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[VIDEOS] "Azhar Ali isn't good enough"

He aint going anywhere until at least 2024 and maybe 2025. We can't move forward as long as these babas are forcibly retired.
 
Azhar is a huge weakness in the team, batting at such a crucial position as well. Fawad should have been playing in these conditions but long term, it's better we move on from both.
Saud and Kamran deserve their chance.
 
A serial match loser this guy. Probably the worst tailender to play close to 100 tests as a major bat. Kills the whole momentum if there is any, and always looks miserable trying to survive.
 
The worst player ever to play this many matches
95 is a huge number of test matches and it's all misbah ul haq's fault the destroyer of Pakistan cricket.

This guy still can't play quality bowling.How could anyone so awful.it's just beyond me.
 
Villager6964 said:
The worst player ever to play this many matches
95 is a huge number of test matches and it's all misbah ul haq's fault the destroyer of Pakistan cricket.

This guy still can't play quality bowling.How could anyone so awful.it's just beyond me.
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Both Azhar and Asad Shafiq have to be the worse batters ever.
 
Deadredwood - what happened to your hero? Another pathetic failure from Azhar.

Batted like a timid coward and deservedly failed.

Feel free to respond or change youf login to green khan and come up with excuses.

This batsmen has no shame nor do his shameless fan boys.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Why dont you explain to everyone about your obsession with Azahr? Yet again you attack one person. When the entire batting so far has Batted like a number 11.
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Your silence is deafening whats the excuse for him batting like a number 11 again in 2nd inns? :)))
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
He was due a failure or two after the series he had against Australia.
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You mean scoring on a dead pindi wicket? otherwise this tail ender is being exposed all the time.

3 off 51
6 off 32

what utter pathetic defensive gutless batting.

Im sure your proud of your hero.
 
He scored a combined total of 9 runs in 73 balls that’s 12.1 overs for 9 runs if he had played the majority of his career outside Asia he would’ve been lucky to average 30 same with Asad Shafiq.
 
Enough is enough. He needs to be dropped. He can score runs in weak county championship but international cricket isn’t for him. He sucks the life out of every innings before getting out.
 
Amjid Javed said:
You mean scoring on a dead pindi wicket? otherwise this tail ender is being exposed all the time.

3 off 51
6 off 32

what utter pathetic defensive gutless batting.

Im sure your proud of your hero.
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No I'm talking about the entire series in which he averaged 60.

Form is temporary, class is permanent.
 
WhenSultansBowled said:
This is legend's 95th test.

5 more tests and our selectors might have decency to drop him!
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So, personal record are more important than need of the team for you ? How would giving him 5 more tests be good for team ? Azhar should have been dropped 20 tests ago.
 
arif_2021 said:
the issue isnt him not scoring runs. the issue is his mindset and getting stuck and putting pressure on himself and the team.
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Actually agree. I'm willing to have a balanced conversation about Azhar Ali with just about anyone. But not with the troll [MENTION=16]Amjid Javed[/MENTION]
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
No I'm talking about the entire series in which he averaged 60.

Form is temporary, class is permanent.
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As usual when it comes to match saving or winning contributions Azhar goes missing.
 
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Cric1234 said:
He scored a combined total of 9 runs in 73 balls that’s 12.1 overs for 9 runs if he had played the majority of his career outside Asia he would’ve been lucky to average 30 same with Asad Shafiq.
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According to chairmen of Azhar Ali fan club (which has 2 members Redwood and Greenkhan) - Redwood thinks Azhar should get man of match for his efforts.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Actually agree. I'm willing to have a balanced conversation about Azhar Ali with just about anyone. But not with the troll [MENTION=16]Amjid Javed[/MENTION]
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Balanced? Why dont you give a balanced account of his two pathetic inns here that sucked life out of the inns.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Actually agree. I'm willing to have a balanced conversation about Azhar Ali with just about anyone. But not with the troll [MENTION=16]Amjid Javed[/MENTION]
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He needs to go. Had a career far longer than his talent deserved. AA is around 40 and KP, a player that is 10 times the player is 42. KP has been gone since 2015. This nonsense of jobs for life in PK team is holding the team back.
 
