What's more frustrating? Afridi's inability to control hitting or current inability to hit at all?

[cricwiz]

What makes you pull your hair out more?

Afridi coming out to bat when Pakistan needed few quick runs. He hits couple of good shots than just throws it all away leaving fans/critics frustrated...

Or the current lot (Imad, Rizwan etc.) not being able to hit at all ...

 

[Tekcirc]

What makes you pull your hair out more?

Afridi coming out to bat when Pakistan needed few quick runs. He hits couple of good shots than just throws it all away leaving fans/critics frustrated...

Or the current lot (Imad, Rizwan etc.) not being able to hit at all ...

Both are equally bad, Afridi worked once in 20 games and that was surely magical and people would just remember that.

 

[arehaan]

The end result would have been the same in either case. So honestly neither

 

[cricwiz]

Both are equally bad, Afridi worked once in 20 games and that was surely magical and people would just remember that.

Of-course both are equally bad as none of the situation helps the team in anyway. I was just asking what leaves you more frustrated ??

Personally, I feel disgusted by the lack of efforts from these current lot of (pretending) all-rounders.

 

[miandadrules]

We need to select a ODI worthy squad first.

Shafiq, Nawaz, Azhar, Hafeez (as a batsman) and Malik are not up to scratch and can't be the best available options.

One thing I know for sure, the selectors will never be held accountable. It is no coincidence that the only time a player is selected is when either stands out as a numerical anomaly or performs in a high profile game. It's not as if these selectors actually going around the country watching the domestic scene.

Hence, we get the recycled tried and tested failures.

 

[itsme]

We need to select a ODI worthy squad first.

Shafiq, Nawaz, Azhar, Hafeez (as a batsman) and Malik are not up to scratch and can't be the best available options.

One thing I know for sure, the selectors will never be held accountable. It is no coincidence that the only time a player is selected is when either stands out as a numerical anomaly or performs in a high profile game. It's not as if these selectors actually going around the country watching the domestic scene.

Hence, we get the recycled tried and tested failures.

I will take malik even if he struggles against pace,he knows how to construct a inning,parthnership ,he is clutch,rotate strike well and new pak's batsmens aren't fluent enough against spin(sharjeel,babar,umar,rizwan,imad).He is a good bat to have in the middle overs.

 

[Syed1]

What's the point of bringing Afridi in the argument? His career is dead and buried.

 

[itsme]

Players like sarfraz nawaz or rizwan will always struggles to score at 6/7 rpo in the final's overs

 

[yasir]

Today Pakistanis looked lot more worse than they actually are, 6" extra bounce and yard of pace and they all look like going nowhere.... We will be better in other matches, but this was horrible show...

Pakistan really need to uncover better player of seam bowling in their ranks, we can club spinners, but not seamers, Let's hope we find somebody like Sharjeel in PSL 2 to move this team from 8 to 5th ranking...We are way behind in going after seamers department, last WC was enough proof, this just reinforce that fact!!

 

[yasir]

This match also reflect UAE effect, conditions were exactly opposite of UAE(low and slow) to WACA(fast and bounce), any everybody was at sea...If Pakistan keep on playing all their home cricket in UAE, we will further deteriorate in our ability to play fast bowling, which also mean ranking in LOI will remain at bottom

 

[Syed1]

This match also reflect UAE effect, conditions were exactly opposite of UAE(low and slow) to WACA(fast and bounce), any everybody was at sea...If Pakistan keep on playing all their home cricket in UAE, we will further deteriorate in our ability to play fast bowling, which also mean ranking in LOI will remain at bottom

So if we play in Pakistan we will get pitches like WACA?

 

[yasir]

So if we play in Pakistan we will get pitches like WACA?

Pakistan is much better than UAE. UAE is like Faisalabad and Multan, even in 80s/90s, whenever test is played in those venus, we used to switch the TV off...Nothing good can come out playing every match in those pitches...We don't have fast bowlers nor stroke makers, key ingredients of no 8 team

 

[cricwiz]

Today Pakistanis looked lot more worse than they actually are, 6" extra bounce and yard of pace and they all look like going nowhere.... We will be better in other matches, but this was horrible show...

