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When are Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq going to take up responsibility in Test matches?

Just imagine how good Pakistan could be if they weren't blighted by these nepotistic selections, favouritism, groupings and sifarshis clogging up the team.
 
Just imagine how good Pakistan could be if they weren't blighted by these nepotistic selections, favouritism, groupings and sifarshis clogging up the team.

Pakistan lost a decade off cricker now cricket has returned to pakistan and now fast bowling is returning cricket should be on way back up they currently have around 8 bowlers who can be excellent with about 4 being world class
 
Pakistan lost a decade off cricker now cricket has returned to pakistan and now fast bowling is returning cricket should be on way back up they currently have around 8 bowlers who can be excellent with about 4 being world class

Of course, but they need to get rid of these corrupt selections and the corrupt hierarchy that enable these corruptions.
 
Pakistan lost a decade off cricker now cricket has returned to pakistan and now fast bowling is returning cricket should be on way back up they currently have around 8 bowlers who can be excellent with about 4 being world class

Remember, it was greed and corruption that ultimately led to the lost decade.
 
Not gonna learn now. They at best have always been average players.
 
Shan and Babar both back in the pavilion now, leaving Azhar and Asad at the crease. If ever they had to take responsibility, it's now.
 
Anddd off the field trudges Azhar Ali for 18.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Azhar Ali has been dismissed 20 times against England in England - 9 of those have been LBW <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/1291779616210903041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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These two have to murder someone in broad daylight before Misbah even thinks of dropping them.
 
These two have to murder someone in broad daylight before Misbah even thinks of dropping them.

how long can misbah keep them in the team with no performances whatsoever abroad

Pressure is on azhar batting tailenderish abroad This cant go on much longer
 
These two have to murder someone in broad daylight before Misbah even thinks of dropping them.

how long can misbah keep them in the team with no performances whatsoever abroad

Pressure is on azhar He can hardly buy a score away from asia This cant go on much longer
 
Today was the day to silence some critics. Even 40 or 50 runs each would have taken Pakistan to a lead of 300.

Poor stuff from both.
 
Today was the day to silence some critics. Even 40 or 50 runs each would have taken Pakistan to a lead of 300.

Poor stuff from both.

Can't say it wasn't to be expected though. Azhar's declined badly and Shafiq's been average for 10 years. Misbah should have dropped them but made one a captain.

Misbah should be the one taking responsibility for this debacle.
 
Today was the day to silence some critics. Even 40 or 50 runs each would have taken Pakistan to a lead of 300.

Poor stuff from both.

How many times would you see an inzy or younis khan on an up and down wicket grind 40s and 50 runs out with the tail when all was collapsing around them

When the pressure is on the top players stand to be counted Our seniors fall like a pack of cards
 
Irrespective of the result and how they do in the upcoming matches atleast one of them has to make way for a young batsman. Haris Sohail should make a come back and Saud Shakeel should be given his first test squad selection. Meanwhile Haider Ali, Omair Yousuf, and Abdullah Shafique should be groomed for tests.

We all know what is the best Asad can do and that is not enough for Pak and Azhar's best post his knee struggles and MisYou is also not good enough.

Ideally both should go and Shan or Babar should be given captaincy but atleast one needs to go.
 
Both won't be dropped. All we can do is hope they average 30+ this series.
 
Azhar isnt going anywhere this series obviously, being the captain.. The best thing we can hope for is Asad getting replaced by Fawad but that just sounds too good to be true.
And Fawad will be dropped after one bad performance, totally forgetting someone like Asad has been given chances one after another.
 
The best thing we can hope for is Asad getting replaced by Fawad but that just sounds too good to be true.
And Fawad will be dropped after one bad performance, totally forgetting someone like Asad has been given chances one after another.

That also bring in left hander in the middle to give that left right combo and add some variety. Nothing Shafiq can ever do which Pak is gonna miss as we have enough sample size of what he adds to Pak's test team and Pak needs more than that.
 
Azhar Ali is probably in his last year of international cricket. He might retire if this continues for one or two more series. Keeping Haris out will also be difficult.
I love his steely resolve and determination but age has caught up with him it seems. His reflexes have slowed down drastically. Adjusting to 80-82mph bowls from Anderson and Broad is alarming.

I hope Shafiq is dumped as soon as possible. Extremely inconsistent and never mans up to lead the batting. Always a supporting act and almost always gets out at the very moment he shouldn't.
Baffling how he has been able to play 70 tests.
 
