Your starting XI and squad for the 1st Test versus South Africa

[omairsiddiqui]

1. Abid Ali
2. Azhar Ali (because he shouldn't ever have dropped down to 3)
3. Babar Azam
4. Saud Shakeel
5. Fawad Alam
6. M Rizwan
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Zafar Gohar
9. Zahid Mehmood
10. Hasan Ali
11. Shaheen Afridi


12. Yasir Shah (hasn't been good enough for at least two years)
13. M Abbas (same as Yasir)
14. Imran Butt
15. Imam-ul-Haq

 

[Rayyman]

1. Imam ul-Haq
2. Imran Butt
3. Azhar Ali
4. Babar Azam*
5. Fawad Alam
6. Saud Shakeel
7. Mohammad Rizwan+
8. Zafar Gohar
9. Yasir Shah
10. Hasan Ali
11. Shaheen Shah Afridi
————————————
Faheem Ashraf
Kamran Ghulam
Sajid Khan
Sarfaraz Ahmed+
Mohammad Abbas

1st Test is at Karachi

 

[Azrim_91]

I think Kamran Ghulam should be given a go at number 3. He’s performed well domestically and that’s the way selection should be based if you don’t have talent in the ranks. I’ve heard so much about Saud Shakeel but have never seen him bay. Wouldn’t mind him if his first class record is also good.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Let’s make use of form and employ a good spinner’s track.

1. Azhar Ali
2. Abid Ali
3. Kamran Ghulam
4. Babar Azam (c)
5. Saud Shakeel
6. Fawad Alam
7. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
8. Zafar Gohar
9. Hassan Ali
10. Sajid Khan
11. Shaheen Afridi

 

[ads101]

1. Masood
2. Abid
3. Babar
4. Azhar
5. Kamran Ghulam
6. Fawad Alam
7. Rizwan
8. Zafar
9. Yasir
10. Abbas
11. Shaheen

Squad: Hasan Ali, Saud Shakeel, Faheem, Sarfraz

No outstanding openers to come in, so willing to give the current openers another series to turn it around or work out who we drop. Want to debut another middle order bat, gone with Kamran purely because of his insane season, yes Saud or Usman probably deserve it due to consistently performing but it's just too much to ignore, when you're in that good form that you are breaking records, I think we have to try Kamran.

Not so willing to drop Abbas, he's still been our best bowler over last few years and difficult to replace that, can't throw him away after a few bad tests. I don't think the other options impressing enough to force him out of the team. Still I'd have Hasan Ali there in the squad to come in for him if he doesn't perform/need a 3rd pace bowler.

 

[MMHS]

1. Abid
2. Azhar
3. Saud
4. Babar
5. Fawad
6. Asad
7. Rizwan
8. Faheem
9. Gohar
10. Yasir
11. Shaheen

 

[aloo paratha]

Abid
Azhar
Kamran
Babar
Fawad
Rizwan
Faheem
Zafar/Sajid
Hasan
Yasir
Shaheen

Tempted to pick Sajid over Zafar. Sajid is the better bowler, Zafar the better batsman.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

1. Abid
2. Azhar
3. Saud
4. Babar
5. Fawad
6. Asad
7. Rizwan
8. Faheem
9. Gohar
10. Yasir
11. Shaheen

Why not Hassan instead of Faheem, he can reverse swing too and probably more penetrative with the new ball. Not much worse with the bat. Are you giving the new ball to Faheem??

 

[Yk313]

Abid
Azhar
Kamran
Babar
Fawad
Rizwan
Faheem
Zafar/Sajid
Hasan
Yasir
Shaheen

Tempted to pick Sajid over Zafar. Sajid is the better bowler, Zafar the better batsman.

Sajid, the same guy who was playing for KP in QeA? The off-spinner?

If so, how tall is he? Does not look like he’ll get much bounce. Seems to also not get close to the stumps when bowling so has to turn it more.

Maybe you meant someone else or perhaps you guys have seen different footage.

 

[sam_ahm]

Most of the players are crap and I think Sarfaraz can play in this team purely as a batsmen. Should be in there.

Hasan Ali might make a comeback.

 

[MMHS]

Why not Hassan instead of Faheem, he can reverse swing too and probably more penetrative with the new ball. Not much worse with the bat. Are you giving the new ball to Faheem??

I’m not convinced with Hasan yet. He did made a hundred, but I would have loved to see him taking 10 wickets more than a hundred.

PAK’s strategy should be to bat, bat & bat... then bowl 75 over each with two spinners and Shaheen in short burst.

 

[Khan12]

1. Abid
2. Azhar
3. Saud
4. Babar
5. Fawad
6. Asad
7. Rizwan
8. Faheem
9. Gohar
10. Yasir
11. Shaheen

Asad please has enough of him.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

1. Masood
2. Abid
3. Babar
4. Azhar
5. Kamran Ghulam
6. Fawad Alam
7. Rizwan
8. Zafar
9. Yasir
10. Abbas
11. Shaheen

Squad: Hasan Ali, Saud Shakeel, Faheem, Sarfraz

No outstanding openers to come in, so willing to give the current openers another series to turn it around or work out who we drop. Want to debut another middle order bat, gone with Kamran purely because of his insane season, yes Saud or Usman probably deserve it due to consistently performing but it's just too much to ignore, when you're in that good form that you are breaking records, I think we have to try Kamran.

Not so willing to drop Abbas, he's still been our best bowler over last few years and difficult to replace that, can't throw him away after a few bad tests. I don't think the other options impressing enough to force him out of the team. Still I'd have Hasan Ali there in the squad to come in for him if he doesn't perform/need a 3rd pace bowler.

