Will loss in this Tri-Nation ODI series final be a blessing in disguise for Pakistan??

[RyanRyan10]

Pakistan's team was in top form, having won three consecutive series in a row. Winning this triseries would have cemented their status as the favourites. But Pakistan tends to excel in major tournaments when they aren't labeled as the favourites. So would this loss could turn out to be a blessing in disguise? Their first match is against New Zealand, a side they have dominated in recent ICC tournaments. So it's highly likely that the real Pakistan team will once again rise to the occasion.

 

[shah9425]

Most likely yeah

 

[jnaveen1980]

BID thread

 

[Savak]

What blessing in disguise, we cannot make any changes to our CT squad of 15 barring injury.

Its bizzare that a team like NZ understands our conditions and selects the right players way better than us.

 

[Rana]

Big celebration on 9th March in Kebab Niaz stadium

 

[Cover Drive Six]

Losing the tri-series should be taken with a pinch of salt.
This is just a joke of a tri-series, more like warm-up matches.

 

[Devadwal]

This tri series was a reality check for delusion Pakistan posters .

So yes it's maybe a blessing in disguise.

​

 

[Hyder]

What blessing in disguise, we cannot make any changes to our CT squad of 15 barring injury.

Its bizzare that a team like NZ understands our conditions and selects the right players way better than us.

Why everyone keep saying we didnt select right players. We need more spinners. Your premium spinner is being swept like a part time all round the park. If thats how our spinners operate and as they did in wc 23 we should not even include them

Bring in arafat or qasim who can dart better than them and also hold the bat.

There is no mystery in our mystery spinner. I hope he delivers in ct because management put way too much trust on the lone spinner and rn he is being outbowled by khushdil and agha

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

What blessing in disguise, we cannot make any changes to our CT squad of 15 barring injury.

Its bizzare that a team like NZ understands our conditions and selects the right players way better than us.

What do you want to do play 2 spinners sorry not happening with aqib in charge he knows what he doing so far he has got everything right.

 

[ads101]

No a win would be better. However there were quite a lot of positives. A record successful run chase for us is always a confidence booster.

Fakhar, Salman, Rizwan, Tayyab got some good runs under their belt. Naseem looked a bit more threatening last match and some of the part timers bowled better than I thought they would.

Abrar, Saud, Babar, Khushadil are the worries. Though seeing Abrar’s bowling I think we have to play a spin bowling allrounder to help him out.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Couldn’t have asked for a better preparation leading up to the Champions Trophy.

This series has served its purpose.

In 2003, Bharat had a depressing tour of NZ when we couldn’t make any runs the entire tour on green tops prepared by Kiwis. Despite that one thing we gained from the series was that our pace bowlers gained a lot of confidence from that tour and our batters learnt hunger for runs. In few months time we played the World Cup final at Johannesburg:

 

[Savak]

What do you want to do play 2 spinners sorry not happening with aqib in charge he knows what he doing so far he has got everything right.

Sajid, Nauman and Sufiyan Muqeem would have added a lot more than Khusdil, Abrar.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

how could it be a blessing lossing a final? its a set back because they have lost this game at their home ground right before the ct2025 and on top of that they will play their 1st game of CT against the same team now with such a low confidence.

 

[ads101]

Our batting isn’t strong enough to play 5 bowlers. And we’re going to play 3 pacers as that is our experienced attack. We have to play a spin allrounder. Khushadil is the right fit of player. It’s just a matter of are there better spin allrounders. Maybe shadab would be better. But there’s not many options. I know people are upset about Khushadil but I really do think he’s the right fit of player. It’s just we have poor options for that player. I have a feeling he might do better in the tournament for some reason.

The problem is Abrar good enough. If there was another spinner on the bench we’d probably swap him out not add. And none of our spinners have much international experience they might do just as bad. So you’ve got to pick one.

I’m starting to think we backed the wrong one. Perhaps Sufiyan was the right pick.

Abrar is my biggest worry for this tournament really. The rest will work itself out I think. Even saud and Babar I have a feeling they might hit some form, I don’t think they’re bad players.

