Why not open with Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam?

[Humza_Razzaque]

After the Failure in the first two ODI's I think it would not be such a bad idea to do some experiments and I feel we should open with Fakhar and Babar ,Fakhar on one side would Keep the run rate up and Babar on the other side would prevent any fall of wickets and also keep rotating the strike.
What do you think?

 

[PakLFC]

Babar is a middle order specialist. I am not at all a fan of asking middle order batsmen to open the innings. In that case we may as well open with Fakhar and Shoab Malik or anyone else for that matter.

 

[Humza_Razzaque]

Babar is a middle order specialist. I am not at all a fan of asking middle order batsmen to open the innings. In that case we may as well open with Fakhar and Shoab Malik or anyone else for that matter.

Babar would give us stability which no other batsman in this side can and besides our top order falls so quickly that he finds himself on the crease within the first 5 overs so why not just send him up one place

 

[PakLFC]

Babar would give us stability which no other batsman in this side can and besides our top order falls so quickly that he finds himself on the crease within the first 5 overs so why not just send him up one place

We need Babarr in the middle order when the ball is a bit older. He's gonna nick it to slip or the keeper if asked to open leaving us exposed in the middle order where we are already weak enough. Hafeez can open with Fakhar, move Azhar down the order if he must play.

 

[Humza_Razzaque]

We need Babarr in the middle order when the ball is a bit older. He's gonna nick it to slip or the keeper if asked to open leaving us exposed in the middle order where we are already weak enough. Hafeez can open with Fakhar, move Azhar down the order if he must play.

So you would take a mediocre Middle order over a good top order ,My point is If you have a Good top order You will get a good start If these 2 can take the innings on to 25-30 overs than other can just come in and Attack Just like they did in the CT final and besides its easier to score in the later half of the innings on this pitch as we have allready seen in the last match.

 

[another drop catch]

ideally it should be faheem ashraf partnering fakhar zaman

 

[PakLFC]

So you would take a mediocre Middle order over a good top order ,My point is If you have a Good top order You will get a good start If these 2 can take the innings on to 25-30 overs than other can just come in and Attack Just like they did in the CT final and besides its easier to score in the later half of the innings on this pitch as we have allready seen in the last match.

Hafeez and Fakhar will be a decent opening pair by our standards. I am saying that we need a stronger middle order by comparison to recover if we get a bad start. Having a good top order never works for us when we're 30-3 most of the time. So if it is easier to score late on then the likes oof Shoaib and Babar will be scoring runs for fun. Hafeez and Fakhar open with Shoaib, Babar and Azhar in the middle order followed by the usual suspects.

 

[Humza_Razzaque]

Hafeez and Fakhar will be a decent opening pair by our standards. I am saying that we need a stronger middle order by comparison to recover if we get a bad start. Having a good top order never works for us when we're 30-3 most of the time. So if it is easier to score late on then the likes oof Shoaib and Babar will be scoring runs for fun. Hafeez and Fakhar open with Shoaib, Babar and Azhar in the middle order followed by the usual suspects.

I would rather have my best batsman go through the toughest period i Guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion

 

[Humza_Razzaque]

ideally it should be faheem ashraf partnering fakhar zaman

Faheem is a slogger he wont play a long sensible innings

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Hafeez and Fakhar will be a decent opening pair by our standards. I am saying that we need a stronger middle order by comparison to recover if we get a bad start. Having a good top order never works for us when we're 30-3 most of the time. So if it is easier to score late on then the likes oof Shoaib and Babar will be scoring runs for fun. Hafeez and Fakhar open with Shoaib, Babar and Azhar in the middle order followed by the usual suspects.

Thinking Hafeez can open the innings is a madness. He is now where he should have played in the past. His technique against new ball is so weak. In addition to that he is very hesitant to play his shots at the top and a weak runner between the wickets. Fakhar has a technique which is not upto hafeez level but he rotates strike and not hesitant to play his shots and put bad balls to the fence.

