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Why does Pakistan keep selecting Yasir Shah in ODIs despite his repeated failures?

mak36

mak36

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It's really sad to see a proud cricketing nation like Pakistan, which has a rich history of developing world class spinners, left scraping the barrel for their second specialist spinner.

This topic has been discussed a lot. But the context of these discussions had mainly been about the lack of a second specialist spinner in the squad. That is to say, these discussions took place with the knowledge that at least we had Shadab...

Now he's been ruled out for the England Series (at least), Pakistan's back up spinner for the WORLD CUP is... wait for it...

... Yasir Shah. :facepalm:

Really??

Yasir still hasn't learnt to spin the ball in LOIs, he's overweight (and most likely failed the fitness test) and isn't the best fielder.

The most frustrating thing is that there are plenty of other options. But none of them have been considered/developed:

Zafar Gohar, Mohammad Asghar, Umer Khan

Irfan Khan, Usama Mir, (Zahid Mahmood, Shahzaib Ahmed)

Bilal Asif, Waleed Ahmed

You get the point. Literally any of these would be a better option for the World Cup. But Pakistan keeps persisting with Yasir Shah. Why?
 
On what basis Inzamam keep selecting Yasir?

I am a big supporter of Yasir in test format. But still can't figure out why and how he keeps getting selected in ODI again and again by Inzi. The guy was bashed by Aussie batsmen in dead UAE pitches but now Inzi selected him for lively pitches in England where he will be murdered by dynamic English batsmen.

Whether its a political or favoritism or clueless selection.

Your Opinion please.
 
[MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION] I find this really puzzling. Think tank would have seen how he bowled in the recent series. And it's not like Yasir's a (pseudo) all rounder so why does he keep finding favour with Inzi/Mickey/Sarfaraz?
 
Shafi said:
I am a big supporter of Yasir in test format. But still can't figure out why and how he keeps getting selected in ODI again and again by Inzi. The guy was bashed by Aussie batsmen in dead UAE pitches but now Inzi selected him for lively pitches in England where he will be murdered by dynamic English batsmen.

Whether its a political or favoritism or clueless selection.

Your Opinion please.
Click to expand...

Imran Khan clearly rates him. And he has won a WC. So we he clearly knows better than everyone else. /Thread
 
It's clearly a political selection . Didn't inzi have something to do with LQ as well ? I'm sure I have seen pictures of Yasir and Inzi spending time with each other.
 
Thing is shadab is the sole legspinner in the squad. So as the have that base covered, the selectors have selected another legspinner. Their is a real lack of genuine spinners. Realistically, only umar Khan and zafar gohar look promising enough for international cricket but they can only replace imad.
 
I'll play the Devil's Advocate and say that Yasir will be successful in the current English series, and be selected on the basis of that (if Shadab is unfit).

And then he will be murdered in the World Cup by good teams.
 
Imran Khan
Mickey Arthur
Inzi
Sarfraz

They all love, absolutely LOVE Yasir Shah.

OK, if it's Inzi's fault, then Mickey and Sarf should have guts to not play him in the XI.

But I'm telling you.

They WILL play him.
 
JattMaula said:
Imran Khan clearly rates him. And he has won a WC. So we he clearly knows better than everyone else. /Thread
Click to expand...

Basically this.

As per [MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION] nobody has a right to play down the opinion of a professional cricketer.

However, he does the same all day on this forum. Clearly ex or current professional cricketers don't know more than him.
 
Experience

Experienced players have monopoly in Pakistan cricket. That’s why no matter how poor they are in a format, they will be always selected on the basis of good performance in another format. That’s the only reason Younis played so many ODIs despite being utterly rubbish and Azhar was made ODI captain.
 
JattMaula said:
Imran Khan clearly rates him. And he has won a WC. So we he clearly knows better than everyone else. /Thread
Click to expand...
Lol. Has he ever seen Yasir play in odis?
We know how he plays coz we've been watching him for the last so and so years. I bet you IK can't even name more than 5 players from our team.
I'd rather take the opinion of an ex cricketer like Rashid latif or Muhammad wasim as the truth than IK. At least they follow cricket.
 
I can't tell you how angry I was when I found out he had replaced Shadab Khan in the England squad. God forbid Shadab doesn't recover for the World Cup and Yasir Shah becomes part of the World Cup squad. That will be a nightmare for me.
 
hadi123 said:
I can't tell you how angry I was when I found out he had replaced Shadab Khan in the England squad. God forbid Shadab doesn't recover for the World Cup and Yasir Shah becomes part of the World Cup squad. That will be a nightmare for me.
Click to expand...