The_KING said:
Enough is enough. He needs to be dropped. He can score runs in weak county championship but international cricket isn’t for him. He sucks the life out of every innings before getting out.
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What Scoring runs in County?
He has been Poor their as well.
Take out his 225, he is avg in early 30s.
Before this inning, he was averaging in single digits for 4-5 matches. At that time, I was hoping he might announce his Retirement.
Remember, this year County Pitches have been unusually flat.
Pujara (perrienial poor in English Conditions) is avg in 110s and Shan Masood is avg in 80s.
He is not even in top 15 run scorers in Division 2.
 
9 runs off 83 balls for the Test is an absolutely dross effort for a top order bat with ninety odd appearances under his belt.

I’ve been a fan of his in the past but I think his eyes have gone now & it’s time to retire.
 
James said:
9 runs off 83 balls for the Test is an absolutely dross effort for a top order bat with ninety odd appearances under his belt.

I’ve been a fan of his in the past but I think his eyes have gone now & it’s time to retire.
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He should retire at end of this series before he brings his avg down below 40s. Currently at 42s, at one point used to be in high 47-48s.
 
He should retire in this series not after this series.

If not retired, Babar should drop him for the remaining matches.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Actually agree. I'm willing to have a balanced conversation about Azhar Ali with just about anyone. But not with the troll [MENTION=16]Amjid Javed[/MENTION]
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The thing is he is probably good enough to be in the team, but after 95 Matches you are expected to deliver consistently not give on and off performances. We have invested 95 matches in this guy and we want a better return. He has done just about okay, but I would rather give his spot to Shan Masood and take things forward.
 
waheed_sofi said:
What Scoring runs in County?
He has been Poor their as well.
Take out his 225, he is avg in early 30s.
Before this inning, he was averaging in single digits for 4-5 matches. At that time, I was hoping he might announce his Retirement.
Remember, this year County Pitches have been unusually flat.
Pujara (perrienial poor in English Conditions) is avg in 110s and Shan Masood is avg in 80s.
He is not even in top 15 run scorers in Division 2.
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You are right. That innings has definitely inflated his average. He is basically now a player who scores once in every 6-7 innings which simply isn’t good enough.
 
Azhar Ali is done.

Saud shakeel would be a good addition to the middle order

Imam’s place is up for grabs. Probably Shan masood is a better choice but sure Imam can be persisted because of some decent performances. Abdullah shafique is a permanent now

Agha salman looks a little out of place. Fawad should come back
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Maybe its just me but for me the appeal of test cricket has always been the idea of man battling adversity and succeeding only through sheer will, determination and hardwork. You don't necessarily have to even be a good cricketer to succeed at limited-overs cricket, but you have to be a damn good one to succeed at test cricket. Talent matters but guts, determination and character separate the best from the rest.

It is for this reason that I was always a big fan of limited cricketers who still find ways to be successful. Why I think Faf du Plessis's match-saving 110 against Australia at Adelaide in 2010 is one of the greatest innings every played on a cricket pitch and why I am a massive fan of Dean Elgar and Azhar Ali today.

But at the same time though I have also accepted that despite being an outstanding cricketer and humble servant who has done great things for Pakistan cricket, Azhar Ali will never get the respect he truly deserves from most Pakistani fans even as he nears 100 tests and continues to stamp his authority at the age of 37...standing at 5th in Pakistan's all-time run-scorer list, seemingly poised to go past Mohammad Yousuf.

For Pakistani fans it does not matter that he has the highest average against Australia in the world in test cricket during the last decade. A team that has always haunted even the best Pakistani batsmen, and a team against whom only Miandad and Zaheer Abbas have amassed more runs than him at a far inferior average. It does not matter to such fans that he has scored more hundreds than Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman in fewer innings. Or that only Alaister Cook and David Warner have scored more runs than him since his test debut. Either they simply donot know all these things or they choose to ignore them over their personal dislike for the guy.

His monster run from 2016 or his marquee knocks such as the triple hundred against West Indies, the double ton in Australia or the match-saving 141 in England are never given their due appreciation. And regardless of how he is doing, the conversation generally tends to center around when he is going to be replaced. As if the second coming of Bradman is just waiting in the wings to take his spot.