 

[MoJoJoJo]

After the Failure in the first two ODI's I think it would not be such a bad idea to do some experiments and I feel we should open with Fakhar and Babar ,Fakhar on one side would Keep the run rate up and Babar on the other side would prevent any fall of wickets and also keep rotating the strike.
What do you think?

Do you think we have courage to do this..? Even a half sane man will know what changes pak can make to stable our lineup because the problem is not the players we have but our poor combination.. You can still make a decent lineup from the current lot with just one or max two changes)
Fakhar
Babar (used to open in u19s)
Haris (probably the best player of fast bowling in pak)
Sarfraz (averages 48 in top five while 22 at 6 even a half sane man know where he should bat but our management is actually ****** up )
Malik/hafeez (only one of them we can manage in our lineup no point of keeping a talented player like haris at bench at the cost of these so called experienced seniors)
Fahim
Shadab
Yamin
Amir
Hasan
Ruman (he is only for this series as shinwari or junaid can replace him after the series))

 

[Lynx]

Been saying this for a while now on this forum. Babar is coming inside the first 2-3 overs anyway so might as well open with him. Also, he used to open in U19s and is no stranger to the opening slot. Him opening will also mean we can drop Azhar and bring in Haris at 3. Hafeez playing at 4 is the single biggest detriment to our batting lineup otherwise we'd be doing much, much better with the bat.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Next question will be "Why not open with Shadab and Hasan?"

 

[Mueez]

Next question will be "Why not open with Shadab and Hasan?"

That is I think a better option hehehehe

 

[Pete Rose]

- I am not sure if babar has the game for opener. he is not the issue. the issue is the mentality that dictates that we must have one opener whose defensive game is more important than his ability to score runs consistently. This flawed thinking means that you have a batting order which is heavily reliant on fakhar zaman to score because the line up is: fakhar (dynamic), azhar (defensive), babar (slow start grafter), hafeez (fair weather rubbish), Malik (all weather rubbish), sarfaraz (self own batting position), shadab (real batting starts). Unless fakhar zaman fires, the line up will never be more than 100 runs at over 25.
To fix this conundrum at least on this tour the batting line up should be:
Fakhar
Pinch hitter (shadab/faheem)
Babar
Sarfaraz
Hafeez
Malik
Then the rest.

Ppl arguing for Haris sohail need to realize that to play him, you need him to bat in the top 4 and there is no way he fits there right now

 

[shah_1]

- I am not sure if babar has the game for opener. he is not the issue. the issue is the mentality that dictates that we must have one opener whose defensive game is more important than his ability to score runs consistently. This flawed thinking means that you have a batting order which is heavily reliant on fakhar zaman to score because the line up is: fakhar (dynamic), azhar (defensive), babar (slow start grafter), hafeez (fair weather rubbish), Malik (all weather rubbish), sarfaraz (self own batting position), shadab (real batting starts). Unless fakhar zaman fires, the line up will never be more than 100 runs at over 25.
To fix this conundrum at least on this tour the batting line up should be:
Fakhar
Pinch hitter (shadab/faheem)
Babar
Sarfaraz
Hafeez
Malik
Then the rest.

Ppl arguing for Haris sohail need to realize that to play him, you need him to bat in the top 4 and there is no way he fits there right now

Faheem as an opener lol

Best teams don't work like that otherwise West Indies would have been ranked no 1 in ODIs.

You take every example of good quality ODI teams, in their top 4 and they all got 2 to three established test matches stars with good stroke play. We have got none, hence a mediocre in ODI team.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Babar is a middle order specialist. I am not at all a fan of asking middle order batsmen to open the innings. In that case we may as well open with Fakhar and Shoab Malik or anyone else for that matter.

Babar opened in the u19 world cup. He has also frequently opened in FC and LA cricket as well as PSL. In addition, his highest FC score of 250 or 260 odd came as an opener as well.

 

[Pete Rose]

Next question will be "Why not open with Shadab and Hasan?"

