[VIDEO] Saj "Some players in the Pakistan team are playing for themselves, their rankings and not for the country"

[MenInG]

In his latest video offering after the narrow 1 wicket loss to South Africa, Saj talks about:


1. How Pakistan were let down by some thoughtless batting once again
2. The stubborn batting approach against South Africa
3. The lack of flexibility and innovation from Pakistan's batters
4. Individuals putting themselves ahead of the team
5. What changes are needed in the batting order
6. Strange tactics fail again
7. Pakistan beaten by a better side
8. Questionable decision to give Mohammad Nawaz the ball at the end
9. Pakistan now relying on other teams once again

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

I keep saying this.

Pakistan has played 6 games this WC.

Three times of those times Pakistan reached only 150- 160 ish in the thirty over mark. Pakistan has lost every single time it has done that. India, Afghanistan, South Africa.

Three times Pakistan has easily been at a much higher runs mark at the 30 over stage. Pakistan has won two of those three matches. Netherlands, Sri Lanka and Australia.

That IMO clearly indicates where your problem lies. It’s a basis for a nuanced discussion.

 

[mominsaigol]

I keep saying this.

Pakistan has played 6 games this WC.

Three times of those times Pakistan reached only 150- 160 ish in the thirty over mark. Pakistan has lost every single time it has done that. India, Afghanistan, South Africa.

Three times Pakistan has easily been at a much higher runs mark at the 30 over stage. Pakistan has won two of those three matches. Netherlands, Sri Lanka and Australia.

That IMO clearly indicates where your problem lies. It’s a basis for a nuanced discussion.

Pakistan lost to Australia lol

 

[emranabbas]

Every team has a target to post 350+ in India
But our kaptaan believes 280-290 is enough and our bowling will win the game

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Pakistan lost to Australia lol

I wrote Pakistan won 2/3. That included the fact that they lost to Australia.

 

[BouncerGuy]

The only problem that I feel the Pakistan team has is a fearless approach. They don't take advantage of powerplay nor do they wanna play uppish shots when fielders are in the circle. May be they fear that they might loose their wicket and they may e dropped or whatever but this approach needs to be adopted asap.

 

[mominsaigol]

The only problem that I feel the Pakistan team has is a fearless approach. They don't take advantage of powerplay nor do they wanna play uppish shots when fielders are in the circle. May be they fear that they might loose their wicket and they may e dropped or whatever but this approach needs to be adopted asap.

Fearless? You mean fearful

 

[PakWC'11Champs]

I don't believe we have the big hitters needed to keep up with the elite teams scoring wise. Simply put, we have a few good batsmen like Babar, Rizwan is capable, and others show they can do something when set, but we don't have those ball strikers that can keep the run rate up. We have players that either play T20 well, or can play Test cricket. 50 over cricket has now become a mirage of T20 and what ODI used to be. You have to have some great ball strikers. The only one I see who can do that is Ifitkar, but he's not someone that can really get set too often. You need a few of those ball strikers who can clear boundaries and take on bowlers in your lineup. Most quality batting teams have at least 2-3 batsmen like that, and we struggle to have 1.

The other main weakness is our bowling. Unlike in the past we don't have a full bowling lineup. We used to be able to compete with weak batting, through great bowling. We had a full unit of a dangerous spinner, and some fast bowlers. We had decent utility spinners too. Now all we have is some ordinary utility spinners, and no dangerous actual wicket taking option. We lost our best fast bowler before the WC and Afridi/Rauf haven't been as spot on until this recent game. As we saw against South Africa, if we get even 1 spinner to operate well (Usama did in this one) we're a completely different bowling attack. Because if your spinner puts some pressure, then with the combined quicks we have, we can operate as a fully functional complete bowling attack. Simply put we have no strength. It used to be our bowling (Balance of spin and pace wicket takers). Now it's under par score with batting, and and a bowling attack lacking a wicket taking wrist spinner.

 

[zaidihusain]

Every team has a target to post 350+ in India
But our kaptaan believes 280-290 is enough and our bowling will win the game

Babar's defeatist mindset is the exact reason for all loses. Babar targets below par score of 270-280 in ODIs & 150-160 in T20s and expects his mediocre bowlers to win matches.

It is the responsibility of top 6 batsman to secure match winning total, your no. 7, 8 & 9 can occasionally get 40-50 runs together but there is no surety. It is clear that Imam, Babar, Iftikhar & Rizwan have no plans whenever the team bats first, they play risk free cricket just to get their 40s & ,50s. The top 6 plays too many dot balls and are very poor in strike rotation. If they have converted even half of those dot balls in to singles the score would have been increased by 50-60 runs easily

Also, Babar still doesn't know how to utilize bowling options efficiently & effectively. Sometimes he continues with the bowler who is getting thrashed and sometimes he removes the bowler who is bowling well. No spinner can defend 4 runs in 3 overs

 

[aboveandbeyond]

The batting lacks self belief. They've been in good positions with the bat in majority of the games they've lost, it's at crunch situations they've failed.

 

[Mohraheem]

I’m telling y’all. Remove Misbah from Pcb. Pakistan will start winning. Misbah has something to do with this!