Pakistan really need to uncover better player of seam bowling in their ranks, we can club spinners, but not seamers, Let's hope we find somebody like Sharjeel in PSL 2 to move this team from 8 to 5th ranking...We are way behind in going after seamers department, last WC was enough proof, this just reinforce that fact!!

This match also reflect UAE effect, conditions were exactly opposite of UAE(low and slow) to WACA(fast and bounce), any everybody was at sea...If Pakistan keep on playing all their home cricket in UAE, we will further deteriorate in our ability to play fast bowling, which also mean ranking in LOI will remain at bottom

So if we play in Pakistan we will get pitches like WACA?

Pakistan is much better than UAE. UAE is like Faisalabad and Multan, even in 80s/90s, whenever test is played in those venus, we used to switch the TV off...Nothing good can come out playing every match in those pitches...We don't have fast bowlers nor stroke makers, key ingredients of no 8 team

The next Champions Trophy as well as World Cup is in ENGLAND, where conditions will be more similar to WACA than any UAE pitch i.e. pace bowlers will be a huge factor and spin won't be a prominent one.

This current lot of likes of Imad, Rizwan and co can probably tonk the ball pretty good in low bounce conditions like UAE etc, but they are all at sea against pace bowling here. How good the chances are that this lot will be able to do their job in England conditions.

 

[Speedster777]

Who in their right mind would want a has been king of ducks into the team? Afridi is the same failed player who led our team to its abysmal condition. Stop over reacting after every loss and recycling discarded players. Move on and give chance to a young team.

 

[Speedster777]

People like OP are the reason our cricket can never progress.

 

[cricwiz]

What's the point of bringing Afridi in the argument? His career is dead and buried.

Is it bad to compare old era of our ODI team with the current one?

At one point, more than a decade ago Pakistan had one of the most dynamic lower order, where the likes of Moin Khan, Afridi, Razzaq and Wasim etc could score 100 runs in last 10 overs even in alien conditions, than there were Razzaq n Afridi left. After Razzaq was dropped there was only Afridi on whom Pakistan lower order hitting was reliant (irony is that Afridi was the least dependable one among all others). But after Afridi, seems we have hit a dead end when it comes to lower order power hitting in alien conditions (e.g. wickets with more pace n bounce)

 

[cricwiz]

Who in their right mind would want a has been king of ducks into the team? Afridi is the same failed player who led our team to its abysmal condition. Stop over reacting after every loss and recycling discarded players. Move on and give chance to a young team.

People like OP are the reason our cricket can never progress.

Did u even read the OP or the discussion after it?? Where did u find someone advocating for his return or even dropping someone from the team??

The question asked was a simple one i.e. about one's sentiment on both extremes i.e. Afridi trying to mindlessly slog or current lot of batsmen unable to hit at all. Both are worst scenarios, but what made you more frustrated as a fan of the team???

 

[Boom boom legend]

Clearly you would much rather have Afridi to finish than this lot. No matter what the situation or pitch was, he could come in and instantly hit boundaries. Much more exciting as a fan to watch too. Watching the last ten overs of this current team is just painful, and constantly costing us games. Remember the West Indies series where we should have been on track for 350+ and barely scraped 300.

 

[miandadrules]

Clearly you would much rather have Afridi to finish than this lot. No matter what the situation or pitch was, he could come in and instantly hit boundaries. Much more exciting as a fan to watch too. Watching the last ten overs of this current team is just painful, and constantly costing us games. Remember the West Indies series where we should have been on track for 350+ and barely scraped 300.

Yeah, I miss those days when Afridi used to take us 350.

At least the opposition has a chance now Afridi has retired. I got boring with him taking us to 350+ every game.

 

[yasir]

The next Champions Trophy as well as World Cup is in ENGLAND, where conditions will be more similar to WACA than any UAE pitch i.e. pace bowlers will be a huge factor and spin won't be a prominent one.

This current lot of likes of Imad, Rizwan and co can probably tonk the ball pretty good in low bounce conditions like UAE etc, but they are all at sea against pace bowling here. How good the chances are that this lot will be able to do their job in England conditions.