 

[Kianig89]

Overall a poor series for Pakistan a fluke win and 2 drubbings from NZ, what worse another defeat also a possibility in 3/4 days

 

[Savak]

Our batting isn’t strong enough to play 5 bowlers. And we’re going to play 3 pacers as that is our experienced attack. We have to play a spin allrounder. Khushadil is the right fit of player. It’s just a matter of are there better spin allrounders. Maybe shadab would be better. But there’s not many options. I know people are upset about Khushadil but I really do think he’s the right fit of player. It’s just we have poor options for that player. I have a feeling he might do better in the tournament for some reason.

The problem is Abrar good enough. If there was another spinner on the bench we’d probably swap him out not add. And none of our spinners have much international experience they might do just as bad. So you’ve got to pick one.

I’m starting to think we backed the wrong one. Perhaps Sufiyan was the right pick.

Abrar is my biggest worry for this tournament really. The rest will work itself out I think. Even saud and Babar I have a feeling they might hit some form, I don’t think they’re bad players.

This is the exact problem i am talking about, this defensive, scared to lose, what if our batting fails, we cannot afford to play specialist bowlers because of our weak batting line up.

Sajid, Nauman are no mugs with the bat but are specialist spinners and can be trusted to be effective with the ball when the pitch has something for them.

Pakistan will never have a powerful reliable batting line up to consistently post 300 and to chase 350 plus not matter how many batsmen they stack up. Our best chance of success is to take 10 wickets and look to restrict the opposition to a par total or to have specialist bowlers who can take wickets and put pressure in the middle overs.

Trust me having Sajid, Nauman in place of Abrar, Faheem Ashraf would have given the side more wicket taking options in the middle for these conditions and you can have Suffiyan Muqeem as well in the squad.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Muqeem is a must. Abrar is not lethal enough.

Tbh I'm not too hopeful these flat pitches suit India NZ etc better. We are better on seamer friendly wickets in ODIs.

 

[pakistani pride]

No a win would be better. However there were quite a lot of positives. A record successful run chase for us is always a confidence booster.

Fakhar, Salman, Rizwan, Tayyab got some good runs under their belt. Naseem looked a bit more threatening last match and some of the part timers bowled better than I thought they would.

Abrar, Saud, Babar, Khushadil are the worries. Though seeing Abrar’s bowling I think we have to play a spin bowling allrounder to help him out.

Rizwan is a joke. Period!

 

[mon858]

Muqeem is a must. Abrar is not lethal enough.

Tbh I'm not too hopeful these flat pitches suit India NZ etc better. We are better on seamer friendly wickets in ODIs.

Agreed. We have done better in icc tournaments in England Australia when conditions suited our fast bowling more.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

It's perfect motivation to win the next match. They have a point to prove. Pak will win on Feb 19.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

New Zealand could act as an eliminator... Pakistan and India need to be wary of them

 

[Aami]

Our batting isn’t strong enough to play 5 bowlers. And we’re going to play 3 pacers as that is our experienced attack. We have to play a spin allrounder. Khushadil is the right fit of player. It’s just a matter of are there better spin allrounders. Maybe shadab would be better. But there’s not many options. I know people are upset about Khushadil but I really do think he’s the right fit of player. It’s just we have poor options for that player. I have a feeling he might do better in the tournament for some reason.

The problem is Abrar good enough. If there was another spinner on the bench we’d probably swap him out not add. And none of our spinners have much international experience they might do just as bad. So you’ve got to pick one.

I’m starting to think we backed the wrong one. Perhaps Sufiyan was the right pick.

Abrar is my biggest worry for this tournament really. The rest will work itself out I think. Even saud and Babar I have a feeling they might hit some form, I don’t think they’re bad players.

At last some proper analysis as to why certain players were picked instead of my player is better then yours ...

 

[Aami]

Fact is Saim Ayub is a big loss... meant having to play Babar out of position, adding Saud in Babar's spot, and Khushdil because Saim was also a useful 6th bowler ...that's 3 positional changes due to loss of one player.

Secondly, Abrar or Moqeem? ... Again, who do you fancy? Can't play both, will mean resting one of the pacers or weakening the batting line up by playing Faheem at no 7 in order to accommodate a 3rd seamer and 2nd spinner.

Given the resources, I would play Kamran instead of Saud but is he a capable no 3?... he can't play at his ideal position of no 5/6 where he is more useful.

Another mistake Irfan is far better than Tayyab.

Lastly, little tweak, bring Naseem at no 8 because Shaheen plays and acts like a no 11, if I had it may way, ill end the inns at 9 down.

