Undroppable Asad Shafiq: The only Pakistani to have played 70+ consecutive Test matches!

[Madplayer]

Asad Shafiq has regressed beyond words and needs to be dropped for good. His average was 45 three years ago and now has fallen down to 39 which shows that he has progressively become worse over time. He failures in crunch situations put a lot of pressure on Pakistan and has proven to be a mediocre investment. He needs to be replaced by a new batsman.

 

[Hawkeye]

Undroppable Asad Shafiq: The only Pakistani to have played 111 Test inns, without being dropped!

Let that sink in.

The most privileged cricketer, most likely in the whole world.

Has played 66 Test matches / 111 innings, without being dropped for a single time.

I think not even Sachin or Inzi or Moyo have this honor.

And what do we get?

An average that is not even 40. Almost never performing when he's needed.


Why is he undroppable? Who is behind this guy?

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Never will be. Mickey loves him.

He will score a cute fifty in the last test when everything is done and dusted.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Asad Shafiq has regressed beyond words and needs to be dropped for good. His average was 45 three years ago and now has fallen down to 39 which shows that he has progressively become worse over time. He failures in crunch situations put a lot of pressure on Pakistan and has proven to be a mediocre investment. He needs to be replaced by a new batsman.

He will score a place saving 50 in one of last two tests as usual, never shows any mental toughness under pressure.

 

[Usman Chadda]

He needs a reality check. Good player, but his attitude frankly stinks right now.

 

[aukhan]

Turned our to be a bad investment.

 

[Markhor]

Shafiq is the darling of the Pakistan cricket establishment. He's played over 60 Tests in a row without being dropped.

Even his Test average is inflated by a stellar run in Asia in 2014-15, but his career has been one neverending cycle of one good innings that keeps his spot followed by a string of failures. And this is meant to be our senior batsman ?

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

How can you drop the future test captain of Pakistan? #Vicecaptain

 

[aukhan]

How can you drop the future test captain of Pakistan? #Vicecaptain

He is good friends with captain as well....

 

[Rayyman]

Of course you can't drop him because he scored a hundred in the last Test.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Of course you can't drop him because he scored a hundred in the last Test.

A total of 2 hundreds and 3 fifties in last two years.

An average of 30.

 

[Fahdi]

Should be end of the line for him but I feel that as always by the end of the series there will be some bigger fish to fry and he will survive.

 

[Muhammad10]

Shafiq barely averages more than Sarfraz, despite having occupied the spot of a specialist batsman throughout his career. Alas, his actual role appears to be that of a specialist vice-captain.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Countdown has started for best friends Sarfraz Ahmed & Asad Shafique unless they score in remaining Tests or Pakistan successfully defends 149 which would require Amir, Shaheen & Hassan to bowl out of their skin.


Wasim, Waqar used to do that and save passengers like Rameez from getting dropped because the team won.

 

[Barragan]

That is some record, for an awful batsman.

Not even great Pak batsmen like Miandad, Younis, Inzi, Moyo etc could do it, but this mediocre could?

Something is definitely rotten!!

 

[Muhammad10]

Countdown has started for best friends Sarfraz Ahmed & Asad Shafique unless they score in remaining Tests or Pakistan successfully defends 149 which would require Amir, Shaheen & Hassan to bowl out of their skin.


Wasim, Waqar used to do that and save passengers like Rameez from getting dropped because the team won.

Tense situation for Miandad...

 

[ads101]

It''s extremely crazy. People bash other seniors but at least they get dropped time to time. Asad's been picked every game, batting in the easiest position, and worse outshone by the younger middle order bats when they enter the team. Averaged in low 30s for 3 years now which for a middle order batsman (he wasn't even batting in the top order where it's harder) isn't acceptable.

I'm not sure we can drop him with Azhar looking a bit iffy too, Haris not yet cemented/injured half the time. But I don't want this guy ever batting at 6 again. We've wasted so many years with him at 6 which is a position where young batsmen start out in the team. He's pretty much taken the investment batsman slot for nearly 10 years lol.

