Who's going to be the next scapegoat?

[Kroll]

We saw from the last Test Match, Azhar was quite content to throw Shadab under the bus despite doing well with the bat and limited bowling opportunities.

With reports of Fawad possibly starting the next match in place of Shadab, could he be next in the firing line?

 

[sweep_shot]

Azhar is probably going to be the biggest scapegoat if Pakistan end up losing 0-3.

 

[Firebat]

I think Fawad will be next. If he doesn't make significant scores in tomorrow's match, in some of the toughest batting conditions in the world against one of the most in-form pace bowling attacks in the world, management will use it as an excuse to drop him from Tests forever, they'll scapegoat him and they will replace him with Faheem next match.

Please Fawad, please score big.

 

[shady]

Has to be Azhar, we've royally messed up our last two test captain appointments. Hopefully third times the charm

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Azhar is probably going to be the biggest scapegoat if Pakistan end up losing 0-3.

Probably not yet.

But both Misbah and Azhar will be in trouble if they lose against NZ as well in Dec/Jan. Wasim Khan will be forced to act.

 

[Kroll]

Azhar is probably going to be the biggest scapegoat if Pakistan end up losing 0-3.

Has to be Azhar, we've royally messed up our last two test captain appointments. Hopefully third times the charm

Azhar being one of the power figures, will he not look to scapegoat someone else? Unless Misbah calls him out which is unlikely as he's fully behind the skipper.

 

[Major]

misbah

 

[sweep_shot]

Probably not yet.

But both Misbah and Azhar will be in trouble if they lose against NZ as well in Dec/Jan. Wasim Khan will be forced to act.

Pakistan have better chance of winning against England than winning against NZ.

India got whitewashed in NZ. NZ are incredibly tough at home.

 

[Third Man]

I think Fawad will be next. If he doesn't make significant scores in tomorrow's match, in some of the toughest batting conditions in the world against one of the most in-form pace bowling attacks in the world, management will use it as an excuse to drop him from Tests forever, they'll scapegoat him and they will replace him with Faheem next match.

Please Fawad, please score big.

That would be great. Fawad is past his best. He should've been given a chance years ago. The last thing we need is another 35 year old batsman cementing his place. Fawad was unlucky, and he needs to accept that.

Should call it quits, enroll in some coaching program and look to coach a domestic team.

 

[Third Man]

I hope this is the last series for Asad and Azhar. We need to find three younger batsmen from domestics. Saud Shakeel and Sami Aslam would be a good start and we can go from there.

 

[Shaka81]

This is the Pakistan cricket team we're talking about, after Azhar and his mate Asad fail miserably they'll blame the youngest members of the team.... sorry the Shahs.... you should have bailed out the batsmen by bowling out the opposition for less than a hundred!

 

[Thunderbolt14]

The real question is, who are the next Azhar and Asad and how do we avoid giving them too much time hogging up a spot on the team while they are in age related decline?

As talented as they are, my answer is Haris Sohail and Fawad Alam.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

As a test side, we never accept that our team is actually in transition. We never act like a team in transition. And that’s why we are always in transition.

 

[Shazzam]

Its not gonna be Azhar, Asad, Yasir, or Misbah. Its gonna be be Fawad Alam or Shaheen Shah Afridi.

 

[Rana]

Get ready Abid Ali

 

[nextover666666]

Have a feeling it will be abid Ali with people asking him to be replaced by imam I would assume but I think next two test they should give haidar Ali a go

 

[angrypathan]

Who are the youngest members of the team? Shaheen and Naseem. So guessing it'll be one of them

 

[Nervesofsteel]

If Abid Ali is the next scapegoat I don't mind. His dismissal in the 2nd innings of the 1st test match made me cringe & he deserves it after showing such little game awareness.

 

[classic]

I believe Pakistan will come good in the 2nd match and level the series. Abid Ali should be persued as he is a much better player than he has shown so far.

Fawad should play in the 2nd test and even if he fails should be given another opportunity to play the 3rd. You can not give him 1 test and then drop him if he fails.

Azher needs to get his act in order as I believe he is letting the side down at the moment and one good solid innings could rescue him from getting the chop.

Asad Shafiq too graft out a solid partnership and I feel he will bat well with Fawad.

