Asia Cup 2023

Hi Guys, My 2 cents on Asia Cup. First of all, What a messy and unfortunate event that we didn't have full matches. It should not have been agreed on to conduct this tournament in Sri Lanka in these weather conditions.

Secondly, Pakistan ODI Cricket team is doomed. What we had faced with India could serve as a blessing in disguise however the problem is that the time has run out. World Cup is around the corner and you are facing a situation with not a single specialist middle order batsman in the lineup. Not even one, let alone two. Don't consider Saud Shakeel, He didnt get enough Cricket, How irony would it be to introduce him into the World Cup in a crucial 5 position. Fakhar is replaced and the funny thing is that he is replaced by a non-regular Wicket Keeper Batsman who has yet to practice much before he can play in International games. Openers doomed, Middle Order is Shallow. Only Babar is left as a batsman, we all know Imam never performs in big matches so problems all over.

I can write much on this topic and the current Saga going on but yeah its a Welcome Back Post I'd say :)
 
Agha Salman, Rizwan, Saud Shakeel and Iftikhar have batted in the middle order since they picked up a bat for the first time

Trust me, Agha Salman, Rizwan, and Iftikhar are half-baked batsman. Iftikhar is suited for lower order and rarely performs, so is Agha Salman with very early days, We have yet to see him. I'd say "Relu Kattas" You can't win matches against quality sides with this lineup. Saud Shakeel is Solid. But We have yet to see if he adapts his game to modern day One Day Cricket. Pakistan is far behind mate, far behind.
 
Trust me, Agha Salman, Rizwan, and Iftikhar are half-baked batsman. Iftikhar is suited for lower order and rarely performs, so is Agha Salman with very early days, We have yet to see him. I'd say "Relu Kattas" You can't win matches against quality sides with this lineup. Saud Shakeel is Solid. But We have yet to see if he adapts his game to modern day One Day Cricket. Pakistan is far behind mate, far behind.
Rizwan is half-baked? He has made lots of runs. So has Iftikhar. I mean, he literally saved our 2022 WC campaign with that knock against SA, and saved us from humiliation against India, we even put up a competitive total thanks to him?
The only reason you might call Agha and Saud half-baked is because we don’t get to play many ODIs against full-strength teams.
 
Hi Guys, My 2 cents on Asia Cup. First of all, What a messy and unfortunate event that we didn't have full matches. It should not have been agreed on to conduct this tournament in Sri Lanka in these weather conditions.

Secondly, Pakistan ODI Cricket team is doomed. What we had faced with India could serve as a blessing in disguise however the problem is that the time has run out. World Cup is around the corner and you are facing a situation with not a single specialist middle order batsman in the lineup. Not even one, let alone two. Don't consider Saud Shakeel, He didnt get enough Cricket, How irony would it be to introduce him into the World Cup in a crucial 5 position. Fakhar is replaced and the funny thing is that he is replaced by a non-regular Wicket Keeper Batsman who has yet to practice much before he can play in International games. Openers doomed, Middle Order is Shallow. Only Babar is left as a batsman, we all know Imam never performs in big matches so problems all over.

I can write much on this topic and the current Saga going on but yeah its a Welcome Back Post I'd say :)
What would be your XI?
 
Rizwan is half-baked? He has made lots of runs. So has Iftikhar. I mean, he literally saved our 2022 WC campaign with that knock against SA, and saved us from humiliation against India, we even put up a competitive total thanks to him?
The only reason you might call Agha and Saud half-baked is because we don’t get to play many ODIs against full-strength teams.
Bro Rizwan is not technically sound player. Its about reliability in big and crunch games Iftikhar? Come on, He barely performs. Saud isn't half baked but we have yet to see him in ODI Cricket. My point is we are in trouble because of this Shallow Batting Line-up. Also, In Spin Department Babar Should have trusted more on Osama Mir, He is a genuine Spinner.
 
What would be your XI?
It is a very tough call and hard now to make the Best XI out of this lot because I have reservations on the very Pool. We don't have much choices now. I would love to try out Abrar, Osama Mir, and Imad Wasim to see how they fit into the Squad. My line would have been the following:

Abdullah Shafiq
M. Rizwan
Babar Azam
Saud Shakeel
Haris Sohail/Fakhar Zaman
Agha Salman
Imad Wasim
Abrar/Osama Mir
Shaheen Shah
Naseem Shah
Haris Rauf
 
It is a very tough call and hard now to make the Best XI out of this lot because I have reservations on the very Pool. We don't have much choices now. I would love to try out Abrar, Osama Mir, and Imad Wasim to see how they fit into the Squad. My line would have been the following:

Abdullah Shafiq
M. Rizwan
Babar Azam
Saud Shakeel
Haris Sohail/Fakhar Zaman
Agha Salman
Imad Wasim
Abrar/Osama Mir
Shaheen Shah
Naseem Shah
Haris Rauf
Wouldn't be able to get through the full 50, that bowling lineup. Imad can hardly be considered an option as a full-time bowler, he's more of a batting allrounder in ODIs. I don't think you can callup Abrar in such an important role without any prior prep. Rizwan has been doing pretty well at 4-5, can't shoot him up to open in the WC, again the reason being no prior prep.

If Pakistan had tried some of these players and in these roles since the start of 2023, your XI might have been plausible. But now? No way they can go with this
 
They really sent Nawaz and Ifti ahead of Shadab when spinners are operating
 
Yeah… think cricket needs to address it’s rain problem if it has to survive as a sport in the future under climate change.
 

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