Thoughts on Pakistan's current T20I batting line-up?

[Saj]

What are your thoughts on Pakistan's current batting line-up in T20Is?

Is it being saved by the bowlers?

Is the batting order wrong?

Does it need more power-hitters?

Is the selection not right?

 

[CricketDon]

Poor.

Our bowlers and improved fielding is why we are number one.

 

[babajee]

Heavily reliant on Fakhar and Babar although Malik can be decent on his day.

One more world class batsman and we will be unbeatable.

 

[AliMurtaza]

Saj,

To be honest, only Babar, Fakhar (outside UAE), Sarfaraz (if he bats in top 5), Malik and Hafeez belong in this format. However, apart from Fakhar, who seems to struggle in UAE because of uneven bounce and pace of the pitch, all are accumulators. This means you need 2 explosive batsmen, one at the top and one at number 6, to partner Babar, Fakhar/Hafeez, Malik, and Sarfaraz (I am assuming one of the explosive players will play at the top in place of Fakhar/Hafeez). That will end up balancing the top 6 and make our batting really competitive.

Now issue is that I don't see any explosive T20 talent in domestic. Talat (can't hit) and Sahibzada Farhan (struggles when he needs to force the pace) don't belong in the T20 format and may be better suited for ODIs. Asif Ali neither has the skill nor the batting intelligence for international level. So, where do you go to find the 2 explosive players that you need? Some of the names being mentioned such as M Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood have also performed in List A only. Someone like Khsuhdil is untested. Umar Akmal doesn't look like making a comeback to the team anytime soon.

So, that is my analysis of the issue. The next T20 world is in Aus in Oct 2020, so we have still 2 years to find these 2 players. By that time, Hafeez may have retired/dropped so you will still have Fakhar, Babar, Malik and Sarfaraz. The next 2 PSLs may be important to finding the 2 missing links in our T20 batting order.

 

[Kroll]

I'm not convinced with a middle order comprising Hafeez, Malik and Sarfaraz. Add to that, a struggling Asif Ali. But seems to be working at the moment somehow.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Pretty good. Need one more shotmaker like Babar and give Faheem and Asif more time in the middle to develop.

 

[MMHS]

They batted first 4 times and put enough for bowlers - that's probably what matters in T20, because these games are played in so diversified condition that batting strength can't be measured on absolute numbers.
Kiwis were chasing 170 ish score in their palm top ground quite comfortably while Aussies put 250+ twice against SRL spinners in SRL. 150 is UAE is comfortably like 180+ in IND and probably 200+ in NZ condition.

Next challenge is batting 2nd. Aussies proved why they are poor is Asia - not only in batting or bowling, only they could choose to bowl in UAE after winning toss - then Sarfraz won next 3 tosses. If PAK can chase a similar 150ish total under light, don't think there is anything to complain about batting much. 150is

 

[Plumb]

Pretty good. Need one more shotmaker like Babar and give Faheem and Asif more time in the middle to develop.

Asif?? really? I don't think he is any good. If the ball is in his V it 'll go out of the park besides that he got no game.. please correct me what am I missing here..

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Asif?? really? I don't think he is any good. If the ball is in his V it 'll go out of the park besides that he got no game.. please correct me what am I missing here..

You are missing patience which is necessary to develop batsmen. He can hit around the park but if you don't spend time in the middle, you'll never be confident enough to play those shots.

 

[Plumb]

You are missing patience which is necessary to develop batsmen. He can hit around the park but if you don't spend time in the middle, you'll never be confident enough to play those shots.

Time 'll tell Lets see ... but I believe he 'll waste a spot.

 

[The Viper]

Bowling is quality for these conditions especially. Our batting is doing enough as around 150 is almost impossible to chase. Think the conditions are really tough. Guys like Fakhar, Asif and Faheem will have a much better time outside UAE.

Asif showed signs of improvement when promoted- looked comfortable was pace but he does need to sort out the problems against spin. Since we really lack hitters, Asif has to be persisted for a little longer.

