"To play against England at Lord's would be a dream come true": Fakhar Zaman

[DeadBall]

"I really enjoyed it [my innings]. The wicket was very good at the start and we are used to playing on such wickets [back home]"

"It totally depends on captain and coach; I can only try and score runs in each and every game"

"It’s really exciting [on the thought of playing Tests] as every player wants to play Tests for their country as Test cricket is real cricket"

"I have made my place in T20Is and ODIs and now the goal is to make my place in Test cricket"

"I am training with the red ball and working on my technique as well [for Tests]"

"To play against England at Lord's would be a dream come true"

"Their bowlers were bowling well in good areas and it was hard to score runs at the start"

"It’s very good for us to practice in such conditions"

"We will try to play aggressive cricket"

"We will see if [I can play] in the 1st or 2nd Test"

"Before I played white ball cricket, I had played a lot of red ball cricket but once I started playing the white ball, I haven’t played that much with the red ball so I have been practicing for a month with the red ball"

"We have some brilliant middle order batsmen like Usman Salahuddin who scored runs today, Saad Ali was unlucky but he is also capable of replacing Misbah/Younis"

"I was very happy with my contract with Somerset last year but we had to play against World XI which is why I could not play here"

"I am very hopeful [of playing at Lord's] but it depends on the Coach and Captain, let’s see what they decide"

 

[babajee]

This guy will score a century on debut.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Well he hasn't done his chance of playing any harm especially when Pakistan are in dire need of someone who actually does look for runs and not just shoulder arms and block.

All the cricket teams have had such a player at the top for them over the years and Pakistan seemed to be the only one who never had such a luxury.

Not sure why Arthur was looking at Fakhar as a number 6-7 that too in tests.

 

[hadi123]

Azhar Ali also done well today though so I'm not sure who Zaman can replace.

 

[ManFan]

Difficult to have a set XI after batsmen performed today.

I’ll go with...

FZ
Imam
Azhar
Shafiq
Haris
Babar
Sarfraz
Shadab
Amir
Hasan
Abbas

No need for a fifth bowler as Haris, Fakhar, Azhar, Shafiq, can all bowl part-time spin.

 

[babajee]

Azhar at 3 would be a mistake.

Azhar
Imam
Haris
Asad
Babar
Fakhar
Sarfraz
Shadab
Amir
Hasan
Abbas

 

[ManFan]

Azhar at 3 would be a mistake.

Azhar
Imam
Haris
Asad
Babar
Fakhar
Sarfraz
Shadab
Amir
Hasan
Abbas

Chasing a target of above a 100 on Day 5, would you feel comfortable having Azhar as your opener?

His strength is grinding down the opposition, not scoring.

Number 3’s do not have to be ultra-fast in scoring as they are required to play long innings.

His only century in England came at #3 at Edgbaston two years ago.

He had a SR of 47.44 in that game and reached his hundred off 209 balls, making it at a SR of 48.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Fakhar Zaman opening on a Lords wicket, facing the likes of Jimmy and Broad in "early summer" as the Englishmen put it would be brave, but with bravery comes risk. Risk of failure, risk of defeat. I would persist with Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam, proven batsmen in English conditions.

Lower down the order, Zaman is as useless as Kamran Akmal is behind the wickets. The middle order exposes him to the swinging and fresh cherry and lower down the order, playing him would be a mistake as the likes of Shadab, Faheem and Hasan would suffice as batsmen.

As much as I warrant his inclusion into the XI as a Test player, Lords is not the right time. Zaman doesn't realise that by insisting for his selection, he's only digging his own grave because neither is he familiar to these conditions nor has he played this quality of an attack before. For his own sake, I hope he plays his first match as a Test player in Asian conditions.

 

[babajee]

Chasing a target of above a 100 on Day 5, would you feel comfortable having Azhar as your opener?

His strength is grinding down the opposition, not scoring.

Number 3’s do not have to be ultra-fast in scoring as they are required to play long innings.

His only century in England came at #3 at Edgbaston two years ago.

He had a SR of 47.44 in that game and reached his hundred off 209 balls, making it at a SR of 48.

