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Will Pakistani players follow the white ball only route?

Saj

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We've seen Adil Rashid and Alex Hales confirm that they will only play white ball cricket in future and turning their backs on Test cricket. In the past the likes of Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik also do this, but towards the end of their careers.

However, do you see any of Pakistan's current players giving up Test cricket and only concentrating on white ball cricket?
 
Only Sarfraz, Amir, Babar and Hasan are considered to play both Tests and LOIs for Pakistan and I don't think any of them will do such a thing.
 
Players who restrict the format of their crickets either do so because they are not getting picked across formats, or because they have significant financial incentives to do so.

If 'x' years down the road, a Pakistani bowler reaches the stature of a Starc, and starts raking in millions of dollars in the shorter formats, maybe this scenario occurs. But for that, Pakistani players would need access to the most lucrative T20 league on the planet.
 
Only Sarfraz, Amir, Babar and Hasan are considered to play both Tests and LOIs for Pakistan and I don't think any of them will do such a thing.

it may not be a bad idea for Babar and AMir to be LOI only.. they are very young still, but that is where it looks like they will excel the most
 
Few months ago, rumors were going around that Amir will get his retirement from Tests so won't be surprised if it actually happens...
 
Dont think so, there won't really be any incentive for our players to go down that route. No hectic international or domestic workload, no IPL. Plus our domestic doesnt pay players that much money that they will think about leaving what they earning from playing 4 day cricket.
 
I have a feeling that the PCB is going to let anyone off easily with being only white ball cricketers. I think the stigma of players giving up national honours to be a mercenery T20 PSL specialist may not sit well with Pakistanis.

I certainly hope that's the case, considering we don't play enough and even the WI plays more cricket than we do.
 
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I liked the tests but at the same time hope that it comes to a respectful end. Should move on with the times and stick to the shorter format for the sake of cricket's survival as a broadcasted mainstream sport.

I have a feeling in the next 5-10 yrs players wont even be required to make this decision.
 
those players that mainly feature in t20 leagues around the world more so than in first class games such as Sohail Tanvir and Umar Akmal despite not looking like having interest in playing test cricket have still expressed their desires to play tests.
 
England is a bit different in the sense that there still is a sense of meritocracy - players are confident enough to become specialists, knowing that their place in the white ball team is safe, so long as they are good enough.

With Pakistan, I don't think that is the case - there is still a sense of insecurity regarding places and selection. Usually, we see players hang on to any position they have in order to prolong their careers, and earn any available income that comes their way. That way, it would be difficult to see someone voluntarily forgo a test team place, at the risk of someone else coming in and establishing their place and name, who could eventually challenge them for a white ball team place. And, as others have mentioned, its not like we really play enough test cricket for fatigue to become a serious enough issue that players are forced to pick to do down one route only to prolong their careers.

It would have to be a well established player, like an Afridi, who feels that their position is secure who takes the risk. At the moment, I am not sure there is anyone who fits that mould.
 
Dont think so as Pakistan players dont get enough money from White ball cricket so they will try to play all formats to maximise earnings. Also Pakistan plays very less Test cricket as compared to England, Australia and India
 
Won’t be required - PCB is doing a fine job here. Players can easily manage 2/3 Tests in a year among all those important T20 & T10s.
 
PCB can distinguish which players are suited to different formats correctly, so cant see how players themselves in pakistan would classify themselves as specialist in a certain format :facepalm:
 
Amir hasnt looked a Test bowler since his return so id say he will walk away soon.
 
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