For me however, Azhar's lack of flair or limited repertoire of shots have always been what makes him so great. The fact that he is such a limited batter and still manages to be successful. The fact that he finds ways to persevere through tough situations and play crucial knocks that most people don't even notice because of how understated they are. In short, he personifies the very values of character, grit and determination that define great test cricketers.

After the dismal years he had in 2018 and 2019, even I thought that his career was nearing its end. But such was the man's character and temperament that not only did he come back from that slump but followed it by scoring more runs than anyone in the world in the next two years.

Yeah, that's right. No one in the world has scored more test runs than Azhar Ali since the start of 2020. And he has done it at an average of 48. The next Pakistani is 150 runs behind him.

The next conversation from his detractors would inevitably center on how he has dominated Zimbabwe and Bangladesh and Zimbabwe during this time period to pad up his stats. But if you take out his performances against those two teams he still averages 46.

Even as he smacked Lyon and the Australian pacers around Rawalpindi yesterday and scored the lions-share of runs in his century stand with Babar, it was almost as if he was playing second fiddle because all the crowd was interested in cheering was Babar's name. But that didn't stop Azhar from putting one of the best bowling attacks in the world to the sword. Without his impeccably calculated knock---where he batted patiently for his first hundred runs and then ramped it up to a strike-rate of 80+ for his next 85---Pakistan might not have even reached 450 by the end of the day.

But ofcourse none of that mattered as one of the first questions in the press conference to him was not a question, but a statement..."have you calculated how damaging you century is to the team?"

While it is laughable though that a so called journalist thought Azhar's marathon 185 against one of the best bowling attacks in the world...scored at a SR of 51 was damaging to the team cause it certainly isn't the least bit surprising because most Pakistani fans likely hold the same view.

Azhar's time will eventually come. And it isn't the least bit surprising to imagine that most strike-rate obsessed young Pakistani fans who grew up in the age of Afridi will likely breathe a sigh of relief and be happy. But the small number of others--of which I am a part of---who recognize everything this man has done for Pakistan cricket will know perfectly well who they will be losing.

So before that moment comes, I would just like to say thank you Azhar Ali...for everything you have done for Pakistan cricket. What certain out of touch fans think about you matters little in the grand scheme of things because when all is said and done, history will remember you as a fighter who always punched above his weight and achieved great things for Pakistan cricket.

You made me love test cricket even more than I thought I did and for that I will always be grateful to you.
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Excellent article, I agree with every word.

However I now feel the time would be right for Azhar to retire soon, hand eye coordination is diminishing very quickly, seems to look like his fitness is not up there either and general age kicking in for him to compete at the highest level.

I’d say he can continue playing domestically is Pakistan and for His county team, although I’m not sure of the stats but don’t thing he performed very well for his county team this year.
 
arif_2021 said:
Azhar Ali is done.

Saud shakeel would be a good addition to the middle order

Imam’s place is up for grabs. Probably Shan masood is a better choice but sure Imam can be persisted because of some decent performances. Abdullah shafique is a permanent now

Agha salman looks a little out of place. Fawad should come back
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Let’s develop Haider Ali, the guy has the potential to make us a real batting force, think he would be a 3 format player also.
 
Another predictably pathetic innings.

He came in with a nice start from the openers. But for Azhar, it’s a crisis. Every innings is a damn crisis.

Kill the momentum, kill the innings……are we going to get a payoff? A monumental innings that will go some way to justify his horrendous start to the innings. No, he just does his job for the opposition and gets out.

That’s his career in a paragraph
 
Zain said:
Let’s develop Haider Ali, the guy has the potential to make us a real batting force, think he would be a 3 format player also.
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Concur. Has done well in whatever 1st class he has played so far.
 
Pakistan invested big time in azhar and shafiq to replace misbah and younis and both have been pretty mediocre players they never developed as the batsmen management envisaged .
 
waheed_sofi said:
What Scoring runs in County?
He has been Poor their as well.
Take out his 225, he is avg in early 30s.
Before this inning, he was averaging in single digits for 4-5 matches. At that time, I was hoping he might announce his Retirement.
Remember, this year County Pitches have been unusually flat.
Pujara (perrienial poor in English Conditions) is avg in 110s and Shan Masood is avg in 80s.
He is not even in top 15 run scorers in Division 2.
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According to Deadwood an average of 46 in division 2 is a good effort and there is no difference between the quality of cricket in the 2 Divisions :)))
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Actually agree. I'm willing to have a balanced conversation about Azhar Ali with just about anyone. But not with the troll [MENTION=16]Amjid Javed[/MENTION]
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Test cricket has moved…Teams are scoring at MINIMUM 4 rpo to get results…that’s what’s needed to put pressure on opposition and get results.

