What is the logic for not picking Azhar Ali but Asad Shafiq and Misbah-ul-Haq are playing?

[msb314]

I’ll cut to the chase - I am no fan of Azhar Ali in the shorter formats but what has he done wrong to get discarded when the likes of Asad Shafiq are getting picked?

This will be an unpopular opinion but Misbah has no business playing in the PSL as a 44 year old- esp as a Platinum player and as captain!

Although not my first choice - there would have been more upside to put Azhar Ali in that role instead of Misbah

 

[ExplicitAI]

I'll agree with your opinion on Asad getting picked since he's a terrible limited overs batsman but Misbah was a gun limited overs batsman, he was slow only because he played in an era where we had the worst batting lineup in Pak's history compared to now and before that era. When things are going good he'll start swatting the ball to the boundary so as of now I think he can still do the job. I'm not too sure about Azhar in T20's since I ain't seen him play T20's that much.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Misbah should not play PSL anymore. Its is ridiculous really.

 

[moghul]

Does not make any sense in Misbah's playing PSL, ridiculous .

 

[msb314]

I'll agree with your opinion on Asad getting picked since he's a terrible limited overs batsman but Misbah was a gun limited overs batsman, he was slow only because he played in an era where we had the worst batting lineup in Pak's history compared to now and before that era. When things are going good he'll start swatting the ball to the boundary so as of now I think he can still do the job. I'm not too sure about Azhar in T20's since I ain't seen him play T20's that much.

The key word here is "was".

He is 44 now and has no business playing in the PSL now - he should have retired from the shorter formats atleast a decade ago.

 

[Abdul]

The key word here is "was".

He is 44 now and has no business playing in the PSL now - he should have retired from the shorter formats atleast a decade ago.

He is still a lot better than Shehzad despite the fact that he is past his best.

 

[waleed88]

I’ll cut to the chase - I am no fan of Azhar Ali in the shorter formats but what has he done wrong to get discarded when the likes of Asad Shafiq are getting picked?

This will be an unpopular opinion but Misbah has no business playing in the PSL as a 44 year old- esp as a Platinum player and as captain!

Although not my first choice - there would have been more upside to put Azhar Ali in that role instead of Misbah

Fully agree. Azhar Ali isn't as bad as people make him out to be. If only he plays more it will help him in the ODI side as a batsman, maybe he will develop a few more strokes playing in t20s. Azhar should be more of a candidate than Shafiq atleast.

 

[Suleiman]

Misbah is our Nicholas Cage. Way past his age and prime but still stars as a young main character alongside a ~24 year old actress.

 

[KyoOne]

I'd much rather have Fawad Alam than the three.

Better fitness, more reliable as a batsman, gun fielding, left-arm angle as a bowler, lower in age

 

[surprise-package]

Both Asad and Misbah have better natural shot making ability. It's not rocket science to figure that out.

 

[Shafi]

Exactly!!!! There are lots of injustices

Azhar is far better than Misbah, Shafiq and Shehzad. same way Sadaf, Musa (u-19) is way better bowler than Gul, Sohail and Anwar.
But it does not help when Misbah being 44 years old selected his buddy like 40+ years old Rafatullah. Selfish attitude from him.

 

[Savak]

Not playing Misbah in the PSL, not picking him as a platinum player, not making him captain of the PSL would be tantamount to showing him disrespect as he would say.

 

[Abdul]

Pakistanis just are never going to appreciate Azhar.

 

[Shafi]

Not playing Misbah in the PSL, not picking him as a platinum player, not making him captain of the PSL would be tantamount to showing him disrespect as he would say.

At least Younis has decency not to be burden and give chances to young players

 

[msb314]

He is still a lot better than Shehzad despite the fact that he is past his best.

Look at their their PSL stats and will you disagree

 

[msb314]

Pakistanis just are never going to appreciate Azhar.

Which is exactly the point of this thread - to appreciate Azhar over Shafiq (who doesn't belong in the PSL) and Misbah (who should have retired a long time ago)

 

[msb314]

Fully agree. Azhar Ali isn't as bad as people make him out to be. If only he plays more it will help him in the ODI side as a batsman, maybe he will develop a few more strokes playing in t20s. Azhar should be more of a candidate than Shafiq atleast.

If it boils down to Shafiq, Misbah and Azhar for a place in a PSL franchise - I would always go with Azhar.

 

[msb314]

Misbah is our Nicholas Cage. Way past his age and prime but still stars as a young main character alongside a ~24 year old actress.

He is more like Tom Cruise - still in good shape and a role model for many but past his best and should make way for the likes of Tom Hiddlestone and Jake Gyllenhaal

 

[msb314]

I'd much rather have Fawad Alam than the three.