Pakistan doesn’t have an opener that can average more than 2.5 in NZ?

Are you related to Shan by any chance?

 

[D/DAhmed]

1. Masood
2. Abid
3. Babar
4. Azhar
5. Kamran Ghulam
6. Fawad Alam
7. Rizwan
8. Zafar
9. Yasir
10. Abbas
11. Shaheen

Squad: Hasan Ali, Saud Shakeel, Faheem, Sarfraz

No outstanding openers to come in, so willing to give the current openers another series to turn it around or work out who we drop. Want to debut another middle order bat, gone with Kamran purely because of his insane season, yes Saud or Usman probably deserve it due to consistently performing but it's just too much to ignore, when you're in that good form that you are breaking records, I think we have to try Kamran.

Not so willing to drop Abbas, he's still been our best bowler over last few years and difficult to replace that, can't throw him away after a few bad tests. I don't think the other options impressing enough to force him out of the team. Still I'd have Hasan Ali there in the squad to come in for him if he doesn't perform/need a 3rd pace bowler.

Seems like the shame that's been inflicted upon us isn't enough motivation for you to drop some of these national disgraces. Masood cannot continue to play for Pakistan, and neither can trundler Abbas. Shaheen should also be sent to NHPC to refine his cricketing intelligence. For the next 1-2 years, our line up in Asia should be the following:

Imran Butt/Sharjeel/Israrullah/Anyone not named Shan Masood
Abid Ali (no alternative)
Azhar
Babar
Fawad/Saud
Ghulam
Rizwan
Zafar Gohar
Yasir Shah/Sajid Khan/Nauman Ali
Hasan Ali/Aamer Yamin
Waqas Maqsood/Tabish Khan

Bring seniors into our bowling lineup so that the younger lot has the time to develop some cricketing intelligence. Make sure the following play 2 years of first class and spend the off-season in NHPC and touring SENA to acclimatize to conditions:

Naseem, Shaheen, Musa, Hasnain, Irfanullah Shah, Shahnawaz Dhani, Mohammad Umar, Zia-Ul-Haq, Sameen Gul, Arshad Iqbal and Munir Riaz.

If you manage to develop even half of the above into test class bowlers, Pakistan can finally stop getting embarrassed on a regular basis.

 

[aloo paratha]

Sajid, the same guy who was playing for KP in QeA? The off-spinner?

If so, how tall is he? Does not look like he’ll get much bounce. Seems to also not get close to the stumps when bowling so has to turn it more.

Maybe you meant someone else or perhaps you guys have seen different footage.

Yes, Sajid Khan the off spinner. Took the most wickets in the QeA trophy. Was pretty good last year too when pitches were roads. Gets great drift and decent turn. Don't see why people don't rate him.

 

[BetaG]

Abid Ali
Azhar Ali
Hussain Talat/Faheem Ashraf
Babar Azam
Fawad Alam
Saud Shakeel
Muhammad Rizwan
Yasir Shah/Zafar Gohar/Sajid Khan
Hasan Ali
Waqas Maqsood/Muhammad Abbas/Zafar Gohar
Shaheen Afridi

 

[Thunderbolt14]

I’m not convinced with Hasan yet. He did made a hundred, but I would have loved to see him taking 10 wickets more than a hundred.

PAK’s strategy should be to bat, bat & bat... then bowl 75 over each with two spinners and Shaheen in short burst.

Fair enough but he did take 5 wickets and overall 47 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 20. Pitches were more assistive to spinners - he is more convincing with the ball than Faheem is with the bat.

I agree with your overall team composition though. I have the same, except Kamran in for Asad (who has done badly even after being dropped into domestics).

 

[MMHS]

Fair enough but he did take 5 wickets and overall 47 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 20. Pitches were more assistive to spinners - he is more convincing with the ball than Faheem is with the bat.

I agree with your overall team composition though. I have the same, except Kamran in for Asad (who has done badly even after being dropped into domestics).

He was bowling PAK domestic batsmen minus top 15 batters.... some of those are showing their batting talent at Christchurch, some have shown it against Kiwi juniors ....

Pace bowling won’t do any Jack for PAK against SAF - if they make pacers wicket, SAF reserves will blow the batting; if they make batting paradise SAF might post 600, then even Markram’s off-spin will come to effect.

My tactics is to swim on Yasir’s shoulders - on a dry wicket, load the side with 7.5 batsmen, together they can put some runs and then ask Yasir to bowl for 100 overs in combined innings, while others can check run-rate with 4 men on line from other end.

 

[omairsiddiqui]

Surprised to see so many of you still going with Yasir.

I picked Zahid over Sajid because I think he's a spinner for all conditions.

 

[Yk313]

Yes, Sajid Khan the off spinner. Took the most wickets in the QeA trophy. Was pretty good last year too when pitches were roads. Gets great drift and decent turn. Don't see why people don't rate him.

If you say so. Had a look at Day 5 highlights and most of his wickets came from rash shots.

I know he’s the leading wicket taker but if his wicket taking is more a reflection of poor batting then I am not so sure. I have only a small sample size of highlights so will go with what others say for now.

 

[Rayyman]

Surprised to see so many of you still going with Yasir.

I picked Zahid over Sajid because I think he's a spinner for all conditions.

He has 227 wickets.

Yasir will bounce back iA. Form is temporary, but class is permanent.

