[VIDEOS] Imam-ul-Haq - Essential or a liability in ODIs?

[Mamoon]

Yes, and Saim Ayub is no look, no talent…

Imam was better than Saim in 2023. Saim is better now because he has raised his game under the guidance of Babar and Rizwan. He found the right mentors at the right time in his career otherwise he too would have been a lost cause.

 

[Mamoon]

Let’s break down your points:

1. You don’t need both an attacking and defensive opening pair—that’s a myth. Australia opened with Head and Warner, and India with Gill and Rohit. None of them have a strike rate below 95.

2. Classical batting still has a place *if* you have a strong bowling attack. That’s a big *if* for Pakistan, given we lack a world-class spinner and reliable support for Shaheen.

3. The idea that 300-315 can be defended anywhere is false. Some grounds have a par score of 350+, while these pitches in SA offered conditions like reverse swing and turn to bowlers. Question marks still persists in batting fests.

4. Claiming Imam should return because Shafique is struggling is a strawman. Another option is trying someone new who fits the role better.

There is no such thing as a par 350 pitch. It is called bad bowling.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Anchor in White Ball is a scam. We are not debating that.
We’re on the same page about matching the world’s approach and giving them a taste of their own medicine.

My question is: if Fakhar isn’t available, who steps up to pair with Saim? Do you have any ideas/names?
Would you consider someone like Mohammad Haris? Could Haider Ali be a fit? Or perhaps Omair Bin Yousuf?

Anchor in white ball is not a scam. Maybe in T20 cricket. Not the case in ODI cricket .

Numbers for ODI #3

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Numbers for ODI #4

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Numbers for ODI #5

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Klaasen is the only real outlier who scores big and ridiculously fast in the middle order over a significant sample size.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Imam was better than Saim in 2023. Saim is better now because he has raised his game under the guidance of Babar and Rizwan. He found the right mentors at the right time in his career otherwise he too would have been a lost cause.

If only Imam was under the guidance of Babar and Rizwan

When’s the ImamT20Champ account being made?

 

[emranabbas]

Imam was better than Saim in 2023. Saim is better now because he has raised his game under the guidance of Babar and Rizwan. He found the right mentors at the right time in his career otherwise he too would have been a lost cause.

This is absurd thing I've ever heard

Why couldn’t Babar and Rizwan elevate Imam’s performance under their guidance, or any of the other players who have failed over the past four years?

The truth is that Saim struggled due to the shift in pitches and conditions when he played in T20s. The conditions were very different from what he was used to in Pakistan, and he faced much stronger bowlers compared to domestic cricket. This affected his confidence and form. When Aqib took over, he rested Saim for the T20s in Australia and Zimbabwe, but gave him opportunities in ODIs, allowing him to take his time and rebuild his confidence.

 

[Mamoon]

This is absurd thing I've ever heard

Why couldn’t Babar and Rizwan elevate Imam’s performance under their guidance, or any of the other players who have failed over the past four years?

The truth is that Saim struggled due to the shift in pitches and conditions when he played in T20s. The conditions were very different from what he was used to in Pakistan, and he faced much stronger bowlers compared to domestic cricket. This affected his confidence and form. When Aqib took over, he rested Saim for the T20s in Australia and Zimbabwe, but gave him opportunities in ODIs, allowing him to take his time and rebuild his confidence.

Imam is a different style of player. He is like Babar and Rizwan, and him and Babar formed one of the best ODI partnerships in the world for a number of years. He lost his form and Pakistan replaced him with an inferior version in Abdullah.

Saim is in the mold of Fakhar. An aggressive player, and he was struggling because he was not respecting the bowling and did not put value on his wicket. However, he has excellent mentors in Babar & Rizwan who have helped him control his aggression and taught him how to build innings.

Aqib has zero role in the success of Saim or the team overall in ODI cricket. He can leave tomorrow and nothing will change as long as Rizwan remains captain.

 

[emranabbas]

Imam is a different style of player. He is like Babar and Rizwan, and him and Babar formed one of the best ODI partnerships in the world for a number of years. He lost his form and Pakistan replaced him with an inferior version in Abdullah.

Saim is in the mold of Fakhar. An aggressive player, and he was struggling because he was not respecting the bowling and did not put value on his wicket. However, he has excellent mentors in Babar & Rizwan who have helped him control his aggression and taught him how to build innings.

Aqib has zero role in the success of Saim or the team overall in ODI cricket. He can leave tomorrow and nothing will change as long as Rizwan remains captain.

there’s no doubt Imam, Babar, and Rizwan would’ve been absolute stars if they were playing in the 90s and 2000s, back when the game was slower and the competition was different. But fast forward to 2024, where the pace of the game, the level of fitness, and the pressure to innovate have completely changed. The same old techniques and strategies don’t quite cut it anymore in today’s fast-paced cricket world.

Your last two paragraphs are honestly laughable and not even worth a response. It's clear to everyone that this is just a desperate attempt to give Rizwan credit that he doesn't deserve. You were the same people praising Rizwan for Harris Rauf's success on Australia's bowling-friendly pitches, and now that Harris has failed, you don't want to take responsibility for his failures.

