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Who would you like to see make up the top 5 in our batting lineup for the 2019 World Cup?

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Subhan999

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Who would you like to see bat in the top 5 during the world Cup?

My picks:

Fakhar zaman
Asif Ali
Sarfraz Ahmed
Shoaib Malik
Faheem Ashraf
 
No Babar? Asif opening? Faheem at 5?

Most likely top 5 will be...

1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Imam ul-Haq
3. Babar Azam
4. Shoaib Malik
5. Mohammad Hafeez (If injured, Haris Sohail)
 
1. Imam ul-Haq :imam
2. Fakhar Zaman :fz
3. Babar Azam :babar
4. Haris Sohail :hs
5. Mohammad Hafeez :moha
 
Imam
Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Hafeez
Umar
Imad
Sarfraz + *
Hassan
Amir
Shaheen

Amir, Shaheen, Hassan, Imad to bowl 10 overs each.

Hafeez and Haris to bowl remaining 10.

Given the form Shadab is In, Hafeez and Haris would bowl much better, especially against SENA teams.
 
Kohli said:
Imam
Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Hafeez
Umar
Imad
Sarfraz + *
Hassan
Amir
Shaheen

Amir, Shaheen, Hassan, Imad to bowl 10 overs each.

Hafeez and Haris to bowl remaining 10.

Given the form Shadab is In, Hafeez and Haris would bowl much better, especially against SENA teams.
Click to expand...

Umar needs to be no.4 not lower than that.
He's a no.3/4 batsman.
 
Kohli said:
Imam
Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Hafeez
Umar
Imad
Sarfraz + *
Hassan
Amir
Shaheen

Amir, Shaheen, Hassan, Imad to bowl 10 overs each.

Hafeez and Haris to bowl remaining 10.

Given the form Shadab is In, Hafeez and Haris would bowl much better, especially against SENA teams.
Click to expand...

this would be our best playing 11 but this is most unlikely they play
 
Imam :facepalm:

Fakhar

Babar

Hafeez

Haris(subject to fitness), wouldn't mind Amin if he is in the type of form he showed the other day, the ball was whistling off his bat.
 
Top 6 should be:

Fakhar Zaman
Imam ul Haq
Babar Azam
Umar Akmal
Shoaib Malik/ Umar Amin
Sarfraz Ahmed
 
1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Imam Ul Haq
3. Babar Azam
4. Haris Sohail
5.Muhammad Hafeez
 
1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Imam ul-Haq
3. Babar Azam
4. Haris Sohail
5. Hafeez /Umar Akmal (in case he gets chance against Aus/Eng & performs)
 
ive got a funny feeling Umar Akmal will make the cut, making runs in PSL and Hafeez injuring himself at the wrong time. Now all we need is an injury to sarfraz and we can get the old gang back together.
 
Syed1 said:
Imam :facepalm:

Fakhar

Babar

Hafeez

Haris(subject to fitness), wouldn't mind Amin if he is in the type of form he showed the other day, the ball was whistling off his bat.
Click to expand...

I know you hate Imam but he was the man of the series in SA.
 
Fakhar
Imam
Babar
Umar Akmal
Haris
Hafeez
Imad
Sarfraz
Hasan Ali
Amir
Shaheen

- If Fakhar continues to struggle against the new ball, swap him with Babar at 3
- Don't believe Imam is one of the top two openers in Pakistan but Inzy will ensure he remains in the side
- Umar Akmal is needed at 4, so he can maximise his opportunities against pace.
- Number 5 doesn't suit Haris Sohail but we need to select the best top 4 against pace and a better player of spin lower down the order. He will be a useful 6th bowler to provide 4 - 6 overs
- With a stronger top order Hafeez will get the platform he needs to bat in the top gears reducing the chances of being exposed technically against quality pace bowling. He will share the last set of 10 overs with Haris.
- Umar Amin should come into the squad to serve as a back up to Fakhar, Imam and Umar Akmal
- If Hafeez or Haris are not fit to play the WC, then bring either Faheem/Shadab into the side promoting Imad to 6. If they are both unfit then add Asif Ali as well to bat at 6.
- If Haris Rauf maintains his good form in the PSL he should be the first back up to the pace trio in case of injury or under performance. Second back up should be Junaid Khan.
- Shadab adds no value to the batting with his sub-70 SR, so therefore doesn't warrant a place in the XI but should be included in the squad as back up spinner.

