Which format(s) should Ihsanullah play for Pakistan?

[MenInG]

He has been wonderful in T20 games but he has also played FC and List A

Given his skills, which formats should he play for Pakistan in?

Should he become a T20 specialist where he comes in and bowls express pace for 4 overs or should Pakistan use him for the 50 overs and Tests also?

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[Rana]

Don’t think he is fit enough for home Tests

 

[reversehook]

if they want to max him out, then no point playing this 27/28 yr old late bloomer into test side and just keep him in the odis and t20s to get 7-8 years out of him... if they want only 2-4 yrs out of him then throw him into test squad too, coz with that workload, he will get injured, lose speed faster, prob get remodeled bowling action by some genius, etc etc...

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

if they want to max him out, then no point playing this 27/28 yr old late bloomer into test side and just keep him in the odis and t20s to get 7-8 years out of him... if they want only 2-4 yrs out of him then throw him into test squad too, coz with that workload, he will get injured, lose speed faster, prob get remodeled bowling action by some genius, etc etc...

He needs more FC cricket to be properly effective in tests. He’s an asset and I’d carefully manage his minutes.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

The lad got a deal in the 100 on the back of one PSL season.

On one side of the scale he has fame, money, glory and playing infront of packed houses, on the other he has phattas in Pindi.

Let him stick to the short formats.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

The lad got a deal in the 100 on the back of one PSL season.

On one side of the scale he has fame, money, glory and playing infront of packed houses, on the other he has phattas in Pindi.

Let him stick to the short formats.

The lad’s actually gone through some hard times. Lost his home in the floods and had to rebuild his life from scratch.

Thus you want him to maximise his earnings potential. However, MashAllah there’s such a huge ceiling there, in what he could do in tests. But he needs to be developed properly and his minutes managed to absolute precision.

 

[Rana]

I think he needs to be a horses for courses fast bowler.

He’s an absolute must for SENA Tests

No point wasting his energy or wearing him out on pointless flat tracks at home, unless it’s against WI, SL and Bangladesh

 

[proud_pakistani]

only white ball. I havent really seen him swing the ball. Most of his wickets are due to bounce and pace which is why he is only suitable for shorter formats.

 

[Kianig89]

Only T20s let him earn some $$$ via mercenary route

 

[shaz619]

Issue with the PCB has always been that they feel a fast bowler should play each and every game, each and every format. Players oblige because they are not financially secured and unlike others, are rarely in a position to pick and choose.

Pakistan don’t have the vision to invest in their talent like a professional set up, they think more about lining up their own pockets first and the team / future prospects second.

This is precisely why a Pakistan fast bowler who has made his debut this century, is yet to take 200 Test wickets.

I am concerned for this bloke and especially Shaheen given his handling.

When you work with such novices, you can’t trust them given how your future earnings potential will be hindered. Ihsanullah should focus on T20’s and franchise cricket until management get their act together and create astute development plans which protect fast bowlers on and off the pitch.

 

[shamaan]

In SENA tours he is an absolute must.
In asain conditions he should not be picked.

 

[Saj]

It's going to be interesting to see what PCB's plans are for him.

He's only played a few first-class and List A matches so it's early days in terms of what he can do in these formats.

It looks like T20s is his best format at the moment, but the temptation is going to be to play him in Tests in the likes of Australia and South Africa.

 

[gazza619]

I think he needs to be a horses for courses fast bowler.

He’s an absolute must for SENA Tests

No point wasting his energy or wearing him out on pointless flat tracks at home, unless it’s against WI, SL and Bangladesh

We do need to go in with 5 proper bowlers home and away so that guys like Ihsanullah can be used in short bursts.

 

[hafizexpress]

He should play all 3 formats but very selectively and restrictively. Definitely no tests in Pakistan.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

All format player easily

 

[Amjid Javed]

Needs atleast 2 full seasons of 1st class cricket and also maybe playing County cricket in UK before been looked at as a proper red ball cricket. For now he he's just a white ball cricketer.

 

[Titan24]

Tests in SENA as well as home if pitches get better and as he gets more polished (Had a decent QAE 2022), ODIs against top sides and T20Is only where required on condition that his workload is being managed.

The advantage of having quite a few decent quicks is that the workload of premier pacers (Ihsanullah seems to be going in that category with current trajectory) can be managed in a way that they are in their best shape for Test cricket and other important series or tournaments.

 

[Titan24]

Needs atleast 2 full seasons of 1st class cricket and also maybe playing County cricket in UK before been looked at as a proper red ball cricket. For now he he's just a white ball cricketer.

