[VIDEOS/PICTURES] Is the end getting close for Azhar Ali's career?

[Amjid Javed]

This will be a painful watch as usual.

 

[transparent opacity]

Six by Azhar Ali

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[Zaz]

There should be no room for sentiment in cricket

If he continues to score very little and scratches around selectors need to make the call

We have batters in good form waiting for his place

 

[shamaan]

I believe Huraira is the ideal fit for Azhar Alis role. This season might as well be his breakthrough time

He needs another season or two thiers other players who should be picked ahead of him.

 

[shamaan]

Well done Azhar good batting so far but needs to get a big 100

 

[Saj]

Most Test hundreds for Pakistan:

Younis Khan 34
Inzamam-ul-Haq 25
Mohammad Yousuf 24
Javed Miandad 23
Azhar Ali 19

 

[MenInG]

 

[James]

Not a great first County Championship match of the season for Azhar Ali at Worcestershire.

Out for 2 in the first innings (run out) and gone lbw for 1 in the second.

 

[Firebat]

Azhar Ali promoted to a red-ball Category A contract in the latest round of PCB central contracts.

Looks like the end is still quite far...

 

[shamaan]

How has he got in Category A.

 

[TheSultan]

Torture will never end. On what basis is he getting a category A contract. The only stat he exceeds the rest of the team in is his age. Maybe that’s the only thing that matters to the clowns in the pcb

 

[James]

I can see England’s bowlers giving Azhar a hard time on the upcoming tour of Pakistan. His strike rate is absolutely terrible as it is and the English seamers bowl very tight lines.

 

[Kroll]

This must be some sort of joke right? [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] started this thread FIVE years and we're still nowhere near the end.

 

[Cric1234]

I can see England’s bowlers giving Azhar a hard time on the upcoming tour of Pakistan. His strike rate is absolutely terrible as it is and the English seamers bowl very tight lines.

Him and Fawad will be having a farewell tour in England and other SENA countries with the inevitable failures and losses in most games in tests teams are always full strength no easy runs overseas.

Unfortunately the test team will remain mediocre until this senior mentality of hanging on despite clear evidence players are struggling outside Asia due to age and tougher conditions stops only when a team is built to try and win matches in SENA does Pakistan have any chance of success in tests of challenging the best teams consistently.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Quite decent numbers. How many in Pakistan team can beat these?

 

[Kroll]

Quite decent numbers. How many in Pakistan team can beat these?

We're talking about recent form here, arguments over averages have been debunked countless times. No one is denying he has been a fantastic servant to Pak cricket especially up to 2017, but its time he was put out to pasture.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

We're talking about recent form here, arguments over averages have been debunked countless times. No one is denying he has been a fantastic servant to Pak cricket especially up to 2017, but its time he was put out to pasture.

How so? He has been quite alright after 2017? Who has beaten his averages for Pakistan team?

year 2010 37.71
year 2011 45.75
year 2012 55.10
year 2013 19.28
year 2014 51.33
year 2015 57.60
year 2016 63.05
year 2017 42.00
year 2018 30.41
year 2019 21.72
year 2020 41.00
year 2021 42.23
year 2022 60.00

 

[Kroll]

How so? He has been quite alright after 2017? Who has beaten his averages for Pakistan team?

year 2010 37.71
year 2011 45.75
year 2012 55.10
year 2013 19.28
year 2014 51.33
year 2015 57.60
year 2016 63.05
year 2017 42.00
year 2018 30.41
year 2019 21.72
year 2020 41.00
year 2021 42.23
year 2022 60.00

He's well past it, not sure if you've watched his innings, barring the odd one to save his spot for the next tour, he's been absolutely rubbish. If you want him to continue, fair dos, I'm not here to change your mind.

