has blossomed as a great batsman in LOI. and again the minnow basher term comes from the vast 20+ avg difference that appears in normal and removal of minnows. Almost every player will see their avg. dip by a few percentage points by removing minnows. But standard minnow bashers like Fakhar, Imam and Babar see their avg fall by 20 percentage points.

I already claimed above that Rohit has more talent than Babar.

But your last statement would make more sense once the "supposedly standard minnow bashers" have played as many games as Rohit to judge them on a fair level.

At the moment, they have only played a few games against non-minnows and the jury is out whether they are the real deal or not.

Fakhar has already bashed your team once in the final of a prestigious event ( I admit it might have been the stars aligning for him on his day but it happened, nonetheless) so unless you are saying India is a minnow, I think Fakhar can be given a bit more leverage.

 

[Wonderwoman]

I already claimed above that Rohit has more talent than Babar.

But your last statement would make more sense once the "supposedly standard minnow bashers" have played as many games as Rohit to judge them on a fair level.

At the moment, they have only played a few games against non-minnows and the jury is out whether they are the real deal or not.

Fakhar has already bashed your team once in the final of a prestigious event ( I admit it might have been the stars aligning for him on his day but it happened, nonetheless) so unless you are saying India is a minnow, I think Fakhar can be given a bit more leverage.

Minnow bashers do get lucky once in a while against better teams. Babar Azam has a 100 against Australia too. The trio I have mentioned have will end up with more than 60% of their runs against WI, Zim, Hong Kong and other depleted teams. Against better teams Pakistan will fizzle out and you guys will keep scratching your heads. The reality won't hit you that Pakistan has pretty substandard batsmen in its line up.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Minnow bashers do get lucky once in a while against better teams. Babar Azam has a 100 against Australia too. The trio I have mentioned have will end up with more than 60% of their runs against WI, Zim, Hong Kong and other depleted teams. Against better teams Pakistan will fizzle out and you guys will keep scratching your heads. The reality won't hit you that Pakistan has pretty substandard batsmen in its line up.

Fakhar and Babar are good enough batsmen, but are mentally just not there right now. The fear of failure is weighing down on their shoulders and destroying their confidence.

 

[Something]

Fakhar and just not suited for the UAE pitches. Dropping him now or calling him a minnow basher is a knee-jerk reaction. Babar on the other hand has done well in the UAE in the past so it is rather sad that he's not been able to replicate his previous form for us.

You mention all these names but ignore the performances of our beloved captain.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Minnow bashers do get lucky once in a while against better teams. Babar Azam has a 100 against Australia too. The trio I have mentioned have will end up with more than 60% of their runs against WI, Zim, Hong Kong and other depleted teams. Against better teams Pakistan will fizzle out and you guys will keep scratching your heads. The reality won't hit you that Pakistan has pretty substandard batsmen in its line up.

Off topic but that 100 is the most over rated 100 ever struck by a batsmen.

Chasing 350 plus if you bat at a SR of 70 to 80 to get to 100 runs, there is no merit in your hundred.

 

[Pakhs]

Babar has looked okay against India and others in this Asia cup and his career so far, Fakhar has failed so far in this Asia Cup (he did play well against good teams in CT) but two of his dismissals could have been reversed so you never know. Imam needs time, he is obviously not as good as his stats show as most of those runs came against club level Zimababwe. So lets give him 10 games against high class opposition out which he already got 2 games.

 

[Dark_Horse]

Case 1:




Fakhar Zaman:
current avg: 62.22 highly inflated by minnow bashing of zimbabwe (581 out of his 1120 more than 50% runs are against minnow in 7 games alone)
Without that his avg. drops to 41.50. A good average but nothing extraordrinary in current times.

