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Why did Babar Azam and Misbah-ul-Haq not let Saud Shakeel debut?
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Ahson8
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Should have been Saud over Butt, but he will get his chance ultimately.
Bigboii
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We'll waste his prime years like we wasted Fawad
If you're from Lahore and talented only than will they pick you at the right age ...
Not saying he is babar level but I don't think people can deny his batting talent
If you're from Lahore and talented only than will they pick you at the right age ...
Not saying he is babar level but I don't think people can deny his batting talent
Extreme Pace
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And how exactly do you select him ? You have Azhar at 3, Babar at 4, Fawad at 5. Makes no sense to drop any of them to debut Saud Shakeel. What we need are 2 openers, not another middle order player.
mastimasti
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Difficult to have him in the middle order at this point, unless Azhar is dropped.
Ahson8
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There is no place for him until abid Ali retires .
Extreme Pace
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What ridiculous nonsense, let's uproot our entire order, mess up the few batsmen that are actually good in their positions to accommodate Saud Shakeel. If Saud Shakeel wants to open great, give him a shot as an opener. Otherwise he just has to wait his turn.
Zaz
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Neither are abid and butt
You might as well send hasan ali and yasir in opening
Im sure theyd do a better job than all the openers we have in domestics inc abid and butt
when he is past his prime?
Move Azhar back as an opener. Pakistan does not have good test openers so it is logical to move Azhar back up.
2. Azhar
3. Babar
4. Saud
5. Fawad
Greenstorm
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This is why I don't rate Babar as captain. In this case he either doesn't have the guts to stand up to Misbah and drop a senior (age wise) Abid or he genuinely thinks that Saud isn't good enough to be in XI (which I doubt).
Another surprise was Hassan Ali's selection today. He looked terribly out of rhythm in last test but the thick tank still persisted with him.
Another surprise was Hassan Ali's selection today. He looked terribly out of rhythm in last test but the thick tank still persisted with him.
We’ve only won 1 test in 6. And there’s nothing to suggest Imran Butt belongs at this level. He had 5 edges in the 30 odd balls he faced. And you can still improve on a winning team.
I’ve always believed that you should find your best 6 batsmen first then figure out the batting order second. Like Australia did when they opened with Langer or Watson. India did with Gambhir and Sehwag.
This whole defined role for opener is outdated.
This. You should play your best 6 test batsmen and Saud will be easily among them.
Fahdi
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Well the current management doesn't like to mess with positions. Azhar was tried as opener more on Mickey's insistence. Misbah and Waqar never moved Asad from his position and the result was that in terms of volume he became the greatest number 6 batsman in history, more runs and hundreds than some of the greats, since he never moved up the order. Misbah never tampered with the 4 bowler formula until just recently when Faheem was added.
So considering the above Misbah probably doesn't want to disrupt Azhar's current position, who has been performing at number 3 since the England series, and doesn't feel comfortable making Saud into an opener. Being fair to Misbah here, this is a safe and arguably sensible approach and one can understand the reasoning behind it. Many have their own opinions on the matter and want to see some innovation to make up deficiencies, Misbah and Babar simply don't think like that.
I am also among those that want to see some innovation given that the conventional options aren't giving the returns we are hoping for. But there is merit to the other side's argument as well. Consider the hue and cry if Azhar was tried as opener and he goes on to fail for 3 matches, people will be after the captain and coach's head saying things like "they have disrupted the rhythm of an in form batsman" and "needless experimentation" etc. etc.
So considering the above Misbah probably doesn't want to disrupt Azhar's current position, who has been performing at number 3 since the England series, and doesn't feel comfortable making Saud into an opener. Being fair to Misbah here, this is a safe and arguably sensible approach and one can understand the reasoning behind it. Many have their own opinions on the matter and want to see some innovation to make up deficiencies, Misbah and Babar simply don't think like that.
I am also among those that want to see some innovation given that the conventional options aren't giving the returns we are hoping for. But there is merit to the other side's argument as well. Consider the hue and cry if Azhar was tried as opener and he goes on to fail for 3 matches, people will be after the captain and coach's head saying things like "they have disrupted the rhythm of an in form batsman" and "needless experimentation" etc. etc.