The thing is that Azhar kills all the momentum at 3. If Fakhar and Imam get off to a good start then his innings will be counterproductive.

 

[Monsee]

Fakhar Zaman opening on a Lords wicket, facing the likes of Jimmy and Broad in "early summer" as the Englishmen put it would be brave, but with bravery comes risk. Risk of failure, risk of defeat. I would persist with Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam, proven batsmen in English conditions.

Lower down the order, Zaman is as useless as Kamran Akmal is behind the wickets. The middle order exposes him to the swinging and fresh cherry and lower down the order, playing him would be a mistake as the likes of Shadab, Faheem and Hasan would suffice as batsmen.

As much as I warrant his inclusion into the XI as a Test player, Lords is not the right time. Zaman doesn't realise that by insisting for his selection, he's only digging his own grave because neither is he familiar to these conditions nor has he played this quality of an attack before. For his own sake, I hope he plays his first match as a Test player in Asian conditions.

Sami Aslam, lol, he got owned by a nobody today; when was the last time he ever scored for Pak team?

If you think Fakhar's technique is bad, Sami Aslam has not lit up the world on fire either since his 80 off against England and that was two years ago mind you.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

I don’t see Faheem doing anything with them ball. Fahkar should come in for him

 

[ExpressPacer]

Sami Aslam, lol, he got owned by a nobody today; when was the last time he ever scored for Pak team?

If you think Fakhar's technique is bad, Sami Aslam has not lit up the world on fire either since his 80 off against England and that was two years ago mind you.

Don't understand what you're trying to get at. He's proven at the highest stage, in completely foreign conditions against a top bowling attack. I would play him over any other opener any day.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

They will probably go with same team, but IF they choose to drop Faheem for an extra bat then they could be going for Usman instead as both Imam and Azhar seem to be set for the first test.

On the other side: if Mickey can grant Sharjeel a debut on Australian soil then he could do that for Fakhar as well. If there is someone in the Pakistani camp who values aggressive intent then that's Mickey.

 

[IMMY69]

Fakhar has to open the innings.
Period

 

[Hasan123]

Chasing a target of above a 100 on Day 5, would you feel comfortable having Azhar as your opener?

His strength is grinding down the opposition, not scoring.

Number 3’s do not have to be ultra-fast in scoring as they are required to play long innings.

His only century in England came at #3 at Edgbaston two years ago.

He had a SR of 47.44 in that game and reached his hundred off 209 balls, making it at a SR of 48.

No his century came as an opener. Check the scorecard. His game is suited for opening. Number 3s need to be dynamic and be able to put the opposition on the back foot. Azhar is not capable of doing that so why put him in that position?

 

[Hasan123]

If Fakhar is to play, it should be in the middle order.

 

[babajee]

If Fakhar is to play, it should be in the middle order.

He will succeed anywhere.

 

[PakSarZameen]

Babar has to go

Fakhar
Imam
Azhar
Haris
Shafiq
Shadab
Fahim
Sarfraz
Amir
Hasan
Abbas

 

[Hasan123]

He will succeed anywhere.

He could be exposed against the new ball. Against a older ball and against spin he could be deadly.

 

[babajee]

He could be exposed against the new ball. Against a older ball and against spin he could be deadly.

The weather has been pretty good here for the last few weeks. I’m expecting a nice slow flat subcontinental style track at Lords.

 

[Hasan123]

The weather has been pretty good here for the last few weeks. I’m expecting a nice slow flat subcontinental style track at Lords.

Don't trust the British weather lol.

If there's any swing or seam, Anderson will find it

 

[Syed1]

The weather has been pretty good here for the last few weeks. I’m expecting a nice slow flat subcontinental style track at Lords.

Perfect opportunity for the typical Brit whinge mode to be activated just like after CT semi.

 

[MeanAndGreen]

Complete over reactions by some people. When you hype players up to this extent to be surprised if they dont live up to expectations. Lets not forget the fact that he is yet to hit a 100 after the CT final and the fact he is totally unproven in tests.

Fakhar is a very aggressive cricketer and a breath of fresh air as far as PAK batting goes, but we shouldn't forget Azhar Ali's record and the fact that this was a club-level attack. I think it would be unfair on him and the rest of the players in the XI if he was introduced at Lords.