View attachment 84186

Case 2: Imam ul haq
Well the poor chap has played only minnows for the most part and made merry. The three games against decent sides (India, NZ) he has had a grand total of 12 runs.
View attachment 84187

Babar Azam: The longest running minnow basher who has deceived many of the pakistani fans. His mediocre test average should tell you that he is not a complete batsman. Of the 2000+ runs (1100+ runs are against zim, WI and a depleted SL). All his centuries but one are against these three. Remove the minnows and his average drops into 30s. A mediocre average for a top order batsman. People need to see the reality for what it is.
View attachment 84188

Amazingly for fakhar SL is not minnow his average (33) for other two SL is minnow. “SuperStats”

 

[saeed5646]

Amazingly for fakhar SL is not minnow his average (33) for other two SL is minnow. “SuperStats”

Lol good catch let him have his moment till it last long

 

[proud_pakistani]

They play most of their games against minnows so their game will develop accordingly. Once you make these guys play more against the likes of India, NZ, Australia and England only then will they properly develop.

 

[Something]

They play most of their games against minnows so their game will develop accordingly. Once you make these guys play more against the likes of India, NZ, Australia and England only then will they properly develop.

This is true. When you're used to facing low quality bowling and scoring against them you'd go into a shell in front of some of the quality bowling attacks. We need to play more games against better sides.

 

[Lynx]

Babar has to be the softest batsman to play for Pakistan since Mohammad Yousaf. Most of his runs come due to bashing the likes of WI, SL and ZIM all year round. Comes in and bats at a snail's pace for the first half of his innings against any decent side. When a player like him is considered our best batsman just because he looks good on the eye, you know things are bad. He's not the worst batsman to have played for Pakistan, however, he's nowhere as good as people make him out to be. As far away from being a 'match winner' as a player can be. If there was one word to describe him, it would be 'Impactless.'

 

[Majestic_Inzi]

That catch Imam missed was CRIMINAL, something is not right within the team.

 

[PakPremi]

All 3 are fine just more exposure against good teams and need to bat with more confidence . Run outs, bad umpiring decisions and not reviewing DRS did not help their course. Babar does needs to play less dot balls. Imamisdpinghisjob well.

 

[Wonderwoman]

Amazingly for fakhar SL is not minnow his average (33) for other two SL is minnow. “SuperStats”

SL is borderline minnow. A stats guy can cherry pick to suit his case! .. Anyway wont make much of a difference if u put current SL as proper minnow.

 

[OmaIR1]

Zaman has potential because of his aggressive batting nature. He's like a Sharjeel who we could have used against India, so sad.

But Babar and Imam are minnow bashers.

 

[Bewal Express]

I still believe Umar Akmal was better bat than these 3.

Based on what? How many Trophies has he helped to win?

 

[Sirris]

Fakhar and Babar are semi-backbone of our batting for Pakistani standards. No need to blame and shame them. What they need is more support and confidence boost.

At the moment our bowling attack is a bigger disappointment. Shaheen Shah the debutant outshined Wasim Akram 2.0 and the rest.

 

[Hasan123]

Imam has done minnow bashing so far in his ODI career. He needs more games against the top teams before we can judge him. But he didn't look great in the 2 games against India so far. He needs to improve his strike rotation and find a way to accelerate once set.

Babar and Fakhar have scored against top teams but they need to do it more consistently. Babar is our best player , he has the technique but hasn't shown any signs of improving his dot ball issue and his ability to accelerate. Fakhar doesn't have any issues with acceleration but his issue is that when teams don't bowl in his arc , he doesn't have a response. He needs to improve his shot range, also needs to find a way to rotate the strike when he isn't on top of his game because you can't always hit bouandires.

I think long term Babar will be fine. I just worry about the impact he will have on games. If Fakhar doesn't improve on his technical issues and carries not scoring , he could be dropped.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Another minnow bashing is coming....

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Jeez, you people are going nuts. I'm not sure what everyone is mad about? We lost to a better team, as expected. We are still a team in progress with many issues, they don't just disappear when we play India.

 

[Ahson8]

Jeez, you people are going nuts. I'm not sure what everyone is mad about? We lost to a better team, as expected. We are still a team in progress with many issues, they don't just disappear when we play India.

Why are you surprised, our fans always have ‘knee-jerk’ reactions lol. Expect the same people to hype the team up if we win the final.