Against Australia in second test, if he had batted a little faster who knows maybe we would have won the game. We ran out of time.

Azhar ali doesn’t read the game well. 4th innings of a match, you know you have 6 sessions left and you’ve had a great start. Continue to take singles and doubles.

He went into match saving mode!!!!!

Ridiculous.

Compare his approach with Abdullah shafique, rizwan and Babar
 
mazkhan said:
Pakistan invested big time in azhar and shafiq to replace misbah and younis and both have been pretty mediocre players they never developed as the batsmen management envisaged .
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That foolish investment has caused batting bankruptcy. Time to move on from this selfish passenger.
 
Amjid Javed said:
That foolish investment has caused batting bankruptcy. Time to move on from this selfish passenger.
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You are right but the selectors are scared to make big decisions. The guy was poor in the England series and then scores in the last test to save his backside, he is always on the edge but never goes off the edge.
 
The problem is when you are in a defensive, safety-first mindset then it's difficult to get out of it even when a ball comes at you that you can easily work for a single or hit to the boundary.

That ball that got him today - at his best he'd stroke through the covers for easy runs.
 
Bewal Express said:
You are right but the selectors are scared to make big decisions. The guy was poor in the England series and then scores in the last test to save his backside, he is always on the edge but never goes off the edge.
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The guys batting was a shambles in 2017 and 2018 and instead of dropping him, PCB panicked and made him captain because they thought Babar wasnt ready. Azhar should have been dumped after we lost to SL in UAE or vs NZ in UAE.

They we he pathetically batted 10 runs of 10 overs and then got out just shows how pathetic he is under pressure.
 
What good is his experience if he cant score consistently? On top of that hes piling pressure on the team by scratching around and being so damn negative every innings

His position is untenable
 
This thread was trying to prove Azhar Ali is 'good enough' according to the OP. Unfortunately, this thread is a massive FAIL.
 
ive said this before, your number 3 has to set the precedent for the rest of the batting order. regardless of conditions openers have to bat watchfully, but when ur coming in after the new ball has been well and truly seen off you have to show some proactivity.

even if he scores runs he kills the momentum and puts pressure on everyone else. his last two hundreds came in zero pressure situations, whenever any pressure is on, he crumbles. was good for a few years when opening but really needs to be replaced by shan or saud.
 
In any other country, a veteran player like Azhar Ali would have announced his retirement because he knew he wasn't good enough and wanted to make the call first before the captain, selectors would. But here Azhar Ali is hoping via luck to keep leaching indefinately.
 
The openers set a good base upfront Theres no need to dead bat everything A number 3 should be pro active

Hes doing neither these days and its costing pakistan matches and series
 
Azhar is being outplayed by our tail in every department. They play attacking cricket (as poor as it may be) better than him and even in defence mode, he got a masterclass from our no11 in the last innings.

He is a waste of space in this team right now and it’s not even a throwaway comment.
 
Zaz said:
The openers set a good base upfront Theres no need to dead bat everything A number 3 should be pro active

Hes doing neither these days and its costing pakistan matches and series
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Lost count how many times After a good start the run rate vampire comes out sucks life out of inns. its obvious this selfish shameless player is fraudulently making his way to 100 tests based on zero merit. then when we have tough away tours he will retire.

This current test cycle with WI series (away) being only series outside of Asia it was ideal time to blood in saud or Kamran.

Should never have been moved to number 3 hes held that position hostage for to long.

Babar and Mo Wasim dont have the balls to drop him. if we win this test they wont change the team.
 
We just don't move on with average players. The undeserved long rope stops the natural evolution of the team and we end up wasting other talent because the selectors go to sleep
 
the selection is also poor because the tail is very long...

we need all the batting talent we can use.