 

[hur rizvi]

1. Abid Ali
2. Azhar Ali (because he shouldn't ever have dropped down to 3)
3. Babar Azam
4. Saud Shakeel
5. Fawad Alam
6. M Rizwan
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Zafar Gohar
9. Zahid Mehmood
10. Hasan Ali
11. Shaheen Afridi


12. Yasir Shah (hasn't been good enough for at least two years)
13. M Abbas (same as Yasir)
14. Imran Butt
15. Imam-ul-Haq

Yasir shah still is the best spinner in Pakistan. He has to play

 

[hur rizvi]

Why not Hassan instead of Faheem, he can reverse swing too and probably more penetrative with the new ball. Not much worse with the bat. Are you giving the new ball to Faheem??

Hassan Ali won't last 5 days. I have no doubts about his ability but his fitness is very questionable based on QAE final

 

[hur rizvi]

He has 227 wickets.

Yasir will bounce back iA. Form is temporary, but class is permanent.

To be honest he hasnt been bad in last few matches. He never was much good outside Asia even at his peak

 

[aloo paratha]

If you say so. Had a look at Day 5 highlights and most of his wickets came from rash shots.

I know he’s the leading wicket taker but if his wicket taking is more a reflection of poor batting then I am not so sure. I have only a small sample size of highlights so will go with what others say for now.

There's no way all 70 of his wickets this season came from rash shots. That's all I'll say.

 

[choudhary6964]

I will kick Abid Shan haris fawad Abbas out and will never want to see these losers in test squad again.

 

[Bilal_103]

I will kick Abid Shan haris fawad Abbas out and will never want to see these losers in test squad again.

These guys are supposed to be the seniors in the side I hope they all get dropped

 

[KoyoAli]

Some of the XIs here are so out of touch with the reality of our conditions even by people who actually follow Domestic cricket that its painful.

The two games are to be played in National Stadium Karachi and Rawalpindi Stadium. Both are flat batting wickets that have assistance for pace. Spinners will never do well there. Of all the QeA matches that were Televised in National Stadium, I dont remember even one of em being dominated by the Spinners. Even the Spinners that are the highest wicket-takers in the tourney couldn't run through oppositions like they did in other grounds. Instead it was the pacers that dominated. And will continue to do so as the pitch in National Stadium does not deteriorate. Hence playing two spinners and 7 Batsmen is overkill.

Heres my XI :

1) Azhar Ali
2) Abid Ali
3) Babar Azam
4) Saud Shakil
5) Fawad Alam
6) Md Rizwan
7) Faheem Ashraf/ Zafar Gohar
8) Hasan Ali
9) Yasir Shah / Sajid Khan / Zahid Mehmood
10) Waqas Maqsood
11) Shaheen Shah Afridi

I am tempted to replace Abid with Israrullah just because of his slip fielding at this point. However this to me is the best line up that we can realistically playb against SA. Abid is good in Asia. Ideally I would have Haidar open but his tour to NZ wasnt a productive one so he wouldn't make it. Babar should move up to no. 3. Rizwan is good enough to bat at 6. And both Faheem and Zafar has proved themselves with the bat. In Pindi we can go for Faheem and Zafar in Karachi. We should never go below 3 pacers in Pakistan. And if a top 6 of the above mentioned players cant give us respectable scored then adding another Batsman there is useless. What we need to win is a well rounded bowling attack, batting will be fine in home conditions.

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

Squad should be:

Imam
Azhar Ali
Babar Azam
Saud Shakeel
Fawad Alam
Imran Butt
Mohammad Rizwan
Faheem Ashraf/Zafar Gohar (Depending upon pitch)
Zahid Mahmood
Hasan Ali
Shaheen Afridi

Bench:
Abid Ali
Yasir Shah
Zafar/Faheem
Kamran Ghulam
Sarfaraz

 

[hur rizvi]

Some of the XIs here are so out of touch with the reality of our conditions even by people who actually follow Domestic cricket that its painful.

The two games are to be played in National Stadium Karachi and Rawalpindi Stadium. Both are flat batting wickets that have assistance for pace. Spinners will never do well there. Of all the QeA matches that were Televised in National Stadium, I dont remember even one of em being dominated by the Spinners. Even the Spinners that are the highest wicket-takers in the tourney couldn't run through oppositions like they did in other grounds. Instead it was the pacers that dominated. And will continue to do so as the pitch in National Stadium does not deteriorate. Hence playing two spinners and 7 Batsmen is overkill.

Heres my XI :

1) Azhar Ali
2) Abid Ali
3) Babar Azam
4) Saud Shakil
5) Fawad Alam
6) Md Rizwan
7) Faheem Ashraf/ Zafar Gohar
8) Hasan Ali
9) Yasir Shah / Sajid Khan / Zahid Mehmood
10) Waqas Maqsood
11) Shaheen Shah Afridi

I am tempted to replace Abid with Israrullah just because of his slip fielding at this point. However this to me is the best line up that we can realistically playb against SA. Abid is good in Asia. Ideally I would have Haidar open but his tour to NZ wasnt a productive one so he wouldn't make it. Babar should move up to no. 3. Rizwan is good enough to bat at 6. And both Faheem and Zafar has proved themselves with the bat. In Pindi we can go for Faheem and Zafar in Karachi. We should never go below 3 pacers in Pakistan. And if a top 6 of the above mentioned players cant give us respectable scored then adding another Batsman there is useless. What we need to win is a well rounded bowling attack, batting will be fine in home conditions.