 

[waleed88]

Well until Malik played this knock against India, even he was bashing minnows. Until this 70 off against India, he has failed in almost all of his games against the big sides... So its not a surprise to see all these batsmen failing.

 

[waleed88]

Malik failed in all of his 5 games played against NZ, failed in the Champions Trophy as well... in between brilliant performances sandwiched between the minnows

 

[JaDed]

PCT fans impatient as ever.

 

[Ned Flanders]

If they didn't minnow bash we'd probably would've lost.

 

[Rahul1]

Imam has done minnow bashing so far in his ODI career. He needs more games against the top teams before we can judge him. But he didn't look great in the 2 games against India so far. He needs to improve his strike rotation and find a way to accelerate once set.

Babar and Fakhar have scored against top teams but they need to do it more consistently. Babar is our best player , he has the technique but hasn't shown any signs of improving his dot ball issue and his ability to accelerate. Fakhar doesn't have any issues with acceleration but his issue is that when teams don't bowl in his arc , he doesn't have a response. He needs to improve his shot range, also needs to find a way to rotate the strike when he isn't on top of his game because you can't always hit bouandires.

I think long term Babar will be fine. I just worry about the impact he will have on games. If Fakhar doesn't improve on his technical issues and carries not scoring , he could be dropped.

When did this happen?

 

[Hasan123]

When did this happen?

Babar has a century against Australia, scored on his 1st tour in NZ ODIs,and he scored against England in UAE 2015.

Fakhar scored against England and India in CT. Also did okay in NZ earlier this year.

As I said they haven't done it consistently which is the issue.

 

[MenInG]

India are minnows too?

 

[usmanraheel]

Wrong.

It's Sarfraz and Malik who are the true minnow bashers.

Those you mentioned are too young and untested. Malik's been minnow bashing for 20 years.

You really have something against Malik, don't you

 

[usmanraheel]

Out of the 3, I just can't bear watching Imam bat. He is a pain to watch. Can't rotate strike at all. Yes he has decent stats but I'd rather have Azhar Ali for these stats. This guy just doesn't have the A game. Doesnt know how to build an innings.Can't dictate terms. Simple terms, I hate watching this guy bat.

Babar is pleasing on the eye but same problem, doesn't look to rotate the strike. It's like they automatically go into block mode when under pressure. How hard is it to understand that you need to take singles and put the bad balls away. Due to him not being able to do this, his strike rate is very low untill he gets to his fifty and then amps it up a little.

It's a confidence thing with Fakhar. I've lost count of how many boundary balls he missed out on yesterday against India. On the pads and begging to be put away, all resulting in a this on to the pads and rolling to the side. Could have been a different ball game had he taken the reviews against both, Afghanistan and India.

Out if the 3, Fakhar is the real deal and won't be long before he's winning games for us again. Babar has everything but must learn to finish games now. No more excuses. The earleir nephew leaves Pakistan team, the better cause I can't stand these timid little players who play for themselves.

i totally agree with you ! Can't stand watching Imam bat and although Babar might be pleasing to the eye , he really needs to learn how to rotate the strike

 

[Wonderwoman]

Babar has a century against Australia, scored on his 1st tour in NZ ODIs,and he scored against England in UAE 2015.

Fakhar scored against England and India in CT. Also did okay in NZ earlier this year.

As I said they haven't done it consistently which is the issue.

Babar scored one 80+ in 7 games against NZ are you going to count that as significant. His average is pretty mediocre against top teams just like his test average.

 

[Mirpur express]

Blah blah blah
Totally disagree with your way of filtered observations!! the amount of effort into this useless post is even more hilarious

 

[Hasan123]

Babar scored one 80+ in 7 games against NZ are you going to count that as significant. His average is pretty mediocre against top teams just like his test average.

As I mentioned he hasn't scored against top teams consistently. He needs to improve on that.

 

[A-1]

Fakhar is a minnow basher, all of his centuries are against minnows

 

[batfirst]

Shoaib Malik is the King of minnow bashing, he has been doing this
for the last 20 years. What has he done against South Africa, Australia,
England and New Zealand.

