"When we talk about white ball cricket, we've been doing well, both home and away" : Shoaib Malik

[Abdullah719]

"When we talk about white ball cricket, we've been doing well, both home and away" : Shoaib Malik

Shoaib Malik at a presser:

"I think its down to consistency and that comes from whoever is in good form and so it will depend a lot on those 4-5 players"

"We have seen that in the last few series that our bowling unit has been performing really well"

"and that is also true for our batters , so the same tactics and goals we have in our minds for this series"

"I think the best thing is to find your product; Our selection committee and team management are sticking to the same team combination and its just gaining experience and sticking to the same product"

"which they have selected for white-ball cricket and they are giving consistent chances to those cricketers"

"I think that's the only option which is to stick with the same guys, and give them more opportunities so they gain confidence and we know that we be playing the World Cup after a few months"

"Every game is important and we are taking each game as preparation for the World Cup"

"I am still feeling good and enjoying my game and getting a lot of support from the management and back home"

"But its performance that gives you happiness and keeps you going"

"Not my own performance but grooming youngsters and giving positive signs to the dressing room matters a lot to me"

"And still if the captain is sending you into the hotspot, I enjoy that the most" [meaning in tough conditions]

"Its a great opportunity for all cricketers to play here against one of the best sides in the world"

"And just before the World Cup to play a competitive series against a tough team is great preparation before getting into big things"

"When we talk about white ball cricket, we've been doing well, both home and away. It's a new series, you gotta give your best shot to compete against one of the best sides. The guys are in good shape, we had a great session today. Preparation wise, everything is going in the right direction"

"Consistency comes from whoever is in good form, whoever is in good form, a lot depends on that player or players if they perform. We have the same tactics and same goal in our minds, it's the executions of the plans that matters"

"Being a senior player, a lot is on your plate. It's not just about performing, it's about sharing your experience with youngsters and telling them how to play in these conditions. We have a bunch of talented youngsters who are improving day by day and a lot of them will gain experience by the time the World Cup comes around and we'll have a good chance of doing well"

 

[fluke]

will see on 19th malik sahab

 

[Markhor]

Really ? Have you already forgotten about the NZ whitewash where you averaged 12.25 at SR of 51 this time last year ?

 

[Mamoon]

What does he mean by doing well?

In the last 12 months, we have lost 9 out of 11 ODIs against the top 8 teams.

The players are hiding behind the so-called T20 streak, but that drama will be over soon too, and our next big reality check is going to be in that format.

 

[Pete Rose]

About the only think i can agree with in this statement is that we have a great build up to the world cup in terms of the quality of opposition we will be playing. Its a pity we will waste it tall to realize at the 13th hour that hafeez, malik, and perhaps even sarfaraz shouldn't be part of the odi squad.

 

[MMHS]

Age has finally caught him; or may be baby isn't allowing him to sleep at night. Anyway, he (& PCT as a whole) can prove his point in SAF - will they? A 3-2 series win by PAK and everything will be accepted.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Age has finally caught him; or may be baby isn't allowing him to sleep at night. Anyway, he (& PCT as a whole) can prove his point in SAF - will they? A 3-2 series win by PAK and everything will be accepted.

That might even be possible as South African batting is suspect to collapses.

 

[Ahmed216]

No one wants to accept that pak cricket is in very poor shape.

 

[MMHS]

That might even be possible as South African batting is suspect to collapses.

I'll still take that as a success, despite IND blowing them 5-1 last year with ADV playing few games. But, have you realized where PCT will stand, if it ends 4-1 for this SAF?

 

[Dr_Bassim]

I'll still take that as a success, despite IND blowing them 5-1 last year with ADV playing few games. But, have you realized where PCT will stand, if it ends 4-1 for this SAF?

Whether we lose 5-0 in SA, then 5-0 to Australia and then later England, Sarfraz will be captaining the team for the World Cup.

So its better to hope by some miraculous event (just like CT 17') , Sarfraz starts firing on all cylinders, especially the cylinders in his cortical grey matter, and Pakistan start winning games to give them confidence in the World Cup.

PCB wont fire Sarfraz right before the World Cup, not when they think the same captain won them the Champions Trophy.

 

[MMHS]

Whether we lose 5-0 in SA, then 5-0 to Australia and then later England, Sarfraz will be captaining the team for the World Cup.

So its better to hope by some miraculous event (just like CT 17') , Sarfraz starts firing on all cylinders, especially the cylinders in his cortical grey matter, and Pakistan start winning games to give them confidence in the World Cup.

PCB wont fire Sarfraz right before the World Cup, not when they think the same captain won them the Champions Trophy.