I am not sure what this means. Are you proposing that top 4, shehzad, sami/shaan, azhar, shafiq?
Or are you saying that Pakistan having a pinch hitter in one of the top 4 positions is like West Indies

 

[usmanraheel]

Babar is almost already opening every game with one of our openers getting out so early. I do think that it is a good idea to have Babar open as it will suit him. He can play his strokes and get some runs early on with the field restriction.

1. Fakhar ( hopefully he is fit )
2. Babar ( please no defensive mindset )
3. Harris ( Nice stroke maker , can be a game changer )
4. Hafeez ( has been timing it well )
5. Malik ( hopefully can bash the spinners around )
6. Sarfraz ( ugh , drop him soon )
7. Shadab ( needs to do his magic with the bowl as well )
8. Faheem
9. Hasan Ali
10. Aamir
11. Rumman ( not sure if Yameen should be given a chance , but Rumman bowls well at the end of the inning. Might have him come as the first change and have Hasan and Aamir open the bowling )

 

[indipper]

Babar's game relies on flicking ball away. A place where ball is dancing around and fielders are in, he will be gone cheaply more often when opening.

But yes, Azhar must play down the order. He can do damage control there so that we can aim around 300 instead of seeing 40/4.

 

[Hasan123]

Because we need Azhar Ali and Imam to see of the new ball. "Team player" Azhar does a brilliant job for the opposition.

 

[PakLFC]

Thinking Hafeez can open the innings is a madness. He is now where he should have played in the past. His technique against new ball is so weak. In addition to that he is very hesitant to play his shots at the top and a weak runner between the wickets. Fakhar has a technique which is not upto hafeez level but he rotates strike and not hesitant to play his shots and put bad balls to the fence.

Azhar is no better then Hafeez. He hardly does anything other then be hot oon the pad. Seems to perform better late down the order. For that reason it's Fakhar and Hafeez for me.

 

[PakLFC]

Above. I meant be hit on the pad.

 

[Lefthanded]

There's way too many inexperienced players in this squad who are among useless dada abbus like Hafeez, and it's more likely it'll just open a space for an Akmal to come in.

That said personally, Babar and Fakhar is a good idea.

 

[MMHS]

PAK'll never open with Babar. Thanks God that he didn't fail at 3 in his first few innings, otherwise No. 5 was destiny.

Ideally, he should open, because -
1. He is poor against spin - poor, not weak. But, very good against pace - opening allows him time in the middle before he takes on spinners
2. He is a sweet timer with very good placing, and he plays on grass - with 9 men inside, he has better chance to punish couple of balls selectively in gaps rather than swinging around after every ball
3. PAK has a good stock of lefti openers now - FZ, Amin, Sami, Shan (he is scoring crazy, has to count), Imam ..... even SK can come back in a years or two time. Making BA opener means, the right-hand end could be sealed for a decade
4. Babar has a tendency to slow down in his 4th quarter (75-100), which often cuts path between 40-50 overs. Making him opener allows him to reach 100 in between 35-38th overs. It sounds like the purpose is to serve him, but I don't see any problem if it's a win-win for both him & team. Best batsman of the team should get the opportunity of playing most number of balls.
5. He is the only top order who can play quality boundary shots without putting extra "labor", MoHa was like that, but his defense was too poor against new ball - this guy is much better.

Some batting buzurg must have scared him regarding the swing & seem of 320 par ODI games these days, hence he has dropped down even in domestics. From U13 to early domestic career, he was opener and he had very good List A numbers.