 

[QalandarFan]

Probably the best it's been at least for a long time.

 

[gazza619]

I was surprised at how confident Sarfaraz was looking at the crease today.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I quite like it. it's a mixture of aggressive batsmen and dangerous bowlers with a fair sprinkling of all rounders doing both jobs. Sarfraz probably comes in a bit early for my liking, but we have to realise it's a 20 over game and usually there isn't much time for specialists to build an innings.

 

[topspin]

It is a one man batting team in Fakhar. Babar can make valuable contributions but cannot lead from the front if FZ has a bad day for 3 reasons:

a) He is timid

b) He can't shift into the higher gears when it's required, which is why he is a liability in 300+ and 200+ run chases in ODIs and T20Is respectively

c) He prioritises milestones over the needs of the team where he has the tendency to slow down in his 40s and especially in the 90s with the lowest risk shots. He needs to find a way to bat with a clear mind in these situations. In the second test in Abu Dhabi he got out on 99 because he was overthinking and ended up applying more pressure on himself. The reason why the likes of Kohli and Younis Khan rarely get/got out in the 90s is because they were able to bat with a clear mind and in doing so put the needs of the team at the forefront.

I think Asif Ali needs time and backing from the management. Fakhar, Sharjeel, Umar Akmal and him are the best hitters of pace bowling, so it's not like we're blessed with options unfortunately. What is really problematic with him is that he is a tail ender against spin - just as bad as Rizwan in playing slower bowling, if not worse! So perhaps he should be brought in the last 15 overs and promote Faheem higher up the order, who clearly isn't fulfilling the pinch hitting role at no.8 however he may bat better when he's set at the crease evident from some of his test knocks.

The major concerns in this batting order are Hafeez, Malik and Sarfraz who aren't very good players of pace bowling and I fear they will get exposed in England next year. The latter had an excellent series in England 2 years ago however you can see from a mile away that the CT win has got to his head and seems content with the success from what I've seen so far. If this attitude continues up not only will the WC be a disastrous campaign but it will also show the CT success was in fact a curse in disguise.

 

[Bilal7]

It is not exciting but it gets the job done and that is what matters. If Hafeez, Malik and Sarfaraz are winning us games then they have every right to remain a part of this team.

 

[ads101]

It's alright. Asif moving up probably the right decision, he looks more comfortable against pace. With Fakhar back for Farhan there's no genuinely weak batsmen in there, the weakest is Hafeez who offsets it with the ball a bit.

Imad's also made the lower order a bit stronger too while being important with the ball. Like today, he's not an incredible hitter, timer or in general incredible batting ability, but he knows how to make smart runs. Which is why he averages over 35 in ODIs too. He's not just a slogger.

ODIs we have far more problems. Sarfraz is worse, Malik is worse. Imam's a bit slow, Asif isn't doing well in ODIs yet, Haris is slow, and if Hafeez joins I'm not sure he will do great either, and Shadab/Fahim are too weak for 7.

 

[rhony]

I think there is only room for Hafeez or Malik in the team and the one who can bowl consistently gets the pick. Also, Faheem has become a mug with the bat and can't justify a place just for his bowling. He should be replaced with a proper wicket taking bowler. This will give the dynamism at the top and there is stability from Babar, Hafeez or Sarfraz if required.

Fakhar
Babar
Farhan
Hafeez/Malik
Sarfraz
Asif
Imad
Shadab
Hasan
Shaheen
Junaid/Amir

 

[saeedhk]

Only Malik and Hafeez are good, others are crap. No batting talent in Pak.

 

[Nasty Naz]

It needs less UAE.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Batter Order/Lineup is ok (Good Mix of Stroke Makers and Consolidators).

It's the management which needs to develop situational awareness.

