This Test match selection has taken Pakistan cricket back once again

[pakistani pride]

Here we go Hafeez opening the batting, wahab back and top of all a debutant 33 years old

We have won enough tests in the UAE and the real challenge should be performing in AUS, SA and ENG.

We all know how Hafeez does away from Asia. This has been a backward selection and PAK like several times before will find out in SA.

 

[Saj]

Who would you have picked instead of Hafeez?

 

[babajee]

Hafeez is the right man to open the batting in these conditions.

 

[pakistani pride]

Who would you have picked instead of Hafeez?

Azhar should always open like he did on the UK tour. Hafeez in the year 2018 should not even be close to the Pak team. Just wait till he faces steyn and rabadda.

Same goes for wahab very bad selection.

 

[pakistani pride]

Hafeez is the right man to open the batting in these conditions.

So hafeez can play in the easy conditions. Means we change our openers when we go to aus, sa and eng cause hafeez is a tailender in those conditions.

 

[gazza619]

Hafeez looks in supreme touch. Though there are no snakes in the pitch, but he is converting some good balls into boundaries with minimal effort.
It does make me wonder if we should accept how he is. I would have still picked him at no.4 in this line up. Open with Fakhar and Imam and kick out Haris Sohail. You dont want to expose Hafeez against new ball in SA. Lets see how long this honeymoon last.

 

[pakistani pride]

Hafeez looks in supreme touch. Though there are no snakes in the pitch, but he is converting some good balls into boundaries with minimal effort.
It does make me wonder if we should accept how he is. I would have still picked him at no.4 in this line up. Open with Fakhar and Imam and kick out Haris Sohail. You dont want to expose Hafeez against new ball in SA. Lets see how long this honeymoon last.

Thats not the point hes always been great in the UAE. Even Malik has a double in the UAE.

Point is if you want to go forward hafeez is not your man. Short term thinking.

Coach and captain exposed here.

 

[babajee]

Thats not the point hes always been great in the UAE. Even Malik has a double in the UAE.

Point is if you want to go forward hafeez is not your man. Short term thinking.

Coach and captain exposed here.

I feel like in test cricket the goal should be to win the match here and now unlike in LOIs where teams build towards a World Cup.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Hafeez will haunt us in the next series against south africa in south africa. Hafeez scored a 195 against england in UAE but in the next series against england in england he failed badly and was dropped. Pakistani selectors need to learn.

 

[pakistani pride]

I feel like in test cricket the goal should be to win the match here and now unlike in LOIs where teams build towards a World Cup.

So you really expect PAK to win in SA with Hafeez facing Steyn?

 

[babajee]

So you really expect PAK to win in SA with Hafeez facing Steyn?

No - Hafeez shouldn't open in SA. Horses for courses.

 

[pakistani pride]

No - Hafeez shouldn't open in SA. Horses for courses.

They should have let azhar and imam continue. All pak batsmen enjoy batting in the UAE. No nees for so called horses for courses theory in the UAE.

 

[gazza619]

Hafeez will haunt us in the next series against south africa in south africa. Hafeez scored a 195 against england in UAE but in the next series against england in england he failed badly and was dropped. Pakistani selectors need to learn.

I think Mickey and Sarfaraz are looking after their own jobs hence Hafeez has been brought in.

 

[pakistani pride]

I think Mickey and Sarfaraz are looking after their own jobs hence Hafeez has been brought in.

Could be but Inzi has failed big time as a selector here. Youngsters played with flar and agression on the UK tour winning 2 out of 3 tests.

Yesterday saw recap on sky of pak 1st vs ENG the faheem and shadab partnership. Hafeez after playing 15 years of INT cricket can only dream of.

 

[Saj]

Azhar should always open like he did on the UK tour. Hafeez in the year 2018 should not even be close to the Pak team. Just wait till he faces steyn and rabadda.

Same goes for wahab very bad selection.

You've still not confirmed who should have been in the team instead of Hafeez.

 

[Hasan123]

No - Hafeez shouldn't open in SA. Horses for courses.

PCB don't think like that.

 

[Hasan123]

You've still not confirmed who should have been in the team instead of Hafeez.