 

[I think therfore I am]

I’m telling y’all. Remove Misbah from Pcb. Pakistan will start winning. Misbah has something to do with this!

What confuses me is when Misbah's analysis on the pavilion show, he sounds very good and points the flaws in the team. Most his points and solutions are good.

 

[Aviator]

Some?
Everyone in team plays for themselves, to secure thier place and to earn money.

 

[Saj]

Look at the way the likes of New Zealand, Australia, India and South Africa are batting at this World Cup.

Their players put the team first, they don't care about rankings, averages etc - it's team first, not personal gains.

 

[Savak]

Look at the way the likes of New Zealand, Australia, India and South Africa are batting at this World Cup.

Their players put the team first, they don't care about rankings, averages etc - it's team first, not personal gains.

India is untested when it comes to chasing a big total.

 

[KhanNn]

We have so many good players like Mohammed Huraita, Haseebullah, Banglzai etc why don't we give them a chance?

 

[Saj]

India is untested when it comes to chasing a big total.

That's because their bowlers have been doing the job they are supposed to do.

It's called a team effort and not just totally relying on your batters all the time.

 

[Savak]

That's because their bowlers have been doing the job they are supposed to do.

It's called a team effort and not just totally relying on your batters all the time.

At some stage the law of averages might catch up where their bowlers will have a bad day and the batters will have to chase 350 plus

 

[Saj]

At some stage the law of averages might catch up where their bowlers will have a bad day and the batters will have to chase 350 plus

And you can safely say their batters will not bat for themselves, their average or ranking. They will bat in accordance with the team requirements.

Same as New Zealand did today.

 

[gibsyhesperis]

Look at the way the likes of New Zealand, Australia, India and South Africa are batting at this World Cup.

Their players put the team first, they don't care about rankings, averages etc - it's team first, not personal gains.

But to be fair, to allow this to happen you need to have engendered an appropriate culture where players know that they will not be axed on the basis of a few poor innings.
Look how England nurtured Crawley, despite a long run of poor form, and he came good in the Ashes.
He would never have survived if he had been in the Pakistani team with the media and ex-players calling for his head.

For the goodness sake, the coaches of the Pakistan team never know if they will survive.
The head of the PCB only survives at the behest of their respective political masters.
Of course the players play for themselves — anything else would call into question their intelligence.

 

[kron]

And you can safely say their batters will not bat for themselves, their average or ranking. They will bat in accordance with the team requirements.

Same as New Zealand did today.

Rahul literally lives for milestones. Virat just played for one. With their weak tail it could easily have beaten 0/3 as they needed 6 runs to win.

 

[kron]

What confuses me is when Misbah's analysis on the pavilion show, he sounds very good and points the flaws in the team. Most his points and solutions are good.

And then when he is given power he makes wrong decision quite consistently lol. Atleast our fitness will improve.

 

[sugumarrising]

India is untested when it comes to chasing a big total.

Brother India is the only team that has chased 270+ against new zealand attack in dharamshala in a two paced wickets, (among the big teams aus, Ind, sa, nz) this is the highest chase.

 

[Thanos]

Rahul literally lives for milestones. Virat just played for one. With their weak tail it could easily have beaten 0/3 as they needed 6 runs to win.

You must be watching some other world cup then.

Virat tried for milestone only when he knew the game was done and dusted. He secured the team win first and then only tried for hundred.
You are accusing VK playing for milestones where he is literally the guy who has almost secured semis spot for India with his batting.

 

[kron]

You must be watching some other world cup then.

Virat tried for milestone only when he knew the game was done and dusted. He secured the team win first and then only tried for hundred.
You are accusing VK playing for milestones where he is literally the guy who has almost secured semis spot for India with his batting.

You did see what happened recently right? Even in aus game. Tail from 8 to10 got out for 1 run or something. That's a very silly thing to do by virat. Lot of commies criticised him too for this approach.

 

[Thanos]

You did see what happened recently right? Even in aus game. Tail from 8 to10 got out for 1 run or something. That's a very silly thing to do by virat. Lot of commies criticised him too for this approach.

Aussies were batting first and trying to add as many runs as possible.

India needed 7 runs in 3 overs with 5 wickets in hand. Anyone would go for century.

 

[daytrader]

Again couldn't bat full quota of overs. Has been a recurring theme with the team this WC. Out of the 4 times we batted first, we failed 3 times. Absolutely criminal! Really kills the NRR even if we were to win all remaining games.

Even in the chase against Australia if they had completed 50 overs we would've had a better NRR.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Babar sets the example.. he needs to change mindset of this team

 

[Saj]

And those saying Australia didn't bat the full 50 overs against New Zealand - look at their score and their run-rates and compare that with Pakistan's numbers against South Africa.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

We don't have many batters in the squad who can play innovatively tbh. I don't see Imam, Abdullah, Saud or Rizwan playing reverse flicks and ramp shots. Babar is the best batter in the current and yes he needs to show more positivity and needs to stop going into his shell once he starts nearing 50 or 100. Iftikhar is the only one with range, but for some reason after playing for over a decade in domestic and being the part of team for over 3 years, he still looks down on confidence when he walks into bat. Fakhar is the only one who should have replaced Imam in the last 2 games(he was fielding in the previous match so don't think he's injured). Haris and Saim are the two innovative batters in the domestic we have (but Haris is in reserves in addition to have been given much ODIs to develop his batting. Saim wasn't even considered sadly.