 

[Gullycricket]

Needs Fakhar back in place of useless Farhan.Then its a solid team.We are doing so well in T20 cricket mainly due to all-rounders in our team

 

[Mamoon]

We have arguably the worst batting lineups in all formats at the moment.

 

[Hasan123]

The test is on batting pitches. These UAE pitches aren't the norm for T20 cricket hence my reluctance to do banghra over winning these series. I'll take the wins but I want to see how we do on batting pitches and how we chase in T20s.

 

[hadi123]

It's not that powerful but our bowling line up is one of the best.

 

[Pakhs]

Average is the right word, Its a long batting line up filled with average players which can work for T20s as even 30 is a good score and then bowlers can take over. But in 50 over ODIs this line up wont work most of the time as proven by recent Asia cup.

 

[aukhan]

SArfraz/Malik/Hafeez

This middle order is not capable of delivering against quality opposition. Sarfraz the weakest link in the middle order.

 

[Ilustcricket]

I will talk about T20 only. I don’t understand the criticism. I think we have a pretty decent lineup, non are perfect or world class but still manage wins via combined effort. For those talking about not counting UAE wins, are you conveniently forgetting we beat the same full strength (Guptill playing) NZ team in NZ 2-1? Then we beat the Aussies in Zimbabwe 2-1 as well. Played only one game against England but still beat them badly by 9 wickets in that game in their home. We seem biased against our own team because our performance is poor in other formats. Im not saying we are world beaters right now, but saying we have the players to put up a decent fight and win more often than lose.

 

[Syed1]

Our batting lineup isn't as dynamic as some of the other sides but it is definitely effective. They are good enough to score enough runs for our main weapon to defend or chase whatever puny score the opposition manage against our bowling. Trouble is when they have to go out of their comfort zone and chase a score that is a little more than par.

 

[New Yorker]

I will talk about T20 only. I don’t understand the criticism. I think we have a pretty decent lineup, non are perfect or world class but still manage wins via combined effort. For those talking about not counting UAE wins, are you conveniently forgetting we beat the same full strength (Guptill playing) NZ team in NZ 2-1? Then we beat the Aussies in Zimbabwe 2-1 as well. Played only one game against England but still beat them badly by 9 wickets in that game in their home. We seem biased against our own team because our performance is poor in other formats. Im not saying we are world beaters right now, but saying we have the players to put up a decent fight and win more often than lose.

The problem is in part that Pakistan does not seem to play T20 as the game was set up to be played, ie as a batsmens bonanza. It's as if the world's best swimmer always seemed to dislike water. But perhaps this is also the some part of the secret of our success. There is a reason for why those who are consistently successful in a sport are often felt to be playing another kind of game altogether.

 

[indianpanacea]

The crux is that Pakistan doesn't know which player is suited for what format..hack like asif Ali plays one-day and talented talat in t20..absolute nonsense..
For onedayers team should be like
Fakhar
Babar
Umar akmal/imam
Haris sohail
IMAd wasim
M. Hafeez
Sarfaraz
Shahdab/faheem
Amir
Junai
Hassan ali
For t20
Fakhar
Babar
Umar akmal
Talat
Asif ali
Rizwan
Faheem/imad
Shahdab/M.nawaz
Wahab
Shaheen
M. Abbas

 

[topspin]

The test is on batting pitches. These UAE pitches aren't the norm for T20 cricket hence my reluctance to do banghra over winning these series. I'll take the wins but I want to see how we do on batting pitches and how we chase in T20s.

Especially when the average score in UAE is 140 - 150 - compare this to the global average of 170 - 180.

The argument that if you can score 150 in UAE you can score 170 - 180 isn't the case with Pakistan batsmen because of the DNA of the batting line up dominated by accumulators.

 

[Ilustcricket]

Pakistan’s high overseas scores of late:

194 Vs Aus (Zimbabwe) batting first
187 vs Aus (Zimbabwe) chasing in the final

201 vs New Zealand (New Zealand) batting first
181 vs New Zealand (New Zealand) batting first