Problem is not just with them, top order is very tentative as well. In today's ODIs you need more stroke makers than accoumalators. Guys like Hafeez and Azhar are not going to cut it either. You need to attack throughout the game, wickets are flat everywhere, you need 3 players in top 5 who can attack most of the time.

As I said earlier, playing in UAE is big roadblock. PSL also in UAE worries me a lot, it's not going to add to our strength. Last year, millions of left arm spinners in every team, not something exciting to see, we are turning into BD with UAE wickets, that's what low and slow does it to you... India change their game with IPL and lot of LOIs with Australia, they go there for ODIs every other year now. They are used to bounce now, they were like us but now far ahead.

 

[Syed1]

Yeah, I miss those days when Afridi used to take us 350.

At least the opposition has a chance now Afridi has retired. I got boring with him taking us to 350+ every game.

)

Yeah man, I also fondly remember his innings that used to single-handedly carry us to totals of 400.

 

[Syed1]

People letting nostalgia effect their thinking. 9 games out of 10 Afridi would come in, hit a four or six and then hole out in the deep or top edge to keeper or mid-wicket.

Afridi was the hackiest of hacks we have ever played. Good riddance.

 

[miandadrules]

People letting nostalgia effect their thinking. 9 games out of 10 Afridi would come in, hit a four or six and then hole out in the deep or top edge to keeper or mid-wicket.

Afridi was the hackiest of hacks we have ever played. Good riddance.

The irony being his fans used to complain that he was wasted down the order because his aerial shots get caught because there are no fielding restrictions and he should be sent up the order.

Now he is a specialist lower-order striker and finisher.

 

[Syed1]

The irony being his fans used to complain that he was wasted down the order because his aerial shots get caught because there are no fielding restrictions and he should be sent up the order.

Now he is a specialist lower-order striker and finisher.

On top of that Afridi flip flopped from being a batting alrounder or a bowling alrounder depending on how he did in the match

 

[miandadrules]

On top of that Afridi flip flopped from being a batting alrounder or a bowling alrounder depending on how he did in the match

You forgot specialist fielder and selection merely for his "presence".

 

[Boom boom legend]

When did I say Afridi took us to 350+? Stop making things up. That is the role of the middle order, to set a platform for him to finish. He averaged around 24 in ODIS which is perfectly fine for someone who came in so late and played with such high risk. Its nonsense how people say he failed 9 times out of 10, if that was the case he would average under 15. Also he was a genuine threat whilst bowling and not someone who was just economically going through the motions.

The man brought so much neutrals to watch our games, provided genuine entertainment, helped win a World T20, helped win the Asia Cup, led our attack to the semis of the 50 over world cup where he was top wicket taker and in total took almost 550 career wickets.

Clearly a legend. Come back when our current lot has achieved that much in the game.

 

[yasir]

You forgot specialist fielder and selection merely for his "presence".

More for Shampoo and Boom Boom Bubble Gum ads

 

[miandadrules]

When did I say Afridi took us to 350+? Stop making things up. That is the role of the middle order, to set a platform for him to finish. He averaged around 24 in ODIS which is perfectly fine for someone who came in so late and played with such high risk. Its nonsense how people say he failed 9 times out of 10, if that was the case he would average under 15. Also he was a genuine threat whilst bowling and not someone who was just economically going through the motions.

The man brought so much neutrals to watch our games, provided genuine entertainment, helped win a World T20, helped win the Asia Cup, led our attack to the semis of the 50 over world cup where he was top wicket taker and in total took almost 550 career wickets.

Clearly a legend. Come back when our current lot has achieved that much in the game.

You want the current lot to take 492 wickets in 498 matches?

 

[Tekcirc]

When did I say Afridi took us to 350+? Stop making things up. That is the role of the middle order, to set a platform for him to finish. He averaged around 24 in ODIS which is perfectly fine for someone who came in so late and played with such high risk. Its nonsense how people say he failed 9 times out of 10, if that was the case he would average under 15. Also he was a genuine threat whilst bowling and not someone who was just economically going through the motions.