Additional squad members (may need to be trimmed down by a couple of names):

Umar Amin - back up top 4 batsman
Rizwan - backup WK
Shadab/Umer Khan - back up spinner
Asif Ali - back up hitter
Haris Rauf - back up pace bowler
Junaid/Faheem - back up pace bowler
 
Last edited:
1) Imam
2) Fakhar
3) Babar
4) Umar Akmal - nothing to lose. Will outscore Malik without a doubt.
5) Hafeez - still one of our best batsmen.
 
babajee said:
Can't rely on his fitness, and Hafeez is a better option at 5 IMO. Far better player of spin and often does well coming in with a platform to accelerate from.
Click to expand...

I would play haris at 4 and hafeez at 6.
 
While most of the lineups mentioned here look strong but are based on an assumption that Sarfraz and Mickey will treat Hafeez and Haris Sohail combo as 5th bolwer.

I dont mind this experiment but not sure that if management will be up for it.

Imam
Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Umar/Hafeez
Sarfaraz
Imad
Shadab/Faheem (Depening on the conditions)
Hassan
Shaheen/Junaid
Amir/Junaid

We have seen some good strike rotation from Umar but if he can continue that for 50 overs is the question and Australia series might answer that.
 
Corridor of Uncertainty said:
Babar has to open. The tone set by good batsmen up the order whom opposition also respect, is something unmatchable. Don't worry about run rate either - in the first 10 overs, Babar will find enough gaps.
Click to expand...

True, his scoring ability can be maximized in powerplays.

He has shown in tests too that he can score quick runs when the field is not spread. So i dont see any harm in Babar opening the batting infact i think his productivity with bat will enhance.
 
Unless there is any injury issues, PAK's top 5 are settled - Imam, FZ, Babar, MoHa, Malik ... in that order. They might do some eye washes but without "divine blessings", these 5 are starting - Sarfraz has to be there at 6; so top 6 are fixed actually.

Going by OP, I guess this is for wish list, otherwise Babar missing out to Sarfraz at 3 (I take a chance that in OP's list Babar will find his spot at 6)is a bit difficult to explain///

For my wish list, my top 5 will be

1. Babar
2. Shan/Amin
3. FZ
4. Umar
5. Maqsood/Haris
6. *Sarfraz+
 
MMHS said:
Unless there is any injury issues, PAK's top 5 are settled - Imam, FZ, Babar, MoHa, Malik ... in that order. They might do some eye washes but without "divine blessings", these 5 are starting - Sarfraz has to be there at 6; so top 6 are fixed actually.

Going by OP, I guess this is for wish list, otherwise Babar missing out to Sarfraz at 3 (I take a chance that in OP's list Babar will find his spot at 6)is a bit difficult to explain///

For my wish list, my top 5 will be

1. Babar
2. Shan/Amin
3. FZ
4. Umar
5. Maqsood/Haris
6. *Sarfraz+
Click to expand...

you're a very knowledgeable guy and know every little bit than most pakistanis.

yet i will never understand your obsession with amin and hacksood
 
1.Babar Azam
2.Imam Ul Haq
3.Fakhar Zaman/Shan Masood
4.Umar Akmal
5.Haris Sohail
 
Chokli said:
you're a very knowledgeable guy and know every little bit than most pakistanis.

yet i will never understand your obsession with amin and hacksood
Click to expand...
He is right Amkn is the best palyer of pace and masood can be match winner though I personally feel Masood shouldn’t be there fot fitness issues and laziness.
 