This is the formula we decided to take to the world cup and our batters need to become more assertive while batting and should aim for higher team totals than what they've been getting. Babar should be getting in the fourth gear once he is set or when 30 overs are crossed. Nawaz should be kept away from international cricket till he regains confidence and form now.
Sad that our other two spinners are Shadab (concussed) and Usama (who hasn't looked international quality in the wc).

The lack of bowling plans has been the more worrisome thing for me. Shaheen hasn't looked at his best yet he's been the only good bowler for us in this campaign. Haris seems to have no plan b once he gets carted around in his first spell. Hasan is a much better first change bowler but we don't have two reliable opening bowlers.

 

[pratiktc]

Look at the way the likes of New Zealand, Australia, India and South Africa are batting at this World Cup.

Their players put the team first, they don't care about rankings, averages etc - it's team first, not personal gains.

The senior batters set the tone.

For India, Rohit leads the way. He could have strolled to 3 centuries this tournament but he has realised he is the in form batter and has pushed envelope to make a statement in each match.

For SA, Markram has been the guy always moving game forward. Rassie holds the fort, Klaasen gets his eye in and goes boom but Markram slips between attack and counterattack modes only from ball 1.

For Pak, Babar has been unable to inspire batting. Most of batters look lost. They would all look a lot better if Babar was having a good run.

 

[Saj]

So it seems to be Fakhar or bust these days:

Babar Azam "when Fakhar Zaman is playing and he bats for 20 or 30 overs it's a different ball game. The other batters play their natural game and there is less pressure on the team. It's good to see him back"

Strange tactics if one player sets the tone for the other batters.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Every team has a worst case scenario. If it happens it happens NOt a log you can do. But you still have to execute your plans. I am highly impressed by Afghanistan. Those chases were very well orchestrated. They play short balls well. They play spin well. They run well. Their shot selection has improved.

 

[MenInG]

Given all the unwelcome attention on the Pakistan squad, huge test of character for them to come through this.

 

[Savak]

Given all the unwelcome attention on the Pakistan squad, huge test of character for them to come through this.

Let's be honest, Bangladesh doesn't really count

 

[mominsaigol]

I don't understand, if the whole team is fakhar help me, and this is something the management and captain acknowledges, shouldn't the focus be to make everyone bat like fakhar? Wasn't that the Pakistan way that mickey advertised?

Why can't Mr no 1, the worlds greatest batter do the same? Can't the worlds best batsmen take the game away from you if he plays 20 overs?

 

[Saj]

I don't understand, if the whole team is fakhar help me, and this is something the management and captain acknowledges, shouldn't the focus be to make everyone bat like fakhar? Wasn't that the Pakistan way that mickey advertised?

Why can't Mr no 1, the worlds greatest batter do the same? Can't the worlds best batsmen take the game away from you if he plays 20 overs?

It's because Fakhar is the X factor, something different in the Pakistan top order. The go-to guy, as the others are either incapable of playing in an aggressive way/or don't want to.

 

[shamaan]

I don't understand, if the whole team is fakhar help me, and this is something the management and captain acknowledges, shouldn't the focus be to make everyone bat like fakhar? Wasn't that the Pakistan way that mickey advertised?

Why can't Mr no 1, the worlds greatest batter do the same? Can't the worlds best batsmen take the game away from you if he plays 20 overs?

No becouse he doesn't have the power or the confidence to smash bowlers he knows what his role is.

 

[VForVendetta]

So it seems to be Fakhar or bust these days:

Babar Azam "when Fakhar Zaman is playing and he bats for 20 or 30 overs it's a different ball game. The other batters play their natural game and there is less pressure on the team. It's good to see him back"

Strange tactics if one player sets the tone for the other batters.

This is exactly the problem. Everything depends on him, rest of them are either incompetent or selfish or mediocre or simply con artists.

 

[daytrader]

This is exactly the problem. Everything depends on him, rest of them are either incompetent or selfish or mediocre or simply con artists.

To make it worse, Babar uses the same strategy while bowling. He put all eggs in Shaheen's basket today when opting to bowl first.

 

[JAV12341]

Pakistan is done finished whole team looks bang average. When your best player is an old 45 year old chacha it tells you everything

 

[aukhan]

Great analysis Saj. Good to see someone saying the right things.

This obsession with personal records is hurting us now. Big changes are needed.

 

[Saj]

Look at Rachin and Kane today.

Look at the way they batted today, the aggression, the way they didn't bother about personal milestones.

This should be the way.

We seem to just be happy that our players get 50s and their ranking.

 

[MenInG]

Look at Rachin and Kane today.

Look at the way they batted today, the aggression, the way they didn't bother about personal milestones.

This should be the way.

We seem to just be happy that our players get 50s and their ranking.

Those innings should be shown on repeat to Pakistan's top order