Azhar as opener and Fakhar or Salahuddin in the middle order. A player you have called to start. Also Sami Aslam has scored lots of runs in domestic cricket. He deserves to open more than Hafeez. Hafeez has only been selected because of his 213 .

 

[pakistani pride]

You've still not confirmed who should have been in the team instead of Hafeez.

So many options so many.

Imam and azhar to open.
Then for the middle order spot usman, saad ali or even fakhar.

So many other options.

 

[Usman Chadda]

While I loathe the fact Hafeez is still representing Pakistan in 2018, the way this young batting line-up capitulated against Sri Lanka last year, means Hafeez should always be present now. Our young batters might have talent, but they are all headless chickens who disintegrate at the first sign of pressure.

Hafeez won't save us from the slaughter in South Africa though. We are looking at a whitewash there if this current batting line-up steps onto the field

 

[Saj]

So many options so many.

Imam and azhar to open.
Then for the middle order spot usman, saad ali or even fakhar.

So many other options.

At the moment Hafeez is the best option.

We saw how good our up and coming youngsters are against Sri Lanka in UAE.

 

[pakistani pride]

At the moment Hafeez is the best option.

We saw how good our up and coming youngsters are against Sri Lanka in UAE.

No he is not and did the likes of Usman, Fakhar, or saad play vs SL? We lost that series also due to poor selection. We went in with a pace attack while we have won in the UAE due to spin.

Its just poor planning and this will also allow him to come back to the LOI squads at the age of 40.

 

[NauV]

At the moment Hafeez is the best option.

We saw how good our up and coming youngsters are against Sri Lanka in UAE.

I hate to admit it, but Asia cup was an outright sign that his presence is not only needed in test matches . . The balance he brings is imperative in ODI cricket too . .

The problem comes when he wants to open (in conditions that are not UAE) . . he averages JUST fine as an opener in the UAE . .

1. Test Matches: He needs to be in the team in the UAE and like conditions becuase of the balance he brings, his ability to play spin, and bowl more than useful off spin
2. ODIs: I think he needs to be in the team but batting outside the top 4!

 

[IMMY69]

So many options so many.

Imam and azhar to open.
Then for the middle order spot usman, saad ali or even fakhar.

So many other options.

Azhar is a walking wicket opening outside of Asia so opening with him is wasting our resources.
He should be batting at 4.

 

[pakistani pride]

I hate to admit it, but Asia cup was an outright sign that his presence is not only needed in test matches . . The balance he brings is imperative in ODI cricket too . .

The problem comes when he wants to open (in conditions that are not UAE) . . he averages JUST fine as an opener in the UAE . .

1. Test Matches: He needs to be in the team in the UAE and like conditions becuase of the balance he brings, his ability to play spin, and bowl more than useful off spin
2. ODIs: I think he needs to be in the team but batting outside the top 4!

With or without Hafeez Asia cup would have been a disaster due to the poor mindset of the players. Hafeez is mentally very weak, unable to carry the team. Hes never done that.

 

[Saj]

So many options so many.

Imam and azhar to open.
Then for the middle order spot usman, saad ali or even fakhar.

So many other options.

Is this the Saad Ali whose scores this season have been:

5
36
36
2
1
30
33
5
21*

 

[mak36]

At the moment Hafeez is the best option.

We saw how good our up and coming youngsters are against Sri Lanka in UAE.

So you are saying he should open in South Africa?

 

[Saj]

So you are saying he should open in South Africa?

It depends what the other options are at that time and who is in form.

At the moment, Mickey Arthur and Sarfaraz Ahmed are under a lot of pressure because of the Asia Cup debacle and that's why they've recalled Hafeez - almost like a safety valve and are not experimenting with the team.

 

[Titan24]

Azhar should always open like he did on the UK tour. Hafeez in the year 2018 should not even be close to the Pak team. Just wait till he faces steyn and rabadda.

Same goes for wahab very bad selection.

You understand “Horses for courses”? We lost the Srl series due to this mentality. Hafeez just scored a double hundred in qae and we needed a third spinner so what wrong in picking him. Its a national team which plays to win rather than having ego issues distracting them.