 

[Amjid Javed]

How so? He has been quite alright after 2017? Who has beaten his averages for Pakistan team?

year 2010 37.71
year 2011 45.75
year 2012 55.10
year 2013 19.28
year 2014 51.33
year 2015 57.60
year 2016 63.05
year 2017 42.00
year 2018 30.41
year 2019 21.72
year 2020 41.00
year 2021 42.23
year 2022 60.00

Blindly looking at stats, if you look at his stats for last 3 years hes either scored against weak teams or scored 1 big score and then failed in rest of inns.

Typical clueless AA fan trying to make out as though hes improved in last few years. He should have been dumped in 2018 or 19.

The fact PCB are pushing him to play 100 tests is a shambles.

 

[Marooned]

How so? He has been quite alright after 2017? Who has beaten his averages for Pakistan team?

year 2010 37.71
year 2011 45.75
year 2012 55.10
year 2013 19.28
year 2014 51.33
year 2015 57.60
year 2016 63.05
year 2017 42.00
year 2018 30.41
year 2019 21.72
year 2020 41.00
year 2021 42.23
year 2022 60.00

Even by pure averages, 30, 21, 41, 42 are mediocre returns from your "main batsman" ( I mean he has an A contract).

Are you seriously asking who has better numbers than him in Pakistan? Because many do.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Blindly looking at stats, if you look at his stats for last 3 years hes either scored against weak teams or scored 1 big score and then failed in rest of inns.

Typical clueless AA fan trying to make out as though hes improved in last few years. He should have been dumped in 2018 or 19.

The fact PCB are pushing him to play 100 tests is a shambles.

Prove it with numbers. Everyone has an opinion.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Even by pure averages, 30, 21, 41, 42 are mediocre returns from your "main batsman" ( I mean he has an A contract).

Are you seriously asking who has better numbers than him in Pakistan? Because many do.

Yes that will help progress the discussion beyond he said she said

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

He's well past it, not sure if you've watched his innings, barring the odd one to save his spot for the next tour, he's been absolutely rubbish. If you want him to continue, fair dos, I'm not here to change your mind.

I don’t have any love for him. I just think Pakistan’s crop of upcoming batsmen will benefit having him around rather than a totally new young team. And to be fair, he is not great, but not a disaster either. There are other places I could look at first like no 2 or 6.

 

[Marooned]

Yes that will help progress the discussion beyond he said she said

Well then Babar (56) , Rizwan (44), Abid Ali (49), Fawad Alam(41), Imamul Haq (42), Shafique(68) all average higher than Azhar (38) since 2019.

Azhar Ali failed miserably in South Africa and Australia. Pathetic in WI (Hasan Ali outscored him).

His average in England was good based on one good knock but was one of the main culprits of series defeat otherwise.

He was ok in NZ on superflat pitches but even then Rizwan and even Faheem Ashraf outscored him.

Even at home, vs South Africa, he did nothing special. Fawad, Rizwan and Fahim carried the batting.

Runs in Australia series shouldn't hold much weight.
He cashed in on the easiest conditions possible and then, ofcourse failed when the pressure was on.

What then is he in the team for? And that too as a supposed cornerstone of the team?
It's not like there are no other options. Saud and Kamran deserve their chance now.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Well then Babar (56) , Rizwan (44), Abid Ali (49), Fawad Alam(41), Imamul Haq (42), Shafique(68) all average higher than Azhar (38) since 2019.

Azhar Ali failed miserably in South Africa and Australia. Pathetic in WI (Hasan Ali outscored him).

His average in England was good based on one good knock but was one of the main culprits of series defeat otherwise.

He was ok in NZ on superflat pitches but even then Rizwan and even Faheem Ashraf outscored him.

Even at home, vs South Africa, he did nothing special. Fawad, Rizwan and Fahim carried the batting.

Runs in Australia series shouldn't hold much weight.
He cashed in on the easiest conditions possible and then, ofcourse failed when the pressure was on.

What then is he in the team for? And that too as a supposed cornerstone of the team?
It's not like there are no other options. Saud and Kamran deserve their chance now.

Finally someone responds with numbers.

