Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

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I think this is just lies/excuses, no matter how much I appreciate/support Misbah but I strongly disagree with him here:

Yasir Shah’s omission ‘strategic’ - Misbah-ul-Haq | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

Pakistan’s captain Misbah-ul-Haq has described the omission of the legspinner Yasir Shah from the team to play Zimbabwe as “strategic” and based upon the well-informed views of the assistant coach Grant Flower.
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“We could have gone with Yasir Shah today but it was totally up against the opposition, that’s why we just went with four seamers,” Misbah said. “Grant [Flower] has worked really for a long time with Zimbabwe and we know they are good players of spin. Today they played Shahid Afridi very well and you could say that was a strategic decision against Zimbabwe, we put another seamer in because they are comfortable against spinners. Maybe if we were playing any other team we could have picked Yasir Shah on this pitch.”
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The absence of both Sarfaraz and Younis from the team that ultimately squeaked home by 20 runs was explained by Misbah as another episode in his team’s wrestle to find the right balance in Australia and New Zealand. It is apparent that Pakistan are reluctant to try Sarfraz as a makeshift opener down under, though he has done so successfully in the past on lower pitches in the UAE.

“We badly want to play Sarfraz but we are in deep trouble,” Misbah said. "Our batting is struggling and if we put seven batsmen then we are one bowler short, so that’s the kind of problem we are facing. The only thing we can do is that Sarfraz can open, but considering that he opened in a few practice games and it is a bit different from Asian conditions to open in Australia and New Zealand, this is also a difficult decision for us. Let’s see in future, maybe we have to do it.

… contd’… on the link above.

Seriously? With only one game they were able to find out that he is unable to adjust but Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad played “brilliantly” in those games??

I only saw two Pakistan ‘practice’ games, one against BD and one against Eng… any other game that I missed?

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

Yasir Shah excuse might sound a little believable but Sarfraz excuse is total BS.

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

Disagree with both of you, Misbah has made valid point about Yasir and Sarfraz who is good player but didn't look comfortable opening even in UAE (despite couple of good scores) so he is most definitely going to struggle. Nasir has been absolutely useless but was expected to be better than Sarfraz as he is genuine opener.

Having said that, Nasir (PATHETIC FIELDER) and Younis do not deserve to play any more games and Sarfraz has to play so they may need to try something different like opening with Haris Sohail who has opened in most games anyway with top order collapses. Also he has struggled against spinners so opening would give me more opportunity to stabilise. Sarfraz is also quite useless in death overs so should come at 5-6.

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

Misbah has a valid point. I always had doubts about Sarfraz opening in these conditions. He just doesn't have the technique for it. But, I strongly believe he should be a part of the middle order where he can milk the spinners and medium pacers. He is by far the best player of spin we have in the team.

The problem Misbah is having is no one wants to open the innings. I think he should just push Haris up the order since he is pretty much opening in every game thus far anyway, that will definitely strengthen our middle order with the addition for Sarfraz.

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

Bhai, why do you lie and talk so much rubbish? … Sarfraz struggles as opener and is useless in death overs? … Can’t you talk sense? You should know that over last two years, Sarfrax batting average is 27 with SR 97, and that by no mean is useless … when compared to Umar Akmal Ave 30 and SR 91. As for other lowly players like Shoaib Malik and others, obviously their figures compared to Sarfraz is pathetic.

You should know that cricket records are available and all can see them, so it is no good talking lies and trying to spread misinformation, as people would find out the truth and would know that you were just talking Rubbish.

Here are Pakistani batsmen figures given by kakaballi for last 2 years (2013-14):

http://www.paklinks.com/gs/cricketnama/653359-misbah-3.html

Sarfraz as Opener: Actually, Sarfraz was sent as opener in 3 matches (probably to make him fail). That happened, all against Australia (7 Oct, 10 Oct and 12 Oct). I am putting down the score of those 3 innings, and that would show his performance as opener for all to see. From what I can see, Sarfraz excelled as opener, but it seems people full of biases do not liked it. Actually, players who feared losing their position as opener in team, used all source to make Sarfraz bat lower down the order again, and that is what pathetic PCB management did, started sending Sarfraz lower down the order in NZ series played in Dec 2014. So, here are the score card for all those 3 innings. See the score and ponder what you wrote.