It might be an unpopular opinion, but selection was fine in that it gave a proper chance to both openers. For Imran Butt, it'd be extremely unfair to drop him after one match, so him being given the series would not only give him a full opportunity with the bat but it'll give management an idea as to how he plays in the international test arena. One match then drop is one of the many reasons why Pakistan aren't a consistently good side.
Regarding Abid, who the knives are pointed at the most and understandably so after ENG and NZ tours, the last time he played at home he scored heavy runs so it'd be fair that this home series would be his last chance to save his spot in the XI. If he fails in the second innings, then I'd say that's it for him and have Azhar open with Saud being drafted in for the middle order.
I'm not against Saud being in the XI (not at all) but at the same time Pakistan need to find an XI they can stay consistent with and playing musical chairs with regards to selection isn't the way to go. This could be a reason why Babar and Misbah didn't give Saud the nod.
Regarding Abid, who the knives are pointed at the most and understandably so after ENG and NZ tours, the last time he played at home he scored heavy runs so it'd be fair that this home series would be his last chance to save his spot in the XI. If he fails in the second innings, then I'd say that's it for him and have Azhar open with Saud being drafted in for the middle order.
I'm not against Saud being in the XI (not at all) but at the same time Pakistan need to find an XI they can stay consistent with and playing musical chairs with regards to selection isn't the way to go. This could be a reason why Babar and Misbah didn't give Saud the nod.
UzmanBeast
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The thing is, would you have Azhar open given his age-related decline. He'll pull out a few good innings here and there, but he's not a good long-term solution.
Realistically speaking, if one of Usman Salahuddin, Saud Shakeel, and others want to make the test team for certain, they need to open the batting.
Azhar is a temporary fix, but the person we play at 3 should be ready to take over that opening slot when the time comes.
in_cutter
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I think the management are doing a good job giving people a fair run in the squad rather than pressing the panic button and chopping and changing which just puts more pressure on every player who is new to the squad .
Abid Ali has been a fair run now . Unless he does something very dramatic he will definitely be dropped for the next series . His saving grace were his home performances but they have become non existent to.
Imran butt- Why should he dropped after one test. He deserves the full series which is 4 innings and if his woes continue in the next innings potentially he will be dropped to .
In the middle order we have azhar , ( averaging 50 plus in his last 6 tests).
Then babar , Fawad and Rizwan so at present it’s difficult to slot saud in.
The openers are a problem and one obvious solution could be to slot in Azhar to open . That opens the gate for Saud .
Once he gets a chance I’m sure he will get a good run in the team which he deserves just like any other player who is selected .
I recall Osman Salahuddin getting one test and then being forgotten. Don’t see that happening with the current management.
Abid Ali has been a fair run now . Unless he does something very dramatic he will definitely be dropped for the next series . His saving grace were his home performances but they have become non existent to.
Imran butt- Why should he dropped after one test. He deserves the full series which is 4 innings and if his woes continue in the next innings potentially he will be dropped to .
In the middle order we have azhar , ( averaging 50 plus in his last 6 tests).
Then babar , Fawad and Rizwan so at present it’s difficult to slot saud in.
The openers are a problem and one obvious solution could be to slot in Azhar to open . That opens the gate for Saud .
Once he gets a chance I’m sure he will get a good run in the team which he deserves just like any other player who is selected .
I recall Osman Salahuddin getting one test and then being forgotten. Don’t see that happening with the current management.
Ahson8
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I never said Butt should be dropped now, just that Saud should have got a chance over Butt in the first place
Suleiman
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They are jealous of his talent. That’s why.
Bigboii
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Wth enough of the victim mentality, grow up
Sure Kirachi cricketers face some problems but so does every cricketer out side of Lahore not a punjabi problem
Stewie
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Here we go again with the lahore vs karachi stupidity.
Asad shafique, Sami, kaneria, what about all those guys? Please give your bias against lahore a rest!
Stewie
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Here we go again with the lahore vs karachi stupidity.