DRsohail said:
He is right Amkn is the best palyer of pace and masood can be match winner though I personally feel Masood shouldn’t be there fot fitness issues and laziness.
Click to expand...

yes he's only the best player of pace in theory right now, he always has been

but on the field he's been awful in the matches he has featured in for pakistan.

maqsood should win a match in PSL first
 
Chokli said:
you're a very knowledgeable guy and know every little bit than most pakistanis.

yet i will never understand your obsession with amin and hacksood
Click to expand...

First I see in a batsman is how they hit a cricket ball, rather than where they have hit it. Technique can be improved with proper coaching (at right age), temperament can be developed with proper competitive games (Domestics), batting intelligence can be taught by systematic education and analysis of games (batsmen also have to be receptive as well), shot selection can be improved with proper mentoring .... but what is natural is the skill of sweetly hitting a leather piece travelling at 130K+ speed - that too from side-wise position and unlike baseball that leather piece comes after one bounce, with 4 dimensional turn and movement (time is the 4th dimension).

This is naturally gifted - hand eye, balance, alignment of limbs, shift of power (footwork), placement (bat angle at point of contact and a photogenic memory of where the 11 fielders are), ..... otherwise there are millions of kids who (& whose family) would like to spend 12 hours in nets daily and become a Kohli or Babar or Tamim or Perera.

Amin, Maqsood & Umar has that natural skills - rest is up to their willingness (to improve), acceptability (of advise), system (domestic cricket) and coaching. Hafeez & Faisal Iqbal had those skill, but it didn't work for other reasons, MoYo had that - so he scored over 20K runs despite debuting at official 24 (could have added another 10K without his usual stupidity) .......... 10-12 years investment on Azhar Ali should tell you at what level Imam can reach. Similarly, put Awais Zia for 10-12 games against ZIM or SRL reserves - he'll cash enough to remain in PAK team for couple of years - ala Fakhar or Asif.

A batsman must be judged for his shot making ability first, not for his tug of war ability to stick around ugly or sparkle here & there with unconventional shots. A batsman must look comfortable after being in middle for an hour, a batsman must be able to punish a loose ball when offered (greatness comes from hitting a good ball for boundary, and Shehzad or Imam hits a rubbish ball straight to fielder, and Azhar blocks it). I read current players have lots of character :yk2 and they are extremely hard working - still Fakhar Zaman won't ever match one good innings of Amin or Maqsood, in terms of aesthetics or skill .... reverse the situation and give both of them (now may be it's too late - officially one is 29, other one 32) unconditional 25 games; there was a better chance that in long run Amin & Maqsood will be better than Imam, Fakhar or Asif Ali.

I wrote similar things few times, some months back for another player and more or less entire PP had a laugh, though only few trolls tried to get under my skin, most poster kept silent out of mutual respect, but didn't agree with me - I am writing it again - Umar Akmal is the best PAK Test batsman between debut of YK & Babar; and best LO batsman between MoYo & Babar ....... and that was when guy was drinking too much water. Do you think that it's because of couple of crispy shots played in a Micky mouse cricket against semi decent bowlers on a 60 metre ground?

It's alarming when you see that the quality of batsman-ship in PAK is judged by how much time you can stay (read struggle) in middle or slog hit you can make - both be ugly, doesn't matter; rather than how you execute a proper cricket shot against a good ball. Otherwise, can't explain why Azhar & Asad will play for 10 years, Imam is now starting even in PSL and Amin/Maqsood should get in total 30-35 games in same period and Umar should play last Test at <21.
 
Umar Akmal should open with Imam. Haris at 4 Hafeez 5 sarfaraz 6 shadab 7 Imad/faheem 8 Hassan 9 Amir/shinwari 10 Shaheen 11
 
1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Imam ul-Haq
3. Babar Azam
4. Sarfaraz
5. Mohammad Hafeez (If injured, Haris Sohail)
 
Fakhar
Imam
Babar
Haris
Umar Akmal
Hafeez
Sarfraz
Shadab

I'm sure Akmal can out score Shoaib Malik.
 