Just look at his last tour to New Zealand he couldn't make a half century
in the 4 ODI's he played.

 

[cricketindiafan]

In a grand total of 4 matches, these three have gone from “Pakistan the only ODI team with three players averaging 50+ to The minnow basher trio”!

 

[Cric_lover4487]

Based on what? How many Trophies has he helped to win?

He had same issues Asif Ali is facing right now: Poor shot selection under pressure.
I think if Misbah ruined his career by dropping him from test team. He deserved a longer run to develop temperament. You need players with world class ability in the team. Yoyo tests and strategy talks can only add to it. Lets look at current Pak batting line up: Sorry to say but Inam ul Haq seems like ****** player, Babar azam is timid poor man's Rahane at best and Fakhar is a hack. Lets not even talk about Sarfaraz "ImBoss" Ahmad. Your best batsman Malik scored 78(94). At such poor strike rate, Pak would score subpar 250. You CANNOT win by just "Jazba" all the time. Bowlers cannot do anything much if your team don't post par total on the board with gully cricket fielding. This team lacks match winners. The same reason India lost to Pakistan in 90's is because we were trash apart from SRT while Pak team was full of mavericks. Umar Akmal had the striking ability and played with intent and good strike rate. You never know Umar could have been gun player for Pakistan by now. If not world class, he could have been groomed to be player in mold of Raina for Pak. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Ilan Bluestone]

This is a young group, and they deserve the criticism, but it will take some time before these players are who they will be. Not sure what the point is exactly, they aren't going anywhere and are getting criticized.

Fakhar still looks pretty good, Imam no one really rates against good squads, I envisioned him to fail and he has, and Babar needs to pick up the pace but 37 at 80 is still decent enough. A century against a good squad, given his short career and that jumps anyways.

They have a lot of work to do, one I don't even think is that great, and have criticisms warranted, but no one is saying these are all worldly talents as of yet. Just good players who need to grow otherwise they will fall into a long list of hot starts and mediocre careers.

 

[GudduBadmash]

Except Fakhar has scored against South Africa, England, and NewZealand including that trophy winning hundred against India

The other two I agree with

 

[Bewal Express]

He had same issues Asif Ali is facing right now: Poor shot selection under pressure.
I think if Misbah ruined his career by dropping him from test team. He deserved a longer run to develop temperament. You need players with world class ability in the team. Yoyo tests and strategy talks can only add to it. Lets look at current Pak batting line up: Sorry to say but Inam ul Haq seems like ****** player, Babar azam is timid poor man's Rahane at best and Fakhar is a hack. Lets not even talk about Sarfaraz "ImBoss" Ahmad. Your best batsman Malik scored 78(94). At such poor strike rate, Pak would score subpar 250. You CANNOT win by just "Jazba" all the time. Bowlers cannot do anything much if your team don't post par total on the board with gully cricket fielding. This team lacks match winners. The same reason India lost to Pakistan in 90's is because we were trash apart from SRT while Pak team was full of mavericks. Umar Akmal had the striking ability and played with intent and good strike rate. You never know Umar could have been gun player for Pakistan by now. If not world class, he could have been groomed to be player in mold of Raina for Pak. Just my 2 cents.

Umer Akmal like his fans blames everyone but himself. The guy has little talent and an even lower IQ. Umer Akmal has been FC cricket for a decade and has shown no improvement and never will. And Fakhar the "hack" has achieved more than Akmal will ever achieve.

 

[kuskash]

Umer Akmal like his fans blames everyone but himself. The guy has little talent and an even lower IQ. Umer Akmal has been FC cricket for a decade and has shown no improvement and never will. And Fakhar the "hack" has achieved more than Akmal will ever achieve.

Not true. Agreed that FZ is the best opening batsman ATM but UA is nothing less than ATG middle order in current lot.

 

[TeamPak95]

So far, overall, the stats don't deny. Pakistan have played consistently against weak teams post CT, and will now consistently play against good team in the upcoming future before WC, so there we shall see where these three will end up.

