The Z-Factor provided by Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah in the Pakistan ICC T20 World Cup squad

[MenInG]

I use Z factor because it has to be something better than X Factor for Pakistan selectors to have chosen these 2.

In the words of Mohammad Wasim:

“Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah may not have impressive numbers against their names but hardly anyone can doubt their tremendous talent and prowess. They are the best in the available pool of middle-order batsmen and we remain confident that they will provide us solutions to our middle-order difficulties through solid performances.

“These two experienced middle-order batters will compliment Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan and Shoaib Maqsood, while in Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan, we have three top-quality spinners who are equally good with the bat and outstanding in the field.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

We also have an F factor in the squad, don’t forget Azam Khan.

 

[Slim]

I have a better word "L" factor. This is probably the biggest L of Muhammad Wasim's selection career and would lead to him getting fired if its not fixed.

I am short for words to explain how bad the selection has been.

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

I’m quoting myself from another thread:

I get the anger/ angst/ surprise over the non selection of Fakhar Zaman (few Indian fans will ever discount this man), and Sharjeel also.

But in my opinion the most surprising part is not their dropping. For me it’s actually the selection of Azam Khan.

It looks like a bad choice all round. First there’s a wicket keeper already there in the shape of Rizwan. Second, it’s the one selection that is seriously upsetting team composition - had Rizwan been retained as keeper you could have brought Fakhar into the team (and kept Asif and the other slowcoach batsman if you wanted). Third, the lad is seriously overweight, doesn’t have enough experience and I feel he will be taken apart at that level. And last, this feels, looks and probably is the worst case of nepotism one has seen in an international cricket team in a while.

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

No one can doubt their talent and prowess

If they were so talented then why the fuDGE did you not pick them on Pakistan’s away tours you bonga

 

[Yasir_ch]

Worst players ever.

They are just pathetic.They have zero talent.

They have horrible numbers.How can anyone select these jokers.

 

[SangasCoverDrive]

The most bonga selector in Pakistan history

 

[Barragan]

On What Basis Have Asif Ali, Khusdil Shah and Azam Khan Been Selected?

Asif Ali has continously failed at intl. level everytime he has been selected, so how will it be any different this time?

Khusdil Shah has flopped massively when selected for the national team and did nothing of noteworthy in the PSL either, hence another bizarre selection.

As for Azam, he has done nothing domestically or the PSL.

Zaman, Sharjeel and Ifthikhar deserved to be ahead of these guys.

Ifthikhar was unfairly dropped and he had a good outing in Aus, plus he has the added advantage of bowling offspin and that too in the UAE would have been very useful.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Talent, Potential. X-Factor.

 

[Titan24]

I am not debating whether the selections are right or not but, as you asked the question I am just trying to explain the basis. Pak has been struggling with middle order batsmen with not much options. Lets go over some numbers

Khushdil Shah

National T20 cup 2020: avg of 32, SR of 177 (Highest among middle order batsmen)
PSL (2021): avg of 41, SR of 137.50 (One of the highest amongst middle order batsmen)
KPL (2021) avg of 31, SR of 197 (Highest amongst middle order batsmen)

Asif Ali

National T20 (2021): avg of 30, SR of 146
PSL (2021): avg of 28, SR of 167
KPL (2021) avg of 47, SR of 174

Azam Khan

National T20 (2020): Avg of 26, SR of 168
PSL (2021): Avg of 17, SR of 133
KPL (2021) Avg of 20, SR of 136

SR of middle order batsmen was one of the key criteria of the selection along with few other things.

Out of these selections Azam Khan seems to be the most debatable one. He is a good hitter of spin bowling and averages highly against (I don’t remember the stats but, his Avg and SR against spin is one of the better around) them but, pretty poor average against pacers so far. So maybe tournament being played in UAE and importance of spinners played a role here.

Khushdil Shah is a young guy and if he keeps on performing in domestic cricket and Pak struggles to find other options then I dont think we can say much here. He is one of the best middle order batsmen in whiteball cricket especially when we take into account the SR. His failures in international T20s meant Pak went with some others but they didnt do we too.

Not many no 6 batsmen around in T20 circuit of Pakistan who can go at SR he does. Yes a failure at international level so far but, again lack of options for this particular number and role had a say.

 

[Titan24]

^that point of position 6 is regarding Asif Ali

 

[PakPremi]

All three have not only failed to score meaningful runs each time given opportunities at internationals but also looked terrible whilst at crease. Malik on one leg and one arm tied behind his back would have look and perform better. There are not enough alternatives though considering Fakhar has not made most if his opportunities either and I do not trust Iftikhar either,apart from that Australia series he has been poor as well,but atleast he can bowl with some control.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Someone needs to tell Mohammed Wasim , what u r doing is ****. He probably thinks himself too high quite natural for a Pakistani when given a higher role, always over the moon and cannot see them grounded

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Khushdil Shah's 9 T20I innings:<br><br>15 off 18 balls<br>12 off 12<br>13 off 10<br>14 off 20<br>16 off 20<br>36* off 15 (versus Zimbabwe)<br>11* off 9<br>5* off 4<br>8 off 11 balls<br><br>Total runs - 130<br>Strike-rate - 109.24<br>Average - 21.66 (due to 3 not-outs versus Zimbabwe)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/t20worldcup2021?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#t20worldcup2021</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1434931956131762181?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Asif Ali's last 13 T20I scores:<br><br>1, 5, 7, 4, 11, 1, 29, 6, 3, 25, 2, 13, 2*<br><br>Total Runs - 109<br>Strike-rate - 99.09<br>Average - 9.08<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup21?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup21</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1434926444770123784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Saj]

Another flop today for Khushdil - 2 off 5 balls.