I like your team. Just one change I would play both Zafar gohar and Faheem. I would replace Waqas MAqsood with Zafar and Yasir should play his position in Asian tests is quite secured IMO

 

[Mamoon]

Imam
Abid
Azhar
Babar (c)
Shakeel
Ghulam
Rizwan (wk)
Gohar
Hasan
Yasir
Shaheen

Not vouching or advocating for any of the new players here. All I am saying is that this the team that I will pick if I get a call from PCB today and they inform me that I am the new chief selector and head coach.

 

[Pakpak]

1. Masood
2. Abid
3. Babar
4. Azhar
5. Kamran Ghulam
6. Fawad Alam
7. Rizwan
8. Zafar
9. Yasir
10. Abbas
11. Shaheen

Squad: Hasan Ali, Saud Shakeel, Faheem, Sarfraz

No outstanding openers to come in, so willing to give the current openers another series to turn it around or work out who we drop. Want to debut another middle order bat, gone with Kamran purely because of his insane season, yes Saud or Usman probably deserve it due to consistently performing but it's just too much to ignore, when you're in that good form that you are breaking records, I think we have to try Kamran.

Not so willing to drop Abbas, he's still been our best bowler over last few years and difficult to replace that, can't throw him away after a few bad tests. I don't think the other options impressing enough to force him out of the team. Still I'd have Hasan Ali there in the squad to come in for him if he doesn't perform/need a 3rd pace bowler.

Masood and Azhar

Our fans really like self inflicted pain it seems. Absolutely baffling.

 

[Usman]

Some of the XIs here are so out of touch with the reality of our conditions even by people who actually follow Domestic cricket that its painful.

The two games are to be played in National Stadium Karachi and Rawalpindi Stadium. Both are flat batting wickets that have assistance for pace. Spinners will never do well there. Of all the QeA matches that were Televised in National Stadium, I dont remember even one of em being dominated by the Spinners. Even the Spinners that are the highest wicket-takers in the tourney couldn't run through oppositions like they did in other grounds. Instead it was the pacers that dominated. And will continue to do so as the pitch in National Stadium does not deteriorate. Hence playing two spinners and 7 Batsmen is overkill.

Heres my XI :

1) Azhar Ali
2) Abid Ali
3) Babar Azam
4) Saud Shakil
5) Fawad Alam
6) Md Rizwan
7) Faheem Ashraf/ Zafar Gohar
8) Hasan Ali
9) Yasir Shah / Sajid Khan / Zahid Mehmood
10) Waqas Maqsood
11) Shaheen Shah Afridi

I am tempted to replace Abid with Israrullah just because of his slip fielding at this point. However this to me is the best line up that we can realistically playb against SA. Abid is good in Asia. Ideally I would have Haidar open but his tour to NZ wasnt a productive one so he wouldn't make it. Babar should move up to no. 3. Rizwan is good enough to bat at 6. And both Faheem and Zafar has proved themselves with the bat. In Pindi we can go for Faheem and Zafar in Karachi. We should never go below 3 pacers in Pakistan. And if a top 6 of the above mentioned players cant give us respectable scored then adding another Batsman there is useless. What we need to win is a well rounded bowling attack, batting will be fine in home conditions.

I don't mind this team, except that:

1. I wouldn't play Abid, nor would I play Israrullah. Sharjeel averaged a respectable 43.73 this season with 2 hundreds and 4 fifties in 8 games. I think he deserves a shot.

2. I would play Kamran Ghulam instead of Saud Shakil. Kamran has averaged 62.45 this season with 5 hundreds and 5 fifties in 11 games (20 innings). Saud has averaged 57.05 wirh 3 hundreds and 5 fifties in 10 games (19 innings). Kamran has performed a little better.

 

[jupiter2007]

Squad should be:

Imam
Azhar Ali
Babar Azam
Saud Shakeel
Fawad Alam
Imran Butt
Mohammad Rizwan
Faheem Ashraf/Zafar Gohar (Depending upon pitch)
Zahid Mahmood
Hasan Ali
Shaheen Afridi

Bench:
Abid Ali
Yasir Shah
Zafar/Faheem
Kamran Ghulam
Sarfaraz

We need young talented and physical fit player.
Imam is the most selfish players, I would prefer to have someone else open with Azhar Ali.

 

[jupiter2007]

I don't mind this team, except that:

1. I wouldn't play Abid, nor would I play Israrullah. Sharjeel averaged a respectable 43.73 this season with 2 hundreds and 4 fifties in 8 games. I think he deserves a shot.

2. I would play Kamran Ghulam instead of Saud Shakil. Kamran has averaged 62.45 this season with 5 hundreds and 5 fifties in 11 games (20 innings). Saud has averaged 57.05 wirh 3 hundreds and 5 fifties in 10 games (19 innings). Kamran has performed a little better.

If Azhar and Rizwan can open, send Saud at 3, Babar at 4, Kamran Ghulam at 5 and Fawad at 6 and rest of the team. If Rizwaan prefer to come down in order than give Sharjeel a chance, Babar at 3, Kamran at 4, Fawad at 5 and Rizwan at 6 and rest of the team.

 

[JibranAnsari]

imran butt
abid ali
azhar
babar
fawad
rizwan
faheem
gohar
yasir
shaheen
abbas

 

[naseem]

Abid
Azhar
Babar
Kamran Ghulam
Saud Shakil
Rizwan
Faheem
Hasan
Gohar
Yasir
Saheen

Reserve..
Imam
Sajid Khan
Abbas
Imran Butt
Another spinner....