We're all in this together, brother.
 
This is why I think Yasir Shah can be a block buster in the WC

Ok I have decided to flush away my negative thoughts on Yasir Shah in ODIs.

I am trying to think of scenarios of how Yasir will succeed in the WC. It seems like a rather dry summer this year as it is already getting warmer here in England. So I think the wickets are going to turn. Yasir did reasonably well against England last time he played in England.

If Yasir gets his form back and picks 2/3 important wickets in the middle that will be fantastic. He also seems to do well against the tail with his flippers (provided he is in good rhythm).

All in all Yasir in the eleven is not such a bad move after all. We already know Pakistan batting is weak so might as well try our luck with a leggie.
 
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Positive. Good. People need to realise that this is the team which is going to play. You can't do anything to change that. So instead of whining about it, support the team and whine after the wc finishes.
 
Yasir isn't in the WC team yet, we will have to wait until the England series finishes
 
gazza619 said:
Ok I have decided to flush away my negative thoughts on Yasir Shah in ODIs.

I am trying to think of scenarios of how Yasir will succeed in the WC. It seems like a rather dry summer this year as it is already getting warmer here in England. So I think the wickets are going to turn. Yasir did reasonably well against England last time he played in England.

If Yasir gets his form back and picks 2/3 important wickets in the middle that will be fantastic. He also seems to do well against the tail with his flippers (provided he is in good rhythm).

All in all Yasir in the eleven is not such a bad move after all. We already know Pakistan batting is weak so might as well try our luck with a leggie.
Click to expand...

Tests and ODIs are not the same.

When will we understand that?
 
Dr_Bassim said:
I'll play the Devil's Advocate and say that Yasir will be successful in the current English series, and be selected on the basis of that (if Shadab is unfit).

And then he will be murdered in the World Cup by good teams.
Click to expand...

But England is one of the good teams, he'll probably get murdered by them. I guess we can only hope he does well as unless Shadab recovers he's bound to play WC.
 
I knew his ODI record is poor, but never looked at his stats. Having taken a good look at details now, I actually can see why IuH has picked him....

Excluding ZIM, against whom he has 11 of his 23 ODI wickets @ ~20/3.8 stats, his career stats against ENG, IND & SRL was 8 wickets @ 73.00/5.85. He actually improved that against Aussies in recent series - 4 wickets for 283 runs@ 70.75/5.66 stats - that’s a decent improvement from 73/5.85 and that learning curve must have been considered by PCT’s CS. This is just in 10 days of AUS series and WC has 60+ days gap, then 7 weeks from start to finish - at this rate, by the end of WC final, you know......
 
If we really need a leg spinner why not recall Afridi. Over all he is even better than Sadab with his allroud abilities and miles away than Yasir.
 
Pakistani captains, coaches and selectors don't seem capable of statistical analysis, they rely on perception and common myths.

"Umar Akmal is talented so let's recall him" despite multiple failed recalls.

"Ahmed Shehzad is aggressive" even though his SR is in the 70s.

"Shoaib Malik's experience will be important in England" despite Malik's average in Eng of 13.

No wonder our cricket has been in a rut when history and past failures are forgotten so quickly.

Just a simple statsguru search tells you the worth of Yasir in ODIs.
 
gazza619 said:
Ok I have decided to flush away my negative thoughts on Yasir Shah in ODIs.

I am trying to think of scenarios of how Yasir will succeed in the WC. It seems like a rather dry summer this year as it is already getting warmer here in England. So I think the wickets are going to turn. Yasir did reasonably well against England last time he played in England.

If Yasir gets his form back and picks 2/3 important wickets in the middle that will be fantastic. He also seems to do well against the tail with his flippers (provided he is in good rhythm).

All in all Yasir in the eleven is not such a bad move after all. We already know Pakistan batting is weak so might as well try our luck with a leggie.
Click to expand...

Mickey and Inzi agree with you his blockbuster status is forthcoming.
 
MMHS said:
I knew his ODI record is poor, but never looked at his stats. Having taken a good look at details now, I actually can see why IuH has picked him....

Excluding ZIM, against whom he has 11 of his 23 ODI wickets @ ~20/3.8 stats, his career stats against ENG, IND & SRL was 8 wickets @ 73.00/5.85. He actually improved that against Aussies in recent series - 4 wickets for 283 runs@ 70.75/5.66 stats - that’s a decent improvement from 73/5.85 and that learning curve must have been considered by PCT’s CS. This is just in 10 days of AUS series and WC has 60+ days gap, then 7 weeks from start to finish - at this rate, by the end of WC final, you know......
Click to expand...