How many times would you see an inzy or younis khan on an up and down wicket grind 40s and 50 runs out with the tail when all was collapsing around them

When the pressure is on the top players stand to be counted Our seniors fall like a pack of cards

I was wishing Inzi was here for this particular inning. His shielding of the tail while keeping the scoreboard ticking constantly was extremely pleasant.
 
Azhar has a long standing knee problem and has been receiving treatment in the UK. He's obviously struggling with the injury and this is causing other issues too with his technique.
 
Losing patience with these 2. Azhar was brilliant at his peak, but he's just sticking around far too long now. Should call it quits before he worsens his reputation. Shafiq on the other hand was always mediocre.

Who can we replace them with though? That's the real question.

Also I don't get how this is a Misbah problem though. These 2 played for a long while under Mickey too and were pretty mediocre, and everybody was calling for their heads but nobody said anything about Mickey :13:
 
They’ll play out the series regardless of how they perform. The frustrating thing here is that when Pakistan get easier opponents in tests, rather than investing in other, more deserving batsmen they’ll continue to stick with Azhar and Asad. They’ll hit hundreds, are “back in form”, then get exposed again by a SENA team.
 
Losing patience with these 2. Azhar was brilliant at his peak, but he's just sticking around far too long now. Should call it quits before he worsens his reputation. Shafiq on the other hand was always mediocre.

Who can we replace them with though? That's the real question.

Also I don't get how this is a Misbah problem though. These 2 played for a long while under Mickey too and were pretty mediocre, and everybody was calling for their heads but nobody said anything about Mickey :13:
It’s a Misbah problem because he chose them, kept them, and continues to back them even when it is obvious they can’t bat anymore.

Mickey was also criticized but they were never this bad (Azhar had a golden tour of Australia and Shafiq did decent in ENG and AUS).

And the age old excuse of “who will replace them?” is lame. Saud Shakeel, Haris Sohail (out of form but infinitely better and a tidy bowler), Saif Badar, etc. They are all green but you have to start somewhere.

PP’ers like [MENTION=139288]Abdul[/MENTION] and [MENTION=135196]waleed88[/MENTION] were calling for Babar’s head when he struggled early on. Give them time and confidence once selected.
 
I think if Pak win the series, Azhar should retire a hero’s farewell.
You don’t understand Pakistan’s “senior culture”.

He will use the tour to say that the team needs his experience and wisdom since they are young. (He only needs one 50 score in about five innings to keep this up for 2-3 years).

And on and on...
 
You don’t understand Pakistan’s “senior culture”.

He will use the tour to say that the team needs his experience and wisdom since they are young. (He only needs one 50 score in about five innings to keep this up for 2-3 years).

And on and on...

Asad and Azhar - Team can't keep two seniors for no reason. Frankly I think regardless of the result. Fawad should come in to replace Asad . He can't be worse than him. I think Sarfaraz have a case against Rizwan too since Rizwan is a bunny as well .
 
Asad and Azhar - Team can't keep two seniors for no reason. Frankly I think regardless of the result. Fawad should come in to replace Asad . He can't be worse than him. I think Sarfaraz have a case against Rizwan too since Rizwan is a bunny as well .

Rizwan is an infinitely better gloveman than Sarfraz. They're about equal as batsmen, and are equally awful at judging singles.
 
Criteria; batsmen in the top 6 with 70+ matches, starting in 2010

The two worst averaging batsmen, and by some margin when you consider Matthews plays as an all-rounder

<a href="https://ibb.co/MPTdVW5"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/frRJpBG/bad-averages.png" alt="bad-averages" border="0"></a>
 
Criteria; batsmen in the top 6 with 70+ matches, starting in 2010

The two worst averaging batsmen, and by some margin when you consider Matthews plays as an all-rounder

<a href="https://ibb.co/MPTdVW5"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/frRJpBG/bad-averages.png" alt="bad-averages" border="0"></a>

Doesn't make for great viewing does it? Shafiq especially. Although to be fair Angelo Mathews has 33 wickets in Test cricket. He's as much an allrounder in the longer format as Kane Williamson
 
They still have a decent record outside Asia with a few centuries.
 
I think both should have retired a couple of years ago.

Azhar has had his moments in his career but asad has always been a low impact player.

In the 3 years asads average is 33.3 and only 2 hundreds in 39 test innings.

Yet asad is probably is the only player in our test team who has never been dropped.
 
can say categorically they cost us the game

For 2 experienced players to repeatedly perform like this is unacceptable

I have no faith in these two to contribute anything of real substance and win games for pakistan
 
They still have a decent record outside Asia with a few centuries.