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Azhar Ali
Abid Ali
Babar Azam
Kamran Ghulam
Saud Shakeel
Fawad Alam
Mohammed Rizwan
Yasir Shah
Zafar Gohar
Hasan Ali
Shaheen Afridi

 

[naseem]

But first of all....remove the current coaching staff

 

[JibranAnsari]

We need to groom an opener , azhar ali isnt going to stay for long. Makeshift positions wont help us , we need to give imran butt/ any other opener good time before we again go play in sena conditions. Azhar ali probably will retire a month before next sena tour and our problem will remain. Forget about results at the moment and worry more about future.

But pakistan definitely need better coaching team though , who is our fielding coach by the way? and how is he helping.

Employ qualified professional coaches woth certificates in NCA and make the upcoming players work with them. Every problem of their game , including mental, should be addressed before making debut , international scene isnt a learning ground.

Kamran ghulam , saud shakil , usman salahuddin , sajid khan , zahid mehmood should be sent to NCA right away.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

We need to groom an opener , azhar ali isnt going to stay for long. Makeshift positions wont help us , we need to give imran butt/ any other opener good time before we again go play in sena conditions. Azhar ali probably will retire a month before next sena tour and our problem will remain. Forget about results at the moment and worry more about future.

But pakistan definitely need better coaching team though , who is our fielding coach by the way? and how is he helping.

Employ qualified professional coaches woth certificates in NCA and make the upcoming players work with them. Every problem of their game , including mental, should be addressed before making debut , international scene isnt a learning ground.

Kamran ghulam , saud shakil , usman salahuddin , sajid khan , zahid mehmood should be sent to NCA right away.

There is no good opener right now unfortunately in domestics. The best upcoming ones are middle order batsmen.

So Azhar Ali might very well be the best option for the next few years.

 

[hur rizvi]

Abid Ali
Imam ul Haq
Azhar
Babar
Fawad
Rizwan
Faheem
Zafar
Hasan Ali (If fit) else Abbas
Yasir Shah
Shaheen

 

[JibranAnsari]

There is no good opener right now unfortunately in domestics. The best upcoming ones are middle order batsmen.

So Azhar Ali might very well be the best option for the next few years.

we are mostly playing in asian conditions for next 2 and a half years , no sena tours. For these conditions we can easily play imran butt and imam/ abid ali. Azhar wont play for next few years , he is around 36. Not everyone goes on and play till 40. Opening becomes more difficult with age.

We need to plan for future , not for the moment.

 

[Bigboii]

1. Abid
2. Imam
3. Azhar
4. Babar
5. Fawad
6. Saud
7. Rizwan
8. Hasan Ali
9. Gohar
10. Yasir
11. Shaheen

 

[hur rizvi]

we are mostly playing in asian conditions for next 2 and a half years , no sena tours. For these conditions we can easily play imran butt and imam/ abid ali. Azhar wont play for next few years , he is around 36. Not everyone goes on and play till 40. Opening becomes more difficult with age.

We need to plan for future , not for the moment.

From little I have seen Imran butt, he seems very average so I agree with you giving a young opner a decent run but I think we should first give Imam (if he is fit) a run and then look at other options because TBH none of them inspire any confidence. Atleast Imam has performances in ODIs

 

[Bigboii]

From little I have seen Imran butt, he seems very average so I agree with you giving a young opner a decent run but I think we should first give Imam (if he is fit) a run and then look at other options because TBH none of them inspire any confidence. Atleast Imam has performances in ODIs

Agreed

Imam deserves a full chance as an opener for pakistan before trying any other domestic opener

 

[hur rizvi]

1. Abid
2. Imam
3. Azhar
4. Babar
5. Fawad
6. Saud
7. Rizwan
8. Hasan Ali
9. Gohar
10. Yasir
11. Shaheen

Hasan Ali is not fit enough for your attack to work. Rizwan is capable enough for no. 6 and Saud can be replaced by Faheem to give 3rd seam option which is necessary to reduce work load of Hasan and Shaheen. Moreover neither pindi nor KArachi would offer sharp spin

 

[Rayyman]

Some of the XIs here are so out of touch with the reality of our conditions even by people who actually follow Domestic cricket that its painful.

The two games are to be played in National Stadium Karachi and Rawalpindi Stadium. Both are flat batting wickets that have assistance for pace. Spinners will never do well there. Of all the QeA matches that were Televised in National Stadium, I dont remember even one of em being dominated by the Spinners. Even the Spinners that are the highest wicket-takers in the tourney couldn't run through oppositions like they did in other grounds. Instead it was the pacers that dominated. And will continue to do so as the pitch in National Stadium does not deteriorate. Hence playing two spinners and 7 Batsmen is overkill.
.

Hasan Ali is not fit enough for your attack to work. Rizwan is capable enough for no. 6 and Saud can be replaced by Faheem to give 3rd seam option which is necessary to reduce work load of Hasan and Shaheen. Moreover neither pindi nor KArachi would offer sharp spin

I put 2 spinners in my XI because I think that Pakistan will prepare a spinning pitch especially at Karachi. I know it is usually a flat wicket, but they might let it crack up because South Africa do not have any good spinners.

