Time to stand up and be counted

[Saj]

It's no big secret that time and again the Pakistan Test batting has been rescued by Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq.

Yes Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq have been great support acts but the opposition bowlers usually assume that the big fish to catch are the two veterans.

With the two veterans shortly away from the scene, who will step up, who will take over the mantle?

It looks like Azhar Ali will continue to open, with Babar Azam at 3 and I would expect Asad Shafiq to move to 4 or 5.

That leaves two vacancies in the Pakistan Test batting line-up. Who will step up? Who will stand up and be counted?

 

[Yaasir]

Fawad Alam and Haris Sohail. But, Haris Sohail needs improve his fitness big time if he wants to be successful at the test level. Pretty 30's and 40's are not good enough in test match cricket.

 

[MMHS]

Yes - PAK needs experience for Test line up. Azhar & Asad are still youngster while Babar is a kid - need 10 more years to mature.

Only hope is to recall Mohammad Hafeez & put him at 3, where Viv Richards & Bradman used to bat at their prime.

 

[Hawkeye]

Shafiq had a decent tour in Australia, but he's been far too inconsistent and not reliable.

He has to step up.

Azhar is our best batsman now that Yk/Misbah duo are gone. Most of the burden will be on his shoulders to carry the batting forward.

Biggest issue is Asad Shafiq, then comes Babar Azam who has to deliver now in Tests too.

Openers will be bad - Inzi kicked out our best young opener who performed on the toughest of tours away. The only hope is in the middle order.

Shehzad - poor
Shan Masood - downright club level
Azhar - great
Shafiq - not reliable
Babar Azam - needs to start delivering
Haris Sohail - will be good if he's fit

Do not go to Fawad Alam. Invest in Saud Shakeel or Imam ul Haq.

 

[coy0607]

I don't think Azhar and Shafiq are the kinda players to lead the team to many victories and be the alpha's.

They're excellent supporting players, but they just don't have the talent to be much more. And now in there 30's, I don't know if they have the upside to improve.

Babar Azam has more likelihood (and talent) of being the leader of the batting unit

 

[kingusama92]

1) Azhar Ali
2) Ahmed Shahzad/Shan Masood (should be Sami Aslam IMO)
3) Babar Azam
4) Asif Zakir/Usman Salahuddin (experienced domestic bat)
5) Asad Shafiq
6) Imam ul Haq (younger potential)
7) Sarfraz Ahmed

I'd prefer the #4 to have loads of domestic experience. While the #6 can be a strong young prospect like Imam ul Haq or someone similar. You can let him develop in that spot.

Let's see what they do.

 

[coy0607]

Sarfraz should move up the order. He has the talent and experience to be a better no. 4 than anyone else we have

Shafiq goes to 5, bring in new 6 & 7

 

[Hawkeye]

Sarfraz should move up the order. He has the talent and experience to be a better no. 4 than anyone else we have

Shafiq goes to 5, bring in new 6 & 7

Sarfraz doesn't have the temperament to build an innings or stop a collapse. Can slog some at the end, that's fine for now.

Need mentally strong innings builder at that position.

 

[coy0607]

Sarfraz doesn't have the temperament to build an innings or stop a collapse. Can slog some at the end, that's fine for now.

Need mentally strong innings builder at that position.

20 years ago temperament was maybe the most important thing in test match batting. In the modern day game we are seeing people all the time who play fast and succeed

and Sarfraz is as mentally strong as anyone in Pak cricket

 

[godzilla]

not sure why everyone is so up in arms about Sami. he did ok, not outstandingly well in England - it was admirable because everyone was expecting him to fail but it wasn't outstanding. he only average 36 in fc, imam averages 36, shan 34, Shehzad averages 41.

in any case, yes, now all the massive critics of younis and misbah have their wishes, lets see if the phoenix soars as they expect, or whether its a dodo stinking the place out, as anyone with any common sense thinks.

in terms of replacements, shan should be nowhere near any international side, the openers are obviously Sami/shehzad (v little to choose between them), and azhar.

shafiq has been very mediocre and inconsistent, maybe he get the promotion next.

babar is not a test player, slahuddin and alam are the two most apt on domestic players, but inzi doesn't like alam. its insane to even consider haris before he's proved himself for a season or two, this wasn't a small operation, it was massive.

basically its very dark days ahead. as mediocre as sad shafiq is, in fc which includes tougher test match stats as well as domestic stats, he still averages better than imam-uk-haq, asif Zakir and babar Azam. anyone campaigning for them ought to be ready for some big losses.

enjoy your ouster of the old guard!

 

[srh]

It's no big secret that time and again the Pakistan Test batting has been rescued by Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq.

Yes Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq have been great support acts but the opposition bowlers usually assume that the big fish to catch are the two veterans.

With the two veterans shortly away from the scene, who will step up, who will take over the mantle?

It looks like Azhar Ali will continue to open, with Babar Azam at 3 and I would expect Asad Shafiq to move to 4 or 5.

That leaves two vacancies in the Pakistan Test batting line-up. Who will step up? Who will stand up and be counted?

I think Pakistan should invest in Saad Ali a young left handed batsman for tests.

 

[Rayyman]

Usman Salahuddin is the one guy. The other guy should be one of: Aamer Yamin, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Hafeez and Haris Sohail.

 

[Mir jibran]

Usman Salahuddin is the one guy. The other guy should be one of: Aamer Yamin, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Hafeez and Haris Sohail.

hafeez ? are u serious ???

 

[geraltofrivia]

I don't think there will be anyone of that level any longer. Post Moyo/Inzy's retirement no great batsmen came out. Shafiq/Azhar are ok but they are not that level (Moyo/Inzy/YK/Miandad etc).

Similar thing happened to the fast bowling post 03 WC. There have been some good pacers but no one great.

 

[Rayyman]

hafeez ? are u serious ???

Yes, why not? The team needs experience.

 

[Mir jibran]

Yes, why not? The team needs experience.

bhaijaan muaaf rakho

 

[Boi]

Need to play a batting all rounder at number 6/7. Id go for Talat. This would be my lineup for the series after WI.

Sami
Azhar
Babar
Asad
Usman/Saad
Talat
Sarfaraz

Azhar has started to step up but more is expected from Shafiq definitely. Hopefully he can get a good run at 4 and succeed, otherwise all that investment would have gone to waste.

 

[srh]

Seriously this thread shows the lack of understanding game by lot of Pak fans. Fawad Alam not cut out for international cricket; Haris Sohail not regained his game after injury; Hussain Talat failure in domestic FC cricket; Mohammad Hafeez tested tried failure; heck Usman Salahuddin has scored more in Grade 2 cricket;