Shaddab should not be playing test and should concentrate on Odi/T20. The forecast for the Southampton is rain so there really is no need for two spinners.

I feel Pakistan will come back strong in the 2nd test.

 

[Varun]

If Abid Ali is the next scapegoat I don't mind. His dismissal in the 2nd innings of the 1st test match made me cringe & he deserves it after showing such little game awareness.

If you drop him now imagine the 'What If' threads by folks in the future looking at his Bradmanian average.

 

[AdamM97]

Azhar and Asad. Possibly the bowlers as well.

 

[Justcrazy]

Noneed for scapegoat , Azhar needs to be dropped . He was never a good player , always limited.

 

[coy0607]

Fawad Alam. He's been groomed for 11 years to be the escape goat for a series loss in England under Azhar Ali's captaincy - this is too perfect

 

[Hasan123]

Azhar Ali and Misbah need to go. But as fans we need to accept we aren't good enough. I don't see many fans willing to accept this. Until the PCB and fans realise this , things will not change. We have fans doing banghra over our great record in England. Our record in England is so overrated we have not won a series there for years. Why are we celebrating draws? Let's not even talk about performances in Australia and South Africa. Winning the CT and our last 4 wins in the WC covered over the cracks imo. A lot of people and pundits genuinely don't see how average and low we have fallen.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

Just admit that Pakistan batting is not good enough to bat under such tough conditions. All teams struggle in English conditions. India lost 4-1 last time in England. YOu can't expect Azhar alis, shafiqs etc to do better than Kohli n co.

 

[RazaBadmash]

This is the Pakistan cricket team we're talking about, after Azhar and his mate Asad fail miserably they'll blame the youngest members of the team.... sorry the Shahs.... you should have bailed out the batsmen by bowling out the opposition for less than a hundred!

That’s exactly who I was thinking of Naseem and Shaheen. I like azhar but he’s past his prime. These Players with this senior mentality that no matter what they are better then youngsters. Cricket and sports in general is a young mans game. Batting is about technique but it is also about reflexes and hand/eye coordination. When you age they diminish so at 34 and 35 Azhar and Asad are past their prime. When you look at Pakistan it always seems they sacrifice long term Success for potential short term success So they play the seniors who have experience But not much consistent success not realizing that every other team in the world thinks the opposite. Have azhar and Shafiq ever been superstars of Pakistan cricket no they have been good to decent players, contributors but not game changers and now they are too old for this sport. Sports around the world whether it’s futbol or baseball or basketball or tennis it’s a young mans game.

 

[Kroll]

Fawad gets a duck, so now could Azhar and co make him the next...

 

[ManFan]

There is only one: Misbah.

No matter what, his two positions assure that he either gets most of the blame or most of the praise.

It’s a Catch-22 for his fans.

 

[Kroll]

There is only one: Misbah.

No matter what, his two positions assure that he either gets most of the blame or most of the praise.

It’s a Catch-22 for his fans.

The likes of Misbah, Azhar and seniors are too powerful to be made scapegoats. They'll dump the blame on youngsters or rookies and other easy targets.

 

[Afhan Ali]

It should be Wasim " I love Pakistan" Khan / Misbah along with Azhar and Asad.

 

[MMHS]

I hope Babar scores some runs here, otherwise he might be rested for Iftekhar in 3rd Test .......

 

[Junaids]

I hope Babar scores some runs here, otherwise he might be rested for Iftekhar in 3rd Test .......

Hafeez is there too.....

 

[MMHS]

Hafeez is there too.....

I forgot!!!! Honestly speaking, I have lost every bit of confidence on Misbah & WY. If PAK loses this Test and Rizwan doesn’t score lot, I am damn sure they’ll ignore his WKeeping from OT and pick Sarfraz.

 

[shamaan]

I hope Babar scores some runs here, otherwise he might be rested for Iftekhar in 3rd Test .......

Never

 

[shamaan]

The real question is, who are the next Azhar and Asad and how do we avoid giving them too much time hogging up a spot on the team while they are in age related decline?

As talented as they are, my answer is Haris Sohail and Fawad Alam.

Lol really harris and fawad ?

 

[shamaan]

Maybe abid ali but hopefully azhar and shafiq

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Lol really harris and fawad ?

Over the age of 30, declining performances, Haris has knee and fitness issues, and Fawad can’t play a straight ball.