Asad shafique, Sami, kaneria, what about all those guys? Please give your bias against lahore a rest!
Bigboii
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I am a Lahori man! It's written up there in the corner Why would I be biased against them
But facts are facts if you play cricket in Lahore or its clubs (regardless of ethnicity) you're likelier to get noticed faster and selscted to PCT faster than your counterparts from other regions and cities
It's like your journey towards int cricket becomes less bumpy
shady
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I think he should be in line for a debut in Zimbabwe. Azhar clearly needs to open given thats where our major problem is and we don't have too many options in domestics. Abid is probably gonna get dropped given that he's too old/experienced to look as out of depth as he does. Imran Butt deserves a proper run in the side, it would be unfair to drop him after two games. So Azhar should open with Imran for the next few tests and that leaves room to have Saud debut at 3.
abid has already had 2 series were he didnt do much also had this series hes had enough opportunities
What if we dont have 2 oppeners just carry on just for the sake of it ?
whens his turn another 10 years ?
Azhar should open he has done it before saud should bat at 3
ask_analyse_act
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I think Saud and Kamran ghulam would have done much better than these two.
Abid end of story.. should go home.
Imran with his edgy starts doe t look like a opener, he can be tried as a middle order , not as opener.
Abid end of story.. should go home.
Imran with his edgy starts doe t look like a opener, he can be tried as a middle order , not as opener.
Stop with this crap, Asad Sarfraz etc weren't from Lahore & they got their chances pretty early in their career even Shaan Masood did made his debut when he was 23 or 24.
He has to opener he wont get into the team as a mifdle order player
unemployedgm
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Power lies with Babar. But should the power lie with someone who has seen very little of Shakeel.
Pacy with wisdom
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Lol, Babar has even played alongside Saud. They both shared a lot of partnerships on the A tour in 2016 before Babar even made his test debut.
Ahson8
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Yeah thats why I was a bit disappointed. But hopefully he is next in line
ask_analyse_act
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Then should go back to domestics. He is there because of Misbahs shambolic selection for the previous tour which Wasim wants to give it a shot at this gully mohalla opener to open in tests.
unemployedgm
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Playing a few matches together does not mean you understand the player holistically. More importantly that was 5 years ago. A lot has changed in between.
It shouldn't take minutes or even hours to analyze a player. It should take days, weeks, and months. It's an ongoing process that requires complex thinking and a rigorous process.
i would stil give him 1 more series yes he has been poor thou. But who do we replace him with usman Salahuddin? Azhar to open ?
Ilan Bluestone
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Azhar should open, Imran Butt or Abid Ali out.
Fawad is still fine, he was MOM just last match and now has two series against great teams with a century.
Too bad we brought Fawad too late, but hopefully we can get 2-3 years of him.
Don't want Shakeel to be in the waiting pipeline like Fawad was and we ruin him. Looks a good player on both sides of the coin in the long and shorter formats.
Fawad is still fine, he was MOM just last match and now has two series against great teams with a century.
Too bad we brought Fawad too late, but hopefully we can get 2-3 years of him.
Don't want Shakeel to be in the waiting pipeline like Fawad was and we ruin him. Looks a good player on both sides of the coin in the long and shorter formats.
ask_analyse_act
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He is only good to catch in the slips.. if have to keep him in the team for his slip fielding , i would play him in the middle order below Fawad alam.. not as an opener.
two RHB
Azhar ali
Usman Salahuddin
two LHB
Umar Amin
Saud Shakeel..
these are the 4 openers i can pick, and they should go with a left hand , right hand combo which will help
3 out of the above four should bat from 1 to 3.. Azhar should open with Umar or Saud Shakeel
Have Umar or Usman at no.3
He has to open otherwise he cant make the team as a middle/lower order batter.i would give him 1 more series and if he flops il drop him.usman salahuddin is a good option he has a tight technique and has been oppening for his domestic team.as for saud il bat him at 3 if azhar opens with Salahuddin.i would not bat saud in the oppening slot
I would go next series.
Butt
Azhar
Saud
If that doesnt work out il go usman salahuddin
Azhar
Saud