Which other spin bowling all rounder was suppose to be picked?

 

[Titan24]

So according to you, Australia has also taken a step backwards by selecting siddle, India has also taken a step backwards by selecting dinesh karthik and playing him all the matches, also Ambati Raudu (also 32-33), Jadeja also made a come back in ODIs so definitely a step backwards. Srilanka selected Malinga, so must be a step backwards. SA selecting Steyn at the age of 35, Jeetan Patel was selected by NZ for last tour of India.

In short I guess world cricket is going backwards by your theory.

 

[happydavy]

Mickey Arthur and Sarafaraz had called for this. One should be very careful before big talks and passing judgements as times change quickly esp. in world of cricket. The day they made big talk about how Hafeez and Wahab not being in their future plans, and subtly humiliated them, it was quite clear that both will make a comeback moment there is a bad series. In Pakistan cricket, where selections get influenced by media, this was bound to happen.

 

[Titan24]

I guess rather then saying step backwards I would say selectors, Micky and Sarfaraz corrected their mistake.

Post Younus and Misbah, Hafeez should never have been dropped in the first place in UAE and retaining Azhar as opener further dented the already depleted middle order.

A good team is a balance of experience and youth. Have you ever seen a team comprising of just in experienced youngsters suddenly start dominating the world? It doesnt happen and cant happen.

Either stick with youth matches for next couple of years without blaming them until they become experienced or have some experienced players with them to minimize those loses in those couple of years.

The way some posters here reacted post Asia cup loss, showed we are not prepared for a young team losing for sometime. No player in squad other than four players had played even 50 matches, but some emotional posters dont realize that and just want to win.

Team which won Asia cup (India) was the most experienced team of all in terms of matches played.

 

[Titan24]

Mickey Arthur and Sarafaraz had called for this. One should be very careful before big talks and passing judgements as times change quickly esp. in world of cricket. The day they made big talk about how Hafeez and Wahab not being in their future plans, and subtly humiliated them, it was quite clear that both will make a comeback moment there is a bad series. In Pakistan cricket, where selections get influenced by media, this was bound to happen.

I guess that was meant for LOIs but you are right they dont need to put forward such extreme statmements

 

[moghul]

This century by Hafeez is bad for Pakistan cricket . He scores in placid tracks where conditions are tough for fast bowlers, get selected for overseas tours and fails miserably where balls moves . We are playing this game 15 years.

 

[pakistani pride]

Azhar is a walking wicket opening outside of Asia so opening with him is wasting our resources.
He should be batting at 4.

The game azhar plays block block single block block is suited to opening. He is fine away from Asia but anyone except hafeez is fine away from the uae.

 

[Asif321]

Then you will get humiliated like in Asia cup then blame all players and staff
I don’t see any better line up than this one for this test match

 

[pakistani pride]

Is this the Saad Ali whose scores this season have been:

5
36
36
2
1
30
33
5
21*

He deserves a call up, its been long due. In fact Hafeez surely doesnt deserve it as the guys rotting away also need chances. With hafeez we already know what we can expect.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I would take a performing Hafeez in UAE over the "talented and young" Usman Salahuddin. Winning the match is quite important and if it means getting an old horse in, shouldn't be a problem. Although I would have liked Hafeez at no. 6.
I believe in horses for courses plan. No team is that good these days that could field the virtual same XI everywhere and wins everywhere.
Hafeez also provides useful offspin so it shouldn't be a problem. We don't really want to get beaten by Australia in our adopted home series by fielding "talented youngsters" if they can't do the job. Hafeez has come in for Fahim Ashraf, and don't believe Fahim would have done anything of note in this Test series.

Wahab is crucial in UAE as he can generate reverse swing and bowl good long spells that can unsettle the batters. He is not a guy who will take 5-fers everywhere, so he becomes a lesser force in overseas conditions, but in these dry conditions, he is the best we could do with.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

This century by Hafeez is bad for Pakistan cricket . He scores in placid tracks where conditions are tough for fast bowlers, get selected for overseas tours and fails miserably where balls moves . We are playing this game 15 years.