Worse still he consistently throws his wicket, which I don't understand he's not exactly an aggressive batsman. At least Azhar usually doesn't.

He has to bat up the order, at 4 ideally. I don't really even like him at 5. Never at 6 again. We need to work out whether he can step up to the plate and take responsibility like he was supposed to do. Him hiding at 6 with the odd dead rubber century keeping his place in the team isn't going to be good enough. Let him sink or swim.

 

[Kroll]

At first, I thought it said "Unstoppable" - actually seems pretty apt as well if you think about it.

 

[Dark_Horse]

Anything on good length from well outside off to outside leg stump is enough for him to get out either caught behind both sides of wicket or lbw/bowled still he is the best batsman I will say otherwise a lot here think will start calling me as lahori mafia.

 

[Dark_Horse]

Adding further there is no bradman viv Richards Gary sobers Tendulkar brain lara Miandad Chappell etc to replace him just like hafeez

 

[Rayyman]

Anything on good length from well outside off to outside leg stump is enough for him to get out either caught behind both sides of wicket or lbw/bowled still he is the best batsman I will say otherwise a lot here think will start calling me as lahori mafia.

Who cares about that. Just replace him with Saad/Saud (Karachi) if that's the case.

 

[Mirpur express]

I would only keep Shan & Babar, the rest of the batting is useless even Fakhar should be kept away from tests in other words an sos situation we need a new test batting line up required ASAP

 

[Ab Fan]

I will say things are easier now for Pak team selectors.

A straight swap from Shafiq to Harris is what they should do for next test.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Tense situation for Miandad...

Well put Muhammad10

 

[Kroll]

Countdown has started for best friends Sarfraz Ahmed & Asad Shafique unless they score in remaining Tests or Pakistan successfully defends 149 which would require Amir, Shaheen & Hassan to bowl out of their skin.


Wasim, Waqar used to do that and save passengers like Rameez from getting dropped because the team won.

I thought you were a big advocate of Shafiq - http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...-and-Shan-Masood-back&p=10019163#post10019163

Perhaps, this latest performance was the last straw?

 

[Rana]

I rate Shafiq, I really do. I love guys who want to play positively considering our over defensive players. Shafiq today though was a guy with no real fight left in his tank.

 

[Hasan123]

Done defending him. Needs to be dropped.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

I thought you were a big advocate of Shafiq - http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...-and-Shan-Masood-back&p=10019163#post10019163

Perhaps, this latest performance was the last straw?

Advocacy is paramount to performance.


He has never achieved his potential since his Test Debut.


1. He made Pakistan's Test squad 8-9 years ago after he and Aamer Sajjad has a record partnership of Pak FC history. Being younger of the two PCB invested in him.


2. He has scored most number of Test hundreds at number 6 equalling Sir Gary Sobers if I am not wrong.


3. He, Younis Khan & AB Develliers were the only ones to score a Century in that Series from both sides.


4. Since he made a hundred in last Test hence he wasn't going to be dropped.



Considering Pakistan Cricket Asad's Test Career is strange because he hasn't had a long lean patch except first 12 months of his Int Cricket when he was backed and He has scored tons mostly when he has those small lean patches and hence he hasn't been dropped. His Consistency has been poor but last 2 years have been more poor only sneaking tons has saved him twice atleast.


Asad should consider himself lucky for being technically sound and having such a deep routed reputation of being a Technician because that's exactly what saved him many a times.


When Umar Akmal got dropped from Pakistan's Test team he was the highest scorer for Pakistan in Tests in last 2 years but since he got out in reckless way hence he got chopped while Asad who averaged 21 in that period got dropped. We invested in Asad and it has been a marginally good investment not a very good one in terms of OutPut but time will tell how his career folds. Ain't looking good at the moment.