1-3. Babar, FZ, Umar+ ,
4-6. Hari, Maqsood, Talat
7-8. Shadab, Fahim
10-11. Amir, Hasan

*Amin or Saud or a 3rd pacer - depending on condition (In case of Amin/Saud, they play at 3 pushing everyone one slot down)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. New Pacer - preferably a right armer, but not essential - either of the 2 U19 kid is extremely impressive (My pick is Arshal - may be both as 3rd & 4th pacer - Raees, Shinwari, JK doesn't excite me much)
15. Raza Hasan (or whoever is best finger spinner, may be Aga Salman as well, because Hari & Saud can bowl SLAO, one offie should be in squad),
16. Ruhail Nazir+


Exciting, excitingly good squad for 2019 - pick a Captain, my choice Amir, but don't mind FZ, Hasan, Babar or even Shadab

Hope, Sarfraz fans are not upset - I am picking my 16 for WC.

 

[CadPakFan]

- I am not sure if babar has the game for opener. he is not the issue. the issue is the mentality that dictates that we must have one opener whose defensive game is more important than his ability to score runs consistently. This flawed thinking means that you have a batting order which is heavily reliant on fakhar zaman to score because the line up is: fakhar (dynamic), azhar (defensive), babar (slow start grafter), hafeez (fair weather rubbish), Malik (all weather rubbish), sarfaraz (self own batting position), shadab (real batting starts). Unless fakhar zaman fires, the line up will never be more than 100 runs at over 25.
To fix this conundrum at least on this tour the batting line up should be:
Fakhar
Pinch hitter (shadab/faheem)
Babar
Sarfaraz
Hafeez
Malik
Then the rest.

Ppl arguing for Haris sohail need to realize that to play him, you need him to bat in the top 4 and there is no way he fits there right now

Haris averages 52.33 at number 5.

 

[prop558]

I think opening pair of Azhar & Fakhar is fine and should continue for the rest of the matches. Only possible change can that Sarfraz can open with Fakhar.

 

[prop558]

SARFRAZ should bat at higher numbers.

He can open, he can bat at No.3, he can bat at No.4

He should not bat below No.4.

Team for the 3rd ODI should be like :

01 - Azhar Ali
02 - Fakhar Zaman
03 - Sarfraz Ahmed
04 - Babar Azam
05 - Muhammad Hafeez
06 - Shoaib Malik
07 - Shadab Khan
08 - Fahim Ashraf
09 - Hasan Ali
10 - Muhammad Amir
11 - Rumman Raees

I wish we Sarfraz should bat at upper numbers but I think he is compromising / sacrificing due to so-called seniors (Malik & Hafeez).

 

[Markhor]

It can be a quick fix for this series but for the long-term we need to follow the template of the vast majority of teams in the world right now.

That is to play TWO explosive openers. NZ have Guptill and Munro, England have Roy and Hales/Bairstow, yet we play one anchor meaning we're wholly dependent on fast starts on Fakhar Zaman. Another powerhitting opener will ease the burden on him.

 

[indipper]

Because we need Azhar Ali and Imam to see of the new ball. "Team player" Azhar does a brilliant job for the opposition.

Now is the time to see of the ball. He has failed twice. Lets see what happens for thr third time.

 

[PakSarZameen]

Open with Hafeez and get Haris in the middle order

 

[babajee]

It can be a quick fix for this series but for the long-term we need to follow the template of the vast majority of teams in the world right now.

That is to play TWO explosive openers. NZ have Guptill and Munro, England have Roy and Hales/Bairstow, yet we play one anchor meaning we're wholly dependent on fast starts on Fakhar Zaman. Another powerhitting opener will ease the burden on him.

What do you think of this strategy:

1 and 2 - explosive openers.
3 to 5 - accumulators
6 - a power hitter + part time bowling option
7-8 all rounders
9-11 bowlers

 

[Markhor]

What do you think of this strategy:

1 and 2 - explosive openers.
3 to 5 - accumulators
6 - a power hitter + part time bowling option
7-8 all rounders
9-11 bowlers

I agree.

We're really not far off in ODIs but we're making dumb decisions and needlessly shooting ourselves in the head with selections like opening with Azhar, playing both Hafeez and Malik, selecting Imam (Test player) and Raees (T20 specialist) for unsuited formats.

 

[Pete Rose]

Haris averages 52.33 at number 5.