First ODI against Australia (7 Oct 2014):

1st ODI: Australia v Pakistan at Sharjah, Oct 7, 2014 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

As opener, Sarfraz made more runs than Shahzad and has much better strike rate than Shahzad. So, who is better opener and who is struggling? In match, Sarfraz made second highest score.

Shazad: 4 runs at SR 40
Sarfraz: 34 runs at SR of 83

Second ODI against Australia (10 Oct 2014):

2nd ODI: Australia v Pakistan at Dubai (DSC), Oct 10, 2014 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

As opener, Sarfraz made more runs than Shahzad and has much better strike rate than Shahzad. Actually, in this match, Sarfraz made more runs than any Pakistani player and also has highest SR. To call that performance as opener, struggling performance, is certainly idiocy and lie. Don’t you think so?

Shazad: 61 runs at SR 74
Sarfraz: 65 runs at SR of 90

Third ODI against Australia (12 Oct 2014):

3rd ODI: Australia v Pakistan at Abu Dhabi, Oct 12, 2014 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

As opener, Sarfraz made more runs than Shahzad and has much better strike rate than Shahzad.

Shazad: 26 runs at SR 63
Sarfraz: 32 runs at SR of 82

Actually, in this match Sarfraz made 32 runs at SR 82. That number of runs in this inning was third highest, behind 50 by Asad Shafiq and 34 by Sohaib Maqsood, though Sarfraz SR was much better than both. Actually, Sarfraz SR was second after Zulfiqar SR of 127 for his 14 runs. Certainly, to call that performance as opener, struggling performance, is idiocy. Don’t you think so?

To make more runs than regular opener in all 3 matches Sarfraz opened, and at much better SR in all 3 matches, if that is struggling to you than I don’t know what you think of regular opener (Shahzad)?

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

Regardless of Sarfraz's abilities as a batsman, not having a regular keeper in the side is hurting us much.

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

Well brother, I do not think that Sarfraz as batsmen is any less able than any Pakistani batsmen playing for Pakistan. It seems, Sarfraz has lot of control on his nerve, is good batsmen and good hitter of ball. His performance I posted above, matches against Australia where Sarfraz opened the inning, is enough proof of his batting ability as opener. that seems much better than most Pakistani openers (including Shahzad whom Sarfraz outperformed continuously in all 3 innings Sarfraz opened with Shazad as opener).

On the other hand, you are also right that not having regular wicket keeper is costing Pakistan a lot. In Zimbabwe match, many catches went to wicket keeper and Umar Akmal took 5, still he dropped several catches. It was Zimbabwe and they could not cashed in on dropped catches. If it was big team, they would have made Pakistan pay in big way for dropping catches. For instance, couple of catches that Umar Akmal dropped behind the wicket against Zimbabwe could have cost Pakistan over 100 runs if it was big teams.

(English player, Root was dropped by SL when he was 2. Root made SL pay for it by making 120).

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

Umar Akmals' D/T was a healthy 0.17. Why fix something that is not broken. Plus his brick glove could be put to good use to knock an opponent upside the head.

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

Since Misbah comes in early almost every match, he should open with Selfzad. Win win. Either he tuk tuks to "see off the new ball" and the not so new ball and the old ball, or preferably he gets out early. And stops clogging the middle.

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

We should remember that Younis scored only one ODI century since 2008 and Misbah never made an ODI century. They play so slow (Tuk-Tuk experts) that if on one side is Misbah and on other side is Younis than they might play all 50 overs and would give opponent a target of 150 runs to make in 50 overs (Misbah would make 65 runs, Younis would make 75 runs, and I added 10 runs extra in total 150 ... and that I am not joking).

