With Mohammad Hafeez dropped, is Pakistan's sixth bowling option in LOIs good enough?

[mak36]

Like most, I am very happy to see the back of Hafeez. However, his non-selection does raise an issue: who will be Pakistan's sixth bowling option?

If Haris gets in the side, then he will obviously be able to contribute but based on the likely playing XI, the answer seems to be Shoaib Malik.

So is Malik good enough to be Pakistan's sixth bowling option?

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Malik/Fahkar

On this topic though what happened to Babar Azam’s Bowling? He did quite well at under 19 level and at the start of his domestic career. I know his action was dodgy especially his doosra but we never found out about the tests he did a year or so ago

 

[Ahson8]

Malik. Haris, if he plays

 

[mak36]

Perhaps the title should be changed [MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION].

My question is more about whether the sixth bowling option is good enough, rather than who it might be.

 

[mak36]

Malik/Fahkar

Malik. Haris, if he plays

Is Malik good enough though?

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Is Malik good enough though?

I think he is underrated because of how little he has bowled recently, he does have more than a 150 wickets

true he is nothing special but he is smart and can give us some good overs in the middle

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Haris and Talat should be our 6th bowling options. Spin and pace all bases covered. Malik should not be in the team.

Bad decision to not include Talat because of one poor tournament.

 

[Mamoon]

Haris has potential with the ball. He can get some good spin and has a knack of taking wickets. He along with Malik and Fakhar can collectively do an adequate job. Hafeez without chucking is not quality anyway.

 

[Slim]

Perhaps the title should be changed [MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION].

My question is more about whether the sixth bowling option is good enough, rather than who it might be.

Not good enough. Hafeez is better than both Malik and Haris as a bowling option. However, sometimes you have to sacrifice for the greater good. Hopefully this wont come to bite us.

 

[Kohli The King of Chase]

The best 11 for WC should be

Babar
Fakhar
Haris (6th bowler)
Malik
Sarfraz + *
Asif
Shadab (AR)
Amir
Hassan
Shaheen
Usman

Pakistan's strength was and is their pace bowling. They should go with 4 genuine pacers, with Shadab as a spin AR.

Shaheen's wicket taking bowling will be more impactful than Faheem's 15-20 runs. Moreover, Amir and Hassan are good enough batsmen at 8 and 9.

 

[barah_admi]

With Shadab, Faheem, Amir, Hasan, Raees locked in, there are plenty of options. Malik will be the obvious and best choice. If Haris is part of the batting line up, then he'll get a bowl too...although Malik hasnt featured as a bowler all that much.

Along with that, there may be Imad returning and possibly Nawaz. Lots of good options.

 

[mak36]

Haris and Talat should be our 6th bowling options. Spin and pace all bases covered. Malik should not be in the team.

Bad decision to not include Talat because of one poor tournament.

Pretty much. This is where my question is leading to- Haris is a much better sixth bowling option (not to mention a better batsman).

If Malik continues to fails vs big teams, I very much hope he gets the 'Hafeez treatment'.

Re Talat, it's a shame he is not in the squad but to be fair the middle order is pretty settled atm, and Haris deserves a chance if a spot opens up.

 

[mak36]

With Shadab, Faheem, Amir, Hasan, Raees locked in, there are plenty of options. Malik will be the obvious and best choice. If Haris is part of the batting line up, then he'll get a bowl too...although Malik hasnt featured as a bowler all that much.

Along with that, there may be Imad returning and possibly Nawaz. Lots of good options.

Lol, what?

Also you are just naming options in the squad. I am asking about the sixth bowling option in the playing XI.

 

[coy0607]

they will probably try and fit in Nawaz as a 6th bowler, especially after a game or two when they see how slow the pitches are

but even without him, I think they are fine. 5 excellent bowlers, and Malik when/if needed

 

[ChuckLee]

Haris
Zaman
Azam
Sarfraz
Umar Akmal
Asif
Shadab
Amir
Hassan Ali
Junaid
Shaheen

This is my XI for the upcoming World Cup. Flair and consistency from haris. The match winner and big hitting from zaman.

Azam the anchor of the innings. Sarfraz playing spin in the middle overs and keep things ticking with azam.

