Where should Mohammad Hafeez bat in the current ODI batting lineup?

[The intelligent Supporter]

Whether we like it or not, the Professor is back. We could hope for good results with him bowling against Aussie left handed batsmen but where do we fit him in our batting line up?

He would love to play opener but the spots are pretty much taken by Azhar and Sahrjeel . one down is another position he would love to play in but we need to give extended run to Babar there seeing his recent performances.

Where should he fit in? Should he be batting at 7 before Malik or little higher at 5 or 6?

 

[Justcrazy]

He should play as a bowling all rounder at 6 - 7

 

[jog_1]

6.

Either Malik should play or him, not both.

 

[Syed1]

Poor Babar will be shifted to number four or dispatched to the bench.

In Pakistan cricket you make way for 'seniors' even if these senior aren't fit to polish your shoes.

 

[fazleefridi]

Realistically

3.Babar
4.Hafeez
5.Malik
6.Akmal
7.Sarfraz
8.Imad
9,10,11: 3 seamers

Poor sarfi and imad would be demoted.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

If he bats then it has to be 6. If he dislodges Babar or Sharjeels position then as I said before, I'm done. It's time Umar gets a chance in the top 4 too. Highest hafeez should bat is 5

 

[Justcrazy]

Hafeez is useless , it makes no sense in Playing hafeez , Imad and Malik in same team , pakistan need to groom pace bowling all rounder for CT , Pathetic decision.

 

[jeetu]

No higher than No.7.

 

[Syed1]

Inzi is beginning to show why he was such a useless captain near the end of his term

 

[Ellipsism]

Inzi is beginning to show why he was such a useless captain near the end of his term

When Hafeez was sent on request by Mickey the revolutionary, how is that Inzi's fault? Shouldn't Mickey be held accountable?

Inzi provided what the coach and captain desired...

 

[JibranAnsari]

Azhar
sharjeel
Babar
Hafeez
Malik
Sarfraz
Imad
Amir
Wahab
Hasan
Rahat

I think this will be the team for first odi



Hafeez is our new number 4.

 

[Madplayer]

In the nets

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Nowhere

 

[Hasan123]

Should be watching at home but if he's in the squad he should bat at 6.

 

[hadi123]

Number 4, can not dislodge our best batsman Babar Azam from number 3 but he probs will unfortunately

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Number 6.

 

[Hamza_]

Yes, At #6 instead of Rizwan. Malik is not comfortable anywhere below #5, So better keep him at #4 and Sarfraz has done well at #5 so it's better to keep him there. Only place which isn't occupied is #6 where Rizwan had been batting.

 

[Hamza_]

Anyways Hafeez is not a long term option. Hopefully he is dropped once and for all.

 

[Afridi14]

Where's should hafeez bat?

Number 12. The guy has no right on a cricket field other than hand the drinks out to others... joke player

 

[Hawkeye]

Number 6.

Can be a great option there. A potential match winner. Enough of Nawaz rubbish. But Umar needs to play somewhere too, a must.

Imad isn't a great option either and we need to replace him with a good hitter.

 

[moghul]

12th man.

 

[MMHS]

He should bat at 3 & Babar carrying drinks.

 

[cricketerB94]

Azhar
Sharjeel
Babar
Malik
Sarfraz
Hafeez
Akmal
Imad
Amir
Hasan
Irfan

 

[Pakprideuk]

This would be my XI for the first ODI:

1. Azhar (c)
2. Sharjeel
3. Babar/ Umar
4. Malik
5. Sarfraz
6. Hafeez
7. Imad
8. Hasan
9. Wahab
10. Rahat Ali
11. Irfan

Although I believe players shouldn't be dropped based on performances in another format, Babar looked extremely frustrated and clueless when he got out. You could see on it his face. A rest might do him well actually for the first two ODIs and I would therefore bring Umar Akmal to play at 3. If he fails, Babar can come back in for the next three ODIs.

