Why don't we just play Mohammad Nawaz at the number 4 batting position?

[gazza619]

He did it once against India playing that incredible knock. I know he is a bowler who can bat but he actually uses the long handle really well against pacers.

It is strange that he has not been tried at number since that heroic batting display. Even if he does well 1 in 5 games I say that would be job done. It is not as if Iftikhar, Shan, Khusdil or Haider are on fire.

 

[shamaan]

Shadab should be batting in the top order he can play spin well and is a good runner between the wickets.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Nawaz doesn't show much improvement or ability to play pace bowling in his batting.

He has too many faults.

 

[hafizexpress]

This is a serious question the management should be asking themselves. It should've been tried during the England series and I still think that they should go with it. Nawaz and Shadab are good enough to be a middle order right-hand/left-hand combo and they won't do any worse than the current middle order. Unlike the current middle order that tends to halt the run-rate and build up pressure, Shadab and Nawaz can keep strike rotation going and hitting boundaries. Their promotions vs India and Afghanistan, respectively, were game-changers.

Babar, Rizwan, Shan/Fakhar, Nawaz, Shadab, Ifti, Asif Ali, Aaamer Jamal, 3 quicks

This looks odd but that's why they don't realize it's the most effective. Aamer Jamal can't do any worse than Khushdil but if he doesn't play then Khushdil can join the lower order. Nawaz and Shadab could change the dynamic of the middle overs. Even if they last 7-8 overs in total, it would be impactful enough for Ifti, AA, Khushdil/Aamer to come and finish it off.

 

[AAli98]

Without Rizwan and the odd 20 for barbar; team is a disaster.

 

[AZulfi]

Nawaz is a bowling all rounder not a batting all rounder. No 4 is too high for him imo

 

[AZulfi]

Pakistan’s batting woes are not too difficult to understand.

In order to be a successful T20 team, you need 2 or 3 proper batsmen (who score their runs quickly) and at least 3 or 4 powerful hitters who are also technically correct unlike Asif Ali who is a pure tulleybaaz, who bats the same way whether there are 7 overs or 7 balls remaining! This is just unacceptable at this level.

England has two proper batsmen - Buttler and Malan. Then they have Salt, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali as powerful hitters who are all technically sound batsmen. England can pick any 3 or 4 from them.

Jason Roy and Duckett (one of the most consistent players in the recent series vs Pak) did not make their World Cup squad. Just shows their bench strength!

Australia has three proper batsmen Finch, Warner and Steve Smith. Then they have powerful hitters (who are all technically correct) such as Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade (Our nemesis in last years World Cup semifinal) and Marcus Stoinis.

Cameron Green (a powerful hitter who would easily walk into any other current international side) did not make their World Cup squad since Stoinis is fit again!

Pakistan has two proper batsmen Babar and Rizwan. We only have one good powerful hitter Fakhar Zaman (out of form lately) The rest of the batting is ‘faarigh’. Shan has yet to prove himself in T20 cricket. Shadab and Nawaz are bowling all-rounders.

Having a good bowling attack is just not good enough. You have got to be able to set decent 180 plus targets against good sides + chase down such scores on a consistent basis. I do not see this happening with our current batting esp. our mediocre middle-order.

 

[AZulfi]

I think these 4 teams will make the semifinals of the T20 World Cup.

Australia, England, New Zealand and India or Sri Lanka. South Africa has an outside chance.

 

[wrongun]

This is a serious question the management should be asking themselves. It should've been tried during the England series and I still think that they should go with it. Nawaz and Shadab are good enough to be a middle order right-hand/left-hand combo and they won't do any worse than the current middle order. Unlike the current middle order that tends to halt the run-rate and build up pressure, Shadab and Nawaz can keep strike rotation going and hitting boundaries. Their promotions vs India and Afghanistan, respectively, were game-changers.