He's setting it up nicely for a big finish in the final the best of places to take your first five wicket haul and confirm Inzis backing.
 
The last leg spinner who did well for Pakistan in ODIs was Mushtaq.

Many pretenders but no real McCoy.

Yasir is not in the same league in ODIs - just doesn't have the same wiring in the brain. Hence has been a failure so far.
 
Selecting Yasir for the ODI series against England is a slap in the face of all up and coming spinners in Pakistan. What must they be thinking.
 
No other spinner has been groomed. Pakistan can't throw too many unknowns in a WC stage - Hasnain the exemption and Abid Ali has played 2 games at 31
 
Markhor said:
Pakistani captains, coaches and selectors don't seem capable of statistical analysis, they rely on perception and common myths.

"Umar Akmal is talented so let's recall him" despite multiple failed recalls.

"Ahmed Shehzad is aggressive" even though his SR is in the 70s.

"Shoaib Malik's experience will be important in England" despite Malik's average in Eng of 13.

No wonder our cricket has been in a rut when history and past failures are forgotten so quickly.

Just a simple statsguru search tells you the worth of Yasir in ODIs.
Click to expand...

You are right... they just cant follow basics and are overly emotional... we have to pick Malik because it would be his last world cup.. Because of Malik the team has no balance at all
 
1 wicket but giving away loads of runs.... Shadab needed back soon.
 
6-0-65-1

His figures so far against a 2nd string Kent team.
 
Unfortunately its not a honest selection. Its either political or some powerful people behind his selection. Both Inzi and Micky don't have any moral so they rather take huge salary by keeping silent. Performance don't matter.
 
At this point Yasir Shah has an ODI bowling average of 47.

Catastrophic failure of the think-tank to send him as replacement spinner. After the WC certain members of the backroom need to go.
 
Yasir Shah is an anamoly.

Never, NEVER, in history of cricket (since advent of ODIs) a spinner succesful in Test format has been unsuccessful in ODI format.
OTOH, Many spinners have failed to replicate their ODI success in Test format.
That's how Yasir Shah has managed this unique combination of stats is a mystery.
 
last_knight said:
Yasir Shah is an anamoly.

Never, NEVER, in history of cricket (since advent of ODIs) a spinner succesful in Test format has been unsuccessful in ODI format.
OTOH, Many spinners have failed to replicate their ODI success in Test format.
That's how Yasir Shah has managed this unique combination of stats is a mystery.
Click to expand...

He's the bowling equivalent of Younis Khan
 
Chokli said:
He's the bowling equivalent of Younis Khan
Click to expand...

Please do not Insult Younis Khan's bowling. He was far better with the ball when conditions favored a little swing. This guy has been a complete horror even in tests let alone ODIs OUTSIDE his comfort zones and the selectors, buffoons.
 
CricVet said:
Please do not Insult Younis Khan's bowling. He was far better with the ball when conditions favored a little swing. This guy has been a complete horror even in tests let alone ODIs OUTSIDE his comfort zones and the selectors, buffoons.
Click to expand...

Younis was great in Tests horrible in ODIs
Yasir is great in Tests horrible in ODIS
 
90 runs in 10 overs conceded today.

That must be extremely worrying for Yasir and the team management.
 
Beaten black and blue by a 2nd string Kent side lol. OP is a defender of Inzi as well. Absolute no defence for this political selection.
 
Kent team players were inexperienced and new, they did not know who Yasir Shah was, they thougth he was some club level bowler and played him like that. Team management clearly failed to educate Kent players.
 
Whoever the chump is behind his selection has NO spin bowling knowledge. What a waste of opportuniy to try out some young alround spinner instead. I bet that even mushtaq can bowl better than him now. This guy has no sense of line especially and length is either full or short.
 
Going for 90+ runs against a B string Kent team requires some special mediocrity. I can bet that Haris Sohail will outperform him as a bowler.
 
The_Odd_One said:
Going for 90+ runs against a B string Kent team requires some special mediocrity. I can bet that Haris Sohail will outperform him as a bowler.
Click to expand...

Haris Sohail actually bowled decently in the 2015 world cup as a part timer. Yasir Shah is just...
 
The famous trio is trying to cover their a$$ through Yasir.

It was not stupidity, because 4 people (The bowling coach is the 4th one) involved in cricket for combined over 100 years can't be so dumb - it was corruption of the highest order that for 3 years these corrupt souls didn't develop a single back-up genuine spinner. That too after knowing that Hafeez might not be able to bowl or he won't be effective with a remodeled action - and I can't say that they didn't know this (regarding Hafeez's decline), because these corrupt souls had the burning example of Saeed Ajmal - from potential greatest off-spinner, he became a rag with a modified action.