His numbers so far in the National T20 Cup:

Innings 6
Runs 98
Average 19.60
Strike-rate 116.66

 

[Rana]

Khushdil Shah is a selfish player

This is why he is failing every match. He’s trying to play for himself without ever taking the equation into consideration. Why was he trying to block the under pressure Qadir? Ball turning into him, get the slog sweep out and look to attack him! The guy deserves this poor run of form because he doesn’t play for the team at all!

 

[TeymurBlake]

Khushdil Shah and Asif Ali are all but certain to be dropped from the T20WC squad. There form in this recent National T20 Cup has been shambolic.

 

[rockyboy2018]

How much commission/money did Muhammad Wasim earn off these silly selections? This question should be looked into.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

Khushdil Shah and Asif Ali are all but certain to be dropped from the T20WC squad. There form in this recent National T20 Cup has been shambolic.

Why select a plyer only to drop them at the last moment? Why did ICC asked for teams so early? That's useless.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Why select a plyer only to drop them at the last moment? Why did ICC asked for teams so early? That's useless.

It has been a catastrophic misjudgement in this squad announcement. No knowledge or expertise was given to playing cricket in UAE and the visual of this National T20 Cup putting limelight on players in the squad has been harrowing and eye opening.

 

[Saj]

Having the National T20 Cup ahead of the World Cup has been a blessing in disguise and a lucky break.

 

[Nasty Naz]

Hard not to think Fakhar will be replacing Khushdil.

 

[realitygaf]

Hard not to think Fakhar will be replacing Khushdil.

Fakhar has done nothing to warrant entry into the side . Neither has khushdil . A 3rd player might be in

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Don’t know if the video of his dismissal has been uploaded here but, my god that was a shocker…Azam Khan could’ve fit through the gap between bat and ball…even if the ball had gone with the angle he’d still have missed it…even if it was a googly he’d probably inside edge it. The bat was nowhere near the ball, and playing on the back foot against a spinner? The shot he was trying to play was not a scoring shot, how you can you not look to be scoring runs every ball in a T20?

 

[hitthestump]

How much commission/money did Muhammad Wasim earn off these silly selections? This question should be looked into.

I was thinking this too. We have had a lucky escape to have Khushdil, Azam and Asif Ali so heavily exposed in an average level t20 comp. Had we played internationals they may have been able to hide on the bench or down the order.

There ought to be some sort of inquest into how these 3 got picked in the first place.

 

[hitthestump]

Fakhar has done nothing to warrant entry into the side . Neither has khushdil . A 3rd player might be in

Fakhar has a full international career behind him and was one of the travelling reserves. Seems logical to bring him in for at least one of the 3.

 

[GreenKhan]

Fakhar has a full international career behind him and was one of the travelling reserves. Seems logical to bring him in for at least one of the 3.

Definitely. He has the X factor and has determined that in his shorter career more than the likes of Hafeez and Malik have in there entire careers put together .

 

[iniqbal223]

Why not send the team in which Md. Wasim will be the coach of the team

 

[AMSS]

Z for Zazba? Or Zillat?

 

[shamaan]

It has been a catastrophic misjudgement in this squad announcement. No knowledge or expertise was given to playing cricket in UAE and the visual of this National T20 Cup putting limelight on players in the squad has been harrowing and eye opening.

It's fine he has time to rectify the mistakes.its good he's willing to change the mistakes he has madem

 

[shamaan]

Wasim made a mistake he has a chance to rectify his mistakes I like his management style we're he is willing to change according to the situation.

 

[TeymurBlake]

It's fine he has time to rectify the mistakes.its good he's willing to change the mistakes he has madem

The issue isn't about the changes, its about the timing of the squad. Knowing the National T20 Cup was set to take place, he opted to name a squad before hand which was totally against the conditions of UAE cricket.

 

[GreenKhan]

The issue isn't about the changes, its about the timing of the squad. Knowing the National T20 Cup was set to take place, he opted to name a squad before hand which was totally against the conditions of UAE cricket.

Whilst I don’t agree with the squad , the squad was selected with the view that Pakistan would be playing 7 t20s against England and New Zealand ( we all know what happened there). That series would have been an audition for the those on the fringe such as Khushdil etc .

The World Cup squad was never going to play the national t20 if the series took place .

However looking at the performance in the national t20 changes need to be made .

Khushdil , Asif and Azam are definitely not the answer .

Worse case from the reserves fakhar and dahani should be slotted in .

 

[TeymurBlake]

Whilst I don’t agree with the squad , the squad was selected with the view that Pakistan would be playing 7 t20s against England and New Zealand ( we all know what happened there). That series would have been an audition for the those on the fringe such as Khushdil etc .

The World Cup squad was never going to play the national t20 if the series took place .

However looking at the performance in the national t20 changes need to be made .

Khushdil , Asif and Azam are definitely not the answer .

Worse case from the reserves fakhar and dahani should be slotted in .

I still feel more changes can be made. Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Sohaib Maqsood and even Shadab Khan can all be dropped and replaced decently. The squad is just baffling.

 

[iniqbal223]

This team lacks Jazba, Badtameezi, lodapan..
How they will make phaintais??

-- Shoaib Akhtar

 

[Saj]

Ordinary innings by both again today:

Asif 21 off 18

Khushdil 24 off 16

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Z for Zazba? Or Zillat?

J for Jazba and J for Jillat.

 

[iniqbal223]

I am of the opinion , no change in the team

these nepotistic players played for last 2 years with 0 performances; let this be the time they get exposed properly;

putting new players Just to save Babar's captaincy is pure pathetic