When will Pakistan hold the sainted seniors accountable for their failures?

[Markhor]

Pakistan were effectively 58-1 heading into the final session today. The new ball was blunted by the inexperienced top order and the pitch had eased out. All that was needed was calm, sensible cricket. In a situation like this you look to your senior batsmen to take charge.

Yet the trio of Azhar, Asad and Sarfraz all threw their wickets way. It's difficult enough playing against a quality bowling attack in their backyard - yet all three wickets were gifted to them thanks to these jokers.

How many more bottle jobs will they be responsible for ? We saw them fail to finish the job in what were simple run chases in the Abu Dhabi Test vs Sri Lanka and the 1st Test vs NZ. Meanwhile inexperienced players like Babar, Imam, Shan and Shaheen have stepped up for us. Yet our team management and selectors always cry about needing EXPERIENCE.

The story is true in ODIs too. The records of Hafeez, Malik and Sarfraz against nonminnows in 2018 are disgraceful ! Hafeez himself chickened out of the tour before a ball was bowled after failing dismally for five Tests in UAE yet his ODI career will drag on until the World Cup.

When will our culture stop blindly worshipping seniority and hold these players accountable ?

 

[Rayyman]

I think there should be 1-2 seniors (32+) max in the team.

For Tests, Yasir is the only good 30+ player. Azhar, Asad and Sarfraz have all been below average and don't deserve spots in the team. Although I'd keep one of Azhar/Asad there because they are the only decent RHB in Pakistan.

In ODIs, Sarfraz will play, but one of Malik/Hafeez has to go. Preferably Hafeez.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Asad and Sarfraz are dragging the whole team down.

Handicap

 

[Muhammad10]

When will Pakistani selectors swallow their pride and accept that Shafiq was a bad investment? We are still waiting for him to turn a corner after all these years of mediocrity, even though he is just a month away from turning 33.

 

[umerz]

Shambolic display from Asad and Sarfraz. Just throwing away their wickets. Timid

Azhar Ali isnt far away he played a super poor shot too

 

[Kroll]

To hold them accountable would be disrespecting them and we can't have that.

 

[Markhor]

If the selectors don't have the guts to drop at least Shafiq and Sarfraz - then hopefully the South African pacers will leave them no choice after this series.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

OP has a point. Well He is Spot On most of the time barring F Alam thing.


Let the series finish. Let's than judge the performances but Surely if this keeps on happening the entire series than i can see atleast two heads getting chopped. Well dropping 2 out of these 3 would be logical aswell.


I hope and pray that they all score and score meaningful runs. Not One career saving knock of 50 or 100 but consistent runs.

 

[Junaids]

That would be a first.

Misbah failed in 11 of his last 12 Test innings in Australia and New Zealand.

Younis failed in 8 of his last 10 Test innings in Australia and New Zealand, plus 6 of his 7 Test innings in England four months earlier.

Yasir Shah has failed in 7 of his 9 Tests in Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa.

In Pakistan cricket, seniority exempts you from having to achieve anything positive.

 

[786warrior]

Shambolic display from Asad and Sarfraz. Just throwing away their wickets. Timid

Azhar Ali isnt far away he played a super poor shot too

100% agreed! Azhar comes good now and again - shafiq is mentally weak and sarfraz has no place in a cricket team be it test, ODI or T20!

 

[786warrior]

We sacrificed NZ series by carrying Hafeez, Shafiq and Sarfraz.

Now we are going to sacrifice this series courtesy of shafiq and sarfraz.

How many series do we need to get hammered and humiliated in??

 

[Ab Fan]

Azhar is a very good batsmen for this mediocre batting lineup. I just feel he suits best in the top 3. At 4, you are asking him to be more dynamic and I believe there are better batters for Pakistan at that position.

Asad and Sarfaraz have to go. Drop Asad and force Sarfaraz to give up his captaincy.

 

[CricketDon]

No. It’s the under 28 year old faults.

Never ever is is Asad, Azhar, Sarfraz. How do you speak such words.

 

[Zaz]

the pressures well and truly on

unless these two pull the rabbits out of the hat and help pakistan win a test or two with their bat both shafiq and sarfraz positions in the test team cant be justified

 

[Hasan123]

They never will be . Shafiq and Sarfraz should be dropped after this series. Azhar should stay but another significant drop in form and he can join Shafiq and Sarfraz.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Azhar has been poor overall since MisYou retired, but he was the top scorer for Pakistan against NZ. He looked in form in the first innings as well. He displayed poor technique when he got out today.

Asad has been mediocre for the last 8 years. He is highly inconsistent and a liability more often than not.

Sarfaraz's case is even worse. Apart from his purple patch in 2014,he hasn't scored many runs. A fifty every few games and a quick cameo here and there. He seems to get worse with each innings. Captaincy and wicketkeeping in all 3 forms is too much responsibility for him.

You know things are bad when your Captain and Vice-Captain are the worst players in the lineup.

 

[Ab Fan]

If Harris is fit for next test, I would like to see below XI: -

Imam
Azhar
Shan
Harris
Babar
Fakhar
Sarfaraz(wkt)
Faheem/Yasir(depending on conditions)
Amir
Hasan
Shaheen

Fakhar just doesn't make the cut as an opener in SA conditions for me.With Philander return, he will make things harder only for him. He has to bat down the order at 6 there. I would like to see Azhar back at the top and that should be his spot(top 3).

 

[Green Patriot]

What boggles me is how do the seniors face the juniors after these woeful performances especially when the latter has been holding the team together while the former hides behind them.It must be such a shameful and embarrassing feat.You can not even command their respect let alone advise or benefit them.Disgraceful.

 

[Markhor]

What boggles me is how do the seniors face the juniors after these woeful performances especially when the latter has been holding the team together while the former hides behind them.It must be such a shameful and embarrassing feat.You can not even command their respect let alone advise or benefit them.Disgraceful.

Wait until the ODI series when our other two seniors Hafeez and Malik get shown up by SAF pacers with no spinners to feast on.

 

[hadi123]

I have been a Shafiq fan but I'm really frustrated at him. Pathetic dismissal, that too after having a review overturned. Should have made the most of that. Him getting out triggered the collapse.