Would you rather have a talented youngster who doesn't score hundreds on placid tracks?

In these conditions, Hafeez is very valuable. Overseas we should make adjustments to the XI

 

[Saj]

He deserves a call up, its been long due. In fact Hafeez surely doesnt deserve it as the guys rotting away also need chances. With hafeez we already know what we can expect.

Deserves a call-up based on what? His fantastic form this season?

 

[topspin]

In the longer scheme of things Hafeez's selection is bad for Pakistan cricket because the selectors, captain and management will overlook that he is only good enough to be picked for UAE games on a horses for courses basis.

Chances are he will play every test in SA as an opener to give us a delightful sequel of Steyn v Hafeez. For those who support his inclusion in the XI for series outside Asia, should note that he has the second lowest average for an Asian batsman outside Asia.

 

[pakistani pride]

Deserves a call-up based on what? His fantastic form this season?

As i said him being in the team/ squad is long over due. He is one of the options but Usman for example has been with the team for a long time and only got 1 chance.

Coming back to hafeez 2003 wanted to quit mid series vs SA as Pollock made him look like a tailender. 10 years later steyn did the same in 2013. Now to 2018 same will happen again but still somehow 2 years after a horror show in ENG here he is back again.

Gotta feel for the likes of fawad alam etc..

 

[Bilal7]

People need to shut it. Hafeez scored a century here opening the batting, at a SR of 60 no less, and will probably pick up a couple of important wickets by the time this match is over. He deserves his place in the side.

It is the most ridiculous thing to criticize the selection of a player that has done well. I don't want Hafeez in the team either but he'll have my support as long as he keeps doing so well.

 

[Napa]

He deserves a call up, its been long due. In fact Hafeez surely doesnt deserve it as the <b>guys rotting away also need chances.</b> With hafeez we already know what we can expect.

I think most of your countrymen would say that selection should be based on maximizing the chance of a win rather than giving chances to "guys rotting away" who are averaging 21 in domestic cricket.

 

[pakistani pride]

I think most of your countrymen would say that selection should be based on maximizing the chance of a win rather than giving chances to "guys rotting away" who are averaging 21 in domestic cricket.

Who averages 21? Do usman, fawad, saad, fakhar average 21?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I agree that in some ways this is a step backwards, especially when you look forward to overseas tests in SENA where Hafeez almost certainly will fail as he has in the past. However, in UAE conditions Hafeez is simply one of the best batsmen Pakistan has and his bowling makes his position in the team even more vital. We also need to accept the fact that Pakistan isn't exactly producing too many Bradmans in domestic cricket otherwise they would be in the side.

 

[Napa]

Who averages 21? Do usman, fawad, saad, fakhar average 21?

The numbers provided by Saj in post #25 have Saad averaging 21 (total 169 for 8 outs).

 

[pakistani pride]

The numbers provided by Saj in post #25 have Saad averaging 21 (total 169 for 8 outs).

Overall he averages over 45. Has been performing. Point is there several other options but seems like we are OK as long as we beat a poor AUS SIDE FOR UAE CONDITIONS.

 

[pakistani pride]

People need to shut it. Hafeez scored a century here opening the batting, at a SR of 60 no less, and will probably pick up a couple of important wickets by the time this match is over. He deserves his place in the side.

It is the most ridiculous thing to criticize the selection of a player that has done well. I don't want Hafeez in the team either but he'll have my support as long as he keeps doing so well.

Will always support any one playing for the PAK team including the king of soft runs / goes hiding during big games Hafeez. Just shared my opinion in calling a 40 year old back after 2 years.

 

[hitthestump]

My worry is that Hafeez has confirmed his spot in the WC squad with this knock

 

[Titan24]

Players dont perform some cry, if a player performs some cry. Lol!

 

[Titan24]

Will always support any one playing for the PAK team including the king of soft runs / goes hiding during big games Hafeez. Just shared my opinion in calling a 40 year old back after 2 years.

He is 37 by the way. Also what do you say about my post no 29? Is the whole world cricket going backwards?

