Which players should be rested and which ones should be tried in the LOI series vs Zimbabwe?

[Titan24]

So Zimbabwe is coming to Pakistan and I think the tour can be used to try out some bench strength and performers. Going with the usual suspects would serve no purpose but, with Pak management we shouldnt be surprised if we see a full strength team.

In my opinion all the players who management knows what they can do and have been playing regularly should be given rest. While some youngsters at that point of time should be playing QAE 2020.

I will rest the following:

Fakhar Zaman
Imad Wasim
Haris Sohail
Mohammad Amir
Wahab Riaz
Iftikhar Ahmed
Shaheen Shah Afridi

One can argue to rest Shadab as well. Also double minded on whether Naseem should focus on not missing a single FC game or its time for him to taste the LOIs.

Squad which I think should be tried:

Umer Amin (Was outstanding as opener for Northern in T20s)/ Sharjeel Khan (If his fitness has improved)
Imam Ul Haq
Babar Azam (C)
Saud Shakeel
Haider Ali
Shadab Khan
Mohammad Rizwan (WK) (We already know his ability so down the order)
Aamir Yamin/ Amad Butt
Zafar Gohar
Usman Shinwari
Zia Ul Haq

Bench (Depending upon the size of squad):

Sharjeel Khan (Depending upon fitness)
Raza Hassan
Amad Butt
Khushdil Shah
Ehsan Adil
Hussain Talat


Shaheen, Naseem should focus on the QAE trophy. Same is the case with other pacers like Rauf, Hasnain, Musa etc. Shadab can also be rested and there are enough players to cover for him.

 

[MenInG]

I would imagine people will be lining up for this series!

 

[Markhor]

I'll be honest, Zimbabwe are not in a fit state to play international cricket right now. Their new president is just as crooked as the old one, and they don't have any quality youngsters coming through.

Pakistan should play a reserve team, but knowing our bunch we'll go 100% full strength.

 

[Hasan123]

Hopefully Haider Ali plays all the games. Misbah has dropped batters before for showing flair.

Wouldn't mind seeing Shaheen rested. Also would be nice to try a new spinner out. We can also experiment with a new keeper maybe for the T20s as Sarfraz is too old to be a back up and probably not good enough anymore.

 

[sweep_shot]

Hafeez should be rested. Give youngsters chances.

Naseem should get a chance. Amir should be rested.

 

[Rayyman]

I like ur squad but I would make a few changes. Amin is an accumulator while Pakistan can only afford Babar in that role. Zia, Raza and Ehsan have not performed enough in Domestic LO to warrant international selection.

Combined 17 man squad for both series: Babar (c), Imad (vc), Imam, Fakhar, Haider, Saud, Khushdil, Rizwan+, Sarfraz+, Talat, Butt, Zafar, Nawaz, Amir, Hasnain, Shinwari, Rauf

Bring in Saud, Zafar and Talat for ODIs. And Butt for T20Is. Let Shaheen and Shadab play 1st-class cricket.

ODIs: Imam, Fakhar, Babar*, Saud, Rizwan+, Talat, Imad, Zafar, Amir, Hasnain, Shinwari

T20Is: Fakhar, Haider, Babar*, Sarfraz+, Khushdil, Imad, Butt, Nawaz, Amir, Hasnain, Rauf

I would not rest Fakhar, Imad and Amir. Let them get in good rhythm for the T20 WC.

 

[shamaan]

With the zimbabwe tour coming up I would go with this squad

T20s
Sharjeel khan (based on fitness)
Rizwan hussain
Babar C
Haider ali
Bismillah khan
Khushdil shah
Ammad butt
Husnain
Rauf
Akif javed
Umer khan

In odis
It should be

Odis
Zeeshan malik
Haider ali
Babar
Saud shakeel
Muhammad harris
Umer amin
Khushdil
Yamin
Akif javed
Ahsan adil
Gohar

Some new players including akif javed,bismillah khan,umer khan,yamin,ammad butt,mohammad harris,zeeshan Mali,rizwan hussain

All of shaheen naseem wahab hafeez shadab imad wasim should be rested.

Pakistan need to look for a specialist Bateman who can wicket keep t20s and odis hence the reason why I have included 2 batting keepers and they are pretty young I havent included rohail as he doesnt have the power game.

