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Why can't Sarfaraz Ahmed open with Fakhar Zaman, and open up the middle order for an all-rounder?

Sherlock

Sherlock

Test Debutant
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Apr 3, 2010
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Surely that is a progression we should be trying, or at least willing to try out?

This could help us with the Shehzad/Azhar conundrum, and also fit in someone like Ashraf/Yamin/Haris.

Or am I completely wrong in this and we should not bother juggling the order?
 
Because Sarfaraz is not a genuine strokemaker against pace. His range is quite limited, that's why you see him move around a lot so the bowlers are forced to pitch in his zone. He's a hustler who pounces on anything loose, will run the doubles hard, squeeze singles, and punish the spinners.

He's now captain in all three formats. After 50 overs of wicketkeeping and captaining, coming out to open will just drain him mentally.
 
Doesn't have the shot range versus pace to open in LO. He's brilliant versus spin and we are poor at rotating the strike in the middle overs. He should bat 4 or 5.
 
Sherlock said:
Surely that is a progression we should be trying, or at least willing to try out?

This could help us with the Shehzad/Azhar conundrum, and also fit in someone like Ashraf/Yamin/Haris.

Or am I completely wrong in this and we should not bother juggling the order?
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the best position of Sarfraz in ODIs is out of the squad
 
His best place is probably 4 or 5 when spinners are on, at least the new ball is gone. Posters are a bit hyper for his first few innings as opener - hind side is, once teams had enough footage of his batting, he isn't scoring much.

At this point, unless SK returns, best solution is to open with Babar, Hari at 3, Sarfu at 4 exchanging spot with MoHa. If umpires show the guts, MoHa should be back in QEA and PAK should bring Amin at 3, Hari at 4 & Mian at 6.
 
MMHS said:
His best place is probably 4 or 5 when spinners are on, at least the new ball is gone. Posters are a bit hyper for his first few innings as opener - hind side is, once teams had enough footage of his batting, he isn't scoring much.

At this point, unless SK returns, best solution is to open with Babar, Hari at 3, Sarfu at 4 exchanging spot with MoHa. If umpires show the guts, MoHa should be back in QEA and PAK should bring Amin at 3, Hari at 4 & Mian at 6.
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So if he is banned from bowling, you think he will be dropped if he doesn't perform as a batsmen?
 
Hasan123 said:
So if he is banned from bowling, you think he will be dropped if he doesn't perform as a batsmen?
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What else is left for him? Today, he was chucking shamelessly, almost desperate attempt like that you kill me, if you dare - I am not leaving, for whatever. And, Sarfraz obliged - gave him full overs to lefties, in a game won in 1st half. He was already dumped at 6 - if he is called again, I am sure Arthur has enough reasons this time. Only one of MoHa/Mian can accompany the squad.
 
MMHS said:
What else is left for him? Today, he was chucking shamelessly, almost desperate attempt like that you kill me, if you dare - I am not leaving, for whatever. And, Sarfraz obliged - gave him full overs to lefties, in a game won in 1st half. He was already dumped at 6 - if he is called again, I am sure Arthur has enough reasons this time. Only one of MoHa/Mian can accompany the squad.
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If he's chucking he will be called eventually. Don't expect him to score heavily versus NZ. So he could be gone soon.
 
MMHS said:
His best place is probably 4 or 5 when spinners are on, at least the new ball is gone. Posters are a bit hyper for his first few innings as opener - hind side is, once teams had enough footage of his batting, he isn't scoring much.

At this point, unless SK returns, best solution is to open with Babar, Hari at 3, Sarfu at 4 exchanging spot with MoHa. If umpires show the guts, MoHa should be back in QEA and PAK should bring Amin at 3, Hari at 4 & Mian at 6.
Click to expand...

I think it's desperation to get rid of 0(12) :(
 
Abdullah719 said:
I think it's desperation to get rid of 0(12) :(
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One out of box solution can be to open with Shadab and I am not joking. You know, I voted 5-0 & I actually do think the gap is more than that - Lankans lost 3-2 at home to ZIM, who'll lose series to our A team in BD. This series is for experiment - sent Shadab up and ask him to go after (but, must be told that Richie Benaud was a betteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer cricketer than Afridi). If PAK loses, that won't be for Shadab opening or for any other option tried.