Also with this squad we have 4 fast bowlers and two spinners, which gives us more options. I think we need to go with our wicket taking bowlers and although Rahat hasn't impressed in the test matches, he bowled pretty well in the 2015 world cup.

Azhar must ensure he goes to pick up wickets because containment will never be an option. I'd rather Australia all out for 280 in 35 then have Australia at 330-4.

 

[Kianig89]

No. 9 below Amir where can slog a few

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Can be a great option there. A potential match winner. Enough of Nawaz rubbish. But Umar needs to play somewhere too, a must.

Imad isn't a great option either and we need to replace him with a good hitter.

Umar should play at number 5. If he does well in first 3 matches and if Malik (God forbid) fails at number 4 than Umar can be promoted to his favourite number ie number 4. But firstly he has to prrform at 5.

Hafeez at 6 will be fine and will give us 10 overs. Australia will have atleast 4 left handers so playing 2 left arm spinners Nawaz & Imad in the playing eleven would have been bad idea even otherwise I am not in favour of having 2 left arm spinners in playing eleven.

 

[MMHS]

Azhar
Sharjeel
Babar
Malik
Sarfraz
Hafeez
Akmal
Imad
Amir
Hasan
Irfan

More or less same XI should play in a bit different order. MoHa is not going to bat at 6 - he'll open or come at 3. And, I believe they'll play Wahab for Hasan - unless he hits another hundred, he'll remain there for 4/5 matches.

 

[NauV]

I would be incredibly surprised if Mickey Arthur pushes Babar down the order after his exploits in the last ODI series we played.

There is no way Sharjeel or Azhar Ali are going down the order either . .

So that means the eternal scapegoat/mover is on the verge of moving again . . Shoaib Malik.
Sarfaraz has done exceptionally at number 5 plus he doesn't have the firepower to bat any lower in an ODI.

So for me Hafeez's match up is between him and Mohammad Nawaz . .
Now both of them will go for plenty of runs . . cuz Australia will plunder plenty . . The question is who is better adept at batting at number 7 . . My answer will definitely be Hafeez. Hence my team would be:

Sharjeel
Azhar
Babar
Shoaib Malik
Sarfaraz
Hafeez
Rizwan/Umar Akmal (I'd play Umar but would be unfair to drop Rizwan yet)
Imad Wasim
Amir
Hasan Ali
Wahab

Azhar, Hafeez and Shoaib Malik share 10 overs

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Should bat at 7, hopefully team mangament do this instead of distributing a settled top order. THis is a test for Azhar and Micky's guts and also a test on Professors ego.


Overall though is a bad development that paves the way for the likes of Afridi and Kamran to return.

Expected nothing less from AZhar then to run to seniors, but i expected far more from Mickey.




1. Azhar
2. Sharjeel
3. Babar
4. Sarfraz
5. Malik
6. Umar
7. Professor
8. Imad
9. Amir
10. Hasan Ali
11. Irfan/Wahab

 

[wicketpace]

6 or 7

 

[Rafay Shafiq]

In my opinion, rather 4 fast bowlers, have 3 fast and 2 spinners Imad and nawaz. Take risk with spinners

 

[cricketerB94]

More or less same XI should play in a bit different order. MoHa is not going to bat at 6 - he'll open or come at 3. And, I believe they'll play Wahab for Hasan - unless he hits another hundred, he'll remain there for 4/5 matches.

That is up to Micky. This is going to be a real test of his coaching. He has to take some bold decisions like playing Hafeez down the order, choice between Imad and Nawaz, choice between Wahab and Hasan and giving all five matches to Babar at no.3.

 

[WC-Passion]

12th

 

[Abdullah719]

Ideally the bench. If he plays, 7.

 

[SARJ_BD]

What was Umar's performance in recent Domestic cricket?

If he bats then it has to be 6. If he dislodges Babar or Sharjeels position then as I said before, I'm done. It's time Umar gets a chance in the top 4 too. Highest hafeez should bat is 5

 

[MMHS]

Azhar, SK, Babar, MoHa, Umar, Malik, Sarfu, Imad, Amir, Hasan & Irfan will be my order.