Fire power and flair from umar Akmal to up the run rate and take it to the bowlers as he does. Asif Ali the big hitter with Akmal to up the ante and finish strong.

Shadab the spin all rounder.

Lastly the best pace battery in the world.

This is a very well balanced and strong side. This side for me gives us the best chance of Pakistan winning the World Cup.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Haris would for me the first choice for the sixth option. Malik is another option but he doesn't bowl enough.

 

[barah_admi]

Lol, what?

Also you are just naming options in the squad. I am asking about the sixth bowling option in the playing XI.

Maybe read the whole post.

My basic point is that the bowling options are so good, a 6th bowler only needs to be serviceable, although Malik is more than that. We can get away with someone like Haris even.

 

[mak36]

Maybe read the whole post.

My basic point is that the bowling options are so good, a 6th bowler only needs to be serviceable, although Malik is more than that. We can get away with someone like Haris even.

I did, and it made no sense.

Naming Shadab, Faheem, Amir, Hasan, Raees, Imad and Nawaz makes little sense as they aren't sixth bowling options- they are primarily bowlers. Raaes isn't even part of the squad!

Other than that, you have named Malik/Haris but I am not sure how that amounts to "plenty" of "good options."

 

[Minnowbasher]

Haris Sohail must play now that Hafeez has been dropped. Maybe he should open as that's the only place I see him fitting into the team.

Haris Sohail
Fakhar Zaman
Babar Azam
Shoaib Malik
Sarfaraz Ahmed
Asif Ali
Shadab Khan/Faheem Ashraf
Hasan Ali
Mohammad Amir
Junaid Khan
Shaheen Afridi/Zafar Gohar

 

[New Yorker]

Like most, I am very happy to see the back of Hafeez. However, his non-selection does raise an issue: who will be Pakistan's sixth bowling option?

If Haris gets in the side, then he will obviously be able to contribute but based on the likely playing XI, the answer seems to be Shoaib Malik.

So is Malik good enough to be Pakistan's sixth bowling option?

No, and that is saying something, because the sixth bowling option really doesn't have to be very good at all. But Malik, well;

Took 1 wicket in latest 3 ODIs against Windies ; 0 against England in 4 games; 1 wicket in 5 games against Oz in 2017.

Has not been used as a bowler in half of the ODIs he has played since then.

Averages 71 with the ball since late 2015.

 

[Pete Rose]

When the going gets tough, Pakistan has a better chance of winning with ten vs having hafeez in the line up. As for his bowling, is he now the most called out chucker in international cricket?

 

[Kashmiri_Pak_fan]

Hafeez is giving press conference today...probably announcing retirement

 

[barah_admi]

I did, and it made no sense.

Naming Shadab, Faheem, Amir, Hasan, Raees, Imad and Nawaz makes little sense as they aren't sixth bowling options- they are primarily bowlers. Raaes isn't even part of the squad!

Other than that, you have named Malik/Haris but I am not sure how that amounts to "plenty" of "good options."

I assume English is your second language so I will explain in a very simple manner:

Pakistan's bowling line up is so good on its own, that the 6th bowler does not need to be that impressive. Malik more than meets the criteria and Haris may be acceptable, with Nawaz included I believe. I think you are just trying to make the point that Pak's 6th option is not good enough which is too funny.

I did not know about Raees, I assume it is injury.

 

[mak36]

I assume English is your second language so I will explain in a very simple manner:

Pakistan's bowling line up is so good on its own, that the 6th bowler does not need to be that impressive. Malik more than meets the criteria and Haris may be acceptable, with Nawaz included I believe. I think you are just trying to make the point that Pak's 6th option is not good enough which is too funny.

I did not know about Raees, I assume it is injury.

One can only assume your name is ironic.

Getting personal is a very defensive move.

 

[Hasan123]

As if his bowling was anything special in the last year or so. Malik and Fakhar can cover his overs.

 

[MR-Jatt]

Malik is better than him

 

[Abdullah719]

Malik getting a bowl out against Hong Kong.

 

[mak36]

Malik getting a bowl out against Hong Kong.

He's getting a little bit of drift.