In test cricket # 6 is a very vital position...we have a rookie playing at that number. Azhar ali should not be batting at # 3...if it was me, i would demote him to #6 so there is less pressure on him and he can play when the score is 250/4 or so...

but him coming at # 3 is ruining the innings.

you need an accumulator/aggressive creme of the crop batsman at 3...its a VERY important position..

i see no purpose in his batting
 
Somewhere in this thread I read a 50 page essay dedicated to Mr Out of date and depth ALI

Only in Pakistan strokeless wonders and considered as those batsmen having excellent technique and temperament. I have nothing against Ali, but he has been over the hill for least two years. He would play 4 innings of low scores and then would score a big hundred and that keeps his average look respectable.

I don't have any complains with his Strike rate but what is really a blot on his career is very limited impactful innings. You feel there are lads playing for Pakistan in their own Cacoon with zero match awareness and its outcome.

One of the difference between a class player and an average player is to notice the strike rate in his initial inning and that of the later part. Once a test batsmen get set he would generally score at a higher strike rate unless you are playing for a draw or on a minefield.

I would like those Essay writers to please provide me with insights about his "In-Gear(Innings) acceleration and you would yourself get the answer as why he would never be rated as class or great player.

Pakistan batting in longer format need a kick in the backside, and for starters they must look for impact players. the era of mindless tuk tuk is gone. I know nothing is cheap now days nor is coffee but its to smell it

Just my two cents
 
Not suprised by this thread. The OP has a soft spot for obedient men like Azhar Ali, Joe Root and Kane Willamson.

He prefers Misbah over Wasim Akram and claims that Joe Root isn't fit to tie Kane Williamson's shoe laces.

Azhar Ali was finished a long time ago. Let go of your pride and ego when you know you're wrong otherwise you're going to make yourself look more deluded.
 
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The stats against him are damning

Before 2018 he was avging a 50 or more every 2.87 innings since then he only scores every 4.46 innings
The bigger scores are less frequent and the lower scores are much more

He avges 35 in this period Hes done and needs to be moved on
 
With both Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam we have seen the typical geriatric pattern.

Occasional big innings keeping their average relatively ok, but failing to reach 15 in half their innings, making them a Collapse Waiting To Happen.

It happens to most elderly batsmen. I saw it with Greenidge, Cook, Younis and Misbah too.
 
zarak said:
The thing is he is probably good enough to be in the team, but after 95 Matches you are expected to deliver consistently not give on and off performances. We have invested 95 matches in this guy and we want a better return. He has done just about okay, but I would rather give his spot to Shan Masood and take things forward.
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Zain said:
Excellent article, I agree with every word.

However I now feel the time would be right for Azhar to retire soon, hand eye coordination is diminishing very quickly, seems to look like his fitness is not up there either and general age kicking in for him to compete at the highest level.

I’d say he can continue playing domestically is Pakistan and for His county team, although I’m not sure of the stats but don’t thing he performed very well for his county team this year.
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Bewal Express said:
He needs to go. Had a career far longer than his talent deserved. AA is around 40 and KP, a player that is 10 times the player is 42. KP has been gone since 2015. This nonsense of jobs for life in PK team is holding the team back.
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Yeah I think sadly the end may be nigh for Azhar Ali. The knock he played in this innings showcased one of two things: either he was unable to understand what was required in that situation, or he was incapable of adapting to the requirements of the situation. And honesty, one thing is just as bad as the other.

The laudable thing about him in the past has been that he has usually known when to step away. He stepped away from ODI cricket after the CT eventhough he had played an crucial knock in the final...and he stepped away from the ODI captaincy when things were not working out. I still feel he deserves to finish his career on a high at home. I would still persist with him for the upcoming home series. Because at home things are different. I expect him to score there, even when he is not at his best. But after 100 tests he should step away. He has earned that much but beyond those series against NZ & England, I don't see much of a future for him in the test side. He has been a great servant for Pakistan cricket and if I were him I would talk to the PCB beforehand. So that he can maybe even play his last test in Lahore.
 
arif_2021 said:
Test cricket has moved…Teams are scoring at MINIMUM 4 rpo to get results…that’s what’s needed to put pressure on opposition and get results.

Against Australia in second test, if he had batted a little faster who knows maybe we would have won the game. We ran out of time.