 

[JibranAnsari]

From little I have seen Imran butt, he seems very average so I agree with you giving a young opner a decent run but I think we should first give Imam (if he is fit) a run and then look at other options because TBH none of them inspire any confidence. Atleast Imam has performances in ODIs

Imran butt has earned his place , we just cant discard him without playing him. He should have played the second test in newzealand , we cant let this selecting the players and not playing them even the others dont perform thing continue. Usman Salahuddin has been a victim and he is 30 now. If i am not forgetting imam has already played 11 test matches and has an average of 25. Its only reasonable to give imran butt a chance first. Already played an opener who was averaging in 20s a year ago and back to 30s again.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Agreed

Imam deserves a full chance as an opener for pakistan before trying any other domestic opener

why does he deserve more than imran butt , his average is 25 in test cricket.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Giving importance to domestic performers and value the current form and an experience of taking atleast 100 wickets in FC

My squad of 16 would be as below.

Umar Amin (only Amin and Sharjeel have avgd over 40 in the current domestic season)
Azhar Ali
Imam Ul Haq/Usman Salahuddin (want one of imam/Usman to be the permanent no.3 as a replacement for Azhar in the long run)
Babar Azam
Kamran Ghulam
Rizwan
Zafar Gohar
Yasir Shah
Hasan Ali
Sajid Khan
Sameen Gul

Reserves:
Saud Shakeel
Rohail Nazir
Faheem Ashraf
Zahid Mehmood
Ehsan Adil

Rest to SSA , Abbas

Hasnain, Musa , Naseem, Haris Rauf back to NCA and domestics to learn the art of bowling in tests. No need to be excited or hurry their inclusion to tests unless they take 100 wickets in FC at an avg less than 25.

Shan , Abid, back to NCA to fix their techniques..
Lazy haris to sit at home and watch TV
Fawad (at this age , he cannot be blowing hot and cold to stay in the team, 1 century in a losing cause doesnt set things right, cannot do the same mistakes that was done to carry Azhar and Asad all these years)

 

[Mobashir]

My team will be something like this :

1. Azhar Ali
2. Imam ul Haq
3. Saud Shakeel
4. Babar Azam (c)
5. Kamran Ghulam
6. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
7. Zafar Gohar
8. Hasan Ali
9. Yasir Shah
10. Shaheen Shah Afridi
11. Mohammad Abbas

We have to play 5 bowlers, our bowling is the biggest issue so we have to everything possible to take 20 wickets.
+ Zafar and Hasan Ali can both hold a bat and we are lucky to have Rizwan as our wk batsman.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Giving importance to domestic performers and value the current form and an experience of taking atleast 100 wickets in FC

My squad of 16 would be as below.

Umar Amin (only Amin and Sharjeel have avgd over 40 in the current domestic season)
Azhar Ali
Imam Ul Haq/Usman Salahuddin (want one of imam/Usman to be the permanent no.3 as a replacement for Azhar in the long run)
Babar Azam
Kamran Ghulam
Rizwan
Zafar Gohar
Yasir Shah
Hasan Ali
Sajid Khan
Sameen Gul

Reserves:
Saud Shakeel
Rohail Nazir
Faheem Ashraf
Zahid Mehmood
Ehsan Adil

Rest to SSA , Abbas

Hasnain, Musa , Naseem, Haris Rauf back to NCA and domestics to learn the art of bowling in tests. No need to be excited or hurry their inclusion to tests unless they take 100 wickets in FC at an avg less than 25.

Shan , Abid, back to NCA to fix their techniques..
Lazy haris to sit at home and watch TV
Fawad (at this age , he cannot be blowing hot and cold to stay in the team, 1 century in a losing cause doesnt set things right, cannot do the same mistakes that was done to carry Azhar and Asad all these years)

umar didnt play all his games at opening position, he was mostly number 3.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

why does he deserve more than imran butt , his average is 25 in test cricket.

Because his 7 out of 11 are SENA tests + his consistency in LOIs (same situation as babar where he struggled to score runs in tests initially and then went on to dominate) ... Only him and Abid deserve more chances before discarding them... Abid with his limited technique has done really well in tests compared to Shan who make poultry farm..

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

we are mostly playing in asian conditions for next 2 and a half years , no sena tours. For these conditions we can easily play imran butt and imam/ abid ali. Azhar wont play for next few years , he is around 36. Not everyone goes on and play till 40. Opening becomes more difficult with age.

We need to plan for future , not for the moment.

I agree we need to plan for the future, but someone has to earn the opportunity, and then he needs to be given a long run.

Right now i personally am not impressed with any openers.

Abid Ali i dont have high hopes for. He padded his stats against a very weak Sri Lanka team. He will be exposed sooner rather than later.

Imam is a proven failure. He needs to perform well in domestic before getting another chance.

Imran Butt should be next in line. As soon as Abid average gets below 40 or he fails a fitness test i would go with him.

So i would still try to keep Azhar in the team for the next few years. Especially as we have some good upcoming middle order batsmen, so he can play as the mandatory senior player.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Because his 7 out of 11 are SENA tests + his consistency in LOIs (same situation as babar where he struggled to score runs in tests initially and then went on to dominate) ... Only him and Abid deserve more chances before discarding them... Abid with his limited technique has done really well in tests compared to Shan who make poultry farm..

Bevan was a great ODI player.

Fact of the matter is he failed , he cant hide behind playing in sena conditions. Even in neutral conditions he managed only 1 50 in 7 innings and averaged 28.

i am sure 50 every 7 innings isnt good

 

[ask_analyse_act]

umar didnt play all his games at opening position, he was mostly number 3.

Pakistan badly need a left handed opener with good technique, and i think he is a better fit compared to Shan and Imam..

He was hard done by the selectors, played 4 tests in England at the age of 20, then never given a chance again... With 140 FC games, 22 hundreds.. it would be a great chance for him, he is naturally an opener..