The man brought so much neutrals to watch our games, provided genuine entertainment, helped win a World T20, helped win the Asia Cup, led our attack to the semis of the 50 over world cup where he was top wicket taker and in total took almost 550 career wickets.

Clearly a legend. Come back when our current lot has achieved that much in the game.

I think Afridi opened for some years in his career, Only when he proved crap was he shunted back to lower middle order where he truely belonged.

And how on earth does playing with high risk a justification for low averages?? You are supposed to win games for the team, risk has to be proportional to the requirements of the team. Afridi never cared for the team. All he did was slog , slog and more mindless slog.

Pakistan is the only team that allowed a mediocre, a highly unreliable and mostly misfiring player to last almost 2 decades of games. Other teams had far reliable and far better explosive batsmen who delivered and when they misfired they were chucked out.
Case in point Sehwag, Raina.

By your logic Kevin O'Brien should be granted a ATG legendary status!

 

[Markhor]

There is a difference between a capable power hitter and a blind slogger.

A capable power hitter can play each ball on its merits, takes calculated risks and scores runs all over the park.

A blind slogger, like Afridi, is always looking to hack the ball to cow corner. His hacks will only come off once in a blue moon.

That being said the lower order of Kamran, Razzaq and Afridi was more explosive than the one we have right now. You have the unfit and out-of-form Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan doing his John Travolta routine at the crease and Imad who is more of an accumulator.

 

[Mamoon]

Well I would take him over Shafiq in the current ODI lineup. Will last for the same number of balls, but would score twice as many runs.

 

[Big Mac]

This match also reflect UAE effect, conditions were exactly opposite of UAE(low and slow) to WACA(fast and bounce), any everybody was at sea...If Pakistan keep on playing all their home cricket in UAE, we will further deteriorate in our ability to play fast bowling, which also mean ranking in LOI will remain at bottom

Looking at the phainty England are getting in India, do you think they should play their home games in the UAE because playing in England is clearly harming their cricket?

 

[Boom boom legend]

You want the current lot to take 492 wickets in 498 matches?

Yeah either 492 ODI wickets
351 sixes (81 more than anyone in history)
An Asia Cup
A World T20
Top wicket taker at 50 over world cup

Maybe thats too harsh. Lets start with scoring above a 100 strike rate first.

Then you can compare with Afridi.

 

[Abdullah]

What makes you pull your hair out more?

Afridi coming out to bat when Pakistan needed few quick runs. He hits couple of good shots than just throws it all away leaving fans/critics frustrated...

Or the current lot (Imad, Rizwan etc.) not being able to hit at all ...

this hurts more because its happened a few times now where the first 40 overs have been decent and we lose the advantage where as in those days we had 30-40 runs less so were behind the 8 ball anyway

 

[Boom boom legend]

There is a difference between a capable power hitter and a blind slogger.

A capable power hitter can play each ball on its merits, takes calculated risks and scores runs all over the park.

A blind slogger, like Afridi, is always looking to hack the ball to cow corner. His hacks will only come off once in a blue moon.

That being said the lower order of Kamran, Razzaq and Afridi was more explosive than the one we have right now. You have the unfit and out-of-form Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan doing his John Travolta routine at the crease and Imad who is more of an accumulator.

No he is not a blind slogger or a hack. He averages 37 in test cricket which is more than respectable for an all rounder that is naturally a power hitting batsman. He can play controlled innings if he wants to, look at the T20 final vs Sri Lanka. He has always had the ability however its his temperament that has caused him problems. That hundred on debut is no fluke, he had bucket loads of talent.

Only thing that stopped him from being an ATG all rounder was his heart. He always wanted to impress the crowd with sixes and never bothered with personal stats. If he was more selfish like some of our current players, he would hang in longer and inevitably have a higher average.

His career is nearing its end now, and people should learn to appreciate him rather than the constant hate and negativity.

 

[Boom boom legend]

I think Afridi opened for some years in his career, Only when he proved crap was he shunted back to lower middle order where he truely belonged.

And how on earth does playing with high risk a justification for low averages?? You are supposed to win games for the team, risk has to be proportional to the requirements of the team. Afridi never cared for the team. All he did was slog , slog and more mindless slog.