Top 5 for the world cup? Since its what we want to to see I would choose

1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Imam-ul-Haq
3. Babar Azam
4. Haris Sohail
5. Saud Shakeel/Asif Ali/Hammad Azam - The reasoning behind Asif Ali is that I want a hitter at No.5 and Asif for me is currently a solid option. I still think Hammad has a solid hitting ability. But out of all the three of them I would choose Saud Shakeel. The only issue with that is 4 lefties in the top 5. Maybe if he gets some form against AUS and ENG Sarfaraz Ahmed.
 
Imams strike rate is terrible, not good enough to play modern day ODIs

Babar's dot ball issue in ODIs is probably a weakest point of our team, puts whole batting in trouble because of that, plus he looks clueless against wrist spinners and every team in the WC will have at least one.

Malik - he's regressed in the last 1.5 years otherwise he'd be my pick.

Asif - would have loved to see him improve and get into WC squad but he hasn't.

Sharjeel needs to be called back immediately if we are serious about our WC chances.
 
Purely financial. How will PCB sustain the cost of a whole army provding security on a regular basis to the stadiums and the players. Makes no economic sense, not to mention the trouble its going to cause beacuse of blocked roads and restricted access for locals
 
The general consensus is imam, fakhar, babar, Sarfraz, hafeez (with a little bit of Malik, Umar Akmal, shan Masood, Umar amin, maxi etc) ...... Yuck! U guys really want to see test match specialists bat in top 5? The question was who you want to see from a fan's perspective. Not what the management will put out there. You guys can pick a more exciting bunch can't you?
 
Subhan999 said:
The general consensus is imam, fakhar, babar, Sarfraz, hafeez (with a little bit of Malik, Umar Akmal, shan Masood, Umar amin, maxi etc) ...... Yuck! U guys really want to see test match specialists bat in top 5? The question was who you want to see from a fan's perspective. Not what the management will put out there. You guys can pick a more exciting bunch can't you?
Click to expand...

Yep, any top 5 featuring both Malik and Hafeez is weak. This model only works if top 3 stay at the crease and score with Hafeez coming in with about 10-15 overs remaining. Unfortunately, we'll probably see both due to the fact they've selfishlessly hogged the spots for themselves without allowing a proper middle order to develop.

I am still optimistic this might not be the case and there can be some changes for the good just like when Fakhar was drafted in for the useless Ahmed Shehzad and Junaid Khan replaced the hopeless Wahab in the last CT.
 
1.Imam Ul Haq
2.Fakhar Zaman
3.Babar Azam
4.Haris Sohail
5.Umar Akmal
6.Sarfraz Ahmed
7.Imad Wasim
8.Mohammad Amir
9.Shaheen Afridi
10.Hasan Ali
11.Umer Khan

but we will see

1.Imam Ul Haq
2.Fakhar Zaman
3.Babar Azam
4.Mohammad Hafeez
5.Shoaib Malik
6.Sarfraz Ahmed
7.Imad Wasim
8.Shadab Khan
9.Hasan Ali
10.Usman Shinwari
11.Shaheen Afridi
 
Last edited:
MMHS said:
First I see in a batsman is how they hit a cricket ball, rather than where they have hit it. Technique can be improved with proper coaching (at right age), temperament can be developed with proper competitive games (Domestics), batting intelligence can be taught by systematic education and analysis of games (batsmen also have to be receptive as well), shot selection can be improved with proper mentoring .... but what is natural is the skill of sweetly hitting a leather piece travelling at 130K+ speed - that too from side-wise position and unlike baseball that leather piece comes after one bounce, with 4 dimensional turn and movement (time is the 4th dimension).
Click to expand...

now you're just over-analysing, it's not as complicated as you're making it out to be.