 

[ask_analyse_act]

umar didnt play all his games at opening position, he was mostly number 3.

what about the remaining choices

 

[JibranAnsari]

I agree we need to plan for the future, but someone has to earn the opportunity, and then he needs to be given a long run.

Right now i personally am not impressed with any openers.

Abid Ali i dont have high hopes for. He padded his stats against a very weak Sri Lanka team. He will be exposed sooner rather than later.

Imam is a proven failure. He needs to perform well in domestic before getting another chance.

Imran Butt should be next in line. As soon as Abid average gets below 40 or he fails a fitness test i would go with him.

So i would still try to keep Azhar in the team for the next few years. Especially as we have some good upcoming middle order batsmen, so he can play as the mandatory senior player.

why should he replace abid ali and not the second opener? We wait for another season to find an opener? Pakistan failed to prepare replacements of misbah and younis only because no one was given chances in their presence. Why no one else was played against bangladesh or zimbabwe and rested one of them , we are seeing the results of not preparing for the future.

If we dont start playing and preparing openers , we wont have any. We need to compromise on results for right now.

 

[JibranAnsari]

what about the remaining choices

imran butt was already selected and he deserves a go. Abid ali is still there. Play them.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Pakistan badly need a left handed opener with good technique, and i think he is a better fit compared to Shan and Imam..

He was hard done by the selectors, played 4 tests in England at the age of 20, then never given a chance again... With 140 FC games, 22 hundreds.. it would be a great chance for him, he is naturally an opener..

but he isnt an opener. If you want him at middle order then there are a few already knocking at the door.

 

[TeymurBlake]

For me it has to be:

1. Abid Ali
2. Azhar Ali
3. Babar Azam (C)
4. Fawad Alam
5. Usman Salahuddin/Saud Shakeel
6. Mohammad Rizwan (WK)
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Zafar Gohar
9. Hasan Ali
10. Sameen Gul/Zahid Mehmood
11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

Preferably I would rest Shaheen cause of the amount of cricket he has played over the last couple of months, but I can't think of a another left arm pacer who can come in. On Zahid, it depends on the pitch for me. If it offers more pace or bounce which isn't expected to, then I would go with Zahid or another leg spinner.

Regarding the batting, I would like to try Imran Butt instead of Abid Ali, but he's showed grit and guts. On Salahuddin or Saud Shakeel, its a toss up between them, you want experience and concentration go with Usman but if you want style and finesse you get Saud Shakeel. So take your pick.

Zafar Gohar deserves another chance to be honest, he wasn't suited to the 2nd Test pitch yet still played but he still has a lot to offer and he should play against South Africa.

 

[samiakh]

There are so many problems with our test side that its difficult to figure out where to start. But in my book you have to select with a roadmap in mind, you need current success but you need to develop the bench too. First things first, Waqar has to go for sure. He has been a disaster as a bowling coach. Misbah should leave too but the PCB admin will not make that call becuase it will leave them with too much egg on their face. So starting at the top.

Imam and Azhar to open, with Omair bin Yusuf brought into the setup to work with YK and get a taste of being around the intl team. Abid will not get you runs outside the subcontinent, and at his age you should back someone younger. Shan is done.

Middle order: Babar, Imran Butt, Fawad, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel. Play the first three but have the others around the team. Butt deserves his chance

Keeper: Rizwan

Batting allrounders: Hammad Azam, Qasim Akram

Bowling allrounders: Zafar Gohar and Faheem Ashraf play one or two of these 4 (between batting and bowling allrounders) to balance the team

Spinners: Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood, Yasir Shah. One or two depending on which AR was played

Pacebowlers: Shaheen, Hasan, Irfanullah Shah, Arshad Iqbal. Shaheen and Hasan as first choice.

So the team would be:
Imam
Azhar
Babar
Imran Butt
Fawad
Rizwan
Faheem/Hammad
Qasim/Zafar
Yasir/Sajid
Hasan
Shaheen

 

[DandyFellow]

Imam
Abid
Azhar
Babar (c)
Shakeel
Ghulam
Rizwan (wk)
Gohar
Hasan
Yasir
Shaheen

Not vouching or advocating for any of the new players here. All I am saying is that this the team that I will pick if I get a call from PCB today and they inform me that I am the new chief selector and head coach.

It is a really good team relatively. The new players coming down the order would be wonderful if the senior players take responsibility. My only worry is the fitness level of Hasan Ali because you need all your bowlers to stay fit if you are going with only 4.

 

[in_cutter]

Absolutely shocking that folk want to persist with Abid Ali!

We need to get rid of:

Abid
Shan
Azhar
Fawad
Haris
Send Naseem back to FC cricket
Find a replacement for Yasir Shah

(But in reality this will not happen)

The aim should be to build for the next Test Championship.

 

[Square Drive]

Imam
Abid
Azhar
Babar (c)
Shakeel
Ghulam
Rizwan (wk)
Gohar
Hasan
Yasir
Shaheen

Not vouching or advocating for any of the new players here. All I am saying is that this the team that I will pick if I get a call from PCB today and they inform me that I am the new chief selector and head coach.

Thoughts on Faheem meriting a spot in the Test XI moving forward?