Based on what you write, I don't see a strong case for removing him. Pakistan has played very few series - and he has had some good one's and some mediocre one's.

The good one's you explain away based on pitches, home or one good innings. The bad one's are all his fault.

Of the players that average above him, apart from Fawad Alam (decline) and Abid Ali (health) who may miss out, all others are going to retain their places so that's a good line up with guaranteed spaces for new talent such as Saud and Kamran.

Again, I am not batting for Azhar. I just think his value is underestimated because he is such a slow scorer and he has had a horror run off late. I think there is a case for keeping him in the mix because he has much to contribute based on his experience and calmness around youth.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

I also think the sample size is too small for the likes of Abdullah Shafiq and non existent for Kamran Ghulam and Saud Shakeel.

Too much of a risk to fill batting with newbies. Gentle introduction is better and hopefully Azhar will provide anchor in many of the matches.

 

[TheSultan]

This “experience” argument is getting lame. He has shown nothing in the experience department to benefit the team.

What he has actually displayed is even in his late 30s, schoolboyish reading of the game.

He didn’t even know that he smacked the cover off the bat when he was given out lbw. Then he took so long to think about it that he ran out of time to review.

He dropped one of the easiest dollies you’ll ever see in the Aus series.

A couple of years ago he hit a ball that he though had gone to the boundary, stopped running and was stranded in the middle of the pitch when he was run out!

Moreover, he also shows no nous in how to go about an innings. An “experienced” player would know by now when to go hard and when to play anchor.

He walks in with the same mentality every game, every situation.

Even a novice knows better than that.

 

[Marooned]

Finally someone responds with numbers.

Based on what you write, I don't see a strong case for removing him. Pakistan has played very few series - and he has had some good one's and some mediocre one's.

The good one's you explain away based on pitches, home or one good innings. The bad one's are all his fault.

Of the players that average above him, apart from Fawad Alam (decline) and Abid Ali (health) who may miss out, all others are going to retain their places so that's a good line up with guaranteed spaces for new talent such as Saud and Kamran.

Again, I am not batting for Azhar. I just think his value is underestimated because he is such a slow scorer and he has had a horror run off late. I think there is a case for keeping him in the mix because he has much to contribute based on his experience and calmness around youth.

I listed 6 batsmen which pretty much form the entire batting lineup and every single one of them has outperformed Azhar ( who has an A contract).

I would agree Shafique's sample size is small but Azhar too boosted his numbers in the very same series. Without Australia series, his numbers would be much ​poorer.

Apart from being outplayed by pretty much every batsman, he has been regularly outscored by tail enders.

1. South Africa- Azhar avg- 9 ( Hasan Ali almost matched his runs at far better average)

2. Australia- Azhar avg- 15 (Yasir Shah outscored him at far better average)

3. WI- Azhar avg- 15 (Hasan Ali outscored him)

Are these acceptable returns from one of your main batsmen?

It's funny you ask other's for numbers and analysis while your best argument seems to be "calmness around youth.." whatever that is supposed to mean.

 

[Junaids]

It's something bigger than "poor form".

AZHAR ALI SENA RECORD SINCE MISBAH AND YOUNIS RETIRED
13 Tests
25 innings, 1 not out
Highest score 141 not out
577 runs
1 century
2 fifties
AVERAGE 24.04

It's a pathetic record for a batsman of any age - it's roughly comparable to the batting output of Vernon Philander or Mitchell Johnson.

But for a man whose official age is 37, it's scandalous that he can still be in the team when his record is so awful.

What's worse, his record is bloated by cashing in on the same Southampton track where Zak Crawley scored 267.

Remove that one Azhar Ali innings and his average in the other 12 SENA Tests sincw Misyou retired falls down to 18.17.

And that is an absolute disgrace.

This is the statistical argument against Azhar Ali!

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

I listed 6 batsmen which pretty much form the entire batting lineup and every single one of them has outperformed Azhar ( who has an A contract).

I would agree Shafique's sample size is small but Azhar too boosted his numbers in the very same series. Without Australia series, his numbers would be much ​poorer.