Pakistan is the only team that allowed a mediocre, a highly unreliable and mostly misfiring player to last almost 2 decades of games. Other teams had far reliable and far better explosive batsmen who delivered and when they misfired they were chucked out.
Case in point Sehwag, Raina.

By your logic Kevin O'Brien should be granted a ATG legendary status!

Mindless slogging does not get your average in test to 37. And it certainly does not get you 351 sixes. Remind me again how much does Kevin Obrien have?

Oh and with regards to Raina. He averages 26 in test cricket. 11 fewer than Afridi.

 

[Abdullah719]

No he is not a blind slogger or a hack. He averages 37 in test cricket which is more than respectable for an all rounder that is naturally a power hitting batsman. He can play controlled innings if he wants to, look at the T20 final vs Sri Lanka. He has always had the ability however its his temperament that has caused him problems. That hundred on debut is no fluke, he had bucket loads of talent.

Only thing that stopped him from being an ATG all rounder was his heart. He always wanted to impress the crowd with sixes and never bothered with personal stats. If he was more selfish like some of our current players, he would hang in longer and inevitably have a higher average.

His career is nearing its end now, and people should learn to appreciate him rather than the constant hate and negativity.

Afridi could hit some ridiculous shots because of his hand-eye coordination but had absolutely terrible temperament, the number of times he got out slogging the ball with closed eyes is testament to that.

 

[Boom boom legend]

Afridi could hit some ridiculous shots because of his hand-eye coordination but had absolutely terrible temperament, the number of times he got out slogging the ball with closed eyes is testament to that.

I agree, his temperament prevented him from being an ATG all rounder. He had so much ability, which he demonstrated such as the T20 final. But thats not to say he wasnt a good player, as I still think he was excellent for us and does not get the respect he deserves.

 

[miandadrules]

Yeah either 492 ODI wickets
351 sixes (81 more than anyone in history)
An Asia Cup
A World T20
Top wicket taker at 50 over world cup

Maybe thats too harsh. Lets start with scoring above a 100 strike rate first.

Then you can compare with Afridi.

So you want to give them all 500 matches so they can take less than one wicket a match?

To score less than one 6 a match even though that will be their only aim in each innings?

You forgot how he averaged over 100 with the ball in two world cups.

How many wickets did he take against the top teams in 2011?

Are you going to run away from this thread too?

 

[miandadrules]

No he is not a blind slogger or a hack. He averages 37 in test cricket which is more than respectable for an all rounder that is naturally a power hitting batsman. He can play controlled innings if he wants to, look at the T20 final vs Sri Lanka. He has always had the ability however its his temperament that has caused him problems. That hundred on debut is no fluke, he had bucket loads of talent.

Only thing that stopped him from being an ATG all rounder was his heart. He always wanted to impress the crowd with sixes and never bothered with personal stats. If he was more selfish like some of our current players, he would hang in longer and inevitably have a higher average.

His career is nearing its end now, and people should learn to appreciate him rather than the constant hate and negativity.

Playing for your team is selfish?

Playing for your brands rather than your country is laudable?

It must be that time of the month again.

 

[miandadrules]

Mindless slogging does not get your average in test to 37. And it certainly does not get you 351 sixes. Remind me again how much does Kevin Obrien have?

Oh and with regards to Raina. He averages 26 in test cricket. 11 fewer than Afridi.

Can you give a breakdown of Test stats in different countries?

Less than one 6 an innings when that is your sole aim is a great achievement.

People just don't appreciate the centuries he scored in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and England.

 

[miandadrules]

I agree, his temperament prevented him from being an ATG all rounder. He had so much ability, which he demonstrated such as the T20 final. But thats not to say he wasnt a good player, as I still think he was excellent for us and does not get the respect he deserves.

I agree he doesn't get the respect he deserves.

I think we should give him his farewell, Game of Thrones style.

 

[AFM]

Afridi was not a big hitting finisher. He was a wild slogger. Nothing was either calculated nor deliberate. His career average proves that. I have lost count of the amount of times he we would come in when the team demanded fast runs and he would fail. The most recent example was the Chris Jordan super over. It was tailor made for both Afridi and Akmal to cut loose but they couldn't because the Italian demanded it. Playing to the situation is what is called dealing with the pressure.