8 innings with that impressive average and a strike rate of 78.69 which is lower than his career strike rate.
sign me up for this messiah then!

 

[Pete Rose]

What do you think of this strategy:

1 and 2 - explosive openers.
3 to 5 - accumulators
6 - a power hitter + part time bowling option
7-8 all rounders
9-11 bowlers

you will lose most matches if you have this many accumulators.

 

[babajee]

you will lose most matches if you have this many accumulators.

Lets say these 3 accumulators are Babar, Haris and Sarfraz. When they are in form they can maintain a 90+ SR with ease.

 

[Pete Rose]

Lets say these 3 accumulators are Babar, Haris and Sarfraz. When they are in form they can maintain a 90+ SR with ease.

meet you half way. the need to play at 80% SR in their first 25 and go up further as the inning goes longer.

 

[Sirris]

Faheem is a slogger he wont play a long sensible innings

We don't need a long and sensible innings which Azhar has been playing so far. We needba quick and courageous start. Not a timid one with maidens overs being handed out to the opposition.

 

[CadPakFan]

8 innings with that impressive average and a strike rate of 78.69 which is lower than his career strike rate.
sign me up for this messiah then!

He played a match winning inning vs NZ at number five.

 

[Pete Rose]

He played a match winning inning vs NZ at number five.

So now, you want to base his performance on one inning. Sound logic.

 

[CadPakFan]

So now, you want to base his performance on one inning. Sound logic.

I'm just saying he can bat at number five, it isn't ideal but if needed to he can.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Because we need Azhar Ali to see off the new ball before getting out

 

[TheInaudibleParadox]

Azhar Ali is the greatest. That's why.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Azhar is no better then Hafeez. He hardly does anything other then be hot oon the pad. Seems to perform better late down the order. For that reason it's Fakhar and Hafeez for me.

you should watch hafeez opening batting in the past in foreign conditions, even in uae mathews from SL will take his wicket with a little bit of movement when he was an opener... azhar was better but in this series he looks completely out of touch, if he tuk tuks he will make a 50 in 90 or 100 balls since mickey wants them to play aggressively which he dont know how to is suffering badly..

 

[PakLFC]

you should watch hafeez opening batting in the past in foreign conditions, even in uae mathews from SL will take his wicket with a little bit of movement when he was an opener... azhar was better but in this series he looks completely out of touch, if he tuk tuks he will make a 50 in 90 or 100 balls since mickey wants them to play aggressively which he dont know how to is suffering badly..

I don't care about past series. Hafeez by all means is no great batsman but seeking how Azhar has been performing we had to try something different. As far as I know Azhar is always out of form. Only time I have seen him perform was in the ICC Trophy final. Azhar should not be in the team if he can not folow orders of the coach. He is a slow coach and incredibly boring to watch.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Out of the openers we have I would give Imam the chance to open with Fakhar again. Azhar is just too slow and Hafeez is a walking wicket most times.

 

[MMHS]

Series is over - may be now Sarfraz can open for last 2 games. I don't expect him to do much, but his raise started from a opening role in ODI - otherwise, really getting difficult to justify spot in playing XI.

 

[Itachi]

Babar will be painfully slow as an opener and will kill any momentum.

Just because an X is incompetent to be in the role, that doesn't mean Y will change the fortune since both share the same traits.

 

[Justcrazy]

He can open ,but problem is Pakistan management is still in 1980s , no way they can be pro active.

 

[GrandMaster]

Didn’t Mickey say that the best batsman of the side should bat at no 3?

 

[ask_analyse_act]

I don't care about past series. Hafeez by all means is no great batsman but seeking how Azhar has been performing we had to try something different. As far as I know Azhar is always out of form. Only time I have seen him perform was in the ICC Trophy final. Azhar should not be in the team if he can not folow orders of the coach. He is a slow coach and incredibly boring to watch.

