Another point, why are we so generous towards Malik and akmal in their bad times and cannot afford the same hospitality, generosity and tolerance to players like Farhat, Taufeeq, Hafeez et al who were shown the door at the first sign of weakness. Double standards.....
I think it'd be rude if I slammed you with the answer myself, so I'll just suggest that you go to CricInfo's Stats Guru page and look up the performances of Farhat, and Taufeeq and the number of DISTINCT SPELLS they were offered in the team. In your brain fart you probably even forgot that one of the players you mentioned, Hafeez, IS CURRENTLY ENJOYING A SECOND CHANCE IN THE TEAM AS WE SPEAK! Some farty comment this was man.
Malik is in terrible form, he looks like a tailender, which he was not too long ago, tailenders don't ever become world class players, let alone world class openers.
SDAL,
Hafeez played for Pakistan then was dropped for three years, Shahid Nazir played in 1999 then got a chance in 2006 and again is dropped, as for Taufeeq, Farhat they are in and out of the team unlike Malik who continues to find favor even though there are better players for the opening slot...I hope and pray u can comprehend this little fact, I know it may be taxing on your little brain and tunnel vision, drink some water and chill....its called difference of opinion....who knows u may learn something....
I have said it earlier and will repeat it again. Malik has no spot in the test 11. However he definitely deserves to be a part of ODI 11.
I don't mind at all seeing him playing during World Cup. To me the team currently playing the ODI series against England is the perfect one and has the right formula to win the cup.
I agree with most of the comments about Malik here. He seems low on confidence and is clearly not match-fit. I would replace him with Farhat in the next two games not least because a left-right combination can easily upset even a good opening bowler's rhythm
I was going to address the points you mentioned in the beginning of your post but then I found out in the later part of your post about my tunnel vision and little brain. I guess it must mean I have nothing productive to offer on this topic anymore. Thanks for the epiphany.
I should sum up my opinion in 4 points:
1. Malik is a good asset to PAK team as he is a utility player (batsman, fielder and bowler, plus young to be around for long).
2. It is not possible to compare others with him, since can be useful in multi-dimensional ways, unlike Butt, Taufeeq or Nazir.
3. It is always great to have left and right combination at the top, but in present line up, it may not be possible to do so, though Pakistan can bring Akmal/Afridi to open and brink Malik after Inzi for a match or so to bring his form back.
4. Totally agree, he along with Razi is the most favorite of Bob. Recall in India he even tried him (in net) with gloves, so that he could adjust him in team as keeper if he couldn't bowl because of ICC ban.
:D Sir Did dig or something was very aggrressive in his assualts...shukr heay he dug himself into a hole and fell through his epiphany...yaar..
as for Shoaib ...May Allah give him another great innings to lift him, but I still feel we mismanage our players...
Hey we’ve tried the whole world, why not Shahid Yousuf as opener…
But I like Malik, I think he needs confidence after coming back from his injury. We should not change the opening combo of Hafeez & Malik. That will be the worst thing we can do right before the Champions Trophy. We want to have consistency in our lineup…no change need from 1-11…Our first choice should be the team that started the first 3 games of the England ODI. No more changes man…This is the championship team that we need to win inshaAllah the World Cup.
Well I was looking through Maliks average and made me reassert the fact that “I am just concerned” and " I really want him to perfom as he has been more recently…
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