The Hafeez Factor

[GuyFromLancs]

Good article on Cricinfo today about the Pakstani allrounder-type.

His career has by no means been a disgrace, but still, what a spluttering journey it's been. 34 tests in 10 years with predictably periodic droppings and recalls - it must be spirit-crushing to a point.

A couple of the comments below the line are interesting. One suggesting it demonstrates hard evidence that Pakistan just can't produce test-class top order batsmen anymore; and another suggesting Hafeez might work well at number 8, as a bowling allrounder. Both equally depressing in my opinion.

 

[salman85]

Hafeez is a tricky case. He's a fine off-spinner, but not one i would pick as a specialist bowler in my Test Side. In an ODI side, yes, he still has a future in the shorter formats, but i don't think he's good enough to be in the Test Side anymore. Plus, he's the T20 captain, and should be the logical and correct choice to take over from Misbah when he calls it a day.

He has all the makings of an excellent ODI player, and he should serve the team well for another 3-4 years. Capable batsman when he doesn't make an awful shot selection, fine off spinner in the shorter formats, and an excellent fielder. Plus a good captain's head to go with it. So, shorter formats yes. Test format no.

Batting has never been our forte, but the current watershed is worrying. But i'm more worried about the lack of a tearaway fast bowler. Junaid and Co. are all very good, but they are not tearaway fast bowlers the way Shoaib and Waqar (in his initial years) were, or even Muhammad Zahid. This is the first time in my cricket following life that I've seen Pakistan being more dependent on spinners than fast bowlers. Plus, Ajmal only has a few more years left in him. He's been out of touch recently, which has severely impacted our ability to knock over oppositions, case in point being the Zimbabwe tour. The over-reliance on him is a cause of concern.This is one of the reasons i don't have faith in Hafeez as our spearhead spin bowler. He's a brilliant support act, but not the chief architect.

 

[Maximas]

The article seemed to be suggesting that Pakistan just keep going back to players who aren't test standard while batsman who can actually play sit on the side-lines because they fell out of favour, sounds about right

 

[hendrix]

Players like Jamshed, Umar Akmal, Shafiq and Ali have all shown glimpses of being high quality, test standard batsmen. Unfortunately, Pakistan's selectors are on the level of Australia in terms of giving players a proper run in the team.

 

[Dan]

Fawad Alam?

 

[TheJediBrah]

Every time I've seen him play he's been used as a first change bowler and his batting has looked serviceable. Not sure about Tests but in shorter forms he could be used as a bowling all-rounder.

They haven't brought through many quality Test batsmen since Yousuf though.

 

[Daemon]

Fawad Alam?

Yeah, hopefully both him and Haris Sohail get a chance in the near future. iirc Sohail was in the squad for the SA test series, but didn't get a game, then was dropped from the test squad against Zimbabwe due to not performing well enough the in the ODIs that he played.

 

[Maximas]

Sohail was the best batsman in the last domestic season iirc, and Fawad Alam averages 55 in FC, definitely worth a go

 

[Daemon]

He's not even in the game against SA now, which is worrying.

 

[GuyFromLancs]

It probably cuts to the chase about a general decline in Pakistani test cricket.

I remember the side that came here in 06 - a patchwork team with 3 world-class batsmen. Now two of those batsmen are finished, the 3rd is in good form but won't live forever. Where are the top batsmen now in Pakstani cricket? Not being a follower of their domestic game, I have no idea if any exist.

 

[Maximas]

The Salmon Butt comeback will fix everything don't worry

 

[GuyFromLancs]

The Salmon Butt comeback will fix everything don't worry

A Salmon Butt comeback would encaptulate perfectly the problem I'm talking about.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Players like Jamshed, Umar Akmal, Shafiq and Ali have all shown glimpses of being high quality, test standard batsmen. Unfortunately, Pakistan's selectors are on the level of Australia in terms of giving players a proper run in the team.

Actually Shafiq and Ali have been playing consistently for the last 3 years starting from 2010.
Jamshed - I agree never got a consistent run.

Akmal - He was only dropped after a decent enough run where he was mostly inconsistent and since then he hasn't done enough either in ODI or first class cricket to deserve a comeback.

 

[Black_Warrior]

There is another problem which the article kind of touched on but did not explore fully when you talk about Hafeez.
A lot of people in the Pakistan think tank, the captain included seem to be influenced by the fact that he can be a handy spin bowler and get you that odd wicket or two in a game when picking him as an opener. This sort of thinking, where you pick a test opener because you think he will give you 10 overs and a wicket is absolutely ludicrous. This sort of approach works in ODIs or T20s but in test cricket you have to go for specialists. This is simply a reflection of just how short term the thinking is when picking players.

 

[GuyFromLancs]

There is another problem which the article kind of touched on but did not explore fully when you talk about Hafeez.
A lot of people in the Pakistan think tank, the captain included seem to be influenced by the fact that he can be a handy spin bowler and get you that odd wicket or two in a game when picking him as an opener. This sort of thinking, where you pick a test opener because you think he will give you 10 overs and a wicket is absolutely ludicrous. This sort of approach works in ODIs or T20s but in test cricket you have to go for specialists. This is simply a reflection of just how short term the thinking is when picking players.

I agree.

I was just wishing to find out whether Pakistan were really that out of options, because turning to a player like Hafeez (at 33 years old) for the what?? fourth time in 10 years?? ... is just depressing, for everyone.

 

[Black_Warrior]

I agree.

I was just wishing to find out whether Pakistan were really that out of options, because turning to a player like Hafeez (at 33 years old) for the what?? fourth time in 10 years?? ... is just depressing, for everyone.

Its a combination of both.. Pakistan does not really have a Shikhar Dhawan or a Virat Kohli who burst in and start scoring double hundreds but at the same time, its also a case of mismanagement, selection bias, and ultimately just lack of a proper long term vision when backing new players which leads to the likes of Hafeez, Farhat, Iqbal making countless comebacks.

 

[Migara]

Pick Hafeez as the second spinner and to bat at 7.

Top order of Nasir Jamshed, Shafiq, Younus Khan, Misbah, Akmal and Fawad Alam would make teh top six, Hafeez at 7, and a keeper at 8 and then Ajmal and two seamers. On foeign conditions, Akmal may get gloves and another bowler can be crafted in.

 

[Furball]

Its a combination of both.. Pakistan does not really have a Shikhar Dhawan or a Virat Kohli who burst in and start scoring double hundreds but at the same time, its also a case of mismanagement, selection bias, and ultimately just lack of a proper long term vision when backing new players which leads to the likes of Hafeez, Farhat, Iqbal making countless comebacks.

Kohli didn't exactly burst onto the Test scene. Granted, his excellent to date ODI career meant that India could risk giving him an extended grace period but I don't think he'd be anywhere near as established without his ODI career.

 

[JontyPanesar]

I don't think Hafeez's unwarranted selection has much to do with his bowling abilities (he's a roundarm dart thrower...which is far more useful in limited overs)

His unwarranted selection has everything to do with being a flat track bully. The media praised him to the skies when he made his near double at the SSC. He was surviving on big runs versus Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Whenever semi-decent footwork was needed, he came up woefully short. The inflated subcontinental scores is what allowed him the extended run he never deserved.