Both of them are rubbish and shouldmake way for youngsters who can attack and score runs against the new ball instead of seeing off the new ball..,, Azhar has a better technique than hafeez to face the new ball but to highlight cant score against the new ball...If there is no movement Hafeez will look like sachin, but obviously new ball swings in any part of the world atleast for the first few overs..

 

[HuzaifaE]

Babar will be painfully slow as an opener and will kill any momentum.

Just because an X is incompetent to be in the role, that doesn't mean Y will change the fortune since both share the same traits.

We have Azhar in that spot as of now, Babar can stick his bat into the pitch and go camping, he'll still score faster than Azhar

 

[PakLFC]

Both of them are rubbish and should make way for youngster who can attack and score runs against the new ball instead of seeing off the new ball..,, Azhar has a better technique than hafeez to face the new ball but to highlight cant score against the new ball...If there is no movement Hafeez will look like sachin, but obviously new ball swings in any part of the world atleast for the first few overs..

Where are those incredible youngsters I keep hearing about off and where are they?

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Why did inzi come in at number 5
Why did younis khan first start batting in the number 7 position
Why did salim Malik never bat in the top 4

But coming back to the modern era it’s obviously something Mickey and Inzi feel is either beyond Azam’s capabilities or maybe they approached him and he’s not confortable with the new ball

 

[Syed1]

Why did inzi come in at number 5
Why did younis khan first start batting in the number 7 position
Why did salim Malik never bat in the top 4

But coming back to the modern era it’s obviously something Mickey and Inzi feel is either beyond Azam’s capabilities or maybe they approached him and he’s not confortable with the new ball

Considering that he has batted within the first five overs in each of the three matches it doesn't make sense for him to be fearful of the new ball.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Considering that he has batted within the first five overs in each of the three matches it doesn't make sense for him to be fearful of the new ball.

The formula of him putting his pads on after one of his comrades had fallen in the line of duty facing the opening opposition worked splendidly in the Champions trophy
Cant just move him up the line up because Azhar Ali is having a bad series in New Zealand

 

[ads101]

Probably the best option.

Other options are play Sahibzada but arguably too low on experience in domestic atm but is an option for the future. Sarfraz could open and see how that works out. Dont see any other options. Better to try filling our team with replacement middle order bats like saad ali and talat than including another mediocre opener.

 

[Kroll]

Probably the best option.

Other options are play Sahibzada but arguably too low on experience in domestic atm but is an option for the future. Sarfraz could open and see how that works out. Dont see any other options. Better to try filling our team with replacement middle order bats like saad ali and talat than including another mediocre opener.

We're all seeing where high on experience is getting us.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Where are those incredible youngsters I keep hearing about off and where are they?

dont get deceived by shehzad he is just young but dont have the game to survive as an opener....fakhar was one of those, sharjeel was the other who showed there are youngsters to replace hafeez, azhar etc... UA never tried as an opener but bilal asif and shakeel ansar were tried. Umar amin is now gearing up for that position with heavy runs scored in domestics.. Farhan is the other one.... imam also have shown good account of himself scoring a 100 on debut... maqsood is also getting some runs now.. babar was an opener during his u19 days... with the return of haris to the team even babar can be tried as opener...it is not like there are no options and they have to play azhar and hafeez only for lifetime...

 

[PakLFC]

dont get deceived by shehzad he is just young but dont have the game to survive as an opener....fakhar was one of those, sharjeel was the other who showed there are youngsters to replace hafeez, azhar etc... UA never tried as an opener but bilal asif and shakeel ansar were tried. Umar amin is now gearing up for that position with heavy runs scored in domestics.. Farhan is the other one.... imam also have shown good account of himself scoring a 100 on debut... maqsood is also getting some runs now.. babar was an opener during his u19 days... with the return of haris to the team even babar can be tried as opener...it is not like there are no options and they have to play azhar and hafeez only for lifetime...

Those great youngsters I am so often told about do nothing when given the chance at the highest level. All the once you have mentioned are yesterday's news now. As it happens at least Hafeez played well today. Azhar on the other is still living off the innings he played in the CT final. Someone mention names of the great youngsters who are being kept out by the likes of Hafeez and Shoaib Malik?