Sarfraz is already carrying 3 times load, need some breather.
 
He can hide down the order for now, he is not a long-term option for the opening slot.

As long as he is in the ODI team as captain, Pakistan will be playing with a batsmen less, but I guess it is an acceptable trade-off for his on-field captaincy.
 
His best option is at 4 or 5, we saw that in the England tour when he was top scorer from both sides. It boggles my mind how we moved him back to six for Hafeez of all people..
 
Pakistan should turn Babar Azam into an opener and move everyone up a spot. Then they'll have the luxury to play Haris Sohail or Aamer Yamin.
 
Having someone else open up with Fakhar Zaman is the key here. I think we missed a trick with not including Sahibzada Farhan and Yamin in team.

So having to experiment with what we have currently in the squad, I want a right-handed/left-handed batsmen to open the innings. Shehzad isn't the batsman I would pick in the ODIs.

Even getting a pinch-hitter to open ala how Narine does a job at times for his IPL/CPL sides.
 
I think its not a bad idea to have babar open with fakhar. This ll guve spot for haris in middle. I don't want hafeez to open as he had been tried for many years. People ll argue y to disturb babar so today he played actually as opener after 0(12). Babar is the guy where team can bat around him. Haris is another where other players can bat around him. One way to bring haris in team.
 
RickyG said:
Pakistan should turn Babar Azam into an opener and move everyone up a spot. Then they'll have the luxury to play Haris Sohail or Aamer Yamin.
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Babar should stay where he is. Haris should open given his game against pace.
 
Sarfraz needs more time in the middle. Should promote himself to #4 in the next match.

If he is going to bat at #6, then it should be only before 35 overs. Imad should be #6 after 35 overs.
 
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I've mentioned that as a possibility earlier and I think its ideal. Sarfraz has played well as an opener before and is totally wasted at #6 where he tries to slog but simply doesn't possess the ability to do so.

It would allow Haris Sohail to be in the lineup as well. My ideal lineup:

Fakhar
Sarfraz
Babar
Haris
Malik
Hafeez
Imad
Hasan
Shadab
Amir
Junaid

You have guys that can play fast in top of the lineup and have the ability to rotate the strike while Malik/Hafeez/Imad are able to come lower down the order and slog when needed. 3 lefties in the top 7 as well which gives much needed balance.
 
I would like to see him swap place with Hafeez. Hafeez can hit big in the end overs and Sarfraz can rotate strike better. Also need another aggressive opener to partner Fakhar. May be Sahibzada or anyone but Shehzad or Butt.
 
Babar opening with Fakhar is a pretty good idea. It will not only allow us to get rid of Shehzad/Azhar but also try some new guy, most probably Haris in the middle order.
 
goran said:
Babar opening with Fakhar is a pretty good idea. It will not only allow us to get rid of Shehzad/Azhar but also try some new guy, most probably Haris in the middle order.
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Yeah this is the best decision, open with Babar, Haris at 3, Sarfraz at 4. Makes it so our best five batsmen bat in the top 5.

Only way Hafeez can keep his spot is if he bats like he did in the CT. And if he bats like he did in the CT, he'll be a great no.6. And we don't exactly have many guys suited for 6 anyway (only one I can think of is Talat who should come in if Hafeez fails).
 
Nasty Naz said:
I've mentioned that as a possibility earlier and I think its ideal. Sarfraz has played well as an opener before and is totally wasted at #6 where he tries to slog but simply doesn't possess the ability to do so.

It would allow Haris Sohail to be in the lineup as well. My ideal lineup:

Fakhar
Sarfraz
Babar
Haris
Malik
Hafeez
Imad
Hasan
Shadab
Amir
Junaid

You have guys that can play fast in top of the lineup and have the ability to rotate the strike while Malik/Hafeez/Imad are able to come lower down the order and slog when needed. 3 lefties in the top 7 as well which gives much needed balance.
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I give resounding thumbs up, I think this can be the best order right now given the resources, unless SK makes a comeback or find a better replacement, and out of Asia just swap Hafeez with fahim, play any two out of Amir Jk and Rummann as per requirement on match to match bases. this has making of a top 3 ODI team.
 