If Asad does not score couple of fifties or a hundred in the remaining 4 innings in this tour than he will be dropped and replaced by Saad/Saud/UAmin/UAkmal (In order of possibilities) . But even if he is dropped I think it won't end his Int Test Career because I think He will outscore most FC batsman and will make a comeback.


At 32 with 66 Tests under his belt with most Tests played in Asia and predominantly UAE he should have averaged atleast 47 and not 39 but he is abit soft mentally especially when it comes to first 15 runs (lots of ducks and scores under 10) which is his downfall.



Btw I am a 25 % Arab & 75 % punjabi guy but Asad is highly appreciated for his behaviour on and off the field and he is very helpful to youngsters. (Many FC players have told me this). He is referred to as a role model in terms of behaviour and professional attitude by many domestic coaches in Pakistan so he is a likeable hardworking guy.


I just gave you my background because there are many here who might have said that Hey he is a Khi guy hence he is writing all this stuff for Asad Shafiq.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Asad Shafiq is the worse (specialist) test batsman from sub continent. Ever.

I can't think of anybody worse than him. His presence sums up the downfall of our test team in last few series.

 

[Iddy]

I will say things are easier now for Pak team selectors.

A straight swap from Shafiq to Harris is what they should do for next test.

Good call. Totally agree. Although I would open with Imam and Shaan and move Fakhar at six. So it should look like this:-

Imam Ul Haq
Shaan Masood
Azhar Ali
Babar Azam
Haris Shohail
Fakhar Zaman
Sarfraz Ahmed (only because they won't replace him)
Yasir / Shadab (depending on pitch)
Amir
Shaheen
Abbas

 

[Ab Fan]

Good call. Totally agree. Although I would open with Imam and Shaan and move Fakhar at six. So it should look like this:-

Imam Ul Haq
Shaan Masood
Azhar Ali
Babar Azam
Haris Shohail
Fakhar Zaman
Sarfraz Ahmed (only because they won't replace him)
Yasir / Shadab (depending on pitch)
Amir
Shaheen
Abbas

I will go with this XI as well except I will switch positions for Babar and Harris. Harris at 4 and Babar at 5.

If there is nothing for spinners, Faheem can be no. 8 as he will bowl tight length and give breathe to the pacers.

 

[The Viper]

Haris in will benefit Pak hopefully. Shafiq must be dropped now.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Second worst batsman for Pakistan to play this long.

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

I really like Asad Shafiq as a player but it is definitely hard to defend him with the way he has been mediocre. We are #7 at this point purely down to the quality of our batsmanship and this man was supposed to be our linchpin. Contrary to that he has become a metaphor for Pakistan batting as a whole; feeble, inconsistent and never in real control.

I don't know if his test career is over or not but he definitely needs to be dropped to make room for youth in our batting. Haris is the obvious swap and that should happen as soon as next test. I also agree with moving Fakhar down the order to allow him to get his legs under him at the test level, the way it has been done with Babar. Babar is ready to take the next step now and come back at 3/4 while Haris and Fakhar should be our 5/6 to help them cement themselves there.

I would go with the following XI going forward:

Imam
Shan
Azhar --> Also needs to get going but at least he has been good this year and looks in control on the whole
Babar
Haris
Fakhar
Sarfraz (Rizwan to replace him in the very near future)
Amir
Shaheen
Hasan/Yasir Shah (depending on conditions)
Abbas

 

[Abdul]

Second worst batsman for Pakistan to play this long.

Who's the first?

 

[Adijazz1706]

Who's the first?

Babar, just to ease your nerves

 

[Bilal7]

Shafiq averages more than Azhar since Younis and Misbah retired. Why is he the only one being picked on?

I would give them this full series and the one after this. If they cannot maintain a 40+ average then it should be curtains, I'm afraid. Stats do not lie and averages under 35 for specialist batsmen are just poor.

 

[Bilal7]

Asad Shafiq is the worse (specialist) test batsman from sub continent. Ever.

I can't think of anybody worse than him. His presence sums up the downfall of our test team in last few series.

Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Ramiz Raja, Shoaib Malik, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and I can keep going.

 

[ARK Rafay]

Because of guys like these and selectors like Inzi. Players like Fawad, Sadaf don't get in the side. *Angry*

 

[Khwaja78]

Shafiq is a disgrace. Its a shame and sorry reflection of Pakistan's system this guy is in the side.

Now one can discern why selector did'nt add one middle order alternative for the tour. Chief selector is part of the problem and trying to protect the senior deadwood in the team.

Chief selector is selecting these players again and again after successive defeats barring Australia tour of UAE.

For 3 series now, Pakistan's senior batsmen have been the culprits for the teams losses. High time some decisions are made in PCB and selectors held responsible.

 

[Ikball]

Let that sink in.

The most privileged cricketer, most likely in the whole world.

Has played 66 Test matches / 111 innings, without being dropped for a single time.

I think not even Sachin or Inzi or Moyo have this honor.

And what do we get?

An average that is not even 40. Almost never performing when he's needed.


Why is he undroppable? Who is behind this guy?

Sachin played 84 consecutive tests.

 

[IMMY69]

I don’t think he should just be dropped.


He should be sent home in the next available fight and picked again only after he somehow get a county contract and scored 5k runs in that season.

 

[asadee]

I don’t think he should just be dropped.


He should be sent home in the next available fight and picked again only after he somehow get a county contract and scored 5k runs in that season.

That a boy

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Ramiz Raja, Shoaib Malik, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and I can keep going.

Out of all these maybe Imran Farhat.

Others, Raina including, are better than him. My serious opinion.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Ramiz Raja, Shoaib Malik, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and I can keep going.

None of them played 100+ innings on the trot.

 

[Zaz]

Shafiq averages more than Azhar since Younis and Misbah retired. Why is he the only one being picked on?

I would give them this full series and the one after this. If they cannot maintain a 40+ average then it should be curtains, I'm afraid. Stats do not lie and averages under 35 for specialist batsmen are just poor.

because azhar has only had one poor year Shafiq has been lousy for about 3 years now Check the stats Doesnt shafiq avge in his low 30s over the last 3 years?

azhar avges a good 6 runs more than him for a reason

 

[moghul]

Shame on selectors.

 

[Nasty Naz]

Shafiq FC average: 40.11 (22 hundreds in 230 innings -- so a hundreds in 9.56% of his innings.)

Shafiq Test average: 38.78 (12 hundred in 113 innings -- a hundred in 10.62% of his innings).

I'm not sure what people expected since he has performed almost exactly compared to his domestic stats. This is why domestic stats are so crucial because it is a massive indicator at a player's potential/ceiling.

But hey I guess he makes it look really cool hitting a boundary or defending a shot so people somehow think he is way better than he really is.

Meanwhile, Fawad Alam technique isn't aesthetically pleasing so he surely shouldn't play Tests despite an absurd 56.08 FC average. A wasted career thanks to Pakistan selection committee incompetence.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Boy He stood up again [MENTION=131678]Madplayer[/MENTION] [MENTION=57110]JibranAnsari[/MENTION]


88 quality runs when he was at the cusp of getting dropped first-time since his debut.
[MENTION=143714]Kroll[/MENTION] that's what I said advocacy is paramount to performance.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Boy He stood up again [MENTION=131678]Madplayer[/MENTION] [MENTION=57110]JibranAnsari[/MENTION]


88 quality runs when he was at the cusp of getting dropped first-time since his debut.

[MENTION=143714]Kroll[/MENTION] that's what I said advocacy is paramount to performance.

I called it before he even came to bat that he was going to score 75 plus. He knows how to keep his place intact.

You can now bet top dollar that he is gonna fail in the next two innings.

 

[Khwaja78]

He plays well for himself than for the country.

Still does'nt deserve to be in the team. He is not 10 matches or 30 martches old player to be given benefit of the doubt. His role was to take the team out of the innings defeat as he was set. Again showing technique issues by fishing for the ball. Again failed
His contribution to take the team ashore is still zero and will remain zero.