If PAK is to win an ODI, it's probably in first 2/3 matches - after that, I don't think two legs will be enough to carry most of the players. 3 ODI in AUS is like 3 seasons of that dynamic Corporate league; hence, I'll be happy if all 15 can return back walking on own feet.

 

[Stallion__]

Forget his form and domestic performances, this dude is disturbing the balance of the team.

 

[Speedster777]

He's a walking wicket so doesn't matter where you place him he'll be a failure.

 

[Moe]

Someone add a number 12 option

 

[KhalidRafi]

6 or 7. Because I just don't see him succeeding as a top order batsman at all. It's obvious that he's in the squad for his bowling so should concentrate on that the most.

1. Azhar
2. Sharjeel
3. Babar
4. Malik
5. Sarfraz
6. Hafeez
7. Akmal/ Rizwan
8. Imad
9. Amir
10. Wahab
11. Junaid/ Hasan

 

[KhalidRafi]

Azhar
sharjeel
Babar
Hafeez
Malik
Sarfraz
Imad
Amir
Wahab
Hasan
Rahat

I think this will be the team for first odi



Hafeez is our new number 4.

Needs more depth in batting. Without someone like Rizwan or Akmal who can score runs quickly towards the latter part of the innings I doubt we'll be able to put up a competitive score against the Aussies.

 

[godzilla]

odd choice from mickey, who is looking more and more like a far weaker linkn in the chain than inzi.

hafeez has to be a back up for one of the spinning alrounder spots so i suppose he will be back up - he cant play ahead of imad or nawaz, surely, given how poor his batting form, and unproven his remodelled action.

i think theyll go ahead with three spinners and three pacers, otherwise they risk too little batting with playing all of wahab (bona fida number 11), junaid (bona find anumber 11), hassan (bona fida number 10), amir (number 8/9)

so i reckon:

1. sharjeel
2. azhar
3. babar (lets hope hes not mentally shot after his predictable fall from grace)
4. malik (suspect he will fail to the shorter ball, seemed exposed in the big bash a couple of years ago)
5. sarfraz
6. ukmal (lets see if he can walk the talk his bog mouth constantly brays)
7. imad
8. nawaz (too early to judge him, but looks out of depth)
9. amir
10. hussain
11. wahab (australia is the only place he can bowl so has to play)

one thing its probably uncontroversial to say is that its clear in modern one day cricket that the strategy for player selection and play is almost identical to t20 - the english players interviewed during our one day series there pretty much said as much.

pakistan even though poor in the format have been showing some improvement, and they have ben inducting some t20 talent. i suspect it will be another whitewash but we might see some encouraging signs.

 

[in_cutter]

Hopefully in the nets.

Sickening that he has been selected again.

 

[ahmedb069]

He should bat at number three.1 sharjeel . 2 azhar-3 hafeez- 4 baber- 5 sarfraz - 6 malik - 7 akmal - 8 imad - 9 wahab- 10 amir - 11 hasan/junaid

 

[Watsupdoc]

In a recent interview I think Malik mentioned that he's been told that he'll be batting at 4.

So Hafeez should prolly come in at 5 or more ideally at 6.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Needs more depth in batting. Without someone like Rizwan or Akmal who can score runs quickly towards the latter part of the innings I doubt we'll be able to put up a competitive score against the Aussies.

Imad is pretty capable of hitting some boundaries , plus he can bowl as well. Akmal always succumbs under pressure and rizwan is no good.

 

[Major]

to the people who voted for no.6 and 7. Please watch a highlight of a match where hafeez got injured and had to bat at the lower order when he returned. He couldnt bat.

Openers are specialist. You have different footwork and reflexes for opening. An openercant bat at lower order.

Really difficult job

 

[ask_analyse_act]

very imp is hafeez plays shouldnt stand in slips..

It is hafeez vs rizwan or hafeez vs nawaz here...

 

[Abdullah719]

to the people who voted for no.6 and 7. Please watch a highlight of a match where hafeez got injured and had to bat at the lower order when he returned. He couldnt bat.