I would play haider in all t20s and odis games

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Drooling at the names mentioned here, but not going to get my hopes up. Expect a pathetic squad full of oldies and boring names in .

Love your list though Titan. I'd maybe consider Saad Ali.

 

[shamaan]

I like ur squad but I would make a few changes. Amin is an accumulator while Pakistan can only afford Babar in that role. Zia, Raza and Ehsan have not performed enough in Domestic LO to warrant international selection.

Combined 17 man squad for both series: Babar (c), Imad (vc), Imam, Fakhar, Haider, Saud, Khushdil, Rizwan+, Sarfraz+, Talat, Butt, Zafar, Nawaz, Amir, Hasnain, Shinwari, Rauf

Bring in Saud, Zafar and Talat for ODIs. And Butt for T20Is. Let Shaheen and Shadab play 1st-class cricket.

ODIs: Imam, Fakhar, Babar*, Saud, Rizwan+, Talat, Imad, Zafar, Amir, Hasnain, Shinwari

T20Is: Fakhar, Haider, Babar*, Sarfraz+, Khushdil, Imad, Butt, Nawaz, Amir, Hasnain, Rauf

I would not rest Fakhar, Imad and Amir. Let them get in good rhythm for the T20 WC.

I think we should give new opportunities to a few guys

In odis
I have gone with zeeshan malik instead of imaam
Also haider ali instead of fakhar

I have also included mohammad Harris as the keeper batesman ahead of rohail rizwan

Also we need a finisher so this is time to give khushdil a chance against a weaker opposition

I would also give akif javed a chance to see how he does.

In t20s
I have gone for rizwan who is quite young
I also have gone with bismmilalh khan both keepers are young and can play big shots bearing in mind world cup 2021

Ammad butt can be tried also as someone who can hit big in the end which we lack.

Umer khan has done decent in t20s so deserves a chance.

Most of the squad you picked have got some kind of experience in playing international only butt hasnt played I belive

 

[Mir jibran]

I dont think so seniors will be dropped from odi squad
Since these are the only 3 odis we are playing this year

 

[aloo paratha]

Lol, I too wish we would try some youngsters, but we all already know we're gonna play a full strength team. Same thing happened 2 years ago. Just hope Haider Ali gets a chance as an opener over Abid Ali. Haider is the future.

 

[aloo paratha]

Fakhar
Haider
Babar
Haris
Rizwan
Iftikhar
Imad
Shadab
Shaheen
Usman Shinwari
Hasnain/Rauf

That's the XI I expect us to field in ODIs. Time to score 400 for the first time

 

[Slim]

Shadab, Hafeez, Malik, Ifthikar, Shaheen should be rested at the very least.

Need to try a young spinner instead of Shadab. Need to give Khushdil shah a chance. Need to blood Zeeshan Malik. Hell, even put Rohail in the squad. Haider Ali should be a permanent fixture throughout the series.

 

[MenInG]

Why not try Umer Khan - give him a chance in International cricket and help build bench strength.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

It really depends on who's the selector for the Zimbabwe series. If it's Misbah? It's entirely possible that he'll play a 'full strength' team to pad out his record, like he did against Bangladesh B. It really is a golden chance for Pakistan to try some aggressive batting youngsters, whoever the selector is

 

[Energy]

Fakhar will get a free run, so will Hafeez. Wahab and Amir will also be included unless Amir is injured.

Malik may get dropped simply because the man looks disinterested.

 

[hussain.r97]

Misbah's coach, I don't expect anything less than a full strength team.

 

[TeymurBlake]

All the seniors should be dropped. Its the perfect tour to try some new players. Zafar Gohar and Umer Khan should be looked at to bring in as spiinners. Hasnain should be a starter as should Akif Javed and another young pacers. Saud Shakeel in the middle with Saif Badar and Babar Azam, Haider Ali potentially as an opener with maybe Sami Aslam or Zeeshan Malik would be good. Rohail Nazir tried as WK.