Sarfraz MUST take PAK to WC, this was my comment before SAF Test series. And, the reason is same - this is a poor PAK side and if Sarfraz is replaced by another Captain, PCB'll bring Sarfraz back again as Captain after WC and another WC gone. Had say Asad took PAK to SAF, it would have been 3-0, but Sarfraz would have led the Next Test again; same for ODI as well.

 

[yasir]

Age has finally caught him; or may be baby isn't allowing him to sleep at night. Anyway, he (& PCT as a whole) can prove his point in SAF - will they? A 3-2 series win by PAK and everything will be accepted.

First off there is no chance of us winning, forget about winning we cannot win 2 ODIs... If for some reason we get ahead, they will bring back the "bone collector" to put Pakistanis back into their place

We struggle against any sort of pace and bounce. Locki, Bone Collector are lastest example. They will (and had) the damage in ODIs as well, not just test...

 

[WengerOut]

Did i miss any Pak series recently!!

 

[RyanRyan10]

Did i miss any Pak series recently!!

All important t20i series against NZ

 

[PakPremi]

Pak did well against Australia and New Zealand albeit in UAE, so good chance they can continue the good show. Squad is better this time but Fakhar needs to fire and Babar needs to score big as well.

 

[The Viper]

Pak did well against Australia and New Zealand albeit in UAE, so good chance they can continue the good show. Squad is better this time but Fakhar needs to fire and Babar needs to score big as well.

Tbf though in UAE spinners have an added advantage. Guys like Shadab probably won't do as well here.

 

[Abdullah]

That might even be possible as South African batting is suspect to collapses.

I've said this before, but I'm not interested in results .
If I was interested in results I would hope Pak wins every toss and bats first.that puts us in the best place to put SA batting under stress and trigger a couple of collapses, as you suggest.
But actually I want us to chase 320 2 to 3 times. That's the test we really need before July

 

[Markhor]

I've said this before, but I'm not interested in results .
If I was interested in results I would hope Pak wins every toss and bats first.that puts us in the best place to put SA batting under stress and trigger a couple of collapses, as you suggest.
But actually I want us to chase 320 2 to 3 times. That's the test we really need before July

Good luck doing that with Imam, Hafeez, Malik and Sarfraz occupying four out of the top six batting slots.

The sooner the think tank realise this the better.

 

[Abdullah]

Good luck doing that with Imam, Hafeez, Malik and Sarfraz occupying four out of the top six batting slots.

The sooner the think tank realise this the better.

Shan
Fakhar
Babar
Sarfaraz
Malik
Hafeez

If they play in that order there is a chance, but we will have hafeez at 4 and sarfaraz at 6

 

[MMHS]

Shan
Fakhar
Babar
Sarfaraz
Malik
Hafeez

If they play in that order there is a chance, but we will have hafeez at 4 and sarfaraz at 6

NO Chance.

Teams will pick 4.5 pacers and won't given anything to drive - 125KM is enough; "tundler" Soumya actually exposed the hitting capability of PAK middle order on a low-slow surface. Hafeez should have played that No. 6 role 8 years back when he was in mid 30s (at least could have done better than scooping Munaf Patel as opener), now in 40s he is useless with bat, ball & fielding.

 

[Abdullah]

NO Chance.

Teams will pick 4.5 pacers and won't given anything to drive - 125KM is enough; "tundler" Soumya actually exposed the hitting capability of PAK middle order on a low-slow surface. Hafeez should have played that No. 6 role 8 years back when he was in mid 30s (at least could have done better than scooping Munaf Patel as opener), now in 40s he is useless with bat, ball & fielding.

Think Vs the best teams,
Adil Rashid and moeen Ali will bowl a lot from overs 20-35
Same with India and kuldeep\chahal
That is the time sarfaraz needs to be in and manouevre the field around with his dabs and sweeps.
He is useless at number 6/7 as a hitter at the death.
Out of the lot we have picked , hafeez is best for the 6 spot. I would have kept Asif there personally.

 

[MMHS]

Think Vs the best teams,
Adil Rashid and moeen Ali will bowl a lot from overs 20-35
Same with India and kuldeep\chahal
That is the time sarfaraz needs to be in and manouevre the field around with his dabs and sweeps.
He is useless at number 6/7 as a hitter at the death.
Out of the lot we have picked , hafeez is best for the 6 spot. I would have kept Asif there personally.

The bold part was true 2 years back; the italic part is true for every position now. Sarfraz made a hundred in ENG from like 2/2 and chased 300 in last game - that guy is totally different from this crouching batsman these days. In NZ, he was troubled by their spinners in 60 metre grounds.