Apart from being outplayed by pretty much every batsman, he has been regularly outscored by tail enders.

1. South Africa- Azhar avg- 9 ( Hasan Ali almost matched his runs at far better average)

2. Australia- Azhar avg- 15 (Yasir Shah outscored him at far better average)

3. WI- Azhar avg- 15 (Hasan Ali outscored him)

Are these acceptable returns from one of your main batsmen?

It's funny you ask other's for numbers and analysis while your best argument seems to be "calmness around youth.." whatever that is supposed to mean.

It's all cherrypicking wrapped in supposed logic.

Abid Ali averages 28 vs England, 18 vs WI, 19 vs NZ and 8 vs South Africa. His 4 centuries are against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe which prop his average up.
Fawad Alam averages 27 vs NZ, 11 vs England and 8 vs Australia. 3 of his 5 centuries are against Sri Lanka, WI and Zimbabwe which prop his average up. I'll still give him credit though since he has scored 5 in this time.
Imam averages 25 vs South Africa, 19 vs England and 15 vs NZ. He has 2 centuries - both at home against Australia which prop his average up. None against Eng/NZ.
Rizwan averages 28 vs England, 18 vs WI and 8 vs SA. His 4 centuries are against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe which prop his average up.

You take these centuries out like you do with Azhar and we don't have a team. I am sure most of those batsmen were outscored by Yasir Shah, Hassan Ali, Nouman, Shaheen and Sajid at one point or another.

I could go on with Abdullah Shafique (whom I like) but he is too new to even be a decent sample.

Since Jan 2019, Azhar has scored 4 centuries against Australia, Sri Lanka, England and Zimbabwe. We can take all those out for sure.

Azhar has had some horror series away, can't take away from that.

But he has utility. He works well in home tests. One should never discount those, all teams build rankings on home tests. He can be useful on certain pitches in certain conditions. He has form off late. He has played some smaller innings of significance, couple of rescue acts. He brings in experience around which youth can flourish.

All others are unknown at test level. By all means unleash them in away tests in SENA and when they fail, berate them and choose some others to back.

In my opinion, Pakistan should 100% bring in Kamran, Saud and others. Just do it one by one, give them a few series. If someone sticks. immediately drop Azhar and bring in a new face in his place. There are many places up for grabs in the top order.

We have had enough of players fast tracked to national team, failing and then replaced by oldies. Time to bring them in methodically so the oldies once leave, have no door open.

 

[Kroll]

I also think the sample size is too small for the likes of Abdullah Shafiq and non existent for Kamran Ghulam and Saud Shakeel.

Too much of a risk to fill batting with newbies. Gentle introduction is better and hopefully Azhar will provide anchor in many of the matches.

Anchor? You mean spending his entire innings trying to survive even on absolute roads with a 30 sr. He doesn't last long enough to be an anchor and is torture to watch.

 

[Zaz]

The problem with azhar isnt just his output which has been avge to medicore over the last 4-5 seasons but also the fact hes in his mid 30s and is very very scratchy when he bats So slow that it can be said he wastes deluveries and invites pressure on himself and his team

Im not sure what value hes adding in any department these days Hes not the best performer in the team or one if the futute prospects, hes not the most fluent or the captain

Why hes in the team in not sure

 

[TheSultan]

People don’t understand what anchor even means. Playing an effective anchor role, you make sure you stay there and let the whole team bat around you. It enables the team to achieve a score with you keeping everything stable at one end. Yes to play anchor implies you may have to go play more solidly which means you will probably play slower than the rest. But you still rotate strike, keep things moving. There has to be some payoff.


Azhar just bats slow. It’s not about being solid, it’s not about trying to help the team achieve a score, it’s not about strategising with the batsmen at the other end that I’ve got one end, you play your shots, it’s not about rotating strike. It’s all about just playing slow.

And most of the time, he plays slow, scratches around, doesn’t achieve anything, then gets out. There’s no payoff.