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

@Sa1eem.

I'm not saying Sarfraz shouldn't be in the team. He should definitely be in the playing eleven ahead of Nasir Jamshed and Younus Khan. My only concern is that he should not be sent as an opener. Opening in UAE and opening in NZ/AUS conditions is completely different. Sarfraz played one practise game as an opener and scored 1 run off 10 balls and got out. Even in UAE where he performed brilliantly in test matches, when the new ball was taken he was struggling against the pacers.

So in my view, Haris Sohail, who has virtually been opening all along since our openers are out so quick anyway, should open the innings as he has the best technique against the new ball. Sarfraz can be an asset in the middle order and shouldn't be wasted at the top.

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

I can buy Yasir's excuse for Zim game but not Sarfaraz. Even if you make the bat stand in front of wickets by itself with no batsman holding it, its going to be better than Nasir Jumshaid holding it. How WORST can sarfaraz be as an opener than Jamsheed?

and then Sarfaraz is only better than Umar Akmal behind the wicket and not worst. This will also get us Umar Akmal in field outside. He is 100 times better catcher/fielder than Jamshed. Its a win win situation to have Sarfaraz

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

Well i don’t think you read my whole post. I think Sarfraz should play and he probably should’ve played ALL games since he is first choice wicket keeper. Hafeez’s absence has affected the team balance and then we had Younis Khan adamant about playing despite having pathetic ODI record. Umar Akmal had performed decently so we couldn’t have possibly dropped him so they had to take all these decisions. As a commentator we can jump up and down all we want but fact is Misbah hardly had many options.

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

Absolutely, should play Sarfraz in rest of the games. Must not open with Sarfraz though, he should be played in the middle order where he could score quick singles and doubles by hitting spinners through the gaps (which he is better at than most Pak batsmen).

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

Brother, I am sorry if I misunderstood you. Anyhow, what I was saying is that, it is an excuse to say that Sarfraz cannot be an opener. Actually, Sarfraz could be an excellent opener as when given chance, he opened the innings very successfully, much successfully than Pakistan regular openers (Shahzad).

That is why I gave his scores in 3 ODI matches (all against Australia) he opened with Shahzad. In all 3 matches, his scored more runs than Shahzad and at higher strike rate too.

Now, let see in T20 ... where Sarfraz as opener excelled, rather made Pakistan win that match because of his batting. This match was played on Dec 4, couple of months before World Cup. So, I could not see any reason why batsmen (even openers) who failed or did not performed as good, are playing, rather Pakistan sent a failed opener, but are not playing Sarfraz, not just as wicket keeper but as Opener too?

Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st T20 in Dubai: Sarfraz steers Pak to winDubai series dedicated to Australian cricketer Phil Hughes

Thursday, December 04, 2014

Pakistan opener Sarfraz Ahmed's belligerent 76 not out secured a comprehensive seven-wicket victory against New Zealand in the first Twenty20 International in Dubai on Thursday.

Sarfraz hit two sixes and eight fours in his 64-ball knock to help Pakistan reach their target with five balls to spare after Pakistan restricted New Zealand to 135 for seven.

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

seems like they will stick with cant-bat-cant-field Jumsheed again today. :smack: I don’t even think that he is fit enough to play ODI. should lose weight and work on his fitness/fielding.

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

y do they keep on making bad decision?

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

What a retard Nasir Jamshed has proved himself and what a numbskull Misbah is to prove to the world that the brave batsman is an idiot and we prefer "bravery" over intelligence. I guess Shaharyar Khan is pulling strings from Pakistan to make sure Nasir plays few games regardless of how he performs.

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

“why” he tu insan ko marwa daita hai …

:chai:

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Re: Why Yasir and Sarfaraz are omitted - Misbah

Pakistan needs a keeper to avail the 2-3 missed chances every game thus far. Catches win matches, as the old saying goes.

Even if he gets <10 runs as opener (same as NJ), his keeping AND Umer Akmal's fielding will make difference.