Should be kicked out as soon as possible.

 

[Madplayer]

Boy He stood up again [MENTION=131678]Madplayer[/MENTION] [MENTION=57110]JibranAnsari[/MENTION]


88 quality runs when he was at the cusp of getting dropped first-time since his debut.

[MENTION=143714]Kroll[/MENTION] that's what I said advocacy is paramount to performance.

He is the biggest conman in the history of cricket.

 

[TM Riddle]

Still good innings though. It's not like he played slow to save his spot. That was a fine display of aggressive batting and he single handedly brought Pakistan back into the game.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Making a loss more respectable, that’s his speciality. These performances never come when we need it most

I’ll be shocked if anything changes, most likely we are stuck with his failures for another year and

 

[Saurav]

Making a loss more respectable, that’s his speciality. These performances never come when we need it most

I’ll be shocked if anything changes, most likely we are stuck with his failures for another year and

You didn't need the runs today?

 

[Hawkeye]

Still good innings though. It's not like he played slow to save his spot. That was a fine display of aggressive batting and he single handedly brought Pakistan back into the game.

You didn't need the runs today?

This is EXACTLY the kind of knock he plays right at the verge of getting dropped.

And our genius selectors always end up selecting him again. Get fooled by one or two innings.

Guys he's a specialist batsman. Plays almost all his matches in flat UAE.

Yet he AVERAGES 38.... Let that sink in .

He's unbelievably bad, yet never dropped, major reason we're number 7 today.

 

[Ab Fan]

This was a fine knock. Better than some other hopeless or support knocks.

 

[Pete Rose]

Trolling level: expert

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

You didn't need the runs today?

If he actually delivered when it mattered I could credit him, but we were always gonna loose, everyone knew it.

This is a trend with shafiq, I think more than half of his tons have come in losses, he hardly ever performs when there is a game on the line.

 

[Pete Rose]

This is EXACTLY the kind of knock he plays right at the verge of getting dropped.

And our genius selectors always end up selecting him again. Get fooled by one or two innings.

Guys he's a specialist batsman. Plays almost all his matches in flat UAE.

Yet he AVERAGES 38.... Let that sink in .

He's unbelievably bad, yet never dropped, major reason we're number 7 today.

Not going to defend but will point out that two down is his slot. It was an uncharacteristic innings in comparison to his career but inconsequential. He HAS to play like this every innings

 

[Something]

This knock should not exonerate him. This guy does not deserve to be in this team (nor does Azhar Ali btw). Both should be dropped regardless of their once in every 10 games half decent knocks. Find a permanent solution

 

[ElRaja]

Still good innings though. It's not like he played slow to save his spot. That was a fine display of aggressive batting and he single handedly brought Pakistan back into the game.

he didnt bring pak back in the game, pak were 60 behind with only fakhar and sarfraz left. at no point were pak even close to being back in the game. he needed to score at least 150, 70 tests without a 150 is terrible.

he played a nice knock, theres no doubt about that, but it was inconsequential in the course of this match, and that is the real problem, his record is poor for someone whos been as protected as he has and when he does score his knocks are invariably inconsequential.

 

[Fahdi]

Always bigger fish to fry and hence Shafiq survives. He'll get a 50 next match probably.

 

[Fahdi]

Always bigger fish to fry and hence Shafiq survives. He'll get a 50 next match probably.

Though to be fair his innings was good. Fakhar and Sarfraz needed to step up. Even a couple of 20s and target might have been something like 120.

 

[Ilan Bluestone]

Needs to go. These useless 50s will do nothing.

He scores in losses and never when we actually need it.

I don't care what anyone has to say about how he "looks" when he bats, with regard to stance et al., he doesn't have the talent to score runs consistently.

 

[moghul]

NOw Shafiq's 80 runs in this innings, which did not make any difference to the outcome of then march, will haunt us for next 10 tests. He will not be dropped and he will not score for next 10 tests.