He’s had a few golden opportunities recently to save some games by anchoring the innings, but he’s failed every time.

 

[Marooned]

It's all cherrypicking wrapped in supposed logic.

Abid Ali averages 28 vs England, 18 vs WI, 19 vs NZ and 8 vs South Africa. His 4 centuries are against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe which prop his average up.
Fawad Alam averages 27 vs NZ, 11 vs England and 8 vs Australia. 3 of his 5 centuries are against Sri Lanka, WI and Zimbabwe which prop his average up. I'll still give him credit though since he has scored 5 in this time.
Imam averages 25 vs South Africa, 19 vs England and 15 vs NZ. He has 2 centuries - both at home against Australia which prop his average up. None against Eng/NZ.
Rizwan averages 28 vs England, 18 vs WI and 8 vs SA. His 4 centuries are against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe which prop his average up.

You take these centuries out like you do with Azhar and we don't have a team. I am sure most of those batsmen were outscored by Yasir Shah, Hassan Ali, Nouman, Shaheen and Sajid at one point or another.

I could go on with Abdullah Shafique (whom I like) but he is too new to even be a decent sample.

Since Jan 2019, Azhar has scored 4 centuries against Australia, Sri Lanka, England and Zimbabwe. We can take all those out for sure.

Azhar has had some horror series away, can't take away from that.

But he has utility. He works well in home tests. One should never discount those, all teams build rankings on home tests. He can be useful on certain pitches in certain conditions. He has form off late. He has played some smaller innings of significance, couple of rescue acts. He brings in experience around which youth can flourish.

All others are unknown at test level. By all means unleash them in away tests in SENA and when they fail, berate them and choose some others to back.

In my opinion, Pakistan should 100% bring in Kamran, Saud and others. Just do it one by one, give them a few series. If someone sticks. immediately drop Azhar and bring in a new face in his place. There are many places up for grabs in the top order.

We have had enough of players fast tracked to national team, failing and then replaced by oldies. Time to bring them in methodically so the oldies once leave, have no door open.

Lol wat?

Horribly wrong stats for Rizwan.
Rizwan averages 40 vs England, 83 vs SA, 31 vs WI not the pathetic numbers you are putting up here.

And which 4 centuries? Rizwan has only 2. Vs South Africa and vs Australia.
Anyone who followed pakistan cricket recently, certainly anyone who's opinion can be given serious weight should know this off the top of his head.

I did not "take out" anything from Azhar's record so what are you on about? Inspite of his runs being mostly easy, inconsequential runs he is STILL OUTPERFORMED by all other batsmen.

Where is the cherry picking? I literally started with the BROADEST parameter possible ie. average and he still comes 6th best.

The rest was to give you context, refresh your memory, or inform you incase you weren't aware of how poor he has been.

He isn't doing anything of note even at home.
Case can be made for Abid Ali being a matchwinner in Asia due to his high sr (saved pak from embarrassment vs Bangladesh).
Fawas Alam's century at a tough time won a test for pakistan vs SA at home, another 100 won another test vs WI away.

Remember and this is important, Abid is effectively dropped, Fawad himself has a case for being dropped but both have still fared better than Azhar.

Babar and Rizwan (even being a wk bat) are simply a step above. Performed everywhere.


I'm yet to see a single argument of substance from your side and I don't say this to rile you up but honestly, have you followed Pakistan team in tests in last 2-3 years? Because I don't get the impression that you have.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Lol wat?

Horribly wrong stats for Rizwan.
Rizwan averages 40 vs England, 83 vs SA, 31 vs WI not the pathetic numbers you are putting up here.

And which 4 centuries? Rizwan has only 2. Vs South Africa and vs Australia.
Anyone who followed pakistan cricket recently, certainly anyone who's opinion can be given serious weight should know this off the top of his head.

I did not "take out" anything from Azhar's record so what are you on about? Inspite of his runs being mostly easy, inconsequential runs he is STILL OUTPERFORMED by all other batsmen.