 

[pakistani pride]

So according to you, Australia has also taken a step backwards by selecting siddle, India has also taken a step backwards by selecting dinesh karthik and playing him all the matches, also Ambati Raudu (also 32-33), Jadeja also made a come back in ODIs so definitely a step backwards. Srilanka selected Malinga, so must be a step backwards. SA selecting Steyn at the age of 35, Jeetan Patel was selected by NZ for last tour of India.

In short I guess world cricket is going backwards by your theory.

Australia has no other choice, India on the other hand batting wise has multiple choices and could have backed younger players like shaw and the new WK.

Please do not mention Steyn and Hafeez in the same post..

 

[leg-side-flick]

At the moment Hafeez is the best option.

We saw how good our up and coming youngsters are against Sri Lanka in UAE.

Then why was he not in the original squad ?

 

[Junaids]

Who would you have picked instead of Hafeez?

Asian conditions are so different!

I wouldn’t pick Mohammad Amir or Faheem Ashraf in Asia, but they would be my first two picks in SA in seven weeks.

Similarly, outside Asia I’d pick Shadab Khan ahead of Yasir Shah.

And no Hafeez outside Asia.

 

[Saj]

Then why was he not in the original squad ?

That's a question for Mickey and Sarfaraz.

 

[Saj]

As i said him being in the team/ squad is long over due. He is one of the options but Usman for example has been with the team for a long time and only got 1 chance.

Coming back to hafeez 2003 wanted to quit mid series vs SA as Pollock made him look like a tailender. 10 years later steyn did the same in 2013. Now to 2018 same will happen again but still somehow 2 years after a horror show in ENG here he is back again.

Gotta feel for the likes of fawad alam etc..

Long overdue based on what?

I've listed his scores this season - they are not the scores of someone who deserves an international call-up.

 

[leg-side-flick]

Asian conditions are so different!

I wouldn’t pick Mohammad Amir or Faheem Ashraf in Asia, but they would be my first two picks in SA in seven weeks.

Similarly, outside Asia I’d pick Shadab Khan ahead of Yasir Shah.

And no Hafeez outside Asia.

In your memory, has there ever been a test side which played different teams home and away.... I mean making 5/ 6 changes, not just swapping a spinner for a seamer etc.....

 

[pakistani pride]

Long overdue based on what?

I've listed his scores this season - they are not the scores of someone who deserves an international call-up.

The guy has played over 50 FC AND LIST A MATCHES. He averages over 45 in both formats. Could serve PAK if given the chance instead we turn to Hafeez.

Hafeez is can only play in the UAE. Go and watch his fantastic batting in ENG 2 years ago.

My whole point is that going back to certain players doesnt make the team better as we know what they bring.

 

[Saj]

The guy has played over 50 FC AND LIST A MATCHES. He averages over 45 in both formats. Could serve PAK if given the chance instead we turn to Hafeez.

Hafeez is can only play in the UAE. Go and watch his fantastic batting in ENG 2 years ago.

My whole point is that going back to certain players doesnt make the team better as we know what they bring.

You said Saad Ali could have been picked instead of Hafeez. Your logic for that makes no sense - the guy is in horrible form. It makes no sense picking a player who is obviously badly out of form.

At least Hafeez is in some sort of form.

 

[surprise-package]

It depends what the other options are at that time and who is in form.

At the moment, Mickey Arthur and Sarfaraz Ahmed are under a lot of pressure because of the Asia Cup debacle and that's why they've recalled Hafeez - almost like a safety valve and are not experimenting with the team.

Nope. Hafeez might go to SA in full form but will still fail. It's a basic fault in his technique that he cannot play a moving, bouncy ball. Unfortunately, we have seen no adjustment in technique for the last many years to counter that, case in point how he was getting out to Billy Stanlake in Zimbabwe.

Dubai wicket was a good chance to groom a more long term, all season opener and give that person confidence. I would have gone with Sami Aslam (best technique against the moving ball) or someone with a style of play which usually succeeds in SA and Aus e.g. backfoot technique with a prowess in horizontal shots like, cut, pull (Fakhar).

