Shoaib Malik as Pakistan's permenant opener

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Re: Shoaib Malik as Pakistan's permenant opener

Razzaq has hit exactly one fifty in last four years of test matches. That was in the Mohali test. He has crossed the 40 mark only twice (which includes that one fifty). His batting has been absolutely pathetic. He has played several innings of 10-15 runs (made in 50-80 deliveries) When batting with tail-enders he can't keep the strike. The high point of all this was the 80 ball - 4 run innings he played in Australia that made absolutely no sense at all. At that time he was the senior partner in all the partnerships.

So as a batsman, his place in the test team is not justifiable. And there are better wicket-taking bowlers who can play for Pakistan, so he should be out. Now, for the ODI team, he's a very useful player as he has shown that with the bowling and fielding restrictions, he can come bat at any position and can also bowl decent overs.

Dropping Kamran Akmal from the test side would also be very unwise. In test matches, especially, you have to seize every opportunity to win the match. While his wicketkeeping was somewhat mediocre in India, he did really well in WI. So well, in fact, that he 'd find a place in the test squad even if he had scored 0 in all innings.

Afridi has been very useful as an allrounder, and Shoaib Malik has an exceptional batting record in the recent test matches. So I'd say give him a few test matches as an opener.

Here'd be my team,

Shoaib Malik
Salman Butt / Imran Farhat
Younis Khan
Inzamam
Youhana
Asim Kamal
Afridi
Kamran Akmal
Mohammad Sami / Shabbir Ahmed
Shoaib Akhtar
Danish Kaneria

12th man
Mohammad Sami / Shabbir Ahmed

If Afridi is played as an opener, we can have both Shabbir and Sami in the same test team.

I am assuming that Shabbir can straighten (literally) out his action.

For the ODI team, it could be

Afridi
Salman Butt
Shoaib Malik
Inzamam
Youhana
Younis Khan (has been playing great at #6, with strike rate of more than 100 throughout the 2004/2005 season and several 35+ scores)
Razzaq
Akmal
Naved ul Hasan
Shoaib Akhtar
Mohammad Sami / Shabbir Ahmed

LENS
42

Re: Shoaib Malik as Pakistan’s permenant opener

Pretty decent ODI squad, however I would like to see afridi coming at number 6 as well and in that case malik can open with butt. That doesn’t mean that he can’t be promoted up the order. He can come as an opener when he is needed.
In test I would disagree. The bowling is weak and could be a dangerous option to play with only 2 pacers. Razzak has to be in the side primarily as a bowling all rounder.

43

Re: Shoaib Malik as Pakistan’s permenant opener

AGREE! i wish i could have watched him more.

44

Re: Shoaib Malik as Pakistan’s permenant opener

Well he wanted to play for one more year. It could have been a dream come true for him to play against India in 2004 at home. But as we all know PCB and their politics. Bunch of dopeheads!!!

precious khan k liye rishta.....