Where is the cherry picking? I literally started with the BROADEST parameter possible ie. average and he still comes 6th best.

The rest was to give you context, refresh your memory, or inform you incase you weren't aware of how poor he has been.

He isn't doing anything of note even at home.
Case can be made for Abid Ali being a matchwinner in Asia due to his high sr (saved pak from embarrassment vs Bangladesh).
Fawas Alam's century at a tough time won a test for pakistan vs SA at home, another 100 won another test vs WI away.

Remember and this is important, Abid is effectively dropped, Fawad himself has a case for being dropped but both have still fared better than Azhar.

Babar and Rizwan (even being a wk bat) are simply a step above. Performed everywhere.


I'm yet to see a single argument of substance from your side and I don't say this to rile you up but honestly, have you followed Pakistan team in tests in last 2-3 years? Because I don't get the impression that you have.

Thanks for not riling me up. You cast doubt on the poster throughout your post rather than his arguments, it's hard to tell. I could do the same but hey.

Got Riz averages mixed up. My bad.

Azhar has had some horror series off late which I have acknowledged several times. If cricket began in 2019, I'd take all your points.

But since it didn't, and he has pedigree, I just don't feel he is standing in the way of other Brandman's waiting in line.

Even so, I am saying he should go. Just not discarded straight away because he can still contribute. He is showing signs of recovery. Yes I know he is not 28 and this recovery may be a false sign.

Putting newbies to sword with just Babar (and Rizwan) in the line up is setting them up for failure. It puts unnecessary pressure on Pakistan's batting line to fill it up with inexperienced batsmen.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Anchor? You mean spending his entire innings trying to survive even on absolute roads with a 30 sr. He doesn't last long enough to be an anchor and is torture to watch.

Really don't care about aesthetics - so what if he is painful to watch, wastes balls, doesn't move the game. So have many players in the history of the game but they have their own value. Pujara is one. Scratches around and I'd rather put a sword in my eye than watch him (or Azhar).

The valid arguments I see against Azhar and Pujara is that they have had some really bad series off late and they are getting on.

Both are discardable on that account unless there is an Indian summer or two.

The only issue I see in Azhar's case is that there isn't anyone ready (because Pakistan hasn't groomed anyone to replace him with actual test experience) who can provide equal or greater value than him. We don't have any actual test evidence, just domestic stats of some very good players.

Without international evidence, we have tried too many players - Musa, Naseem, Haider, Imran Butt etc.

So you discard a 38 average cricketer with maybe a 30 average cricketer in the hope he is a 45 average cricketer. That's a risk when you know the rest of the team is also quite vulnerable at the top.

 

[Kroll]

Really don't care about aesthetics - so what if he is painful to watch, wastes balls, doesn't move the game. So have many players in the history of the game but they have their own value. Pujara is one. Scratches around and I'd rather put a sword in my eye than watch him (or Azhar).

The valid arguments I see against Azhar and Pujara is that they have had some really bad series off late and they are getting on.

Both are discardable on that account unless there is an Indian summer or two.

The only issue I see in Azhar's case is that there isn't anyone ready (because Pakistan hasn't groomed anyone to replace him with actual test experience) who can provide equal or greater value than him. We don't have any actual test evidence, just domestic stats of some very good players.

Without international evidence, we have tried too many players - Musa, Naseem, Haider, Imran Butt etc.

So you discard a 38 average cricketer with maybe a 30 average cricketer in the hope he is a 45 average cricketer. That's a risk when you know the rest of the team is also quite vulnerable at the top.

So why is he in the team? Its only so we can get him to a 100 Tests, its personal milestones over what's best for the team and who cares about other teams players.

 

[Marooned]

Thanks for not riling me up. You cast doubt on the poster throughout your post rather than his arguments, it's hard to tell. I could do the same but hey.

Got Riz averages mixed up. My bad.

Azhar has had some horror series off late which I have acknowledged several times. If cricket began in 2019, I'd take all your points.