This is naturally gifted - hand eye, balance, alignment of limbs, shift of power (footwork), placement (bat angle at point of contact and a photogenic memory of where the 11 fielders are), ..... otherwise there are millions of kids who (& whose family) would like to spend 12 hours in nets daily and become a Kohli or Babar or Tamim or Perera.
Click to expand...

fair point

Amin, Maqsood & Umar has that natural skills - rest is up to their willingness (to improve), acceptability (of advise), system (domestic cricket) and coaching. Hafeez & Faisal Iqbal had those skill, but it didn't work for other reasons, MoYo had that - so he scored over 20K runs despite debuting at official 24 (could have added another 10K without his usual stupidity) .......... 10-12 years investment on Azhar Ali should tell you at what level Imam can reach. Similarly, put Awais Zia for 10-12 games against ZIM or SRL reserves - he'll cash enough to remain in PAK team for couple of years - ala Fakhar or Asif.
Click to expand...

amin has not done anything in national colours, the only thing maqsood has done is a 70 odd in uae versus sri lanka and an 89* to chase down 270 odd in 45 overs.

other than that both those players have not lived up to their potential.

umar is a different case, altogether.. i hope he sorts his stuff out

A batsman must be judged for his shot making ability first, not for his tug of war ability to stick around ugly or sparkle here & there with unconventional shots. A batsman must look comfortable after being in middle for an hour, a batsman must be able to punish a loose ball when offered (greatness comes from hitting a good ball for boundary, and Shehzad or Imam hits a rubbish ball straight to fielder, and Azhar blocks it). I read current players have lots of character :yk2 and they are extremely hard working - still Fakhar Zaman won't ever match one good innings of Amin or Maqsood, in terms of aesthetics or skill .... reverse the situation and give both of them (now may be it's too late - officially one is 29, other one 32) unconditional 25 games; there was a better chance that in long run Amin & Maqsood will be better than Imam, Fakhar or Asif Ali.
Click to expand...

lol "fakhar zaman won't match one good innings of amin or maqsood" mate, fakhar zaman played an innings no other pakistani has ever played... amin and maqsood with all their class and glamour and aesthetic appeal will never ever play that sort of an innings in their dreams let alone in real life.

they've both gotten enough chances and failed to make their mark..

fakhar, azhar, imam all of them took their chances and hence were persisted with.

I wrote similar things few times, some months back for another player and more or less entire PP had a laugh, though only few trolls tried to get under my skin, most poster kept silent out of mutual respect, but didn't agree with me - I am writing it again - Umar Akmal is the best PAK Test batsman between debut of YK & Babar; and best LO batsman between MoYo & Babar ....... and that was when guy was drinking too much water. Do you think that it's because of couple of crispy shots played in a Micky mouse cricket against semi decent bowlers on a 60 metre ground?
Click to expand...
i agree with this, akmal was hard done by in test format

It's alarming when you see that the quality of batsman-ship in PAK is judged by how much time you can stay (read struggle) in middle or slog hit you can make - both be ugly, doesn't matter; rather than how you execute a proper cricket shot against a good ball. Otherwise, can't explain why Azhar & Asad will play for 10 years, Imam is now starting even in PSL and Amin/Maqsood should get in total 30-35 games in same period and Umar should play last Test at <21.
Click to expand...

amin and maqsood are awful players
 
1.If 300 is about par and our bowling can defend scores around 270
(a) If our top order is firing
Imam
Fakhar
Babar
Sarfaraz
Malik
Hafeez
Shadab (Floater- can be utilized as an an accumulator at 5 if wickets fall early)
Imad/Faheem (Depending on Opponents)
Amir
Hasan
Shaheen
(b) If our top order is not firing/the ball is swinging
Imam
Fakhar
Shan
Babar
Sarfaraz
Hafeez/Malik
Shadab (Floater- can be utilized as an an accumulator at 4 if wickets fall early)
Imad/Faheem (Depending on Opponents)
Amir
Hasan
Shaheen

1. If 300 is not par in some cases, and stroke play is easy /350 is being breached too many times
Fakhar
Babar (to make the powerplay count)
Sarfaraz (inject some life into the innings as an accumulator)
Malik
Hafeez
Umar Akmal (finisher/backup WK)
Shadab (Floater- can be utilized as an an accumulator at 5 if wickets fall early)
Imad/Faheem (Depending on Opponents)
Amir
Hasan
Shaheen


Special Case: If the bowling lacks penetration, then play Haris Rauf (or an extra seamer)/ I know Rauf is raw but can't think of somebody else as the 4th seamer, Cuz Shinwari is awful at times and JK is not that penetrative (though he is a great option).
 