Only chance is to bring back Umar & hope that he delivers better than last 2 WCs.

 

[Abdullah]

The bold part was true 2 years back; the italic part is true for every position now. Sarfraz made a hundred in ENG from like 2/2 and chased 300 in last game - that guy is totally different from this crouching batsman these days. In NZ, he was troubled by their spinners in 60 metre grounds.

Only chance is to bring back Umar & hope that he delivers better than last 2 WCs.

No he has had 2 WCs . Let him miss this 1

 

[Hasan123]

Other than the CT I don't think we have done anything amazing in ODIs. Winning against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe B is expected.


We have 15 games before the WC to get the right combination, unfortunately PCB and Inzi will waste it by selecting misfits.

 

[Chokli]

The bold part was true 2 years back; the italic part is true for every position now. Sarfraz made a hundred in ENG from like 2/2 and chased 300 in last game - that guy is totally different from this crouching batsman these days. In NZ, he was troubled by their spinners in 60 metre grounds.

Only chance is to bring back Umar & hope that he delivers better than last 2 WCs.

do you think captaincy has effected his batting?

 

[giri26]

I think he is combining T20I's as well when he says white ball cricket. What is said is right in that sense as Pakistan win T20I series in NZ 2-1, beat Australia in the finals of the tri-series in Zimbabwe but again ODI results have been poor. Loss in Asia cup, 5-0 loss to NZ, etc. They beat New Zealand once last year which is their only win against a top 5 team. Their wins came against Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.

 

[MMHS]

do you think captaincy has effected his batting?

Partially, but the mistake is on PCB - they appointed a player captain based on a purple patch. What we are watching is Sarfraz’s normal level; but he had 2-3 tremendous years and lucky for him that PAK played lots of games in that patch, therefore his weighted average stats are better than the player he is. Also, his work load as WK, age & fitness as player, expectations as Captain has worked adversely.

Captaincy has fuelled his decline at a faster rate, because he is not a natural leader under pressure, rather someone comfortable within own circle & when things are going smooth. And, he is not a natural hard worker - Captaincy has given him assurance, which affected with work ethics negatively - Imran increased his work load as Captain significantly (which was the main reason of that stress fracture), so that he can lead from the front with both bat & ball; he was made Captain at 29 and his numbers jumped exponentially as Captain.... it was opposite for Sarfraz. Without the burden of Captaincy his numbers would have been better for sure, but he would have been dropped long before to make it count.

Overall, a befitting Captain for the team - like Captain, like team & like player - everyone is looking for the ticks in the boxes that ensure their next game.

 

[Abdullah]

The bold part was true 2 years back; the italic part is true for every position now. Sarfraz made a hundred in ENG from like 2/2 and chased 300 in last game - that guy is totally different from this crouching batsman these days. In NZ, he was troubled by their spinners in 60 metre grounds.

Only chance is to bring back Umar & hope that he delivers better than last 2 WCs.

Other thing is, sarfaraz has stopped batting 4/5 since that England tour to accommodate hafeez. Hafeez came back and started batting 4 with Malik 5.
He needs to return to that position has it maximises his potential output

 

[Hitman]

Other than the CT I don't think we have done anything amazing in ODIs. Winning against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe B is expected.


We have 15 games before the WC to get the right combination, unfortunately PCB and Inzi will waste it by selecting misfits.

What's next after the ODI series in SA?

 

[Amjid Javed]

I think both our coach, captain and Malik need to realize difference between T20s and ODIs.

T20s we are a good side, ODIs we are a minnow side like W.I and S.L

The 5-0 loss to NZ and Asia cup flop seem to be conveniently forgotten!

 

[Mamoon]

What's next after the ODI series in SA?

5 ODIs vs Australia in the UAE, 5 ODIs vs England in England and then the World Cup.

In other words, we will be completely battered and bruised by the time the World Cup ends.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

5 ODIs vs Australia in the UAE, 5 ODIs vs England in England and then the World Cup.

In other words, we will be completely battered and bruised by the time the World Cup ends.

Or we could win the World Cup by "another fluke".

 

[Mamoon]

Or we could win the World Cup by "another fluke".

Flukes don’t happen frequently. If the team embarks on another run of 4-5 successive wins and wins the World Cup, it will not be a fluke.

 

[Hasan123]

What's next after the ODI series in SA?

5 ODIs versus Australia in the UAE. 5 ODIs vs England before the World Cup.

 

[hadi123]

Away from home. Winning a series against a Zimbabwe B team is not doing well. We got humiliated in NZ. In T20I's we have done well away from home but not in ODI's. Let's see what we have learnt from the 5-0 whitewash in NZ.