But since it didn't, and he has pedigree, I just don't feel he is standing in the way of other Brandman's waiting in line.

Even so, I am saying he should go. Just not discarded straight away because he can still contribute. He is showing signs of recovery. Yes I know he is not 28 and this recovery may be a false sign.

Putting newbies to sword with just Babar (and Rizwan) in the line up is setting them up for failure. It puts unnecessary pressure on Pakistan's batting line to fill it up with inexperienced batsmen.

Sorry for that. Happens during debates at times. Really didn't mean to.

Since 2019 because that really is the crux of my argument. He used to be a good batsman at one point.

If you are saying Azhar shouldn't be discarded abruptly but gradually, that's reasonable. Maybe 'rest' him a few games and try the others while him still being in the squad like Sarfaraz. That's all good with me.

Giving him a contract upgrade, treating him still as untouchable part of team though is what is wrong.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

So why is he in the team? Its only so we can get him to a 100 Tests, its personal milestones over what's best for the team and who cares about other teams players.

He has been in the red ball team for a very long time for these precise reasons .

And he has been out of the white ball team for the same reasons too.

His value is in making the game painfully slow, take the sting out of the opposition’s attack, take the shine off the ball and take the innings to second new ball. Help the likes of Rizwan, Faheem Ashraf, even Fawad Alam to thrive. Used to be much more successful at that in the past than now unfortunately.

In my opinion, Pakistan are scared to play the Australia or England game. First off, they don’t have strokemakers like Warner, Head, Bairstow, Stokes and Butler in their squad. Secondly, they have an inbuilt defensive mentality through their history - except when they got really imposing captains like Imran, Mushtaq and Kardar.

Therefore Pakistan play a very poor form of the game - attritional, low imagination and little aggression. Moderately successful at the best of times except for one good run. Been like that for years.

No matter what Pp’ers want, Pakistan are not going to become Waugh’s Australia, Stoke’s England or Kohli’s India.

Azhar fits in their plan like a glove. It has nothing to do with his personal milestone. Every selection committee, every chairman and every captain in the last 3 years have found him critical to their plans.

 

[Cric1234]

He has been in the red ball team for a very long time for these precise reasons .

And he has been out of the white ball team for the same reasons too.

His value is in making the game painfully slow, take the sting out of the opposition’s attack, take the shine off the ball and take the innings to second new ball. Help the likes of Rizwan, Faheem Ashraf, even Fawad Alam to thrive. Used to be much more successful at that in the past than now unfortunately.

In my opinion, Pakistan are scared to play the Australia or England game. First off, they don’t have strokemakers like Warner, Head, Bairstow, Stokes and Butler in their squad. Secondly, they have an inbuilt defensive mentality through their history - except when they got really imposing captains like Imran, Mushtaq and Kardar.

Therefore Pakistan play a very poor form of the game - attritional, low imagination and little aggression. Moderately successful at the best of times except for one good run. Been like that for years.

No matter what Pp’ers want, Pakistan are not going to become Waugh’s Australia, Stoke’s England or Kohli’s India.

Azhar fits in their plan like a glove. It has nothing to do with his personal milestone. Every selection committee, every chairman and every captain in the last 3 years have found him critical to their plans.

They do have Haider and Umar Akmal not part of the team who are strokemakers believe it or not without selecting them fans will be made to believe we don’t have anyone to play attacking cricket.

Azhar prolonging his career is not good for the team same with Fawad as younger batsmen are not being developed to challenge the best teams outside Asia next time around now we’re losing at home too with this meek approach.

Pakistan remains a fair way behind the top teams and it could take this whole decade to make a rise into the top only with a change of mentality and knowing when to drop players and bring in new ones.

 

[Cric1234]

There is zero benefit of Azhar and Fawad playing in SENA next time around it’s better they are dropped now the inevitable failures and heavy losses in SENA should not be their farewell tours they should retire this year to save themselves and the team.