1. Zeeshan Malik
2. Haider Ali
3. Babar Azam (C)
4. Saud Shakeel
5. Rohail Nazir (WK)
6. Saif Badar/Khushdil Shah
7. Mohammad Faizan/Hasan Mohsin (potential AR's for Pakistan to look at as long term prospects)
8. Amad Butt
9. Zafar Gohar/Umer Khan
10. Mohammad Hasnain
11. Akif Javed

Now I know this line-up is difficult to expect or even imagine but this line-up will help for the future of the team and potentially strengthen the bench.

 

[zain7077]

All the seniors should be dropped. Its the perfect tour to try some new players. Zafar Gohar and Umer Khan should be looked at to bring in as spiinners. Hasnain should be a starter as should Akif Javed and another young pacers. Saud Shakeel in the middle with Saif Badar and Babar Azam, Haider Ali potentially as an opener with maybe Sami Aslam or Zeeshan Malik would be good. Rohail Nazir tried as WK.

1. Zeeshan Malik
2. Haider Ali
3. Babar Azam (C)
4. Saud Shakeel
5. Rohail Nazir (WK)
6. Saif Badar/Khushdil Shah
7. Mohammad Faizan/Hasan Mohsin (potential AR's for Pakistan to look at as long term prospects)
8. Amad Butt
9. Zafar Gohar/Umer Khan
10. Mohammad Hasnain
11. Akif Javed

Now I know this line-up is difficult to expect or even imagine but this line-up will help for the future of the team and potentially strengthen the bench.

I know for a fact that We won’t see this line up anytime soon but it definitely makes me feel content that Pakistan Cricket’s future looks good for the next 10 years. MA.

 

[topspin]

Why not try Umer Khan - give him a chance in International cricket and help build bench strength.

Unfortunately building bench strength is an alien concept in Pakistan cricket.

 

[moghul]

In Misbah's era, an "easy" series on home ground is not for youngsters to be introduced, for him series like this will be a good opportunity for his favorite oldies to consolidate their hold in the team. Hafeez, Shoaib , Sarfraz, Iftikhar, Sohail Khan, Fakhar and Wahab, all will play.

 

[Titan24]

Why not try Umer Khan - give him a chance in International cricket and help build bench strength.

Definitely worth trying in T20s atleast to start with as he has shown some impressive skills in the last few years when given oppurtunities.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

With Misbah as chief selector I don’t expect anything to be changed. Pakistan will field a full strength team and wouldn’t be surprised if even Hafeez is made skipper for ODIs.

 

[Titan24]

I like ur squad but I would make a few changes. Amin is an accumulator while Pakistan can only afford Babar in that role. Zia, Raza and Ehsan have not performed enough in Domestic LO to warrant international selection.

Combined 17 man squad for both series: Babar (c), Imad (vc), Imam, Fakhar, Haider, Saud, Khushdil, Rizwan+, Sarfraz+, Talat, Butt, Zafar, Nawaz, Amir, Hasnain, Shinwari, Rauf

Bring in Saud, Zafar and Talat for ODIs. And Butt for T20Is. Let Shaheen and Shadab play 1st-class cricket.

ODIs: Imam, Fakhar, Babar*, Saud, Rizwan+, Talat, Imad, Zafar, Amir, Hasnain, Shinwari

T20Is: Fakhar, Haider, Babar*, Sarfraz+, Khushdil, Imad, Butt, Nawaz, Amir, Hasnain, Rauf

I would not rest Fakhar, Imad and Amir. Let them get in good rhythm for the T20 WC.

I rested Fakhar and Imad as we already know what they can do and they are 30-32 so there isnt much roam for learning or improvement by playing against Zimbabwe. Same is the case with Amir, no point in making him improve his stats against Zimbabwe. I didnt select new pacers like Hasnain, Rauf etc so that they can play every FC match if given oppurtunity, them getting FC experience at this stage is more important in my opinion. If Hasnain and Rauf dint get picked in FC matches around Zimbabwe series then thats another matter.

Shadab can be rested as well though as you have mentioned so that he can play FC cricket. There are enough players available to fill in.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

This is the series for Misbah to win all matches and chest thump like they have beaten the world no.1 side in all formats.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

When is the series starting. I think fixtures are not announced yet

 

[asadee]

Why no mention of Sharjeel

 

[ahmadharis1]

Would love to see Saad Ali, Saud Shakeel, Sahibzada Farhan, Umer Khan, Zafar Gohar, and Khushdil Shah get proper chances....but I dream

 

[nextover666666]

If Zimbabwe field their b or c sqaud even their full sqaud we need to take as many young players as possible I would say maybe only field 3-4 players that are from our original sqaud

 

[shamaan]

Shadab, Hafeez, Malik, Ifthikar, Shaheen should be rested at the very least.