Chokli said:
now you're just over-analysing, it's not as complicated as you're making it out to be.



fair point



amin has not done anything in national colours, the only thing maqsood has done is a 70 odd in uae versus sri lanka and an 89* to chase down 270 odd in 45 overs.

other than that both those players have not lived up to their potential.

umar is a different case, altogether.. i hope he sorts his stuff out



lol "fakhar zaman won't match one good innings of amin or maqsood" mate, fakhar zaman played an innings no other pakistani has ever played... amin and maqsood with all their class and glamour and aesthetic appeal will never ever play that sort of an innings in their dreams let alone in real life.

they've both gotten enough chances and failed to make their mark..

fakhar, azhar, imam all of them took their chances and hence were persisted with.


i agree with this, akmal was hard done by in test format



amin and maqsood are awful players
Click to expand...



---------------------------------------------------------

I just want to address the fakhar zaman point here...along with so many other people on here...there is this blind love for FZ cuz of that 114 against India in the Champions Trophy final, but tbh he was out, he chased a wide ball with no footwork whatsoever and if it wasnt for that bumrah NB, he wouldve been sitting in the pavilion and the trajectory of his career in the Pak colors wouldve been a whole lot different. He got a second chance and came off, much like Afridi who can come off on occasion (Love Afridi to death, thus my username :p, and Afridi could contribute in a million different areas if his batting would fail, not to mention he bats at 7) but thats getting besides the point here...what I am trying to say is that anyone that has even a slight eye for the game and batting in general you can just see gaping holes in his technique, the lack of footwork and appalling shot selection, especially to the short ball which I think the whole world is aware of after the South Africa series, you could literally deliver 1 short ball to him and im willing to bet my house that he is gonna TRY and hook it out of the stadium, but in reality will end up top edging straight in the air. The thing with our system is that if you happen to play a match winnings or even somewhat perform against India you become an instant star and will essentially be part of the circuit for at least a year or 2. I believe in solid technique, at least in your top 3 or 4, they have to at least look like they are batsman, have the basics down of defense and footwork. For example when I see the likes of Awais Zia, Asif Ali, Im absolutely shocked that they have made it all the way to the national team. We have always had issues with our batting and it is because we promote batsmen that hit the ball hard and hit 4's and 6's and come off on occasion (as anyone would with the number of chances they get) instead of grooming talent that play cricketing shots, like the Amla's, Babar's, Kohli's, Root's and Williamson's of the world. Having said that I don't know of any other opening options so my top 5 :

Imam
Shan Masood/Fakhr Zaman
Bobby (Babar :p)
Malik /
Hafeez / Umar Akmal (I feel soo naive to even be writing his name, its more about hope/pray that if he somehow makes it, hes the Umar Akmal from 2010)
 
Chokli said:
1.Imam Ul Haq
2.Fakhar Zaman
3.Babar Azam
4.Haris Sohail
5.Umar Akmal
6.Sarfraz Ahmed
7.Imad Wasim
8.Mohammad Amir
9.Shaheen Afridi
10.Hasan Ali
11.Umer Khan

but we will see

1.Imam Ul Haq
2.Fakhar Zaman
3.Babar Azam
4.Mohammad Hafeez
5.Shoaib Malik
6.Sarfraz Ahmed
7.Imad Wasim
8.Shadab Khan
9.Hasan Ali
10.Usman Shinwari
11.Shaheen Afridi
Click to expand...

Umar Akmal is not even a cricketer.
 
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