As they say - chance favors the prepared mind .... obviously the opposite is true as well and these corrupt souls got screwed at the perfect time - just 2 months before WC. Like panic stricken rabbits they scratched the bottom of the barrel at the cost of their finger nails but didn't find a single grain of hope ..... Usama Mir had been there for 6-7 year - not a single trial even for A team; Irfan Jr. has been among the top domestic List A players for 3-4 years - not a single call for even preliminary squad; from a potential Test debut, Jafar Gohar is now missing PAK Cup; For 3 years since redemption, Raja Hasan had been among regular domestic performers - still no call for any camp; For a decade now Kashif has collected a stunning domestic stats - never got a game; for last 2 years Kamran Ghulam has been a top class all-rounder both with bat & ball; Ibtesham made a great debut in PSL last season, Asghar now is going to the decline phase after being rusted for 2 years on bench, even Bilal wasn't tried for ODI, when he is probably a better package for LO ...... I can go on.

But, these corrupt people have played 3 pacers in UAE, have picked 6 pacers for an Asia Cup in UAE (for an excuse of net practice - how shameless & damn care someone can be), have debuted Abbas in UAE ODI, have played possible full squad against ZIM reserves, have played best XI in every T20I ....... now, it was pay back time. Once Shadab was injured and risking WC, these corrupt souls found that only other spinner they had given chance in last 3 years is Nawaz - even for PCB's (& PAK's sports journalism's) standard, it'll be difficult for them to justify how on earth they pick another SLAO spinner when squad has Imad, Haris & even Fakhar. ............

Yasir gave them a carpet to sweep the dirt under.....................

Someone, please throw this post to the face of the "convicts" here, and ask them to respond without mincing words.
 
Yasir Shah needs to go!

Pakistan simply cannot expect to beat a side like England with this guy in the team whose bowling average is worse than an AR he was rubbish in UAE and we expect him to perform in ENG?

His batting is also nil and he is blocking the spot of Asif Ali or another fast bowler.

The best combination for Pakistan would be to play 4 fast bowlers and Imad Wasim since Shadab is sick.

If Yasir plays I am expecting Pakistan to lose the series 5-0
 
We will see even worse when Micky will debut Yasir in T20 as well. By doing so Yasir will miss out his strongest format which is test and play ODI and T20.
 
PSL matches have became the unofficial selection trials for PCT as seen in several cases already. Was there any decent wristspinner(left or right handed) in this year's PSL Besides Shadab? Any "mystery" spinner?
 
JattMaula said:
PSL matches have became the unofficial selection trials for PCT as seen in several cases already. Was there any decent wristspinner(left or right handed) in this year's PSL Besides Shadab? Any "mystery" spinner?
Click to expand...

Zafar Gohar and Irfan Jnr who is a leg break weren't given games by their franchises. They could have been options but even if they performed Inzi still wouldn't have selected them.
 
MMHS said:
The famous trio is trying to cover their a$$ through Yasir.

It was not stupidity, because 4 people (The bowling coach is the 4th one) involved in cricket for combined over 100 years can't be so dumb - it was corruption of the highest order that for 3 years these corrupt souls didn't develop a single back-up genuine spinner. That too after knowing that Hafeez might not be able to bowl or he won't be effective with a remodeled action - and I can't say that they didn't know this (regarding Hafeez's decline), because these corrupt souls had the burning example of Saeed Ajmal - from potential greatest off-spinner, he became a rag with a modified action.

As they say - chance favors the prepared mind .... obviously the opposite is true as well and these corrupt souls got screwed at the perfect time - just 2 months before WC. Like panic stricken rabbits they scratched the bottom of the barrel at the cost of their finger nails but didn't find a single grain of hope ..... Usama Mir had been there for 6-7 year - not a single trial even for A team; Irfan Jr. has been among the top domestic List A players for 3-4 years - not a single call for even preliminary squad; from a potential Test debut, Jafar Gohar is now missing PAK Cup; For 3 years since redemption, Raja Hasan had been among regular domestic performers - still no call for any camp; For a decade now Kashif has collected a stunning domestic stats - never got a game; for last 2 years Kamran Ghulam has been a top class all-rounder both with bat & ball; Ibtesham made a great debut in PSL last season, Asghar now is going to the decline phase after being rusted for 2 years on bench, even Bilal wasn't tried for ODI, when he is probably a better package for LO ...... I can go on.