 

[MeanAndGreen]

I don’t see Faheem doing anything with them ball. Fahkar should come in for him

True, but he did score 80 odd on debut and they wont drop him after that. Besides, both would have the same role anyway - quick runs down the order against a softer ball.

Better off going with Faheem anyway as we've lacked a 5th bowling option for a long time in tests. I never liked the UAE-style tactic of having a spinner operating from 1 end the whole day and rotating the quicks at the other. Was simply infuriating to watch when PAK toured AUS.

 

[hur rizvi]

I would like him somewhere but at present I dont see how to accomodate him. So I dont think he should play at Lords

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

He is already cemented T20 and ODI player. He deserves his chance in tests. I saw his batting yesterday and it was sublime. I will start him over Imam.

 

[MeanAndGreen]

He is already cemented T20 and ODI player. He deserves his chance in tests. I saw his batting yesterday and it was sublime. I will start him over Imam.

Imam? Did you watch the Ireland match?

 

[Mueez]

His name will be written on the Lord's honour board.

 

[Monsee]

Don't understand what you're trying to get at. He's proven at the highest stage, in completely foreign conditions against a top bowling attack. I would play him over any other opener any day.

If he has 'proven at the highest stage', just as you mentioned, why is it that he was ignored for the match against Ireland; clearly management does not have enough confidence in him to play a rookie who stole the show as well?

Not sure why you want to include someone who at times have batted slower than Azhar, which most Pak fans find almost an impossible feat; due to his tuck tuck, if he and Azhar get together than kiss any momentum in the innings/match good bye for good

 

[hadi123]

Complete over reactions by some people. When you hype players up to this extent to be surprised if they dont live up to expectations. Lets not forget the fact that he is yet to hit a 100 after the CT final and the fact he is totally unproven in tests.

Fakhar is a very aggressive cricketer and a breath of fresh air as far as PAK batting goes, but we shouldn't forget Azhar Ali's record and the fact that this was a club-level attack. I think it would be unfair on him and the rest of the players in the XI if he was introduced at Lords.

Bro please check your PM's.

 

[Markhor]

Azhar at 3 would be a mistake.

Azhar
Imam
Haris
Asad
Babar
Fakhar
Sarfraz
Shadab
Amir
Hasan
Abbas

That's what I'd go for too. The biggest challenge for us is getting 300 runs on the board and that lineup gives us the best chance. Sarfraz given his current form is batting too high at 6.

 

[gazza619]

Difficult to have a set XI after batsmen performed today.

I’ll go with...

FZ
Imam
Azhar
Shafiq
Haris
Babar
Sarfraz
Shadab
Amir
Hasan
Abbas

No need for a fifth bowler as Haris, Fakhar, Azhar, Shafiq, can all bowl part-time spin.

I quite like your line up, meaning play both Imam & Fakhar as openers and and send Azhar no.3. I would still play Faheem Ashraf at no. 6 in place of Babar Azam. We need a quality 5th bowler.

 

[boomboom6]

Should be a definite starter at Lords. No way you keep him on the bench considering what he brings to this lackluster team!

 

[ManFan]

I quite like your line up, meaning play both Imam & Fakhar as openers and and send Azhar no.3. I would still play Faheem Ashraf at no. 6 in place of Babar Azam. We need a quality 5th bowler.

You need a pure batsman over a 5th bowler.

Faheem is a great prospect but he is an absolute hit-or-miss player at the moment.

Lord’s is a flat deck and I’m expecting England to crumble against any type of spin, be it part-time of dibbly dibble bowlers like Shafiq and Co.

 

[ManFan]

No his century came as an opener. Check the scorecard. His game is suited for opening. Number 3s need to be dynamic and be able to put the opposition on the back foot. Azhar is not capable of doing that so why put him in that position?

Sami and “The Showman” Hafeez were openers.

Hafeez departed on the 4th ball of the first over and a 181-run-partnership followed between the debutant Sami and Azhar.

Of course, Azhar got OUT on the last ball of the day which led to an early dent in the PAK innings.