The problem that needs to be addressed is not power hitting but stroke making. If you can reduce dot ball percentage, there is no need to try and go big every ball and put pressure on yourself. The only way to develop that is in grass roots level. This is where the state of pitches come in. Pak domestic pitches are so unprepared that you cannot produce the strokes necessary for international level. It leads to poor cricket all round as it encourages neither good bowling nor batting.

There is no messiah out there playing at the streets that will come in and save the team. The era for that is gone. The PCB need to develop proper systems so the players coming through are prepared for International cricket. It is the PCB that should be accountable for our decline in LOI cricket, not the players. That will never happen of course because of the nepotism and corruption that exists in every facet of our society.

 

[Boom boom legend]

So you want to give them all 500 matches so they can take less than one wicket a match?

To score less than one 6 a match even though that will be their only aim in each innings?

You forgot how he averaged over 100 with the ball in two world cups.

How many wickets did he take against the top teams in 2011?

Are you going to run away from this thread too?

You have to earn 500 matches, come back if they reach that milestone.

Let alone one six a match, these guys cant score a six between them in 10 matches.

4 wickets vs Sri Lanka at 3.4 economy
1 against New Zealand economy 5.5
1 against Australia economy 3.77
4 against West Indies economy 3.15
0 against India economy 4.15 but had Tendulkar dropped of his bowling 3 TIMES!!! Taking him earlier probably would have won us the game

And dont forget he took a 5fer when we needed him most as we were defending 184 and Canada were 104-3 at one point.

 

[miandadrules]

You have to earn 500 matches, come back if they reach that milestone.

Let alone one six a match, these guys cant score a six between them in 10 matches.

4 wickets vs Sri Lanka at 3.4 economy
1 against New Zealand economy 5.5
1 against Australia economy 3.77
4 against West Indies economy 3.15
0 against India economy 4.15 but had Tendulkar dropped of his bowling 3 TIMES!!! Taking him earlier probably would have won us the game

And dont forget he took a 5fer when we needed him most as we were defending 184 and Canada were 104-3 at one point.

How did he earn 500 matches? By taking less than wicket a match, or registering a record number of ducks?

Do they go in with the sole aim of just hitting a 6?

6 wickets in 4 matches? What a legend!

Oh Tendulkar was dropped! I guess you must discount any innings Afridi played when he was dropped? Or does the criteria only apply one way?

Of course who can forget Canada. They are definitely not minnows.

Legend!

Are you going to run away from this thread, like you did the previous one?

 

[Tekcirc]

Mindless slogging does not get your average in test to 37. And it certainly does not get you 351 sixes. Remind me again how much does Kevin Obrien have?

Oh and with regards to Raina. He averages 26 in test cricket. 11 fewer than Afridi.

Quoting an awesome total of 27 test career as something to be proud is laughable. He was a pathetic for tests and that's why he was rarely in the tests or played any.

As for ODIs, no one comes close to selfish slogging of Afridi. 351 sixes are testament to that, sixes dont win you matches, runs do, but sure hitting maximums win you fanatic fan-boys.

Afridi has been the symptomatic of everything wrong with Pakistani cricket in this century. Players try to be flashy, because they see the over the top love for Afridi by his fanatic fans. All crave that kinda love. But they forget that his kinda play doesn't win matches, nor are you consistent by any stretch.

As for the case of Raina, yes his avg is pathetic and that's why is not in the test side. His form dipped in ODIs and he got chucked out.

As for Kevin O Brien example... going by number of games and awesome impact innings played I think Kevin as a better ratio than Afridi despite being from an associate team with hardly any infrastructure.

 

[yasir]

Looking at the phainty England are getting in India, do you think they should play their home games in the UAE because playing in England is clearly harming their cricket?

How is that Harming them? - They almost chase 381, despite so many wickets lost, away from home, where as we are not even competitive, scoring only 50 in last 10. They rebooted their ODI team after world cup to modern platform...Our team does not work anywhere in the world including UAE