 

[mominsaigol]

there’s no doubt Imam, Babar, and Rizwan would’ve been absolute stars if they were playing in the 90s and 2000s, back when the game was slower and the competition was different. But fast forward to 2024, where the pace of the game, the level of fitness, and the pressure to innovate have completely changed. The same old techniques and strategies don’t quite cut it anymore in today’s fast-paced cricket world.

Your last two paragraphs are honestly laughable and not even worth a response. It's clear to everyone that this is just a desperate attempt to give Rizwan credit that he doesn't deserve. You were the same people praising Rizwan for Harris Rauf's success on Australia's bowling-friendly pitches, and now that Harris has failed, you don't want to take responsibility for his failures.

They wouldn't. ODI Cricket got 100X easier when the 2 new ball rule was passed in 2012.

Sachin, Pointing, Lara are 100x >>>>> Any odi batter in this era including Travis head. However these 3 only avg 40 to 45 with sr of 79 to 86.

had they played this era they'd avg 60+ with 100+ sr's. Lack of reverse swing + no old ball made odi's easier to play.

Babar and Imam would have gotten badly badly exposed in this era.

 

[emranabbas]

They wouldn't. ODI Cricket got 100X easier when the 2 new ball rule was passed in 2012.

Sachin, Pointing, Lara are 100x >>>>> Any odi batter in this era including Travis head. However these 3 only avg 40 to 45 with sr of 79 to 86.

had they played this era they'd avg 60+ with 100+ sr's. Lack of reverse swing + no old ball made odi's easier to play.

Babar and Imam would have gotten badly badly exposed in this era.

I'm talking about the playing style

 

[mominsaigol]

I'm talking about the playing style

They would have gotten badly exposed in that era in regards to their playing styles.

The 2 new ball rule has made it easier for hacks and technical frauds to survive in odi.

Only the first 10 overs are consistent and remain the same in this era, But overs 11 to 50 have way more spin as the ball spins more with one ball, Lethal reverse, Slow balls are more deadly since one ball makes it harder to clear the rope due to the old ball.

Furthermore unorthodox shots are much harder to play with 1 ball. Rizwan's rubbish one handed sweep shots now days easily go for a boundary whereas in the past it would have only earned him one run.

The batters who chased down 250 to 270 scores in that era were technical powerhouses like lara and pointing. Sehwag was the only outlier.

Rizwan, Imam and babar would have badly been exposed.

The quality of technique declined post 2012. Look at the techniques of Yousaf, Inzi and Anwar and compare them to the techniques of Imam, Babar and Rizwan

 

[shamaan]

If they are looking for a back up opener then Imaam should be back in the squad.

 

[Farabi]

Anchor in white ball is not a scam. Maybe in T20 cricket. Not the case in ODI cricket .

Numbers for ODI #3

Batting records | One-Day Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

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Numbers for ODI #4

Batting records | One-Day Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

Numbers for ODI #5

Batting records | One-Day Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

Klaasen is the only real outlier who scores big and ridiculously fast in the middle order over a significant sample size.

Adding @Mamoon as it may be valuable education for both.

The word "anchor" refers to a heavy object used to keep a ship stationary, which makes it a terrible analogy for batting in cricket, where the goal is to keep the ship moving. A better term would be "carry," as it reflects a player’s ability to lead the team forward.

Batters in ODIs need to block, milk, and hit out to maintain momentum. In the past, Inzi or Yousuf for example had all those gears for their eras. Babar Azam does this relatively well, but the only player who truly fits the "anchor" description is Fakhar Zaman, given his consistency and a strike rate of 93.

The issue with Imam-ul-Haq is that his second 50 runs often mirror his first 50, showing a lack of gears to accelerate and truly "carry" the team. In the list you shared, batters have strike rates ranging from 80 to 110, meaning "anchoring" is being done at different paces. The ones scoring at 90+ are valuable in modern ODIs, and those approaching 100 are world class.

This discussion is about openers not 3, 4 and 5 though. The openers from the teams like India and Australia maintain much higher strike rates in the Powerplay. Aggressive starts are a hallmark of successful ODI teams, capitalizing on fielding restrictions to build momentum. Can you name a current opener from India or Australia who plays at a strike rate as low as 83 in the Powerplay?

Imam can become a good opener but should be forced to develop his game. Pakistan should look at other options.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

If they are looking for a back up opener then Imaam should be back in the squad.

If Fakhar gets a call up to the team then Imam might be the best option as a backup but if Fakhar is not included then Imam and Saim should be the first priorities.

 

[Farabi]

There is no such thing as a par 350 pitch. It is called bad bowling.

Let’s assume what you’re saying is correct. Even so, the batting lineup should be capable of providing that cushion. There’s no rule stating that the bowling attack won’t have an off day or that Pakistan must always rely on its bowling to secure victories.

 

[Kianig89]

He has a knack of scoring 100s which should be appreciated however his technical issues and lack of Strike rotation are the areas where he needs improvement

 

[emranabbas]

If Fakhar gets a call up to the team then Imam might be the best option as a backup but if Fakhar is not included then Imam and Saim should be the first priorities.

Fakhar will be included 100%

 

[shamaan]

If Fakhar gets a call up to the team then Imam might be the best option as a backup but if Fakhar is not included then Imam and Saim should be the first priorities.

Fakhar will be included.