Issue with Pak pacers that get selected for the whiteball setup of the national team is that they are rarely available for domestic red ball cricket as they are mostly travelling with the national team or are playing leagues. So unless this is sorted either be expanding the red ball season, increasing the number of matches or planning in such a way that these upcoming pacers can develop red ball skills there doesn't seem to be much option to develop decent pacers for red ball cricket.

 

[davethebrave]

Any format, once he’s stopped trying to copy Umar Gul’s bowling action.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

Any format, once he’s stopped trying to copy Umar Gul’s bowling action.

Perhaps it’s his own bowling action and it’s similarity more than imitation?

 

[davethebrave]

No it isn’t. I saw him bowl a while back and the adaptations that have arisen are somewhat new, probably as he’s working with Gul.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Issue with Pak pacers that get selected for the whiteball setup of the national team is that they are rarely available for domestic red ball cricket as they are mostly travelling with the national team or are playing leagues. So unless this is sorted either be expanding the red ball season, increasing the number of matches or planning in such a way that these upcoming pacers can develop red ball skills there doesn't seem to be much option to develop decent pacers for red ball cricket.

Excellent point you have brought up, this is where PCB need to handle such players in right way so that they are getting a balance of white ball and red ball games. PCB need to be organising more shaheen Tours with 4 day games. We have to many T20 or ODI bowlers who simply are not ready for test cricket. We end up with a scenario like Rauf or wasim Jnr plating tests and they are either not fit enough or simply not good enough to play longer format.

 

[Kianig89]

For Test matches in SENA to succeed one need to have assimilation with conditions for this he needs to play some cricket in that region

 

[TeymurBlake]

I would keep him in T20's only. I would want him to have some FC & LA experience before he is tried in the other formats.

But he is a serious bowler, no doubt.

 

[Firebat]

Definitely needs to be in ODI plans for this year's WC

 

[moghul]

With so much money involved in T20 cricket, you can't stop anyone , particularly the player like Ihsannulah who such is a hot commodity , stop from playing T20 cricket . Ideally he should be groomed for test cricket but Pakistan team doesn't care much about test cricket anymore.

He will be an all format bowler, just like Shaheen for many years to come and that will shorten his career. He also might not be able to learn the art of a complete fast bowler which you can learn only in longer format.

 

[Pakhs]

Play in T20s and slowly progressing towards ODIs and then once he has a few good FC seasons Tests.

 

[da_don]

our fast bowlers should play all formats but in rotation policy so all get equal rest
shaheen
naseem
haris rauf
ehsanullah
dahani
a afridi
mhd wasim
hasnain
enough bowlers to keep a rotation policy active

 

[JAV12341]

Play him in ODI and test only

 

[topspin]

Should be an automatic selection for Pakistan's first team in the ODI WC later this year.

In tests, he's a must for Australia and South Africa tests at the very least.

 

[moghul]

our fast bowlers should play all formats but in rotation policy so all get equal rest
shaheen
naseem
haris rauf
ehsanullah
dahani
a afridi
mhd wasim
hasnain
enough bowlers to keep a rotation policy active

Well said.

 

[JibranAnsari]

He hasnt played enough FC cricket for his actual age , good idea is to play him in only LOIs or we will lose him to injuries.

 

[sabre1486]

we have to prioritize him playing in away Aus and SA series, he's a little unique in pakistan express pacers is that he is tall and gets lift, if he can figure out the right lengths in australia especially we might win a test or two.

 

[daytrader]

Ihsanullah has been selected for ODIs for the New Zealand series. He bowls a mean short ball and could be just the X factor we need in the upcoming ODI WC.

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[MenInG]

Speaking to the media

"Shoaib Akhtar is our legend and nobody can break his record. I will try to bowl fast alongside working on good line and length"

"I try to grab every given opportunity. I aim to perform according to my strength and win matches for my team"

"I am working with Umar Gul and trying to learn from him as much as I can."

Ihsanullah on what he said to Najibullah Zadran after hitting him on the jaw with his delivery.

"I went to him and said sorry in Pushto"

 

[MenInG]

At this point ANY format will do given he is not being selected at all!

 

[Rana]

The guy needs to be able to field

 

[Saj]

I would just play him in white ball formats at the moment. Don't even think about playing him in Test cricket.

 

[pakistani pride]

ODIs only. With the WC this year they should get him ready for the ODI WC.

 

[Firebat]

Wait for the Australia tour to pass before trying him in Tests. Would wreck his confidence.

 

[reversehook]

so far he is doing amazing in the BENCH format... its a no brainer to give the guy a go... but we will muck this one up too as per usual...