Going back a while though to reach those centuries - Australia 16/17

Not sure what’s in the tank to replace them though - is there a naseem/Shaheen test batting duo, I wish there was..
 
Pak fully deserve to be at the bottom!

When you decide to back someone with a FC average of 38 over guys with strong FC records because of technique, good attitude or whatever.

I'll give props to Azhar for at least being world class at a point in his career and averaging around 45, which was a fantastic effort and you could say he somewhat was justified for being backed.

As for the other one, complete loser and did nothing in his career - despite batting at 6 when bowlers are more tired and the bowl is older, played the majority of his career in Asia and not forget, had the chance to learn from a senior like Younis.

Simply pathetic!!
 
Criteria; batsmen in the top 6 with 70+ matches, starting in 2010

The two worst averaging batsmen, and by some margin when you consider Matthews plays as an all-rounder

<a href="https://ibb.co/MPTdVW5"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/frRJpBG/bad-averages.png" alt="bad-averages" border="0"></a>

If Misbah and co can't see this, then they are either pretending to be blind or glorify mediocrity.
 
Who will replace them is no excuse If you dont try other options noone will ever replace them

For years we've not given any other middle order players a chance Why not?
 
Not sure what people expect, Azhar Ali is 35 and Shafiq is 34 years old.

Other teams have guys like Cook and ABD retiring at 33/34 while we making them captains at that age. There is a reason athletes see such a sharp decline after 30, it's because you lose your natural abilities. Younis and Misbah were freaks of nature and its incredible that they were able to play on for so long but most people can't. It's really PCB's job to identify that because its not Azhar making himself captain or picking himself to be selected on the squad. In the end, it's the management's mistake.
 
Outside Pakistan and UAE in the last three years:

Azhar Ali
18 innings
212 runs
1 fifty
11.77 average

Asad Shafiq
17 innings
518 runs
6 fifties
30.47 average

:quote: Experience :quote:
 
Who will replace them is no excuse If you dont try other options noone will ever replace them

For years we've not given any other middle order players a chance Why not?

Osama bin yousuf,usman salahuddin,haider ali,saad ali,imran butt,zeeshan malik all these are decent players and should be given a chance usman salahuddin is a like for like replacement for azhar
 
Fawad should replace Asad at least for one match. Ideally we should drop Azhar but he’s the captain so...
 
The numbers are steadily declining with the occasional decent innings.

Neither is irreplaceable and the selectors need to wake up and start smelling the coffee.
 
The numbers are steadily declining with the occasional decent innings.

Neither is irreplaceable and the selectors need to wake up and start smelling the coffee.

Human tendency is to believe anything that comforts and deny what discomforts So unplesant truths are simply ignored
 
Azhar Ali/Asad Shafiq's overall legacy

How will they be judged given that they did reasonably well while Younis Khan, Misbah were around but have played like debutants ever since the senior duo retired?
 
Azhar and Asad at the crease this morning. Could it finally be the time the seniors take responsibility :)
 
Dont worry. Shafiq will score century in UAE or in Pakistan to be selected again till 100th test match :)
 
Azhar showing a tiny bit of guts and fight here, not sure where it's been this whole series. Just about surviving a vicious Archer spell.
 
It’s a Misbah problem because he chose them, kept them, and continues to back them even when it is obvious they can’t bat anymore.

Mickey was also criticized but they were never this bad (Azhar had a golden tour of Australia and Shafiq did decent in ENG and AUS).

And the age old excuse of “who will replace them?” is lame. Saud Shakeel, Haris Sohail (out of form but infinitely better and a tidy bowler), Saif Badar, etc. They are all green but you have to start somewhere.

PP’ers like [MENTION=139288]Abdul[/MENTION] and [MENTION=135196]waleed88[/MENTION] were calling for Babar’s head when he struggled early on. Give them time and confidence once selected.

I stand corrected Babar has been impressive. A solid middle order batsman, that needs more support from the likes of Shafiq and Azhar. He has really upped his game in the last year. Mentally he is much more stronger and is looking to play out long innings.
 
Not today, and not ever.

When will the selectors take responsibility by dropping them? It has been going on from past two years now.

This is a golden chance for selectors to drop Asad Shafiq and after a series or couple, tell Azhar that time has come to look beyond him also.

Because Shafiq plays, Azhar will continue to play and captain the team, nothing will change. They need to take decisions now.
 
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