What, exactly, is the strategy behind Pakistan's team combinations in the ODI series vs England?

[MenInG]

I understand the series is being used by both sides to fine-tune their combinations ahead of the World Cup.

Whilst England are clear about how they wish to approach this task, Pakistan seem to be all over the place.

Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq are not being rested in any game when it would have been great idea to check up on what Abid Ali could do. Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez are sitting around waiting for a chance to play when clearly both players need chances to get back in form (Hafeez seems to be not completely fit)

All very confusing and lacks direction.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I don't think there is any strategy other than to try and pick a winning side. The management seem desperate to get a win against England so are picking what they consider the strongest side for every game. Although I still say that playing only five batsmen is not going to win many games.

 

[Markhor]

Malik should NOT be in the squad let alone given a chance to play. We know his capability in England.

Abid should definitely be played in the next two matches.

 

[NauV]

Hafeez does need to play cuz he is needed in our starting XI . .
Malik . . I dont care about . .

Abid Ali . . its' a tough one . . cuz I want Fakhar adn Imam to get as much batting in as possible . . cuz we know they will be opening . . at the same time, it is important to see how Abid does in case we need him . . perhaps he can play the last 2 . .

Bowling is the real conundrum . .
Hasnain needs to play! Faheem needs to go home . . Shaheen and Hasan (being the 2 certainties) need to be rotated . .

 

[cricketInsight]

I agree about giving Abid Ali a shot but they still want Imam to prove that he will be in the starting 11. Today is his chance.

They are probably eyeing Sohail's spot for Hafeez so even Sohail has a point to prove here.

This might be the only shot that Junaid get to sealing his spot in the squad especially if Amir gets fit in time for the world cup.

Looks like hasnain is on his way to Pakistan before the world cup. Hopefully, he can make his place in future world cups.

So there will be some takeaways from this game.

 

[Kianig89]

The idea is to get a settled XI they already tried and chopped in UAE

 

[Snowflake]

Idea is to get a win under the belt before giving chances to all.

Abid and Hasnain are probably going to play the last two ODIs.

 

[MenInG]

No Abid but Hasnain, Malik and Hafeez being given a chance - should they have persisted with Shaheen to get him more practice?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

No Abid but Hasnain, Malik and Hafeez being given a chance - should they have persisted with Shaheen to get him more practice?

OT but why is the match thread closed Miggy?

 

[Titan24]

No Abid but Hasnain, Malik and Hafeez being given a chance - should they have persisted with Shaheen to get him more practice?

I guess sometimes its better to give player in bad form time especially when he is as young as Shaheen. He is definitely out of confidence after first 2 matches as we saw in his fielding as well.

I think he will be fine and hopefully will get his confidence back with warm up matches leading upto WC. Meanwhile team management is trying find their best bowing lineup for the WC with which they will play the first match.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

With only 3 pacers and one of them being Hasnain, it's all but confirmed that Hasan Ali will finally take the new ball, unless they foolishly hand it to Imad.

 

[JibranAnsari]

a complete failure of team management and the chief selector.

 

[Ronaldo7]

With only 3 pacers and one of them being Hasnain, it's all but confirmed that Hasan Ali will finally take the new ball, unless they foolishly hand it to Imad.

So not all is bad right?

 

[Arsalan Pro]

So not all is bad right?

Yup, but still there is a possibility of Imad bowling with Junaid. Will have to wait till it actually happens.

 

[Titan24]

Not a bad combination considering how the conditions have been. Ideally a proper spinner over Imad which maybe later Shadab can do. Hopefully Hafeez and Malik can bowl decent 10 overs between them so that this combination can be considered in the WC.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Wow! Malik, Hafeez in. Pak has put up their best possible batting line up on the flattest of the surfaces. It'll be a shame if they lose from here!

 

[Titan24]

Wow! Malik, Hafeez in. Pak has put up their best possible batting line up on the flattest of the surfaces. It'll be a shame if they lose from here!

Isnt Eng the no 1 team and favourites for the WC? Surely they shouldnt be loosing irrespective of what Pakistan put forward.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When a man with chickenpox, a man who's recovering from injury & a man who had to leave the country has played more games than you:<br><br>Fakhar 4<br>Imam 4<br>Babar 4<br>Imad 4<br>Sarfaraz 4<br>Asif 4<br>Hassan 4<br>Haris 3<br>Faheem 3<br>Shaheen 3<br>Junaid 2<br>Hafeez 1<br>Malik 1<br>Hasnain 1<br>Y Shah 1<br>Amir 1<br>Abid Ali 0</p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1129423345827688449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
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[hadi123]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When a man with chickenpox, a man who's recovering from injury & a man who had to leave the country has played more games than you:<br><br>Fakhar 4<br>Imam 4<br>Babar 4<br>Imad 4<br>Sarfaraz 4<br>Asif 4<br>Hassan 4<br>Haris 3<br>Faheem 3<br>Shaheen 3<br>Junaid 2<br>Hafeez 1<br>Malik 1<br>Hasnain 1<br>Y Shah 1<br>Amir 1<br>Abid Ali 0</p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1129423345827688449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Which match did Amir play?

 

[Zaz]

Which match did Amir play?

The first game wash out

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Some very strange squad rotation by Pakistan in this ODI series:<br><br>Abid Ali only given only one game<br>Hassan Ali who is a definite pick has played all 5 matches<br>Mohammad Hasnain has only played 2 matches<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvPAK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1130047965324824577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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