Nasty Naz said:
I've mentioned that as a possibility earlier and I think its ideal. Sarfraz has played well as an opener before and is totally wasted at #6 where he tries to slog but simply doesn't possess the ability to do so.

It would allow Haris Sohail to be in the lineup as well. My ideal lineup:

Fakhar
Sarfraz
Babar
Haris
Malik
Hafeez
Imad
Hasan
Shadab
Amir
Junaid

You have guys that can play fast in top of the lineup and have the ability to rotate the strike while Malik/Hafeez/Imad are able to come lower down the order and slog when needed. 3 lefties in the top 7 as well which gives much needed balance.
Click to expand...
Shadab has more potential with the bat than with the ball, playing him at anything lower than seven is criminal; it defeats the purpose of him being in the team- he's in there as an all-rounder, not a bowler. If we're going to be playing him that low might as well draft in a specialist spinner.
 
Nasty Naz said:
I've mentioned that as a possibility earlier and I think its ideal. Sarfraz has played well as an opener before and is totally wasted at #6 where he tries to slog but simply doesn't possess the ability to do so.

It would allow Haris Sohail to be in the lineup as well. My ideal lineup:

Fakhar
Sarfraz
Babar
Haris
Malik
Hafeez
Imad
Hasan
Shadab
Amir
Junaid

You have guys that can play fast in top of the lineup and have the ability to rotate the strike while Malik/Hafeez/Imad are able to come lower down the order and slog when needed. 3 lefties in the top 7 as well which gives much needed balance.
Click to expand...

That is one hell of a batting order.

Fakhar and Sarfraz at the top basically means continuous rotation of strike and anything loose being dispatched. It would mean we're attacking from ball one. Babar is very well set at #3; never remove him from there. Haris can't be at a better position than #4 because he's equally good against pacers and spinners. Malik at #5 means he can slog if he comes in after 40 overs or anchor the ship if he comes before 30 overs. Hafeez at 6 is a wish all Pakistanis were granted against IND in the final and we all know what he has done at #6 previously. Imad at 7 is a formality now since we don't have decent all-rounders atm apart from Faheem maybe.

Decent batting order for LOIs.

If only Fakhar and Sharjeel could play together :(
 
Ellipsism said:
Shadab has more potential with the bat than with the ball, playing him at anything lower than seven is criminal; it defeats the purpose of him being in the team- he's in there as an all-rounder, not a bowler. If we're going to be playing him that low might as well draft in a specialist spinner.
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Don't you think he's a proper leggie with a world-class googly?

He's good enough to play as a bowler alone. Batting is surplus and keeps our line-up deep in case a typical Pakistani collapse is triggered.
 
Hadi Rizvi said:
Don't you think he's a proper leggie with a world-class googly?

He's good enough to play as a bowler alone. Batting is surplus and keeps our line-up deep in case a typical Pakistani collapse is triggered.
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No, he's a decent bowler but his batting in comparison is much better, it just hasn't been polished. He doesn't impart much revolutions thus he doesn't create much drift.

There are better leg spinners and spinners in Pakistan than Shadab. But there is no player in Pakistan that possesses the all-round abilities Shadab is blessed with.
 
Even at the worst of forms, Shehzad/Hafeez are better openers than Sarfraz.

*Current Sarfraz is not as same as Sarfraz of 2015*
 
Sarfraz's place is at 4-5. He is very good in the middle overs at rotating strike and attacking spin.

Haris should be tried as opener. And I am sure he will become the best opener we have had in years. Opener and number 3 are the most important positions in ODIs and should be occupied by your best players
 
i would even take hassan Ali as an opener , just get rid of this Shehzad Guy! surely imam-ul-haq cant be worse than him! can someone verify if Ahmad has the least strike rate as an opener in recent years !
 
Bring Faheem Ashraf into the ODI playing XI and open with Fakhar Zaman and Sarfaraz Ahmed

I am one of the many people who have become frustrated to not see Fahim Ashraf get a proper chance to develop himself considering that this lad has bags of potential as a lower order hitter, and a decent bowling option. For a long time, we have been calling for worthy lower order hitters to help finish off the innings in the right way, now that we have a player that has the potential to be highly destructive, we simply cannot work out how are we to give him a chance.