 

[emranabbas]

just need to be realistic this pakistani team team isnt good enought

Fact is Saim Ayub is a big loss... meant having to play Babar out of position, adding Saud in Babar's spot, and Khushdil because Saim was also a useful 6th bowler ...that's 3 positional changes due to loss of one player.

Secondly, Abrar or Moqeem? ... Again, who do you fancy? Can't play both, will mean resting one of the pacers or weakening the batting line up by playing Faheem at no 7 in order to accommodate a 3rd seamer and 2nd spinner.

Given the resources, I would play Kamran instead of Saud but is he a capable no 3?... he can't play at his ideal position of no 5/6 where he is more useful.

Another mistake Irfan is far better than Tayyab.

Lastly, little tweak, bring Naseem at no 8 because Shaheen plays and acts like a no 11, if I had it may way, ill end the inns at 9 down.

A simple solution would have been to bring in Usman Khan instead of Saim. While he struggles against bounce in away conditions, he would perform well in Pakistani conditions.

Babar could bat at 3, drop Tayab and bringing in Saud or Kamran In his place.

Moqeem is a better option than Abrar, or they could have even given Sajid or Noman a chance, who can also contribute with the bat.

Unfortunately, there aren't many alternatives when it comes to all-rounders.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Fact is Saim Ayub is a big loss... meant having to play Babar out of position, adding Saud in Babar's spot, and Khushdil because Saim was also a useful 6th bowler ...that's 3 positional changes due to loss of one player.

Secondly, Abrar or Moqeem? ... Again, who do you fancy? Can't play both, will mean resting one of the pacers or weakening the batting line up by playing Faheem at no 7 in order to accommodate a 3rd seamer and 2nd spinner.

Given the resources, I would play Kamran instead of Saud but is he a capable no 3?... he can't play at his ideal position of no 5/6 where he is more useful.

Another mistake Irfan is far better than Tayyab.

Lastly, little tweak, bring Naseem at no 8 because Shaheen plays and acts like a no 11, if I had it may way, ill end the inns at 9 down.

Just curious why does pak need to play 3 pacers why cant they play 2 spinners and 2 pacers?

 

[Sanzcool]

Couldn’t have asked for a better preparation leading up to the Champions Trophy.

This series has served its purpose.

In 2003, Bharat had a depressing tour of NZ when we couldn’t make any runs the entire tour on green tops prepared by Kiwis. Despite that one thing we gained from the series was that our pace bowlers gained a lot of confidence from that tour and our batters learnt hunger for runs. In few months time we played the World Cup final at Johannesburg:

2003, Bharat had a rough start as well. Similar rough start here for Pak and it may be curtains

 

[Amjid Javed]

This Tri series exposed what most people already knew

Pakistans batting always crumbles under pressure.

The 4th, 5th, 6th bowling options are seriously weak

Playing mediocre fake all rounders like khusdil and faheem will never work

This poor squad selection will be exposed during CT as well

 

[moghul]

Pakistan's team was in top form, having won three consecutive series in a row. Winning this triseries would have cemented their status as the favourites. But Pakistan tends to excel in major tournaments when they aren't labeled as the favourites. So would this loss could turn out to be a blessing in disguise? Their first match is against New Zealand, a side they have dominated in recent ICC tournaments. So it's highly likely that the real Pakistan team will once again rise to the occasion.

No blessing in repeated loss at home and selecting a ridiculous team.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

We are still waiting for the numerous other blessings in disguise to materialise, this one is at the back of the queue.

 

[ads101]

This is the exact problem i am talking about, this defensive, scared to lose, what if our batting fails, we cannot afford to play specialist bowlers because of our weak batting line up.

Sajid, Nauman are no mugs with the bat but are specialist spinners and can be trusted to be effective with the ball when the pitch has something for them.

Pakistan will never have a powerful reliable batting line up to consistently post 300 and to chase 350 plus not matter how many batsmen they stack up. Our best chance of success is to take 10 wickets and look to restrict the opposition to a par total or to have specialist bowlers who can take wickets and put pressure in the middle overs.

Trust me having Sajid, Nauman in place of Abrar, Faheem Ashraf would have given the side more wicket taking options in the middle for these conditions and you can have Suffiyan Muqeem as well in the squad.

