Two left handers opening? No chance.
Valid point, but there is a better solution in it. PAK's most effective opening pair were both lefti, but in current context, solution is even better.
What I have seen is that Zaman is very good against spinners & he can loft them at will. While, despite all his qualities, Babar isn't the best player of spin, and he can't butcher any bowling. Very much a touch player with very good all-round game, backed by timing, placement & shots on either feet.
This gives a perfect opportunity to put Babar as opener with SK, Zaman at 3, Sarfraz at 4. Ideally, Haris should bat at 5 & in 2 years time, PAK must find a hard hitting batsman at 6, who is very good runner between wicket as well. Ideal player was Umar, if he can make a genuine come back.
Number 7, should be an all-rounder - depending on wicket, should be a spin or pace all-rounder. Since next WC is in UK as well, it should be a race between Talat, Fahim, Aga Salman, Imad & Yamin (Or any better new kid). 8 to 11 is for specialist bowlers, regardless of their batting - fortunately for PAK, 3 of them can bat a bit - should improve further with a little more effort - Shadab, Amir, Hasan.
No. 11 should be Amir's partner - the 2nd best new ball bowler of the country,regardless of his batting capacity - at present JK is fine; may be in future Arthur will someone better.
2 Openers:
SK, Babar (Back - up: Farhan, Azhar)
3 Middle order:
Zaman, Sarf*+, Haris (Back-up: Amin)
1 Late Middle Order:
Umar (or new kid, like Saad Ali). Umar is preferable, because he can keep as emergency. It's a specialist position, therefore player at 6 shouldn't be picked on domestic stats built from batting at 3/4. MoHa/Malik can be an option, but doesn't look promising in 2 years time, in UK, when they'll reach 40+
1 All-rounder:
Talat, Fahim, Aga Salman, Yamin, Imad or any better new kid. Fahim bowls SLAO & probably a better turner than Imad, therefore, if it's a spin all-rounder, should be an offie, hence comes Aga Salman Ali.
3 Late Order (Bowling all-rounders)
Shadab, Amir, Hasan
1 Specialist bowler:
JK (Or any new kid)
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Ideal starting XI has, in batting:
- 5 lefti at 1, 3, 5, 7 & 9
- 2 explosive lefti in top 3, sandwiching the best batsman of the team with 50/90 sort of stats
- a very good accumulator, spin player & intelligent quick runner at 4
- 5-7 are solid all-round players of spin & pace, with hitting ability
- 8-10 are capable lower order player, with good hitting ability
in bowling:
- top quality new ball pair
- 3 very good exponents of old ball
- couple of good finisher
- variety in attack: right, left arm pacers, leggi, SLAO spinner & part-time offie
Also, just in case, a specialist batsman in playing XI, who can keep.
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Absolute gun team - it'll take an upset to miss SF of 2019 at least, unless PCB decides to replace Arthur with a Deshi great & Captain Sarfu with a senior............
And, these players have to be polished under Arthur - leaving it for domestic (or other way, picking "seasoned & experienced" players from domestic style) will push it to again 8th/9th.
good headache to have, on a sidenote sharjeel will not be back.