Babar, Rizwan, Shan/Fakhar, Nawaz, Shadab, Ifti, Asif Ali, Aaamer Jamal, 3 quicks

This looks odd but that's why they don't realize it's the most effective. Aamer Jamal can't do any worse than Khushdil but if he doesn't play then Khushdil can join the lower order. Nawaz and Shadab could change the dynamic of the middle overs. Even if they last 7-8 overs in total, it would be impactful enough for Ifti, AA, Khushdil/Aamer to come and finish it off.

This tri series is exactly the place to experiment with those kinds of things. I don't expect too many surprises in this NZ match but after that, if the middle order fails again then it is time to explore options.

 

[gazza619]

This tri series is exactly the place to experiment with those kinds of things. I don't expect too many surprises in this NZ match but after that, if the middle order fails again then it is time to explore options.

Middle order has been failing since the dawn of times.

We are experiment with Asif Ali since the era of dinosaurs and failing, why not experiment with Nawaz at no.4. He did well against India and is no mug with the bat.

He can be a poor man’s Jadeja and that is not a bad thing.

 

[AtifUk]

I'd have Shadab at 4 over Nawaz.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

I would go for this team in the World Cup T20.

I know it will never happen because Babar would eat dung before slip himself down and Rizwan would rather "blaspheme" instead of dropping to 3.

1. Asif
2. Rizwan or Babar
3. Babar or Rizwan
4. Shadab
5. Nawaz
6. Haider or any other alternative
7. Iftikhar
8. Haris
9. Naseem
10. Shaheen
11 Hasnain

 

[sweep_shot]

Nawaz should bat higher. I think he can even come in at #3 for pinch-hitting.

 

[Justcrazy]

Sharjeel
Rizwan
Fakhar
Babaar
Asif
Shadab
Imad
Nawaz
Shaheen
Naseem
Rauuf

This should have been the playing XI of Pakistan in 20 20.

 

[Suleiman]

No idea why we didn’t persist with Nawaz @4 after he smashed the 40 odd vs India under immense pressure. Same with Aamer Jamel.

It shows they know what the right action is but are too stubborn.

It’s interesting that under this Babar-Saqlain regime, even if you perform their favorite is still going to get the preference over you.

 

[MenInG]

Competing with Shadab for that slot

 

[Saj]

He's not a number 4 or 5.

Yes he can come in and slog a few, but he's not in the class of Shadab with the bat.

But the fact that he was sent in at 5 today shows just how poor the so-called other middle-order batters are.

 

[JimmyGetsBuckets]

He's not a number 4 or 5.

Yes he can come in and slog a few, but he's not in the class of Shadab with the bat.

But the fact that he was sent in at 5 today shows just how poor the so-called other middle-order batters are.

He did better than ifti chacha and Asif Ali

 

[Zaz]

Awful innings today n put unecessary pressure on babar and pakistan He should no way be batting this high up and definitely not above the batters in the middle order

 

[Grunge101]

Number 4 would be a wee bit too high for him overall though it might work when he's coming in to face the spinners mostly. His batting ability drops significant when he's facing 135plus bowling.
Would he still be a better bet than Chacha, Khushdil or Asif?, Yah most probably

 

[Dr_Bassim]

If his contemporaries are Asif, Iftikhar and Khushdil, yeah he can still bat at 5.

Can't do worse than them.

 

[Grunge101]

If his contemporaries are Asif, Iftikhar and Khushdil, yeah he can still bat at 5.

Can't do worse than them.

That's the reality sadly. He's not good enough to play 4-5 ability wise but he's still better than those three hacks.

Tho, that would mean those 3 will occupy number 6,7 and 8 and I don't know what purpose they'll serve there.

 

[hafizexpress]

This tri series is exactly the place to experiment with those kinds of things. I don't expect too many surprises in this NZ match but after that, if the middle order fails again then it is time to explore options.