They will also be persisted with longer than they should be.

 

[shamaan]

Over the age of 30, declining performances, Haris has knee and fitness issues, and Fawad can’t play a straight ball.

They will also be persisted with longer than they should be.

I misread your quote

 

[shaz619]

I think the scapegoat is the one who is blamed for the failures of others, it is laughable to push Misbah as that candidate considering the disastrous strategy thus far, Wasim is right up there for appointing him.

The scapegoat will probably be either Babar Azam or Fawad Alam / both, even the smell of Azhar and Shafiq releasing a bit of gas is like perfume for the PCB / Management

 

[Slim]

Has to be Azhar, we've royally messed up our last two test captain appointments. Hopefully third times the charm

LOL no, shan masood is not worthy of being our captain. Only Babar Azam is.

 

[Kroll]

Looks like Naseem as hes only a teenager and an easy target for this match although there will be a few candidates.

 

[leatherface58]

LOL no, shan masood is not worthy of being our captain. Only Babar Azam is.

He has just started to score runs. Captaincy will be too much for him right now. But Pakistan really don't have someone with experience who can be a stopgap measure like Kumble was for India. I am not sure how much experience Fawad has with leading sides in domestic but if he had played for last 2 years or so, he could have been captain for a year or two till Babar matured but looks like they are stuck with Azhar.

 

[Green Patriot]

Lack of experience in the bowling department would be the primary and perhaps even sole excuse of Azhar and Misbah. Very conveniently forgetting the shambles that is the batting department and the atrocious captaincy of Azhar himself.

 

[Kroll]

Quite a few candidates this time. As the new and newish kids on the block, I'd say Abdullah and Agha are going to be at front of the queue to be heaped with the blame for this Test loss.

 

[Bewal Express]

Blame the poor selection rather than any individuals. Our Spinners are awful.

 

[gazza619]

Nothings gonna change in this purana Pakistan.

The team gets relaxed after one win.

They are having too much fun taking everything very easy.

 

[shamaan]

Quite a few candidates this time. As the new and newish kids on the block, I'd say Abdullah and Agha are going to be at front of the queue to be heaped with the blame for this Test loss.

Definitely won't be Abdullah your talking nonsense.

 

[Kroll]

Definitely won't be Abdullah your talking nonsense.

It wasn’t me, I saw others criticising him in other threads which I also thought was a bit strange.

 

[Shafi]

Nasim and Saud. Will be replace by Shehzad and Rahat.

 

[shamaan]

It wasn’t me, I saw others criticising him in other threads which I also thought was a bit strange.

Very strange and then we say that youngsters are not backed.

 

[Kroll]

After a chastening and demoralising defeat in the Asia Cup final, quite a few candidates this time, from Saqlain to openers to the middle order.

Although its got to be said, highly merited for some of these candidates this time.

 

[Rana]

Asif Ali will be scapegoated

Easy target

 

[shaz619]

Asif Ali will be scapegoated

Easy target

or Fakhar

 

[asadee]

Ramiz Raja. Some politician has filed a petition to sack him

 

[imshally81]

Asif Ali will be scapegoated

Easy target

Should be Khushdil...

 

[GreenKhan]

Still think Fakhar has a role to play in Australia. Suits his game .

 

[TeymurBlake]

There are a lot of the players that can be scapegoated. Ideally its Naseem Shah who shouldn't be from the current team maybe Haris Rauf. All the other players ideally Fakhar, Khushdil, Asif and Babar need a long hard look at themselves.

 

[gazza619]

Khushdil’s time is up

 

[shamaan]

or Fakhar

Have you seen his stats in t20s ?

 

[shamaan]

Still think Fakhar has a role to play in Australia. Suits his game .

Maybe rest him get his focus back for the world cup.

 

[shamaan]

There are a lot of the players that can be scapegoated. Ideally its Naseem Shah who shouldn't be from the current team maybe Haris Rauf. All the other players ideally Fakhar, Khushdil, Asif and Babar need a long hard look at themselves.

Thiers 0%chance of Naseem getting dropped.

 

[shamaan]

Kushdil should be the first person to get dropped.

 

[asadee]

Thiers 0%chance of Naseem getting dropped.

He meant Naseem and Haris would go unscathed for sure