Azhar ali doesn’t read the game well. 4th innings of a match, you know you have 6 sessions left and you’ve had a great start. Continue to take singles and doubles.

He went into match saving mode!!!!!

Ridiculous.

Compare his approach with Abdullah shafique, rizwan and Babar
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No doubt, Azhar Ali's mindset has been the most disappointing thing about his batting recently. During his peak, he possessed the capability to maintain a healthy strike-rate even if he started slow. And once he got going he delivered big whether its the string of 150+ scores in UAE, the double ton in Australia or the triple ton. Now though he really seems to be struggling to score runs. Especially in challenging conditions. He started regressing in 2018 but found a way to come back in the series in England where he saved a test match. But even that Azhar Ali felt like a far cry from the one we saw in 2016.

Right now, he feels like a square peg in a round hole in many ways. The end of his career feels near. I think he should be accorded the chance to end his career on a high at home. Just because there are few Pakistani batters in history who have accomplished the kind of things that he has accomplished over his test career. But stepping away gracefully is far better than being forced out, which has usually been the case for most Pakistani cricketers...even some of the best ones.
 
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topspin said:
Not suprised by this thread. The OP has a soft spot for obedient men like Azhar Ali, Joe Root and Kane Willamson.

He prefers Misbah over Wasim Akram and claims that Joe Root isn't fit to tie Kane Williamson's shoe laces.

Azhar Ali was finished a long time ago. Let go of your pride and ego when you know you're wrong otherwise you're going to make yourself look more deluded.
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This coming from the guy who thinks Wasim Akram was a better captain than Misbah? Take a hike bro. You don't have two legs to stand on.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
No doubt, Azhar Ali's mindset has been the most disappointing thing about his batting recently. During his peak, he possessed the capability to maintain a healthy strike-rate even if he started slow. And once he got going he delivered big whether its the string of 150+ scores in UAE, the double ton in Australia or the triple ton. Now though he really seems to be struggling to score runs. Especially in challenging conditions. He started regressing in 2018 but found a way to come back in the series in England where he saved a test match. But even that Azhar Ali felt like a far cry from the one we saw in 2016.

Right now, he feels like a square peg in a round hole in many ways. The end of his career feels near. I think he should be accorded the chance to end his career on a high at home. Just because there are few Pakistani batters in history who have accomplished the kind of things that he has accomplished over his test career. But stepping away gracefully is far better than being forced out, which has usually been the case for most Pakistani cricketers...even some of the best ones.
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I am not one of the people who mocks your opinions.

I think that Azhar Ali was a fine international cricketer, who should have retired in early 2019 after the tour of South Africa.

But there can be no sentimentality in professional sport. As soon as you are no longer good enough, you can’t be selected any more without damaging the team.

You don’t get a home farewell.

Or, to be precise, I remember when Ian Healy got a home goodbye at The Gabba.

Not as a player. Gilchrist was by then better - so Healy got dumped, and driven round the field in a car.

That’s all that Azhar is entitled to. He took the captaincy when he knew he was no longer good enough to play in the team, and has had 41 months to retire gracefully.
 
Junaids said:
I am not one of the people who mocks your opinions.

I think that Azhar Ali was a fine international cricketer, who should have retired in early 2019 after the tour of South Africa.

But there can be no sentimentality in professional sport. As soon as you are no longer good enough, you can’t be selected any more without damaging the team.

You don’t get a home farewell.

Or, to be precise, I remember when Ian Healy got a home goodbye at The Gabba.

Not as a player. Gilchrist was by then better - so Healy got dumped, and driven round the field in a car.

That’s all that Azhar is entitled to. He took the captaincy when he knew he was no longer good enough to play in the team, and has had 41 months to retire gracefully.
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Actually a good idea.

Same can be done with Azhar Ali.
 
Junaids said:
I am not one of the people who mocks your opinions.

I think that Azhar Ali was a fine international cricketer, who should have retired in early 2019 after the tour of South Africa.

But there can be no sentimentality in professional sport. As soon as you are no longer good enough, you can’t be selected any more without damaging the team.

You don’t get a home farewell.

Or, to be precise, I remember when Ian Healy got a home goodbye at The Gabba.