 

[AliMurtaza]

I am a firm believer in playing horses for courses. Hafeez was in splendid form with bat and Pak also needed him in the side so that they can play 6 specialist batsmen. There is no logic in playing youngsters who are either of form (Saad Ali) or maybe out of depth (Usman Salahuddin) just for the sake of giving chances and then lose a test series. Both Usman and Saad had a terrible outing in the side match.

That being said, I wish Hafeez was playing at 5/6 so that he can prolong his test career. He will, no doubt, be exposed on SA tour again. However, even without Hafeez, Pak chances of winning a test series in SA against the likes of Rabada, Steyn, and Lungi were less than 5%. If getting Hafeez in the test side enables you to win at least one or both home series before SA tour, I am all up for it.

In an ideal world, I will drop Hafeez for SA tour even after a great home season if likes of Usman, Saad, Saud and Fawad are in form and ready for the next level. Won’t happen tho.

 

[pakistani pride]

You said Saad Ali could have been picked instead of Hafeez. Your logic for that makes no sense - the guy is in horrible form. It makes no sense picking a player who is obviously badly out of form.

At least Hafeez is in some sort of form.

I put Saad Ali is an example. Mentioned few others as well. I personally would never pick a mentally weak player like Hafeez at close to 40 years.

This was the ideal moment to give new guys a go.
Like i said you will find out soon when he starts fishing in SA.

 

[Saj]

I put Saad Ali is an example. Mentioned few others as well. I personally would never pick a mentally weak player like Hafeez at close to 40 years.

This was the ideal moment to give new guys a go.
Like i said you will find out soon when he starts fishing in SA.

But you would pick a player who this season has not even scored 40 runs in an innings this season.

 

[happydavy]

I think I know more about Pakistan's cricket and it's selection policy than fellow PPers ..no power can now stop Hafeez back into ODI team. We all could debate as much as we want, but Hafeez ain't going anywhere for the next 12 months.

The only way to stop Hafeez into the test team was to keep him part of ODI team, which tbh he was dropped because of Mickey's and Safarafaz's arrogance. How else do you justify dropping a player who scored 2 80s in the 5 match ODI series against NZ when most other batsmen struggled. Moment Pakistan performed badly in Asia cup, all the bold decision making for long term took a backseat as first priority for coach/captain was to save their own jobs in short term. Jaan hai to jahaan hai.

I said it around a month back that Mickey will have to eat his own words and welcome Hafeez into the team with open arms and that's exactly what's happening now.

 

[pakistani pride]

But you would pick a player who this season has not even scored 40 runs in an innings this season.

Based on form and future planning one of;

Fakhar
Usman
Saad
Fawad

But NEVER Hafeez.

 

[pakistani pride]

Based on form and future planning one of;

Fakhar
Usman
Saad
Fawad

But NEVER Hafeez.

Add saud shakeel as well.

 

[Savak]

I think I know more about Pakistan's cricket and it's selection policy than fellow PPers ..no power can now stop Hafeez back into ODI team. We all could debate as much as we want, but Hafeez ain't going anywhere for the next 12 months.

The only way to stop Hafeez into the test team was to keep him part of ODI team, which tbh he was dropped because of Mickey's and Safarafaz's arrogance. How else do you justify dropping a player who scored 2 80s in the 5 match ODI series against NZ when most other batsmen struggled. Moment Pakistan performed badly in Asia cup, all the bold decision making for long term took a backseat as first priority for coach/captain was to save their own jobs in short term. Jaan hai to jahaan hai.

I said it around a month back that Mickey will have to eat his own words and welcome Hafeez into the team with open arms and that's exactly what's happening now.

Mickey Arthur is all talk and no substance. Very reactive coach who plays to the galleries

 

[moghul]

A 40 year old making his 5 th comeback and a 33 year old making his debut, Pak cricket is going great guns.

 

[Savak]

We let Misbah ul Haq play till 44. Precedence has been set. To deny Hafeez a place in the squad when he is in good form on the basis of age discrimination would be hypocrisy.

Mickey Arthur has been left with an egg in his face. Next time he will be more careful opening his mouth in the media knowing full well he will be playing and sharing a dressing room with the same players he criticized openly previously