My lineup is actually what they went with today and you could see a clear difference between the dynamic of a middle order with Shadab/Nawaz rather than with Ifti or Khushdil. They need to keep this going

 

[Kaka4pope]

I’d keep him at 8, Shadab looks a lot more assured, perhaps more so than Haider a more natural hitter but not are good enough for our top six:

Rizwan (busy, busy, busy)
Fakhar (left right combo can help)
Babar (can steer the lower order best)
Shadab (looks to hit)
Haider (frustrating but able)
??? (AzamK or Ayub wildcard for me)
Ifthikar (vry decent third spinner and can go big)
Nawaz
Shaheen
Rauf
Naseem

 

[Kaka4pope]

I’d keep him at 8, Shadab looks a lot more assured, perhaps more so than Haider a more natural hitter but not are good enough for our top six:

Rizwan (busy, busy, busy)
Fakhar (left right combo can help)
Babar (can steer the lower order best)
Shadab (looks to hit)
Haider (frustrating but able)
??? (AzamK or Ayub wildcard for me)
Ifthikar (vry decent third spinner and can go big)
Nawaz
Shaheen
Rauf
Naseem

Meant to say both Shadab and Haider ARE good enough for our top six.

 

[gazza619]

2 times Nawaz has batted at no.4, two awesome knocks. 100% ratio.

 

[Sher Khan]

He's not a number 4 or 5.

Yes he can come in and slog a few, but he's not in the class of Shadab with the bat.

But the fact that he was sent in at 5 today shows just how poor the so-called other middle-order batters are.

He may not be a world-class number 4 and or 5, but surely he is more reliable than the likes of Asif Ali, Khushdil Shah, Iftikhar and Haider.

I don't believe any of those four could have played Nawaz's innings today and won Pakistan the game.

 

[ChipShot]

He should come in at no 3 if Fakhar is not playing. With Fakhar, he should be penned down at no 4.

No need of 3 anchors at the top

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Has a success rate of 2/2 now. Should be the designated pinch hitter at no.3 or 4 from now on.

 

[Rana]

Twice this guy has came and saved Rizwan’s poor innings with a blinder

Please no more no.4 for him otherwise our anchor openers will continue to hide behind him!

 

[Amjid Javed]

He's not a number 4 or 5.

Yes he can come in and slog a few, but he's not in the class of Shadab with the bat.

But the fact that he was sent in at 5 today shows just how poor the so-called other middle-order batters are.

Hes the new poster boy aka fake batting all rounder of the team in all formats.

yes hes nowhere near as good as shadab. Also 100% correct on our poor middle order options.

Also current fascination of using in tests at number 7 when his batting is that of a tail ender needs to stop.

 

[MenInG]

Nawaz talking about his innings

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/e7jgj1" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

 

[gazza619]

Genius thread!

 

[Mamoon]

He's not a number 4 or 5.

Yes he can come in and slog a few, but he's not in the class of Shadab with the bat.

But the fact that he was sent in at 5 today shows just how poor the so-called other middle-order batters are.

Hes the new poster boy aka fake batting all rounder of the team in all formats.

yes hes nowhere near as good as shadab. Also 100% correct on our poor middle order options.

Also current fascination of using in tests at number 7 when his batting is that of a tail ender needs to stop.

What does Shadab have with the bat that Nawaz does not?

He has played better knocks in 2 months than Shadab has managed in his entire career.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Nawaz has played 3 innings for us at No.4 and all 3 have been match-winning knocks. He has the ability to stay at the wicket and accelerate when the situation demands it. I don't see why he shouldn't just bat at four going forward.

Nawaz also has not done well in the lower order whereas, Shadab has played a few innings of note down the order. Which is why Shadab lower down and Nawaz at 4 makes more sense.

 

[Rana]

I’m sick and tired of this guy saving the ineptness of our top order

I want to love him but I can’t!!

 

[AAli98]

Guy plays as a bowler got nothing to lose when going up the order.. play him regularly there watch him go the asif Ifty Masood route.

 

[Amjid Javed]

What does Shadab have with the bat that Nawaz does not?

He has played better knocks in 2 months than Shadab has managed in his entire career.

Couldnt care less about T20 performances, in regards to Test matches he was used as a batting all rounder at 7 and basically meant the tail started at 7.