Not as a player. Gilchrist was by then better - so Healy got dumped, and driven round the field in a car.

That’s all that Azhar is entitled to. He took the captaincy when he knew he was no longer good enough to play in the team, and has had 41 months to retire gracefully.
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I know Junaids. And that's why I have great respect for you as a poster eventhough I have disagreed with you numerous times in the past. And why I will always hold you to a higher standard than certain individuals here that I have zero respect for.

I respect your opinion regarding this too. And normally I would agree with you. Because I agree with the principle. But I also feel that an exception can be made from time to time for a special player or someone who has been a great servant for you. I mean Inzamam, Younis and Misbah all got to end their careers on their own terms. Inzi and Younis even got to have cracks at personal records in their final tests. Which is why I feel an exception can be made for Azhar Ali. Because its not everyday Pakistan produces a player that scores 7000+ test runs.

Again, you can disagree with me and I wouldn't blame you. Because in theory, I agree with the principle. But just based on what an underrated and underappreciated talent Azhar has been for most of his career, I feel he deserves to end his career on a high.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
I know Junaids. And that's why I have great respect for you as a poster eventhough I have disagreed with you numerous times in the past. And why I will always hold you to a higher standard than certain individuals here that I have zero respect for.

I respect your opinion regarding this too. And normally I would agree with you. Because I agree with the principle. But I also feel that an exception can be made from time to time for a special player or someone who has been a great servant for you. I mean Inzamam, Younis and Misbah all got to end their careers on their own terms. Inzi and Younis even got to have cracks at personal records in their final tests. Which is why I feel an exception can be made for Azhar Ali. Because its not everyday Pakistan produces a player that scores 7000+ test runs.

Again, you can disagree with me and I wouldn't blame you. Because in theory, I agree with the principle. But just based on what an underrated and underappreciated talent Azhar has been for most of his career, I feel he deserves to end his career on a high.
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So you are willing to sacrifice a shot at WTC finals just to let a player achieve some personal milestones.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
I know Junaids. And that's why I have great respect for you as a poster eventhough I have disagreed with you numerous times in the past. And why I will always hold you to a higher standard than certain individuals here that I have zero respect for.

I respect your opinion regarding this too. And normally I would agree with you. Because I agree with the principle. But I also feel that an exception can be made from time to time for a special player or someone who has been a great servant for you. I mean Inzamam, Younis and Misbah all got to end their careers on their own terms. Inzi and Younis even got to have cracks at personal records in their final tests. Which is why I feel an exception can be made for Azhar Ali. Because its not everyday Pakistan produces a player that scores 7000+ test runs.

Again, you can disagree with me and I wouldn't blame you. Because in theory, I agree with the principle. But just based on what an underrated and underappreciated talent Azhar has been for most of his career, I feel he deserves to end his career on a high.
Click to expand...

No one is owed anything. For instance, if I, as an anesthesiologist realized that tomorrow i am not good enough to provide anesthetics to someone or place breathing tubes because my skills were not good enough due to age/injury/mental capacity, I would have no shame to admit and retire.

It's not a matter of principle. This is a privilege to represent your country out of 220 Million. Look at how Abdullah Shafique is batting vs how Azhar batted. He has no game plan or any strategy.

What Azhar is doing is dangerous and selfish. He is taking a deserving spot from someone else. This is not statesman like.

If I recall, in between he has had commentary stints. It's not like he will be deprived of opportunities.

What he is doing right now, is harming his own legacy.
 
Ashmal said:
So you are willing to sacrifice a shot at WTC finals just to let a player achieve some personal milestones.
Click to expand...

First off, he hasn't done badly enough to be completely dropped from the side. So he has got 2-3 more tests to justify his place in the side. Which applies to any other out-of-form player as well, in my opinion.

However, if he continues to fail and show that his mindset is not where it should be than he should be dropped...without any kind of farewell.
 
So rather then the teams needs of playing with 10 players the so called Azhar Fan boy thinks this clown batsmen deserves to keep playing.

Kamran Ghulam or Saud shakeel could have been given this entire WTC cycle to bed in as players.

Apart from WI away all other series would be in Asia meaning these players would have got 12-15 tests to settle in both big away tours.

instead we should play with 10 players vs NZ And Eng so Azhar can retire on a high. lets blood new players in SENA conditions.