It’s just the opposite side of the coin. You can say why are we so scared of our bowling not performing we need to bring in extra bowlers to compensate. We’ve done this quite a bit in the past and don’t think it’s worth. Also an extra batsman is more likely to boost batting strength as it’s one more proper batsman to bat with and reduces pressure from the rest. An extra bowler may not be as he may bowl overs which the other five may have bowed better. It doesn’t necessarily lead to a stronger bowling attack.

I think most teams opt for four bowling options, 1 allrounder and a few part timers because mathematically it should be the most efficient since each bowler can bowl 10 overs maximum. While all eleven players may potentially bat. 5 full time bowlers is likely to be inefficient as 1 full time bowler will end up being underutilised and not fill his quota. I think a lot of the great captains are the ones who have used limited bowling options. Like Dhoni who used part timers well without weakening batting, using his bowlers as efficiently as possible.

As I said biggest problem is Abrar. If he had bowled well, I don’t think we’d be having this issue, the part timers really weren’t bad.

I’d like us to be able to have the option of 2 pace bowlers, 2 spinners. But when you don’t have a single experienced spinner right now, that becomes close to an impossibility.

 

[chinaman00]

Why everyone keep saying we didnt select right players. We need more spinners. Your premium spinner is being swept like a part time all round the park. If thats how our spinners operate and as they did in wc 23 we should not even include them

Bring in arafat or qasim who can dart better than them and also hold the bat.

There is no mystery in our mystery spinner. I hope he delivers in ct because management put way too much trust on the lone spinner and rn he is being outbowled by khushdil and agha

45% of the team are fake allrounders, there’s literally zero middle order. Bits and pieces players selected and they keep failing time and again.

A defination of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. The story of Pakistan cricket.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

Agreed. We have done better in icc tournaments in England Australia when conditions suited our fast bowling more.

Exactly this ! We have to produce pitches supports our fast bowling otherwise 70% of the time our batting will not get over 250 and we will not winning much with 250 on a batting pitch.

 

[Hyder]

45% of the team are fake allrounders, there’s literally zero middle order. Bits and pieces players selected and they keep failing time and again.

A defination of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. The story of Pakistan cricket.

Which one is fake all rounder and with whom they shall be replaced. Answer it. Khushdil bowled better than ur premium spinner

 

[BouncerGuy]

This has been a norm now. Every time this team performs badly, people start making analogies like they will perform in the vent now ETC ETC... But we all know, things do not work like 2017 CT every time.

 

[chinaman00]

Which one is fake all rounder and with whom they shall be replaced. Answer it. Khushdil bowled better than ur premium spinner

Easiest answer in the history of answers. You have a middle order made up of

1. Kushdil
2. Faheem Ashraf
3. Untested Tayyib

Pakistan’s tail starts the minute 4 wickets drop. This is not a squad designed to win trophies but to fill slots. Apart from Salman Agha, who’s having a good run (how long it will last? God only knows) there should be no other supposed allrounder. Everyone else should either be a specialist batsman or bowler.

 

[Marooned]

Which one is fake all rounder and with whom they shall be replaced. Answer it. Khushdil bowled better than ur premium spinner

Doesn't matter

Khushdil is playing as a batting all rounder basically as a batsman and that is an absolute waste of a spot.

With khushdil and faheem the team is not even gambling. They are sureshot losses.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Doesn't matter

Khushdil is playing as a batting all rounder basically as a batsman and that is an absolute waste of a spot.

With khushdil and faheem the team is not even gambling. They are sureshot losses.

Even aaqib mentioned that khusdhil is an all roudner but clearly he is not... He is a bits and pieces player...

 

[Justcrazy]

Pakistan has to change CT squad. The balance is not there. When you try to make batting longer , bowling suffers , when you try and pick bowlers for 50 overs , batting looses its depth.

It is in a mess. The top six batsmen have to bat 45 overs , that is must.

I think Pakistan has failed to develop multi skill players , there are no reliable all rounders available of International standards.

 

[Justcrazy]

Even aaqib mentioned that khusdhil is an all roudner but clearly he is not... He is a bits and pieces player...

The performance is not there , all rounders at least need to have a stronger suit.

 

[Hyder]

Doesn't matter

Khushdil is playing as a batting all rounder basically as a batsman and that is an absolute waste of a spot.