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Those great youngsters I am so often told about do nothing when given the chance at the highest level. All the once you have mentioned are yesterday's news now. As it happens at least Hafeez played well today. Azhar on the other is still living off the innings he played in the CT final. Someone mention names of the great youngsters who are being kept out by the likes of Hafeez and Shoaib Malik?

Haris sohail was kept out and just today got the game... hafeez was kept out when they had salman butt and imran nazir... he returned to play after the spot fixing fiasco and was given a free run because of his bowling or else he would have never returned after his bunny story with steyn...Same like that when there are better players who can score quickly should replace Hafeez asap.. Malik so far did well since his return but this series he was very disappointing and struggling to score runs and he can play faster than Hafeez obviously... Yes you are right hafeez scored, sarfraz came after him when the team was shaky and scored 50 at SR: 110.86 whilst Hafeez continued to make dot balls even in the last 10 overs though he came in when the team was at a good position, if he didnt smash three sixes in the last over his innings would have been highlighted as outright selfish...MA said they made 20 runs short, Hafeez innings had nearly 60% dot balls, why should they play him though he walks in at 100-3 in 23 overs..

 

[PakLFC]

Haris sohail was kept out and just today got the game... hafeez was kept out when they had salman butt and imran nazir... he returned to play after the spot fixing fiasco and was given a free run because of his bowling or else he would have never returned after his bunny story with steyn...Same like that when there are better players who can score quickly should replace Hafeez asap.. Malik so far did well since his return but this series he was very disappointing and struggling to score runs and he can play faster than Hafeez obviously... Yes you are right hafeez scored, sarfraz came after him when the team was shaky and scored 50 at SR: 110.86 whilst Hafeez continued to make dot balls even in the last 10 overs though he came in when the team was at a good position, if he didnt smash three sixes in the last over his innings would have been highlighted as outright selfish...MA said they made 20 runs short, Hafeez innings had nearly 60% dot balls, why should they play him though he walks in at 100-3 in 23 overs..

I asked for names of youngsters that I keep hearing about? The players you named can hardly be called that.

 

[hadi123]

They're opening today thank God, Shehzad doesn't deserve to play after the PSL he had.

 

[SaadAliG]

He's a num 3 batsman, lets make him open the innings and call him garbage when things go south.

 

[bujhee kom]

Garbage test player. Garbage t20 player. No impact ODI stats miracle. Hypejob.

 

[SaadAliG]

Tell me who's better?

 

[ShahidDar08]

Why not open with Sarfaraz Ahmad? Why is he hiding himself?

 

[bujhee kom]

Tell me who's better?

A better Q is who the hell could do worse?

 

[babajee]

A better Q is who the hell could do worse?

Take your hate somewhere else. Babar will keep scoring runs.

 

[MeanAndGreen]

Garbage test player. Garbage t20 player. No impact ODI stats miracle. Hypejob.

If this is the sum of your cricketing intellect I suggest you take up baseball.

 

[babajee]

Babar has been unlucky not to open in this series

 

[Hasan123]

Starting to think this maybe the best idea since Inzi won't select a younger opener who is a fit for LO cricket. It also means we play Haris at 3.

 

[PakLFC]

Babar is a middle order specialist and probably our best batsman technically. Sending him as opener would expose him to the new ball that he seems to struggle with. I am a believer that openers should always be specialists used to that position.

 

[Ab Fan]

I always believe one should keep a bit of gap between your two best batsmen particularly when only those two are quality ones in the lineup.

Fakhar bills into the opening spot where he can take on the bowling up front and play risk cricket as well. At top, you dont have to bst as per match situation. Hence, Babar should come at 3 or 4 IMO and be the backbone of the middle order. However, he needs to ante up his striking ability. You are not allowed to bat at an average of 50+, yet SR is mid-80s.