 

[coy0607]

nothing wrong with minnow bashing - they still helped Pakistan win games even if it was against minnows. Some of those games could have been pretty humiliating if these guys hadn't trashed them

Not stepping up against top competition is a different story. Definitely need to improve against top bowling

 

[giri26]

When you look at Pakistan's ODI stats since Champions trophy. All their wins have been against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka prior to Asia cup and in Asia cup against HK, and AFG. They played only two teams who are ranked above them in the ICC rankings which is India and NZ. They are currently at 7-0 with possibility of one more game.

 

[Abdul]

Babar Azam is the leader of this trio.

 

[Mansoor3120]

Babar score 45 in ct final and also score 47 against india in group match (with good strike rotation) in Asia cup.
One failure against india when he was run-out by sarfaraz.

 

[WengerOut]

Babar score 45 in ct final and also score 47 against india in group match (with good strike rotation) in Asia cup.
One failure against india when he was run-out by sarfaraz.

I think he failed in CT group match also

 

[light]

just cause SL just played really bad cricket does not mean they are minnow. They always punch above their weight. Alos avg of 40 as an opener is not bad at all. the guy barely started his carreer. Let him play a bit longer before the pitch forks are out.

 

[Itachi]

Babar score 45 in ct final and also score 47 against india in group match (with good strike rotation) in Asia cup.
One failure against india when he was run-out by sarfaraz.

Babar will score runs. But his SR will be always below par with that of modern odi. Not suitable against top teams.

 

[Ab Fan]

Explains the mediocrity of Pakistan. Will be interesting how their stats stack up after a decent sample when up against the fab five- Aus, SA, Ind,NZ, Eng.

 

[Shafi]

So who is the true champion in our batting then?
Are suggesting to drop all of them and find better batsmen from Domestic cricket.

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

Babar reminds me of Zahoor Elahi

 

[giri26]

just cause SL just played really bad cricket does not mean they are minnow. They always punch above their weight. Alos avg of 40 as an opener is not bad at all. the guy barely started his carreer. Let him play a bit longer before the pitch forks are out.

Since Jan 1 2017, SL have played 41 ODIs and have won only 10 and have lost 30. They have negative W/L record against all teams they have played except for Bangladesh (which whom they have W/L of 1.0) against which includes, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe. That is a stat of a very poor team in world cricket. No team other than probably Zim, Bangladesh, Afghanistan or West Indies will have such record during that time, which puts them firmly amongst them.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Oh GOD,
Pak fans are most immature fans in the world. how many matches these guys have played whom you are bashing right now

 

[PakPremi]

Oh GOD,
Pak fans are most immature fans in the world. how many matches these guys have played whom you are bashing right now

Pak Fans crying over inexperienced players with massive potential . Lets remove FZ(twice given out wrongly), IU and BA(run out) - for the crime of scoring runs against minnows and deny them opportunity to develop their game against quality opponents. While we at it drop Malik as well and replace him with Razzaq at least he scored runs against gun opposition.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Babar is Pakistan's answer to Virat Kohli never mind he plays at a SR of 50 for first 100 balls.

The obsession with India and VK is getting hilarious now

 

[Rahul1]

Pak Fans crying over inexperienced players with massive potential . Lets remove FZ(twice given out wrongly), IU and BA(run out) - for the crime of scoring runs against minnows and deny them opportunity to develop their game against quality opponents. While we at it drop Malik as well and replace him with Razzaq at least he scored runs against gun opposition.

DRS was available to Pakistan for Fakhar's dismissal so it's about time you guys stopped complaining about it.

 

[PakPremi]

DRS was available to Pakistan for Fakhar's dismissal so it's about time you guys stopped complaining about it.

No one is complaining just stating that had he not had two rough decisions he may have scored well despite not being allowed to play his natural game by opposition. Not taking DRS both time was his unselfish act as both times he was not sure which way the decision would go. It's a shame that neither of his partners could help him with this. Against India he was beginning to find his groove.