Why not try Babar Azam as an opener?

[TheNightWatchman]

When was the last time Pakistan has had a decent opening start?
Play Babar as opener ala Sachin in the 90s. Best batsman on top? If not babar maybe Rizwan opening?

 

[TheNightWatchman]

He comes in at 3 in the first few anyways

 

[Ab Fan]

Open with Fakhar and Rizwan.

 

[Bigboii]

Open with Fakhar and Rizwan.

Haider and Rizwan
Babar at 3

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Sharjeel Khan and Fakhar Zaman will be our best opening combo.

Babar comes at 3 and builds a partnership with Hafeez at 4.

Haider Ali should be used as a power hitter at 5.

 

[TheNightWatchman]

He's facing most of the new ball anyways instead of Fakhar at the moment. Plus hes brilliant against pacers so why not

 

[Ab Fan]

Haider and Rizwan
Babar at 3

I thought the same but not sure if Haider is ready as opener for international cricket. If not then a left hander at top is important.

 

[TheNightWatchman]

Sharjeel Khan and Fakhar Zaman will be our best opening combo.

Babar comes at 3 and builds a partnership with Hafeez at 4.

Haider Ali should be used as a power hitter at 5.

That 'role' as a power hitter is what caused Umar Akmal to decline as a batsman. Build Haider up as a proper bat who can hit but also consolidate when needed. Have him bat at 4. Hafeez isn't sticking around any time later. Dude is old.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

no

all good teams have explosive openers

the best we have is probably sharjeel and fahkar. Id rather go for broke than die a slow death with imam

 

[TheNightWatchman]

no

all good teams have explosive openers

the best we have is probably sharjeel and fahkar. Id rather go for broke than die a slow death with imam

Or how about a guy who is not only steady at the crease but can strike it at 90 if he wants in Babar?

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Or how about a guy who is not only steady at the crease but can strike it at 90 if he wants in Babar?

Babar is breaking records where he is.

Id rather not mess with it.

For me the top 6 would be

1. Fahkar (till someone else comes around)
2. Sharjeel
3. Babar
4. Rizwan
5. Haris
6. Haidere (not his natural position, but I'm not sure where else to fit him. Im wary of this going the way of Umar akmal though)

 

[YousafTheBeast]

That 'role' as a power hitter is what caused Umar Akmal to decline as a batsman. Build Haider up as a proper bat who can hit but also consolidate when needed. Have him bat at 4. Hafeez isn't sticking around any time later. Dude is old.

If Hafeez keeps performing the way he is right now for another year then he’ll be the first name to be picked for the next WC. If Sharjeel gets selected for the ODI’s then Haider doesn’t get into the team. Which is why he should be played at 5.

 

[gazza619]

No stick with Babar at 3.

We have more choices in the opening slot.

 

[moghul]

I agree, Babar should open the inning in ODI.

In Pakistan cricket , one drop batsman always spends some anxious moment before coming to bat very early in the inning, mostly in first 1-3 overs.

He should follow in Tendulka's footsteps .

 

[jusarrived]

You need dashers at the top . Pakistans problem is that 2 of the top 3 who pile up runs are accumulators and Fakhar who probably has better approach has been inconsistent

 

[TheNightWatchman]

I always liked the idea of best batsman at the top. Tendulkar seemed way too comfortable opening especially knowing his whole team relied on him. Even though Babar takes the pressure very well as a number 3 an opening position would sort of relax him as well and maybe he'll play even better

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

It will take the pressure off Imam. Babar and fakhar/Sharjeel opening will allow Pak to start well.

At 3 Imam can anchor the innings at his own pace.

 

[sindhiboy]

Sharjeel definitely

 

[Barragan]

Rizwan and Fakhar opening.

 

[Bilal7]

No need to fix something that isn't broken. Pakistan's top four are all quality players. The changes need to come in the middle and lower order, which is *****.

1) Imam
2) Fakhar
3) Babar
4) Rizwan
5) (Ideally someone who can bowl a bit)
6) (Ideally someone who can bowl a bit)
7) Imad
8) Shadab/Faheem
9) Hasan
10) Shaheen
11) Hasnain

 

[Greenstorm]

Babar is best at 3. Imam should be replaced by a hard hitting opener. Sharjeel should be tried first.

 

[shamaan]

Babar should continue batting at 3
Oppening should be between fakhar,imaam,sharjeel and abdullah not yet thou

 

[Hasan123]

Not the worst idea in the world.

Babar is a good player of pace bowling. He is able to find the gaps in the PP overs. Batting in the PP is not all about big shots, finding the gaps is important. I'm sure Babar use to open at U19 level as well.

I don't think it will happen, but I'm not totally against the idea. He opens in T20s, so I don't see why he can't open in ODIs.

 

[TheNightWatchman]

Babar would have scored a century at 90/100 SR by now if he was opening. Imam just taking up balls. Fakhar already slow in the start. If babar keeps the RR going in the first few overs Fakhar won't have a lot of pressure to score fast early on and can get settled in easier.
The team management doesn't understand Fakhar's role. They want him to explode from the start but the truth is he takes his time then eventually scores faster and big once he gets stuck in.

 

[MenInG]

Babar - the best batsman - playing at the top - why not.

 

[TheNightWatchman]

Babar and Rizwan opening in the T20 ahead of Fakhar. Perfect stage for Babar to prove himself as opener. Good batting track, big total. Relatively easy bowling attack.

 

[jusarrived]

It's criminal not to open with Fakhar, where Babar and Rizwan play is relatively not important for your T20 side.
Bringing in Sarfraz when Rizwan was doing well ,dropping Fakhar to 3 after 2 great knocks in ODIs ..is Babar taking tips from Virat kohli about captaincy?

 

[TheNightWatchman]

Babar Rizwan under fire this whole tournament. Good semifinal. Hope they come good in the final.

 

[W63L35]

Babar Azam in T0Is