The other problem we are facing is the non-existent batting product Sarfaraz offers at the end of an innings. The guy doesnt have the technique to launch big and often looks well outside his comfort zone trying to heave the ball out of the park. Thats why, I feel that Sarfaraz could do well by playing higher up in the order in place of the inconsistent, unreliable Shahzad. Sarfaraz is already a much better opening option, and will have ample time to play the way that suits him. This will enable Young Fahim to have a go at number 6-7 and add much more firepower into this Pakistani line up.

If Sarfaraz isnt suited to open, Pakistan can also try having either Babar open up with Fakhar, slot Sarfaraz in at 5 after Hafeez and Malik. Either way, a straight swap between Fakhar and Shahzad opens up a door of possibilities in getting the best out of this team.

Fakhar
Sarfaraz
Babar
Hafeez
Malik
Faheem
Imad
Hassan
Shadab
Rumman
Junaid

Looks like a team fit enough to win the wc if you ask me
 
[MENTION=2016]Rana[/MENTION] great idea. That's a fantastic solution because we solve so many problems in one go. Sarfraz is a lot more effective between 1-4 and Fahim would FINALLY comes into the team. Babar also has experience opening so he's not a bad option either at the top. This is the only way I see Fahim coming in unless there's an injury or we're playing a dead rubber. I don't think management will change their plans though, if Shehzad is dropped they will replace him with Imam ul Haq.
 
Jave said:
Why not give Imam Ul Haq a chance?
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I understand but I think Fahim is more deserving for a proper chance than Imam at the moment. Imam has just recently been drafted in, whereas Fahim has been around for some time now and done well whenever called upon be it for cameos or a few overs to bowl. Its criminal to not give the lad a fair chance.

People ask for the Stokes, Pandyas, the Munro's, the Watsons, The Maxwells type of players for this Pakistan side. Well here is your chance to make something happen with this lad (Fahim), he definetly is the closest we will get to players of that calibre, but how is he supposed to become like them if we cant slot him in properly?
 
very weak batting lineup with only 4 specialist batsmen. we need to open with haris sohail and fakhar zaman
 
umerafzaal12 said:
very weak batting lineup with only 4 specialist batsmen. we need to open with haris sohail and fakhar zaman
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Tell me a team in the world that has 6-7 specialist batsmen in their top 7? Everyone depends on 3 or 4 specialist batsmen plus 2-3 batting all-rounders. Its not really the fact that a player is only a batsman, its the fact that can this player bat according to the requirements of the modern game now. Strike rates are more important than averages these days
 
Fahim is the late order big hitting batsman we have been searching for a long time. Although I have a few doubts about his bowling but we have plenty of bowling options. He can even be tried as a pinch hitting opener.
 
Hehehe fans are asking for Faheem Ashraf to replace his Habib Bank captain Ahmed Shahzad. Can understand the reason,Faheem Ashraf is in great form and is amazing striker of the ball.

He is the need of this Pakistan team as a pinch hitter, who actually plays as a bowling all-rounder can bowl at speed of 140 kph.

Earlier this month, Ashraf hit 37 off 21 balls and took 4 wickets [in 2 innings] for Habib Bank [led by Shehzad] agaiinst Rawalpindi in QEA trophy match . Imam ul Haq opened for the side and made 22. Habib Bank won it comfortably.

Now can he be part of the XI? Certain facts, Sarfraz will never open [until he is captain], Imad is the most useless player[came to bowl in 39th over] but he wont be dropped. Selector Inzamam the uncle has devised the XI inly for his nephew to get a chance who is an opener. DEpends on team management if they take this chance. Fahim's inclusion looks grim. The only match Faheem played in Champions Trophy was when he replaced Shadab Khan. The team management took a 4th pacer due to the pitch. If such a pitch is on the next venue, than there is probability otherwise looks difficult.
 
Tabishbeigh said:
i would even take hassan Ali as an opener , just get rid of this Shehzad Guy! surely imam-ul-haq cant be worse than him! can someone verify if Ahmad has the least strike rate as an opener in recent years !
Click to expand...

I think he is second on that list... Kraig Brathwaite is at the top with SR of 57
 
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