 

[Mamoon]

Couldnt care less about T20 performances, in regards to Test matches he was used as a batting all rounder at 7 and basically meant the tail started at 7.

Not enough matches to judge his performance. Needs to be given a decent run.

 

[Marooned]

Couldnt care less about T20 performances, in regards to Test matches he was used as a batting all rounder at 7 and basically meant the tail started at 7.

You are making a mountain out of a molehill.

In those 2 matches, selections were all over the place. Nawaz was basically pushed @7 not 'selected' @7 because the TM were clueless and tried to cover bases.

In the 1st game we went with 3 seamers when SL went with 1. In the second Nouman chacha basically played as a batter (3rd specialist spinner)... Salman played when he had no buiseness.

Nawaz makes the test team as a spinner anyway. He proved it by being our best spinner in SL, far better than the shell Yasir is. Is he batting too high? Then don't select 3 spinners fgs!

Makes no sense criticizing Nawaz when it's other pointless selections that were the real issue.

 

[Amjid Javed]

You are making a mountain out of a molehill.

In those 2 matches, selections were all over the place. Nawaz was basically pushed @7 not 'selected' @7 because the TM were clueless and tried to cover bases.

In the 1st game we went with 3 seamers when SL went with 1. In the second Nouman chacha basically played as a batter (3rd specialist spinner)... Salman played when he had no buiseness.

Nawaz makes the test team as a spinner anyway. He proved it by being our best spinner in SL, far better than the shell Yasir is. Is he batting too high? Then don't select 3 spinners fgs!

Makes no sense criticizing Nawaz when it's other pointless selections that were the real issue.

I made the point he should have been picked as a front line spinner instead of the so called actual spinners. Yes he was batting to high his batting isnt the standard to be a so called 6th batsmen. Babar is a clueless captain so he will probably will do exactly what he did in SL series with team selections

 

[Concerned]

Nawaz is not a number 3,4 or even 5 batsmen.

If he’s promoted and scores runs then it’s fine but there should be no expectation on a bowler being asked to do a batsmen job.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Can nawaz win it for us today?

 

[The_KING]

Nawaz is awful. Can’t bowl and can’t bat. Pathetic cricketer.

 

[mominsaigol]

Can nawaz win it for us today?

Nope

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Shockingly bad player. Fraud spinner and fraud batsman. I predicted before the innings he would miss 5 balls then hit one before getting out.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Nawaz is not a number 3,4 or even 5 batsmen.

If he’s promoted and scores runs then it’s fine but there should be no expectation on a bowler being asked to do a batsmen job.

Today he didnt even look like a number 11

 

[FearlessRoar]

Nawaz got enough

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Saj]

When I saw he was due at number 7, I thought there is no way we can chase down this huge target.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Mediocre fake all rounder. The fact he was batting at 7 is shameful. Shouldn't even be in the team

 

[Amjid Javed]

When I saw he was due at number 7, I thought there is no way we can chase down this huge target.

Exactly a tail ender masscrading as a so called "all rounder"

 

[hitthestump]

The fact that he was selected over Imad Wasim is unbelievable.

There are zero facets of the game where he is any kind of upgrade on him.

Neither of them can take a wicket, but Imad has a GOAT economy rate and is a proper number 7.

After we get tossed out of this competition I want Imad back and as vice captain to Rizwan, then I never want to see Nawaz again.

 

[Asif321]

lol who thought Nawaz is better than imad . Imad single handlely saved us from humiliation vs afghans in last WC while Nawaz couldn’t stand even two overs vs Zimbabwe in T20 WC. Injustice towards imad due to babars disliking

 

[Marooned]

Biggest freeloader in the team. No performance. No pressure to perform either. Part timer with ball, tailender with bat. Beat that.

 

[cricenjoyer]

Biggest chocker out there

Lost the game vs India and Zimbabwe last year

Now played a big roll in our loss today

If he batted like a proper number 7 and didn’t build pressure on Rizwan a win was guaranteed

 

[The_KING]

How many more fake all rounders are we going to produce? Anwar Ali, Shadab, Mo Wasim, Faheem and now this Nawaz. We are masters of producing these god awful players that can’t bat or bowl but somehow find their way in the team.