Need to try a young spinner instead of Shadab. Need to give Khushdil shah a chance. Need to blood Zeeshan Malik. Hell, even put Rohail in the squad. Haider Ali should be a permanent fixture throughout the series.

I cant belive no one has picked zeeshan malik in the squad absurd

 

[shamaan]

Why not try Umer Khan - give him a chance in International cricket and help build bench strength.

Defo umer Khan I have also picked him in my squad another one not many people have picked !

 

[shamaan]

It really depends on who's the selector for the Zimbabwe series. If it's Misbah? It's entirely possible that he'll play a 'full strength' team to pad out his record, like he did against Bangladesh B. It really is a golden chance for Pakistan to try some aggressive batting youngsters, whoever the selector is

Zimbabwe first team isnt same as bangladesh B team maybe C team is equailevent to Zimbabwe

 

[shamaan]

All the seniors should be dropped. Its the perfect tour to try some new players. Zafar Gohar and Umer Khan should be looked at to bring in as spiinners. Hasnain should be a starter as should Akif Javed and another young pacers. Saud Shakeel in the middle with Saif Badar and Babar Azam, Haider Ali potentially as an opener with maybe Sami Aslam or Zeeshan Malik would be good. Rohail Nazir tried as WK.

1. Zeeshan Malik
2. Haider Ali
3. Babar Azam (C)
4. Saud Shakeel
5. Rohail Nazir (WK)
6. Saif Badar/Khushdil Shah
7. Mohammad Faizan/Hasan Mohsin (potential AR's for Pakistan to look at as long term prospects)
8. Amad Butt
9. Zafar Gohar/Umer Khan
10. Mohammad Hasnain
11. Akif Javed

Now I know this line-up is difficult to expect or even imagine but this line-up will help for the future of the team and potentially strengthen the bench.

Very similar squad to mine great minds think alike

Who's mohammad faizan one who played for loahre qalanders?

 

[shamaan]

When is the series starting. I think fixtures are not announced yet

I belive its middle october

 

[shamaan]

So Zimbabwe is coming to Pakistan and I think the tour can be used to try out some bench strength and performers. Going with the usual suspects would serve no purpose but, with Pak management we shouldnt be surprised if we see a full strength team.

In my opinion all the players who management knows what they can do and have been playing regularly should be given rest. While some youngsters at that point of time should be playing QAE 2020.

I will rest the following:

Fakhar Zaman
Imad Wasim
Haris Sohail
Mohammad Amir
Wahab Riaz
Iftikhar Ahmed
Shaheen Shah Afridi

One can argue to rest Shadab as well. Also double minded on whether Naseem should focus on not missing a single FC game or its time for him to taste the LOIs.

Squad which I think should be tried:

Umer Amin (Was outstanding as opener for Northern in T20s)/ Sharjeel Khan (If his fitness has improved)
Imam Ul Haq
Babar Azam (C)
Saud Shakeel
Haider Ali
Shadab Khan
Mohammad Rizwan (WK) (We already know his ability so down the order)
Aamir Yamin/ Amad Butt
Zafar Gohar
Usman Shinwari
Zia Ul Haq

Bench (Depending upon the size of squad):

Sharjeel Khan (Depending upon fitness)
Raza Hassan
Amad Butt
Khushdil Shah
Ehsan Adil
Hussain Talat


Shaheen, Naseem should focus on the QAE trophy. Same is the case with other pacers like Rauf, Hasnain, Musa etc. Shadab can also be rested and there are enough players to cover for him.

Your squad is good but I would have a keeper who can hit hard and keep.

Shadab is garrtanted starter in t20s and odis so try another spinner.