Better fitness, more reliable as a batsman, gun fielding, left-arm angle as a bowler, lower in age

He deserves a chance more than anyone but was he even in the draft?

 

[DRsohail]

all are rediculos decisions...shafiq makes some sense though.

 

[Ab Fan]

Misbah is our Nicholas Cage. Way past his age and prime but still stars as a young main character alongside a <B>~24 year old actress</B>.

LoL.. Btw who is that in PSL?

Anyways, 44 age is a bit too much for a player to be still there.

Some of long retired players might be reaching 44 now only.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Franchise Cricket - People really need to understand the term better tbh..........

 

[ShahidDar08]

Asad being one of the worst limited over cricketer ever gets nod over Zeeshan Malik & Nauman Anwar. Pathetic selection even Sami Aslam would have been better choice. # friendship matters.

 

[Suleiman]

LoL.. Btw who is that in PSL?

Anyways, 44 age is a bit too much for a player to be still there.

Some of long retired players might be reaching 44 now only.

I don't know... I guess Shadab.

But I was just kidding, don't really care if Misbah plays in this. PSL is commercial cricket. Misbah is a brand himself now, is good for popularity and pulling a crowd with his fame.

 

[Hasan123]

Just not a LO player, Lahore and the other franchises have realised. Hopefully Pakistan realise it before his test game is ruined .

 

[KyoOne]

He deserves a chance more than anyone but was he even in the draft?

He was.

KK selected him in first season, but did not give him a single game. Never selected thereafter. Poor guy

 

[Amjid Javed]

Hopefully Azhars exclusion will filter through to ODI side as well on international stage as hes simply not good enough nor has the game to suit LOI Cricket.

 

[Rafay Shafiq]

No need to be logical every time in franchise cricket. Simple answer that Asad Shafiq belongs to same lobby of owner and captain of Quetta Gladiators so he picked. Nobody can question...my money...my will. Who are you to ask?

If anyone remember, PCB request Lahore qalanders to pick Azhar in first edition as he was ODI captain then and embarrassment if couldn't picked.

Ideally, neither shafiq nor Azhar deserve but nobody can challenge owner

 

[Sirris]

Unlike the selection of national team, this is not a one man's decision. If the franchises see some value in you, they will pick you. If they don't you will be discarded. See Chris Gayle's case. Likewise some people think Misbah has something to offer while other see some value in Shafiq. In the end if they were wrong in their assessments they will be the one paying the price.

I am glad the LQ management used their brain and didnt pick Azhar Ali just because he is a good test batsman or the former captain.

 

[hadi123]

It's surprising Azhar Ali didn't get picked seeing as he was Lahore Qalandars captain. I would have expected him to get picked since he is one of Pakistan's main players. Azhar Ali was good in the Champions Trophy and that's closer to T20s than Tests are.

 

[Pakhs]

Its a franchise league and the owners coaches etc didnt think he will add value to their squad. Its really as simple as that.

 

[Hedz]

This is Misbahs last season in the PSL. Then he should look at coaching or a role as director.
Azhar Ali the One day Batsmen is fine for me, he performed well since his comeback and has always tried to improve, which you have to give him credit for.
T20 is too much of a push, though he is hard working here too.
Asad Shafiq shouldn’t be in the league either, however Quetta like him, idk why.

 

[last_knight]

It's surprising Azhar Ali didn't get picked seeing as he was Lahore Qalandars captain. I would have expected him to get picked since he is one of Pakistan's main players. Azhar Ali was good in the Champions Trophy and that's closer to T20s than Tests are.

Accepting to Captain LQ in PSL-1 eventually has lead to his absence (so far) from PSL-3.

He shouldn't had accepted to Captain PCT in ODIs after WC'15 and instead should had played as a player but not as a captain. That could have given him an extended career in ODIs.

Similarly if he had opted to play PSL -1 not as a captain, he could've been among retained players at PSL-3 Drafts.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Accepting to Captain LQ in PSL-1 eventually has lead to his absence (so far) from PSL-3.

He shouldn't had accepted to Captain PCT in ODIs after WC'15 and instead should had played as a player but not as a captain. That could have given him an extended career in ODIs.

Similarly if he had opted to play PSL -1 not as a captain, he could've been among retained players at PSL-3 Drafts.

It wouldn’t have made sense that the national ODI captain was playing under a foreigner or a junior team-mate(since there weren’t any other seniors in LQ).

 

[Arham_PakFan]

I’m a huge supporter of Azhar’s but he isn’t a good T20 player and he hasn’t played a single T20I.Shafiq shouldn’t have been picked either but he did bat well in the last national T20 cup.I don’t think Misbah should play anymore but it is his last season in all probability.