The sooner the cancer is removed from the team the better.
 
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Ashmal said:
So you are willing to sacrifice a shot at WTC finals just to let a player achieve some personal milestones.
Click to expand...

Deadwood isnt bothered bout pakistans needs. He wants to see Azhar limp to 100 tests so he can worship the posters he has up on his bedroom wall. Its just groupie/fan boy obsession he has. Anyone would think AA was Sachin or bradman the way he rambles on with excuses.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
First off, he hasn't done badly enough to be completely dropped from the side. So he has got 2-3 more tests to justify his place in the side. Which applies to any other out-of-form player as well, in my opinion.

However, if he continues to fail and show that his mindset is not where it should be than he should be dropped...without any kind of farewell.
Click to expand...

What is bad enough? I mean seriously some very low standards you have.

Give it up and admit you’re wrong. There’s no point writing essays that try to show balance but the result is the same - I.e. azhar should continue, he “deserves” a farewell etc etc. Sorry to say, but that is tosh.

Why are you so invested in him staying?

This is a game at the end of the day and only the best should play. If he’s being outperformed by the tail, surely time’s up
 
James said:
9 runs off 83 balls for the Test is an absolutely dross effort for a top order bat with ninety odd appearances under his belt.

I’ve been a fan of his in the past but I think his eyes have gone now & it’s time to retire.
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His eyes went 5 years ago when his average was that of a tailender. Sadly in pakistan cricket certain players are protected. so the team has a passengers quota in team to fill.
 
All we keep hearing is AA average is good. All because he scored runs on a dead pindi wicket where it took 4 days for each side to bat 1. Yet some clowns on here cant understand that.

I remember when england beat WI 3-0 in carribean and Lara (actual world class batsmen) had a poor series for pretty much the whole series and then in final test in Antigua scored 400 in one inns on a road.

Lara ended up top scorer in the series. Yet if you look into the "stats" inns per inns that series it was a poor one for Lara.

Yet some clowns on here will kerp just rolling out the stats for Azhar even though he hasnt played any match winning or saving knocks in last 4 or 5 years against "Good" test sides.

Another example shoaib malik scored 200 as an opener on a road in UAE and 2 tests later retired after been exposed on sporting wickets. Malik could have carried on because his series average was good.

Clearly some people are that stupid they have zero context because they are worshiping Azhar like some god.
 
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TheSultan said:
What is bad enough? I mean seriously some very low standards you have.

Give it up and admit you’re wrong. There’s no point writing essays that try to show balance but the result is the same - I.e. azhar should continue, he “deserves” a farewell etc etc. Sorry to say, but that is tosh.

Why are you so invested in him staying?

This is a game at the end of the day and only the best should play. If he’s being outperformed by the tail, surely time’s up
Click to expand...

I don't get how you can talk in such a condescending manner and expect anyone to admit anything? I mean seriously bro, how do you think you are? Learn some basic manners and etiquettes.

Azhar averaged 60 in the last series. And had a pretty good series by all standards. He has only had two failures. That's not enough to drop anyone no matter how much you may dislike them on a personal level.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
I don't get how you can talk in such a condescending manner and expect anyone to admit anything? I mean seriously bro, how do you think you are? Learn some basic manners and etiquettes.

Azhar averaged 60 in the last series. And had a pretty good series by all standards. He has only had two failures. That's not enough to drop anyone no matter how much you may dislike them on a personal level.
Click to expand...

Condescending? Stop being so touchy and learn to be corrected when you are wrong. I have actually stayed away from commenting on a lot of your posts because a lot of people give you a hard time and I don’t want to add to it.

Your stats are without any context. It is clutching at straws to bring up the average of 60 when the majority of his runs came in a dead match on a dead pitch. What about his failures in the 4th innings, one of which led to defeat and the other required one of the great escapes in Pakistan history to save?

2 failures? When? You’re talking about the last series. In every series he has multiple failures! How is that sustainable? Your reasons for persisting with him are delusional. Even if Azhar hired a marketing team they wouldn’t come up with such delusional bending of the truth.

You talked in a previous post about his saving a match in England. The match was only saved by rain, not his innings. If the rain stayed away we would have lost.
 
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