Also imaam is a start in odis I would try zeeshan malik

Akif javed should also be given a spot

But overall decent squad

 

[Rayyman]

I rested Fakhar and Imad as we already know what they can do and they are 30-32 so there isnt much roam for learning or improvement by playing against Zimbabwe. Same is the case with Amir, no point in making him improve his stats against Zimbabwe. I didnt select new pacers like Hasnain, Rauf etc so that they can play every FC match if given oppurtunity, them getting FC experience at this stage is more important in my opinion. If Hasnain and Rauf dint get picked in FC matches around Zimbabwe series then thats another matter.

Shadab can be rested as well though as you have mentioned so that he can play FC cricket. There are enough players available to fill in.

You should have still have 5-6 core players in the team just to make sure you win. Zimbabwe are no pushovers, this is international cricket, not an A-tour.

 

[zain7077]

You should have still have 5-6 core players in the team just to make sure you win. Zimbabwe are no pushovers, this is international cricket, not an A-tour.

That is something Misbah would say, can u name me one half decent Zimbabwean player? Apart from masakadza, Taylor and Williams and don’t think they are around anymore anyway.

 

[zain7077]

My Team (ODI)

Imam Ul Haq / Zeeshan Malik
Haider Ali
Babar Azam
Saud Shakeel
Mohammad Rizwan
Saif Badar
Shadab Khan
Zafar Gohar
Shaheen Shah
Mohammad Hasnain
Akif Javed

T20

Sharjeel Khan
Babar Azam
Zeeshan Makik
Haider Ali
Saif Badar
Zeeshan Ashraf
Shadab Khan
Imad Wasim
Mohammad Hasnain
Akif Javed
Haris Rauf

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

PCB be like:
Ahmed Shahzad
Babar Azam
Kamran Akmal
Umar Akmal
Sohaib Maqsood
Anwar Ali
Bilal Asif
Bilawal Bhatti
Kashif Bhatti
Waqas Maqsood
Wahab Riaz

 

[Titan24]

You should have still have 5-6 core players in the team just to make sure you win. Zimbabwe are no pushovers, this is international cricket, not an A-tour.

I think Imam, Babar, Rizwan, Shinwari and maybe Shadab along with other new names I have mentioned will be enough to win against Zimbabwe and I wont be surprised if some new and non regular names I have mentioned do pretty well.

However, If Pak loses with these many core players along with some of the top domestic names and misses Fakhar, Imad etc then to be honest Zimbabwe would deserve to win.

 

[Titan24]

I like the young names being mentioned here like Zeeshan Malik, Akif Javed etc. I didn’t include them as I thought QAE experience which is pretty less in some of new names will help so dont want them to miss 2 or so matches. However, I wont have any issues if some of the young guys are selected as well.

 

[shamaan]

My Team (ODI)

Imam Ul Haq / Zeeshan Malik
Haider Ali
Babar Azam
Saud Shakeel
Mohammad Rizwan
Saif Badar
Shadab Khan
Zafar Gohar
Shaheen Shah
Mohammad Hasnain
Akif Javed

T20

Sharjeel Khan
Babar Azam
Zeeshan Makik
Haider Ali
Saif Badar
Zeeshan Ashraf
Shadab Khan
Imad Wasim
Mohammad Hasnain
Akif Javed
Haris Rauf

Some good options in zeeshan Malik,akif javed,saif badar,gohar

 

[nextover666666]

I would only wanna play 4-5 players that are from original sqaud I don't care if we lose but need to test new players or some players who have gotten few chance

ODI team

Zeeshan Malik
Haider Ali
muhammad huraira
Saud Shakeel
Rohail Nazar (Wk)
Haris Sohail
Qasim Akram
Imad wasim (c)
Zafar Gohar
Kamran Ghulum
Faheem Ashraf
Wahab Riaz
Sameen Gul
Abbas Afridi
Shaheen Shah Afridi


T20

Sharjeel Khan
Babar Azam (c)
Haidar Ali
Bismillah Khan (wk)
Mohammad Hafeez
Sohail Akhtar
Qasim Akram
Umer khan
Ibtisam Sheikh
Aamer Yamin
Haris Rauf
Dilbar Hussain
Naseem Shah
Shadab Khan

The idea would be to have everyone play a game as well

 

[Robinson Shrestha]

When is the tour??

 

[zain7077]

When is the tour??

should be somewhere between PSL and NZ tour.

