Think we can experiment after world cup. Let all the unfit players go and work hard on their fitness. I also want players who do well at all formats, if you don't do at least decent in first class, there's probably something wrong with your technique. Imad and Abid especially hopefully can work on their fitness and come back as I think these two probably have the best potential to break into the team amongst the unfit. So Haris only tests now I don't see him in future ODI plans even though he should have played this world cup, and Saud Shakeel I don't think is fit enough (if I'm wrong get him in).
I'd play
1. Imam
2. Sami Aslam
3. Babar
4. Fakhar (c)
5. Saad Ali
6. Rizwan
7. Hammad Azam (lack of options, I'd like to see if he's improved or not)
8. Shadab
9. Amir
10. Haris Rauf
11. Riaz or Shinwari whoever's better. Zafar if we need another spinner.
Fakhar's captain as dunno anyone else can captain. Not worth burdening a young player trying to develop who isn't captaining regularly already. Maybe Imad can take over if he comes back fit, or I guess Sarfraz does it if he keeps his spot (replaces Saad Ali). Amir can't captain, he doesn't regularly do it and is a fixer, it would bring bad spotlight on him and I think he's forfeited the right. Don't think Sharjeel should come back after what he did, but if he does at least he has to be fit.
Sami is nowhere near as unfit as some might lead you to believe. The guy has always been a short stocky fellow, and these people are the same who called imam fat due to his shorter stocky build. His performances have dropped off a tad bit nut that is also due to the fact that in recent tournaments he was moved to 1 down instead of opening, while opening in some games. This lack of consistency in position can affect a player. Sami deserves a place because he was u-19 captain and the opening partner to imam, and being a much more prolific scorer playing at the same time as the likes of Markram, rabada, pehluwayo, hetmyer, and pooran. If imam merits a place so does sami, but we gave sami only 4 ODI innings to prove himself in incredibly turbulent times, whereas imam got to inflate his stats with consistent chances against lowly zimbabwe. I think its time to give this fruitful u-19 opening partnership a shot to open together at the big stage, and both are such talents that if it pans out, we will reap the benefits. Stats do not tell the whole story, but samis list A stats are among some of the best in our domestic circuit, and if given ample opportunity,i think we might see a great partnership with the gap picking ability of sami aslam, which once drew comparisons to saeed anwar, and the defensive temperament of imam.
The squad for now should remain more or less similar aside from a few additions, obviously it is not realistic to say everyone will be dropped and a whole new 15 man will take its place, but there must be replacements for older players
Startin xi
1. Imam
2. Sami
3. Babar
4. Fakhar (VC)
5. Khushdil
6. Sarf (C, WK)
7. Shadab
8. Faheem
9. Hassan
10. Amir
11. Shaheen
Bench
Rizwan
Haris
Hasnain
An offie, or a true spinner to pair with shadab in the spin attack, or could be imad, would come in the place of faheem
Gone:
Wahab
Hafeez
Malik
People like to point to babars timid nature, but in reality he has captained sides before, and was a successful u-19 captain, and is known to have a good cricketing mind. Sami aslam has done so too, but not captain material unless he cements a place in the side. I believe sarfi should make way for rizwan as wk soon, with rohail on the bench, and transition captaincy to fakhar with babar as VC, another less likely option is shadab, who might not be as unlikely as we think since he is so highly regarded by fans and selectors alike.
Hassan and fakhar should also be dropped for rest for a series or 2 because they have been overplayed and their lack of performances could be result of fatigue.
