Hacked into Woolmer’s mind and ‘grepped’ the keyword: Malik :o
If he can’t bowl, he can’t be in the team as allrounder.
He can’t bat at his best suited place, #3, since we need younis as VC that can’t fit anywhere but at the same position.
He can’t keep wickets since Kamran has scored centuries in both forms of game, and improving as keeper too.
So where do we throw, our best FIND since the rebuilding started. The only guy who has technique, confidence, superb fielding and hunger to deliver his 110% performance with style.
I say since he can’t be an allrounder (not any soon), a middle order batsman, since we have khocha and Asim cementing their postion atleast for test, a keeper for aforementioned reasons, why can’t we try him as permenant opener along with the lefty Salman Butt.
If they both get settled at the opening slots, Pakistan will be assured to have a blistering start in ODIs and sensible 50+ partnership in test, which would be enough to take the shine off from the ball so ther Nawab’s that come in the middle don’t have to face the erratic swing of new ball. Malik has scored two centuries in ODIs as opener alone. In tests he has yet to prove himself but his record in test is effected mainly because he didn’t have a permenant spot. He has promoted/demoted on #3 and #6 positions in various situation and we know its not a good thing for a youngster at the beginning of his career. Nevertheless, he gives his best in any situation and is not a typical easily giving-up type of cricketer.
If we don’t go for minor differences in the stats for ImranX2, Taufeeq, Yasir and Salman and him, Malik is much more stronger in technique, thus will last for long and produce goods when given regular chances. I believe he can settle down as opener more than anyone else, since he has this instinct to prove himself in any task he has been assigned to.
Yasir and Younis shall compete for #3 postion if Malik becomes our opener. Yasir is more comfortable at #3.
So who would agree with me on making Malik the right-hand pair with Salman at the top order?
) if we are stuck with the current lot than Malik is not a big gamble in my view. He is also a captaincy material, so we can hope that he will keep improving his game and be an integral part of the team, one way or another. A captaincy crises is right on the door (within two years IMO). We need a clever and active captain who can coup with aggression mounted by his counter part. As we see the difference between Gangz, Ponting, Flemming and Inzimam. In future cricket will demand more from a captain.