 

[Babar_Azam_fan]

Imam ul Haq
Azhar Ali
Usman Salahuddin
Babar Azam *
Fawad Alam (/ Saud Shakeel/ Kamran Ghulam)
Mohammad Rizwan +
Faheem Ashraf
Zafar Gohar (/ Nauman Ali)
Hassan Ali
Sajid Khan
Shaheen Afridi

 

[Rana]

Should be this:


Abid Ali
Azhar Ali
Babar Azam
Kamran Ghulam
Fawad Alam
Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
Faheem Ashraf
Yasir Shah
Sajid Khan
Shaheen Shah
Mohammad Abbas

 

[Rellu_Katta]

becz we are being managed by a coward and a loser mentality management, highly doubt that even after this embarrassing defeat, anyone will take chance with that many youngsters

only change i see happening is Harris sohail getting dropped for babar

rest will remain the same.

i think zafar gohar might get a game depending on the pitch but yasir will b our main spinner (unfortunatly)

 

[in_cutter]

*
*
Babar Azam (c)
Kamran Ghulam/Saud Shakeel
*
Mohammed Rizwan (wk)
Faheem Ashraf
*
*
Shaheen Shah
*
Kick out all of the seniors...fill in the vacant gaps with fresh faces

 

[Mesozoic]

Pakistan need to start building their Test team around Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen. Everyone else is easily dispensable and as Pak are poised to play a lot of relatively easier series' this year, chances must be given to domestic performers aged 21-28 to nail their spots before the next SENA cycle. No more raw teen-agers and official 33 year olds.....

Absolutely no point in continuing with the same TTF brigade (Shan, Abid, Haris, Shafiq, Yasir and Abbas). But I guess the "seniority" and "Bhai" culture which is highly prevalent in Pakistan won't allow that to happen.

 

[szrana007]

Pakistan need to start building their Test team around Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen. Everyone else is easily dispensable and as Pak are poised to play a lot of relatively easier series' this year, chances must be given to domestic performers aged 21-28 to nail their spots before the next SENA cycle. No more raw teen-agers and official 33 year olds.....

Absolutely no point in continuing with the same TTF brigade (Shan, Abid, Haris, Shafiq, Yasir and Abbas). But I guess the "seniority" and "Bhai" culture which is highly prevalent in Pakistan won't allow that to happen.

There are no easy series, WI in WI will be tough as will be Zimbabwe in Zim. Pakistan can very lose matches to both these teams

 

[Mesozoic]

There are no easy series, WI in WI will be tough as will be Zimbabwe in Zim. Pakistan can very lose matches to both these teams

"Relatively easier".

Lol at losing to Zimbabwe. Kuch zyada hi ho gaya. And what if you lose? It's not like that'll be part of the Test championship. Atleast a few youngsta beauties will get some valuable int'l exposure.

 

[CricLegend]

No matter what lineup you post, Pakistan is just not good enough at the moment. Hopefully with the new domestic structure, we will see better players coming through.

I think for SA, saud shakeel l, Usman Salahuddin and Kamran Ghulam deserve to be in the squad and at least one of them in the final 11. Shan Masoon needs to be dropped forever.

 

[Ayubhbaloch]

1 Imam Ul Haq
2 Abid Ali
3 Azhar Ali
4 Babar Azam
5 Kamran Ghulam
6 Fawad Alam
7 Mohammad Rizwan
8 Yasir Shah
9 Hassan Ali
10 Sohail Khan
11 Shaheen Afridi

 

[ChTab]

1. Imam Ul Haq

2. Azhar Ali ( possibly the best opener we have, he should never play 1 down again)

3. Hussain Talat ( he was in very good form before he was selected for NZ tour & in NZ he played few good innings)

4. Babar Azam (c)
5. Saud Shakeel
6. Muhammad Rizwan (wk)
7. Faheem Ashraf (deserves 1 series at home as well)

8. Zafar Gohar
9. Hassan Ali
10. Shaheen Shah Afridi
11. Sajid Khan


I know this team has long tail but almost same tail played much better in NZ so it won't be that difficult for them to play at home. Plus we would have 5 specialist bowlers 2 spinners & fast bowlers.


12. Fawad Alam ( bit harsh that he isn't in my playing XI but IMO that 100 was fluke. He had 27 runs in 3 other inns vs NZ

13. Kamran Ghulam
14. Yasir Shah
15. Muhammad Abbas
16. Imran Butt
17. Rohail Nazir ( This guy has massive potential & I want him in & around national team)

 

[Mamoon]

Thoughts on Faheem meriting a spot in the Test XI moving forward?

He should play outside Asia ahead of Gohar because he is as poor as the other pacers but can fluke some runs on a good day.

 

[Hasan123]

Abid
Imam
Azhar
Babar
Saud
Rizwan
Faheem
Gohar
Yasir
Abbas
Shaheen

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Imam
Abid
Azhar
Babar (c)
Shakeel
Ghulam
Rizwan (wk)
Gohar
Hasan
Yasir
Shaheen

Not vouching or advocating for any of the new players here. All I am saying is that this the team that I will pick if I get a call from PCB today and they inform me that I am the new chief selector and head coach.

Very good selection, to be honest. I knew you had it in you.

 

[amvbfm]

1. Abid - He has done enough to get one more series
2. Imam - definitely needs to replace Shan
3. Azhar
4. Babar
5. Fawad - deserves one more chance
6. Saud/Kamran
7. Rizwan
8. Yasir - would not be prudent to leave out your best spinner. if needed can be changed later
9. Sajid - I would go with sajid over gohar based on recent form
10. Shaheen
11. Abbas - can hold up one end and bowl long economical spells if needed. Also little danger of him breaking down. For me Hasan's fitness is still suspect and wouldn't want to end up one bowler short

The main goal should be to try and bat out the opposition and rely on the spinners to bowl them out.

Backup:
Saud/Ghulam
Hasan
Imran Butt
Faheem
Gohar