Openers are specialist. You have different footwork and reflexes for opening. An openercant bat at lower order.

Really difficult job

So we should drop Sharjeel to accommodate him?

He's primarily been picked for his off-spin anyway.

 

[Abdullah719]

Just to contribute some context to this thread - Hafeez has batted only 6 times at #4 or below in his 177 ODIs.

I wonder what will happen.

a. We disrupt our top three of Azhar, Sharjeel, Babar.
b. Hafeez is forced to accept a lower spot in the batting order.
c. Hafeez carries the drinks.

 

[Rayyman]

Just to contribute some context to this thread - Hafeez has batted only 6 times at #4 or below in his 177 ODIs.

I wonder what will happen.

a. We disrupt our top three of Azhar, Sharjeel, Babar.
b. Hafeez is forced to accept a lower spot in the batting order.
c. Hafeez carries the drinks.

I want b or c, but Hafeez wants a.

 

[Major]

So we should drop Sharjeel to accommodate him?

He's primarily been picked for his off-spin anyway.

hes an opener, at most he could bat at 1 down. But to say that he should bat at no.6 thats just ridiculous

 

[MMHS]

So we should drop Sharjeel to accommodate him?

He's primarily been picked for his off-spin anyway.

I have the solution in my 1st post - drop Babar & play MoHa at 3. Babar has failed in 3 Tests at 3, while Malik & Sarfy are senior, experienced & Umar is specialist No. 6, where Babar can't play.

Before Arthur joined, my standard suggestion was to put Babar at 7, so that he can win Larke Lenge style - may be now, we have to go back to that strategy again; since PAK has lost 0-3, so Micky 'll maintain a low profile while dealing with seniors & unfit BUT stars.

 

[Rayyman]

hes an opener, at most he could bat at 1 down. But to say that he should bat at no.6 thats just ridiculous

The team will not be changed just to accommodate "the Professor." The only place available is 6 or 7.

 

[Square Drive]

#7 or nothing.

I'd actually love it if he could play at #7. Would be a real asset to the side, even if it means Nawaz has to wait for 1-2 years before getting his spot back.

 

[Haz95]

to the people who voted for no.6 and 7. Please watch a highlight of a match where hafeez got injured and had to bat at the lower order when he returned. He couldnt bat.

Openers are specialist. You have different footwork and reflexes for opening. An openercant bat at lower order.

Really difficult job

Very true. Hafeez has an immaculate judgement of his stumps and lightening fast footwork as he clearly showed when he hammered Pakistan's maiden ODI double century vs Steyn in his back yard.

Would be suicide for Pakistan if he's batting any lower than 3!

 

[Abdullah719]

hes an opener, at most he could bat at 1 down. But to say that he should bat at no.6 thats just ridiculous

Please tell me which of the top 3 he should replace.

 

[Major]

The team will not be changed just to accommodate "the Professor." The only place available is 6 or 7.

again, hes an opener, whether anyone here likes it or not.

You don't make wahab riaz keep wickets, because he is not a keeper. Same reason here, he is an opener.

 

[Major]

Please tell me which of the top 3 he should replace.

tell me the squad, i dont even follow ODI cricket that much.

 

[Major]

Hafeez has an advantage over everyone, and that his RIGHT ARM offspin.

I will take right arm offspin(with good accuracy) over left arm any time of the day. Point being they are more effective. Ball comes in, you have to play it, you get a chance for your LBW. And plus Hafeez is very good against lefties aswell.

DUe to his effectiveness, i would play hafeez

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

He needs to play as finisher with Shoaib. Why doesn't he understand at his age he needs to take responsibility and take on the pressure finishing the game. Hafeez at no.5 who can average 34 with 90+ I can tolerate.

He needs to realise that he can be more effective in the lower middle order and be in a situation where 150 is required for last 20 overs and chase it down. Would be so much better than watching him make a pretty 32 as opener. That 32 in the dying overs of an innings can be crucial in the lower order.