 

[mak36]

Never mind sixth bowling option, today’s line up vs Afghanistan only contains four frontline bowlers (due to injuries/tactics etc):

Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan and Shaheen Afridi

Haris, Shoaib and Fakhar to make up at least ten overs between them- will need to see Sarfaraz's captaincy at his best today.

 

[Asif321]

Hafeez must be laughing . Joke of selection from inzi and co
Hafeez was must be gives a balance to this side and would have taken wickets as would have Imad
But you want Shaan and make him warm the bench nice tactics and if Pakistan lose this will be the biggest reason

 

[arehaan]

Where is the spin attack for us

 

[Asif321]

Where is the spin attack for us

We need only yo yo test heroes that drops catch in field
No need for spinner

 

[mak36]

We need only yo yo test heroes that drops catch in field
No need for spinner

And breathe... we won.

 

[gazza619]

Actually looking at how useless some of our batsmen are and the next so called saviour Haris is no good, we need Hafeez back asap.
So the line up can be:

1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Imam-ul-Haq
3. Babar Azam
4. Muhammad Hafeez
5. Shoaib Malik
6. Asif Ali
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Sarfaraz Ahmed
9. Shadab Khan
10. M Amir
11. Shaheen Afridi

The above eleven would have been handy in UAE..

 

[SensiblePakFan]

As long as he plays in England i couldnt care less, cause thats where we'll need him, WC>>>>>Asia Cup
Plus we dont need him to get banned AGAIN before the WC.

 

[ads101]

Don't get this thread. Why do you need six bowling options? If your five bowling options are solid, you will hardly ever need to bowl your sixth bowling option if not at all.

If there's a problem with the bowling, it's the fifth bowling option which is the issue. If you play five bowlers especially, you should hardly even need to rely on part timers.

Which is why I usually prefer the spin bowling allrounder at 7. If you have two spinners both will usually bowl out their overs, as will the three other pacers, meaning you won't even need your 6th bowling option.

The reason why a 6th bowler is bowling so much is because management don't trust Faheem with 10 overs. Hence balance it out. Also partly because we're only playing one spinner, it helps gives us extra overs of spin. Which calls into question, why not just select the spin bowling allrounder in the first place if that's the issue.

I think both Imad and Nawaz are good enough to bowl 10 overs if picked. So no need to recall Hafeez.

Even against Afghanistan, we got away with Malik and Haris. Both went for less than all the other specialist bowlers except for Shaheen.

 

[mak36]

Don't get this thread. Why do you need six bowling options?

Lol, what?

Sometimes you say things which make we wonder whether you actually watch cricket.

 

[Hasan123]

Why can't we just move on from this guy ? This forum goes on about how much talent we have in domestic. Everyday a thread is bumped a young player doing well yet we have threads about why a 37 year old should be included in the line up because of his bowling which is so ovverated .

 

[ads101]

Lol, what?

Sometimes you say things which make we wonder whether you actually watch cricket.

I like how you just insult people who disagree with your opinions in this thread. Just took down three people in this thread alone. They should call you the Terminator.

 

[mak36]

I like how you just insult people who disagree with your opinions in this thread. Just took down three people in this thread alone. They should call you the Terminator.

How very drole.

The OP asks "in the absence of Hafeez, is Pakistan's sixth bowling option good enough in LOIs?" Based on your response, your answer would seem to be yes. That's fair enough.

But you went further and seemed to question the very logic of (i) having a sixth bowling option in LOIs and (ii) this thread (which is a puzzle as it took you six paragraphs to answer).

Also, it wasn't an insult, just an observation. I don't think I have ever heard a cricket fan question the logic of having a sixth bowling option; there's a reason pretty much every single team has a sixth bowling in LOIs (poor form, conditions, over rate, tactics).

 

[ManFan]

Hafeez has picked up less than 10 wickets since June of 2017.

He is 35+ and a liability with the bat.

We should include Bilal Asif or a genuine spinner if we want a sixth bowling option.

You don’t need more than five in the UAE (three spin + two pace).

 

[DRsohail]

The bitter reality is that hafeez is not even a good 6th bowling option when he does not chuck and Micky Arthur knows it.