Zimbabwe vs Pakistan | 4th ODI | Bulawayo | July 20, 2018 | Pre-Match Thread

[hadi123]

What changes would you make?

 

[Syed1]

Just two more ODIs to go..... there is still light at the end of the tunnel

 

[Rayyman]

Hafeez in for Fakhar.

 

[szundercover]

Hafeez in for malik.

 

[Abdullah719]

If we bat first, is it allowed to declare the innings?

I am quite content with the early finishes.

 

[mak36]

Who are these posters suggesting Hafeez come into the team?!

 

[Abdullah719]

Who are these posters suggesting Hafeez come into the team?!

Farewell match?

 

[Rayyman]

Who are these posters suggesting Hafeez come into the team?!

Cuz I'm hoping he plays the last two matches and gets 2 ducks.

 

[Khan12]

Cuz I'm hoping he plays the last two matches and gets 2 ducks.

Inshallah. That will be great.

 

[Abdullah719]

Who are these posters suggesting Hafeez come into the team?!

Here are some excerpts from an article about Hafeez published recently in a major news outlet:

They should give an explanation for such questions. If the selection was made after all due attention, then we do not expect to see the insulting treatment administered to a senior player like Hafeez.

A player who had been representing the country in international cricket for the past 15 years should have been given at least five matches to establish his place in the team. Had he not performed throughout the series, he would have been left with no choice but to consider stepping down.

Throughout the past few years, Hafeez has undergone a disturbing, military-level, scrutiny of his balling action. After finally getting the clearance, he was allowed to join the team only to see that the management had a different plan for him.

We saw how a weak Zimbabwe team succumbed against the performance of Pakistan. However, watching a former captain applauding the team while behind dropped out is a deplorable sight for a cricket fan.

In addition to being an all-rounder, Hafeez is also blessed with a solid IQ for cricket.

 

[msb314]

Here are some excerpts from an article about Hafeez published recently in a major news outlet:

I guess he is "blessed" even more than all 3 facets of the game.

 

[Asif321]

hafeez for malik
may be Nawaz for resting shadab

 

[Madplayer]

Mickey should include himself in the XI for Pakistan while Grany flower should bat for Zimbabwe. Azhar mehmood should also be given opportunity. Perhaps then the match will last 40 overs a side.

 

[Justcrazy]

People are joking here but on a serious note , Pakistan should look to open with faheem and shaadab , they will get more opportunity with the bat.

 

[New Yorker]

What changes would you make?

Win toss, bat first.

Rest Fakhar, bat Shadab for two matches as an opener.

Bat Asif Ali at 4 and Faheem at 5.

Amir stays out.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

I hope we bat first this time.Keep Amir and Hasan on the bench.

Faheem should bat at 4.Asif should be opener in place of Fakhar who should also be rested.

 

[UN talkz]

Bring back Ahmed Shehzad, Khatmals, Faisal Iqbal and Wahab Riaz, it will become interesting.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Hafeez in for Fakhar.

Would definitely like to see how youngster Hafeez plays.

 

[szundercover]

i would actually open with babar and fakhar and play shadab at 3. And drop imam and bring in hafeez in the lower middle order.

 

[Abdullah719]

 

[mak36]

Here are some excerpts from an article about Hafeez published recently in a major news outlet:

Sad but not surprising unfortunately.

It's remarkable how much of a disconnect there is between fans and (some of these) journalists/media groups. Don't think I have ever seen anything like it.

To them there is no such thing as "team Pakistan." There is only "team Hafeez", "team Shahzad", "team [flavour of the month]." They don't care about the team's results so long as their favoured players are in the team.

 

[todfod 11]

Make Faheem ashraf open the inning

 

[Justcrazy]

Hafeez should be given a farewell game and out of team forever.

 

[ExplicitAI]

I think we should give chances to players who haven't really had much recognition or any notable success with the bat, so I feel Faheem should bat up the order for once and Shadab should also bat up the order to see how long he'd last 50 overs. Asif Ali should also come up the order for some clean hitting, the tail is ridiculously strong anyways, for me it's one of the best tails in the world.

 

[TeamPak95]

I think we should give chances to players who haven't really had much recognition or any notable success with the bat, so I feel Faheem should bat up the order for once and Shadab should also bat up the order to see how long he'd last 50 overs. Asif Ali should also come up the order for some clean hitting, the tail is ridiculously strong anyways, for me it's one of the best tails in the world.

I was literally going to post about this. If there's one thing that I'm genuinely looking forward to in these remaining 2 games is Faheem batting, even more than Shadab and Asif batting. Hopefully he'll get his chance as Faheem himself said he had his pads on ready to come in at 4 in the past few games.

 

[giri26]

I think it is better if Pakistan can rest Fakhar, so that the other batters also get some hit in the middle.

 

[Madplayer]

Faheem should not bat higher than 4. Its crazy to suggest that he should open. That can dent his confidence even more if he fails against the new ball.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Reverse the batting order from #8 and I'm not kidding.