Hafeez is competing with Umar Akmal for Rizwan slot. Rizwan should be dropped, nowhere near good enough and Nawaz is not good enough with the bat. This would be my batting order:

Sharjeel
Azhar
Babar
Malik
Hafeez
Umar Akmal
Sarfraz
Imad
Amir
Wahab
Hasan Ali

 

[shaz619]

At number 12

 

[Rayyman]

again, hes an opener, whether anyone here likes it or not.

You don't make wahab riaz keep wickets, because he is not a keeper. Same reason here, he is an opener.

Wahab Riaz is not a keeper, but a bowler and he still bats. Hafeez is an all-rounder so he bats and bowls. He isn't a specialist opener either. His technique is terrible.

 

[Major]

Wahab Riaz is not a keeper, but a bowler and he still bats. Hafeez is an all-rounder so he bats and bowls. He isn't a specialist opener either. His technique is terrible.

hafeez is an opening batsmen. You could give him tags of allrounder or whatever, but he is an opening batsmen.

 

[Rayyman]

hafeez is an opening batsmen. You could give him tags of allrounder or whatever, but he is an opening batsmen.

Not against two new balls.

 

[ads101]

Don't really support Hafeez down the order. Not worth it, we already have people like in Imad to do that job. Give them a chane. Plus Hafeez doesn't have much experience at that sort of position. Hafeez has experience opening or middle order, but low order/hitter at the end, don't see it.

Only way that Hafeez really can add to the side theoretically is if we choose to play 7 batsman (including Umar) and Imad as our spinner at 8. Then Hafeez, Malik, Azhar make up the 10 overs, and we bat till 8. But in these conditions, think we'll need the extra bowler. So I wouldn't play Hafeez in the team in the Australian ODIs. Plus also don't see the point as Hafeez isn't in the next WC plans.

 

[ads101]

The team will not be changed just to accommodate "the Professor." The only place available is 6 or 7.

Disagree. Hafeez will bat at three, Babar will bat at four, Sarfraz stay at Five, Malik at 6 and Imad as seven.

Babar will go down to four as he's succeeded there in the past, plus after his terrible test series management might think he might prefer going a place down, less exposed to the new ball.

There is a definite gap of a no.3/no.4 batsman in the team. I'd just have preferred for umar akmal to use it instead.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

If Hafeez plays, he should open with Sharjeel and both should play aggressively.

If an early wicket falls, Azhar can come in to stabilize at 3.

 

[Ilan Bluestone]

Alternate water boy.

 

[kingusama92]

#6 right before the power hitters (i.e. Umar Akmal).

Doesn't deserve a spot in the top three and pushing Azam down to accommodate him would be ridiculous.

 

[Speedster777]

A team of hafeez-malik-rahat would be destroyed by Australia in One days. Hafeez is a buddy of misbah he must have lobbied for his selection that's why misbah did not take any opener with him on these tours to secure a hack like hafeez.

 

[Speedster777]

Amad Butt, Amir Yameen should have been selected instead of this hack.

 

[Abdullah719]

Azhar is the captain.

Sharjeel played well.

Babar's last four innings for Pakistan at #3 in 50-over cricket: 120, 123, 117, 98

Where does the Professor fit in?

 

[MenInG]

Has a pretty good chance of making it in the team, else they wouldnt have flown an extra guy out to Australia

 

[Rayyman]

Has a pretty good chance of making it in the team, else they wouldnt have flown an extra guy out to Australia

Why not play him in the warm-up match then? He was definitely with the team by then.

 

[sshakir411]

on the bench

 

[Abdullah719]

Hafeez promoted above Babar.

 

[badsha001]

Thats what happen in dosti yari... baber scored three consecutive hundreds and now he is demoted to number 4.

 

[Abdullah719]

Thats what happen in dosti yari... baber scored three consecutive hundreds and now he is demoted to number 4.

And 98 in warm-up match.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Hafeez promoted above Babar.

his magical senior powers are clearly needed

pathetic by azhar and micky