I just wanted get everyone’s opinion about who will be the best opening pair for Pakistani Cricket Team in ODI & test matches.
We have tried different combination from
Inzamam-ul-Haq + Sajid Ali
Saeed Anwar + Shahid Afridi
Saeed Anwar + Imran Nazir
Saeed Anwar + Imran Farhat
Saeed Anwar + Taufeeq Umar
Saeed Anwar + Saleem Elahi
Shahid Afridi + Imran Nazir
Shahid Afridi + Naved Latif
Shoaib Malik + Shahid Afridi
Imran Nazir + Shoaib Malik
Akmal Kamran(W) + Faisal Iqbal
Taufeeq Umar + Saleem Elahi
Mohd Hafeez + Taufeeq Umar
Mohd Hafeez + Faisal Athar
I want Imran Farhat and Mohammad Hafeez (aka my boy). Imran the blaster, and Hafeez the grafter - could be something good. Plus they're left and right combo.
I'd go for Imran Farhat and Imran Nazir. I think Imran Nazir has loads of talent and potential and little guidance from Javed Miandad can develop him into a very explosive opening batsman. In his first stunt he was asked to open with Afridi. Nazir was very young and watching Afridi go after the bowlers made him feel like doing the same. I think if he plays with someonme who had a responsible head on their shoulders he would do a lot better then last time.
Imran Farhat and Faisal Athar in about a year. I've heard Imran is a good pinch hitter. For the upcoming series against England, I'd like to see Saeed Anwar with Faisal Athar.
Anyways, I want to see Imran Nazir and Muhammad Hafeez opening for Pakistan.
Shoaib Malik has transformed into a very good middle order batsman. He should play the role of what Micheal Bevan plays for Australia or Russel Arnold is to Sri Lanka.
I wud like to see Imran Nazir opening for Pakistan for sure. But I don't know who else to open with him. Hafeez has looked out of sorts after the Sharjah tournament and we haven't seen enough of Faisal Athar to know if he is any good or not. But as of now, I wud like to see Faisal Athar opening with Imran Nazir.
teaser bhai, I for some reason absolutely hate Imran Nazir. He does to me what Afridi and Akhtar combined do to Ehsan bhai. He’s probably the stupidest cricket player along with Akhtar, IMO.
I’d stick with Taufeeq Umar over Imran Nazir. I agree that the kid has loads of talent but I absolutely hate it when he throws his wicket away after scoring a quickfire 20-30. Heck, I’ll even take Affers over Nazir. At least Affers can bowl.
Besides, I really like the showing of Hafeez. He seems the dour kind plus he’s a fantastic fielder and a handy bowler. All he needs is confidence. Latif should go upto him and tell the kid that his place is secure in the side so that he goes out and plays his natual game.
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*Originally posted by jupiter0009: *
Don't forget Saleem Elahi, he can play decent cricket........lots of experience..
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I think Elahi's days are over. There are so many talented upcoming youngsters theat I highly doubt that Saleem Elahi will get a chance anymore. Imran Farhat, Faisal Ather, Mohmmad Hafeez, Imran Nazir, Shadab Kabeer, Taufeeq Umar.... the list goes on and on and all these players have one big advantage over Saleem.. ** AGE ** plus I personally think the are all more talented then Saleem Elahi.
I'ld also go for Imran Farhat and Imran Nazir.Perfect one-day batting opening pair,both brilliant fielders and Farhat can bowl as well.They can blossom into worldclass players provided a good run.
I know its gonna sound weird but i would like to see Inzimam openning with Mohd Hafeez. Reason is that Youhana, Younis and Shoaib Malik are pretty much settled at 4-5-6. And if Inzimam is gonna make a comeback, it has to be either at 3 or as an opener. Well if Inzimam hesitates then Imran Farhat should go along with Hafeez.
Samb I agree with you regarding Imran Nazir. I would like to see Kamran Akmal and Hafeez to open. If Akmal can set in the opening slot, it will free one more batting place when Rashid retires.
sorry to shatter ur dreams boys, but Taufiq Umar is a name that will definitely be seen in the opener's slot....
and selectors will try to find hafeez, athar or afrifi to fit in with him....
nazir has been given a big no-no, and saeed's days r over, more or less....
imran farhat, i think he has seen an early end to his international cricket career....
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*Originally posted by ehsan: *
Samb I agree with you regarding Imran Nazir. I would like to see Kamran Akmal and Hafeez to open. If Akmal can set in the opening slot, it will free one more batting place when Rashid retires.
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Kamran Akmal is a good prospect and wont be bad idea as an opener But the Bsic problem (or a good idea) i beleive that Aamir Sohail and Javed Miandad wont move any player from their position, they wont try Shoaib Malik as an opener neither they would try moving Akmal up the order permanently.
He is right, Elahi was probably was the only cricketer along with Anwar who showed signs of a true batsman in the WC, he did reasonable well in South Africa series and scored 2 centuries in Zimbabwe, I would like to see him make a comeback, he is a good batsman.
I am only comparing Elahi to youngsters who are just stepping into the international cricket. If you care to check Saleem Elahi previous record, prior to WC2003, he scored 108 runs in ODI (on 27th Nov 2002, Harare Sports Club, Harare) against Zimbabwe, 135 runs in ODI (on 11th Dec 2002, St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth) against South Africa, In WC2003 he score 63 runs against Namibia.
I am just pointing out that he can still play, he might not be the best option at this time but he has a lot of experience comparing to the new players like Hafeez, Faisal athar, Yasir Hameed and others. I am sure he can play, if you keep juggling players and keep making them play on different spot they will never be able to play up to their potential. The problem is not players, it is process that develop players (Batsman & Bowlers), PCB should put infuses on improving domestic cricket, more along the “county cricket” in England. Marketing domestic cricket to generate money and invest same money back into the game to increase # of cricket venues & products, T-shirt etc.
Now that we have decided that on Imran Farhat & Hafeez should be the Opener for ODI,…we still don’t have a player for #3 spot, currently Yasir Hameed, Faisal Iqbal and Misbah is fighting for that spot but when or if INZI come I don’t know who will get a chance to play.
Anyway, do you guys think Shahid Afridi will come back?
I personally don’t think he has a spot in the team; Shoaib Malik pretty much has taken over his spot. After Shoaib Malik performance in Sri Lanka, no doubt he has a solid spot on the team, he has shown that he can score and is off break bowling is deadly.
I don’t know who will be the wicket Keeper after Rahid Latif retires, I don’t know if PCB will give Moin Khan another chance. There are too many talented players In Pakistan who can replace Rashid Latif, few names comes in mind are Kamran Akmal? Or Humanyu Farhat? Tufeeq Umer? I hope they give Tufeeq some break and try someone else.