With khushdil and faheem the team is not even gambling. They are sureshot losses.

We need a all rounder at 7 atleast if not 8.
Faheem wont play dw about that rizwan didnt show confidence in him.
I feel khushdil deserves to play as shadab didnt give good returns and we dont have any other option available. Tho someone said yesterday that we can easily play hussain talat in place of saud and that makes so much sense as with talat u can easily get 3 4 overs of medium pace

 

[Hellion]

Pakistan getting dumped out in the first round of Champions Trophy would be an even bigger blessing for them imo. They can find even better players and win the next World Cup.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Pakistan has to change CT squad. The balance is not there. When you try to make batting longer , bowling suffers , when you try and pick bowlers for 50 overs , batting looses its depth.

It is in a mess. The top six batsmen have to bat 45 overs , that is must.

I think Pakistan has failed to develop multi skill players , there are no reliable all rounders available of International standards.

Saim being injured has really unbalanced the squad. 4 bowlers plus Saim and Agha was ok.

But we have had to cut it down to 3 (and yesterday 2) bowlers and bits and pieces to fill the gap.

Abrar is still not good enough to be banked on for 10 overs every match.

The only available option we have imo is to bring Shadab back. It's not great either but it could potentially add some balance.

 

[Farabi]

This is the exact problem i am talking about, this defensive, scared to lose, what if our batting fails, we cannot afford to play specialist bowlers because of our weak batting line up.

Sajid, Nauman are no mugs with the bat but are specialist spinners and can be trusted to be effective with the ball when the pitch has something for them.

Pakistan will never have a powerful reliable batting line up to consistently post 300 and to chase 350 plus not matter how many batsmen they stack up. Our best chance of success is to take 10 wickets and look to restrict the opposition to a par total or to have specialist bowlers who can take wickets and put pressure in the middle overs.

Trust me having Sajid, Nauman in place of Abrar, Faheem Ashraf would have given the side more wicket taking options in the middle for these conditions and you can have Suffiyan Muqeem as well in the squad.

Yup! Couldn’t agree more. Some guys like @Major who wrote essays about why Sajid and Nauman should not be there. Now live with these non sense spinners instead.

 

[PakPremi]

With this team Pakistan has no chance to get out of group stage. They need to get rid of one of Khushdil or Faheem and replace with Arafat Minhas, or even Shadab. They also need an opener in the team, so getting rid of both fake all rounders may not be a bad thing.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Pakistan's team was in top form, having won three consecutive series in a row. Winning this triseries would have cemented their status as the favourites. But Pakistan tends to excel in major tournaments when they aren't labeled as the favourites. So would this loss could turn out to be a blessing in disguise? Their first match is against New Zealand, a side they have dominated in recent ICC tournaments. So it's highly likely that the real Pakistan team will once again rise to the occasion.

It separates the wheat (sensible fans) from the shaft (jazbati fans)

 

[Amjid Javed]

I've been impressed by Tayib so no issue with him in side

Khusdil is not good enough to playing as a 7th batsmen, reality is when needed in odd occasion to bail the batting out he simply won't

The less said about his pie throwing the better

Same goes for fahim, this guys bowling is attricious and batting not much better

These selections just inbalance whole side with bat and bowl

Whoever made these selections needs to be sacked

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

Seriously need to work on our fielding

 

[Justcrazy]

We need a all rounder at 7 atleast if not 8.
Faheem wont play dw about that rizwan didnt show confidence in him.
I feel khushdil deserves to play as shadab didnt give good returns and we dont have any other option available. Tho someone said yesterday that we can easily play hussain talat in place of saud and that makes so much sense as with talat u can easily get 3 4 overs of medium pace

Talat bowling 4 overs will be hammered for 50 runs. These kind of medium pacers will be cannon fodder i against strong batting sides.

 

[Justcrazy]

Saim being injured has really unbalanced the squad. 4 bowlers plus Saim and Agha was ok.

But we have had to cut it down to 3 (and yesterday 2) bowlers and bits and pieces to fill the gap.

Abrar is still not good enough to be banked on for 10 overs every match.

The only available option we have imo is to bring Shadab back. It's not great either but it could potentially add some balance.

Why not go with shadab and Noman both ?

 

[Kianig89]

Pakistan 2x good batsmen to make the system work, we lost the final due to poor batting