 

[mominsaigol]

Sending nawaz at no 4 will remind me of the time nawaz sharif came to bat in domestic cricket once

 

[shah_1]

Awful cricketer

Should be kicked out forever.

 

[Jazx]

The fact that he was selected over Imad Wasim is unbelievable.

There are zero facets of the game where he is any kind of upgrade on him.

Neither of them can take a wicket, but Imad has a GOAT economy rate and is a proper number 7.

After we get tossed out of this competition I want Imad back and as vice captain to Rizwan, then I never want to see Nawaz again.

I don't think Imad is the solution for this fragile lineup, but in comparison to nawaz he is miles ahead as a batsman and just identical to him in bowling skills.

 

[Kianig89]

Another of Babar' era Sobers should be booted ASAP

 

[Amjid Javed]

Nawaz should not picked for rest of world cup or international level again. Awful village standard cricketer

 

[TheSultan]

No4 - oh give it a rest bruv. Nawaz should just seriously be given a break for his own health

 

[Dr_Bassim]

The only position suitable for him is the airplane seat.

 

[topspin]

Mentally very weak.

I think if anything his bowling has regressed. I swear he used to turn the ball a lot more than what we're seeing these days.

As for his batting, he's been living off that knock he played in last year's T20 Asia Cup.

One has to feel sorry for Imad. It's one thing to not be selected in the XI but to not even make the squad is just sickening.

It would be divine justice if Babar, and for everyone else who's part of his clique, were to continue their failings in this WC.

 

[topspin]

Babar needs to be held accountable for selecting Nawaz over Imad.

Scandalous.

 

[shokz1408]

He can hardly get bat on ball. Tailender quality.

 

[PakHammer]

He never recovered from the Kholi bashing in the T20 world cup but yet we have persisted with him. I am not a great fan of Imad Wasim but more or less everybody knew he would be a better bet for this world cup than Nawaz.

When we get knocked out of this world cup in about a week, heads from must from the coaching team, selectors and of course the captain.

 

[ExpressPacer]

How many more fake all rounders are we going to produce? Anwar Ali, Shadab, Mo Wasim, Faheem and now this Nawaz. We are masters of producing these god awful players that can’t bat or bowl but somehow find their way in the team.

Don’t forget the kings Sohail Tanvir, Bilawal Bhatti

 

[hassan918]

He never recovered from the Kholi bashing in the T20 world cup but yet we have persisted with him. I am not a great fan of Imad Wasim but more or less everybody knew he would be a better bet for this world cup than Nawaz.

When we get knocked out of this world cup in about a week, heads from must from the coaching team, selectors and of course the captain.

For some reason, Nawaz is lacking confidence big time and it is just a matter of time when we see Imad back in the team in his place.

 

[Suleiman]

Nawaz got enough

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

90% of this guy’s batting career in a nutshell.

A good looking six or four in a scratchy 20 or 30.

once in a blue moon he’ll finish a game.

That’s it.

 

[shokz1408]

Because he’s a tailender.

 

[RyanRyan10]

Mohammad Nawaz at No.4:

Innings: 3 (all T20Is)
Runs: 125 (dismissed only once)
Strike Rate: 201

#GOAT

 

[Kroll]

When I saw he was due at number 7, I thought there is no way we can chase down this huge target.

Exactly, Ifti at 6 then Nawaz followed by Usama is as pathetic as you can get.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Nawaz played a cameo innings of 35 (17) for Rawalpindi in the second semi-final of the National T20 Cup 2023 against Karachi Whites.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Because he’s a tailender.

Fake all rounder who can barely bat. He is also a medicore bowler. I have no idea how we made it into the international team. Makes Hafeez look like Bradman and Warne.

 

[Kianig89]

With this anomaly he may sneak into squad for NZ series