 

[zain7077]

Although all of us are making our fantasy teams, if Misbah really had the thought process of experimenting he would have against Bangladesh or Sri Lanka but he didnt against either of em

 

[ShahidDar08]

Rested:

Hafeez
Malik
Imad
Sarfaraz
Rizwan
Aamir
Wahab
Fakhar
Iftikhar

Squad:

Rizwan Hussain
Zeeshan Malik
Ali Imran
Babar
Haider
Khushdil
Saif Badar
Nabi Gul
Zeeshan Ashraf(wk)
Rohail Nazir(wk)
Shadab
Shaheen
Hasnain
Naseem
Rouf
Musa
Zafar Gohar
Umer Khan

 

[TeymurBlake]

Very similar squad to mine great minds think alike

Who's mohammad faizan one who played for loahre qalanders?

Yes. He's only 23.

 

[Kashur_Kalkharab]

Iftikhar,khushdil shah and haider ali must play. Rizwan should also play and not sarfaraz, will improve his stats and thus increase the confidence.

Babar should be rested as well giving rizwan chance to captain(optional).

We need to play more young spinners.
Harris rouf,hasnain, musa should play.

 

[ameemlutfi]

T-20 xi

Sharjeel Khan
Babar Azam
Haider Ali
Shadab Khan
Zeeshan Ashraf (wk)
Khushdil Shah
Imran Rafiq
Ammad Butt
Zafar Gohar
Rumman Raees
Dilbur hussain

 

[Deewana Mastana]

I said this in the other thread when this series got announced that why Pak is wasting so much time on a team like Zimbabwe who are in a complete mess for quite sometime.

The amount of money they will be spending on the security and all others like hotel, accommodation etc; why not just spend that money on grass roots and developing the game in schools, colleges, universities etc;

If this is in the FTP then perhaps it will mean it will have to be played but most other nations have cancelled their series with Zimbabwe AFAIK.

 

[shamaan]

I would only wanna play 4-5 players that are from original sqaud I don't care if we lose but need to test new players or some players who have gotten few chance

ODI team

Zeeshan Malik
Haider Ali
muhammad huraira
Saud Shakeel
Rohail Nazar (Wk)
Haris Sohail
Qasim Akram
Imad wasim (c)
Zafar Gohar
Kamran Ghulum
Faheem Ashraf
Wahab Riaz
Sameen Gul
Abbas Afridi
Shaheen Shah Afridi


T20

Sharjeel Khan
Babar Azam (c)
Haidar Ali
Bismillah Khan (wk)
Mohammad Hafeez
Sohail Akhtar
Qasim Akram
Umer khan
Ibtisam Sheikh
Aamer Yamin
Haris Rauf
Dilbar Hussain
Naseem Shah
Shadab Khan

The idea would be to have everyone play a game as well

Excellent pic in hurraira,qasim akram,zeeshan malik,rohail nazir,dilbar hussain,umer khan, bismillah khan

Who is kamean Ghullam and abbas afridi?

 

[shamaan]

Iftikhar,khushdil shah and haider ali must play. Rizwan should also play and not sarfaraz, will improve his stats and thus increase the confidence.

Babar should be rested as well giving rizwan chance to captain(optional).

We need to play more young spinners.
Harris rouf,hasnain, musa should play.

Rizwan can play in odis but in t20s we need to look else

Iftikhar should not play but khusdhil and haider yes

 

[shamaan]

T-20 xi

Sharjeel Khan
Babar Azam
Haider Ali
Shadab Khan
Zeeshan Ashraf (wk)
Khushdil Shah
Imran Rafiq
Ammad Butt
Zafar Gohar
Rumman Raees
Dilbur hussain

Who's imran rafiq isnt he more suited to odis and tests ?

 

[shamaan]

I said this in the other thread when this series got announced that why Pak is wasting so much time on a team like Zimbabwe who are in a complete mess for quite sometime.

The amount of money they will be spending on the security and all others like hotel, accommodation etc; why not just spend that money on grass roots and developing the game in schools, colleges, universities etc;

If this is in the FTP then perhaps it will mean it will have to be played but most other nations have cancelled their series with Zimbabwe AFAIK.

I fink it's in the FTP