 

[Madplayer]

Someone run a stat on how many of his centuries and "big scores" (over 50 ) have come in losses.

 

[Kroll]

Boy He stood up again [MENTION=131678]Madplayer[/MENTION] [MENTION=57110]JibranAnsari[/MENTION]


88 quality runs when he was at the cusp of getting dropped first-time since his debut.

[MENTION=143714]Kroll[/MENTION] that's what I said advocacy is paramount to performance.

Granted he's scored the runs...but and this is what we've all been saying for years, what's going to be the end result - yep, you've guessed it! Pakistan are still going to lose.

So the assertion still remains the same that the guy has no impact whatsoever.

 

[Abdullah719]

Undroppable for a reason

 

[Abdullah719]

Someone run a stat on how many of his centuries and "big scores" (over 50 ) have come in losses.

Four of his 12 hundreds came in wins.

Two against Bangladesh in 2011/2015.

The Oval hundred.

131 at Galle.

Note that none of these were in UAE.

 

[Azeem Zafar]

Someone run a stat on how many of his centuries and "big scores" (over 50 ) have come in losses.

Centuries=12
in Wins =4, in Draws=2, in losses=6
Out of the 4 in winnig causes, 2 are against a weak Bangladesh side. 1 is against SL (Pak 417 in reply of 300, Shafiq batted till last wicket). Last one against England in which Younis scored a double hundred.

 

[Muhammad10]

Asad Shafiq - Professional spot-saver.

 

[Khwaja78]

Another good score in a losing cause just to save his spot, should be kicked out at the earliest. If Sarfraz defends him kick him out as well and make Shadab captain. Have had enuff of this mafia.

 

[Hawkeye]

Undroppable for a reason

Fooling the IQ-less selectors since 2011.

 

[pakistani pride]

The KING of soft runs.

 

[Wristy_Shuffler]

Four of his 12 hundreds came in wins.

Two against Bangladesh in 2011/2015.

The Oval hundred.

131 at Galle.

Note that none of these were in UAE.

Interesting. I think early on he was batting down the order so any century he made would usually be wasted as either the top order had collapsed and Asad found himself batting with the tail where he had enough time to score a century as the time in the game allowed him to or he would be out farming the strike but he would be the lone solider. Any game/series where your number 6 is scoring high usually means the rest have failed. If the top order makes runs, his job would be to make a few quick runs, a little cameo of 30-60 and get on with it. So, it's expected that some of his tons would be remembered as losing causes.

Batting up the order he struggled a bit unfortunately but he's played so many amazing knocks under pressure, it's hard to ignore. Some things are just not meant to be as well, he nearly took Pakistan home during that epic chase vs Aus in 2016 but that ball from Starc literally came out of nowhere, that's just cricket. Any batsman who can stand tall whilst others around him are falling is worth keeping in the side.

Today he played well, he was attempting to erase the deficit and tire the bowlers whilsts the ball was old but just got a little carried away. I think he knew that if he were to cut and pull, it's worth going all out as the pace would take the edges up and over and it paid off.

There's another thing I've wondered about Shafiq, he's been a Test only player for a while now, surely it must be difficult for him to be consistent with the way the Test calendar for Pak is - the Tests are few and far in between. Sometimes it feels like his best form is wasted on the bench during the jam packed LOI season.

 

[Kaka_Hathrasi]

NOw Shafiq's 80 runs in this innings, which did not make any difference to the outcome of then march, will haunt us for next 10 tests. He will not be dropped and he will not score for next 10 tests.

Nailed it.

 

[Abdullah719]

It's now 117 innings. With his two fifties in these two Tests when the match was lost, he has ensured that he (probably) won't be dropped.

 

[Hasan123]

Expect the number to increase. He is here to stay.

 

[Shandarchowka]

So we drop the one of the few batsmen who fought it out in the tour. And he scored in cucial 2nd innings when Babar and other batsmen could not. Way to go..