But, these corrupt people have played 3 pacers in UAE, have picked 6 pacers for an Asia Cup in UAE (for an excuse of net practice - how shameless & damn care someone can be), have debuted Abbas in UAE ODI, have played possible full squad against ZIM reserves, have played best XI in every T20I ....... now, it was pay back time. Once Shadab was injured and risking WC, these corrupt souls found that only other spinner they had given chance in last 3 years is Nawaz - even for PCB's (& PAK's sports journalism's) standard, it'll be difficult for them to justify how on earth they pick another SLAO spinner when squad has Imad, Haris & even Fakhar. ............

Yasir gave them a carpet to sweep the dirt under.....................

Someone, please throw this post to the face of the "convicts" here, and ask them to respond without mincing words.
Click to expand...

Great post Theyve had 2-3 years to find another spinner to shadab Theyve not given anyone a chance Theyve played all sudo rounders and full teams even against minnows and in t20s

You reap what you sow and this is the end result We have someone playing who doesnt deserve to be anywhere near the team in odis but because of the above theyve been caught with their pants down and no other option

Terrible planning from people whove played managed and watched enough cricket to have done so much better
 
Last edited:
I’d love to have a one on one with Mickey..
He’d get a price of my mind and will have zero arguments to come back with.
He should be ashamed of himself
 
Yasir is selected based on his test performance. Problem is, there is a big myth among the thinking tank (inside, Mickey, etc) those who have more than 100 years of cricketer experience among them. Failure to drop a consistent non performing individual shows about their character. 100% blame lies with selector and team management.
 
How does this keep happening ?
How ? Its just ridiculous. He keeps wearing the national jersey over much more talented spinners.
People need to be fired for this.
 
they could have picked muhammad nawaz over this guy.

he just does not have the ability to bowl...
 
WTH YASIR SHAH??? 3 short balls to jos buttler after a wicket

honestly???

looks like match fixing - what else could explain this nonsense.
 
Why does Yasir struggle so much in LOI?

It's as if he forgets the basics of bowling when playing LOI.

In Test cricket Yasir seems like a powerful force, however, why is it that in LOI he turns into half tracker bowling machine?

It's as if he is incapable of pitching the ball up - never mind getting spin or variation.

Why is this the case?

Why does this mental block come in for Yasir when he's playing LOI?
 
Failed the fitness test .failed in odi series against aus that too in uae .His test record in England apart from one test is pathetic. What is Mickey ,inzi and sarfraz thinking is beyond me
 
Best thing that ever happened was this series for Pakistan. Imagine if he had been picked for the world cup? He could have KO'd Pakistan's campaign within two games.
 
khan_aa said:
they could have picked muhammad nawaz over this guy.

he just does not have the ability to bowl...
Click to expand...

Nawaz is a massive upgrade from Yasir...

I keep saying this but Inzi and the management should be sacked for this selection alone...
 
Poor Selection and Coaching. Both to be blamed for this one. The record of the player speaks for himself.

If he isn't good enough to play ODIs in UAE, why would you bring him to England?
 
This is the same Mickey who benched Usama Mir for the whole of PSL :facepalm:
 
Speechless after that last over from Yasir Shah.
Even a bloke from the crowd randomly asked to bowl an over of leg spin might not have matched that rubbish.
 
What's inexplicable is that 90% of the posters here knew he was a busted flush two years ago. What on earth are the selectors and team management looking at when they make these selections? Is it another case of Sarfraz wanting his old team mate buddies in the team and pushing for his selection?
 
Cpt. Rishwat said:
What's inexplicable is that 90% of the posters here knew he was a busted flush two years ago. What on earth are the selectors and team management looking at when they make these selections? Is it another case of Sarfraz wanting his old team mate buddies in the team and pushing for his selection?
Click to expand...

Ridiculous...
Honestly, people should lose their jobs over this and i’m So angry right now that it doesn’t even matter if they get sacked before the World Cup even begins...
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yasir Shah has bowled in 3 ODIs in England:<br><br>7-0-60-1<br>6-0-48-0<br>9.3-0-62-0<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvPAK</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1127214342779305985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Inzi be like can't wait to select Shah for WC :inzi2
 
IMMY69 said:
Ridiculous...
Honestly, people should lose their jobs over this and i’m So angry right now that it doesn’t even matter if they get sacked before the World Cup even begins...
Click to expand...

Exactly. Mismanagement is evident, no point in going to the WC only to fire some incompetent people after humiliation.
 
mak36 said:
This is the same Mickey who benched Usama Mir for the whole of PSL :facepalm:
Click to expand...

What shocks be is that, he was rating Usama Mir as next big thing in first season of PSL. Mickey and his crowd pulling tactics.
 
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