Pakistan's Twenty20 XI???

[iZeeshan]

Well, the game against Scotland, nears ever so close, and yet, what team should we be going in with? I don't believe that this is repeated, as the squad is finalised and now this can be the official thread to decide it.

My XI:

Salman Butt - Solid opener, who may play close to 100 SR, but maybe able to stabilze top order. He did well in practice matches, and I believe is the perfect opener at this moment.
Imran Nazir - Obviously, a must play for 20/20 and batting in his natural position. Opening, Nazir can get us off to flying starts, and ease the pressure lower down the order.
Younis Khan - Excellent fielder. Will provide stability if things should go wrong. Has power, so not necessary that he will play slow. Should he fail, bring in Misbah-ul-Haq, at this position.
Shoaib Malik* - The captain. A must play. Attacking batsman, who can hit big. Lots of expectations. Has played some blistering, quick knocks.
Mohammad Hafeez - Touted as the best Twenty20 player in Pakistan. His bowling is definetely really good, and provides a huge plus, in addition to his positive batting. Perfect number 5 in absence of Yousuf.
Fawad Alam - Excellent stats in domestic 20/20 cricket. Has the ability to play quick, and is also a solid batsman. An excellent fielder for 20/20 cricket, and his bowling provides a huge plus.
Shahid Afridi - The game that is tailor made for him. Coming down the order, to overpower the bowlers in the last 4-5 overs. Will be moved up and down the order as needed.
Kamran Akmal - The keeper. Has the ability to play the big shots, and has some scintillating cover drives.
Shoaib Akhtar - Pacy. Bad? Most probably. His pace may become his weakness as batsmen will be able to touch and go, however, his pace may also be the penetrative factor. Lets not forget, Shoaib's deadly slower delievery which will be more handy then anything.
Rao Iftikhar - Economical, solid bowler that maybe able to keep the runs down and even pick up a few wickets.
Mohammad Asif - Our future bowler. Played extremely well against England, and who doesn't remember that delivery to Kevin Pietersen, first ball. Swings the ball. Should be able to keep the runs down.

I think, the only thing missing is Abdul Rehman. However, we must play at least 3 pacers, and playing more then 3 specialist bowlers is an overkill in a batsman's game. We have Hafeez, Afridi, Malik, and even Fawad as bowling options, so no need for him.

After much thinking, I decided to include Shoaib, instead of Umar Gul, for the reasons listed above.

[Boi]

yeh that is the same team that i think should play the first game. And if rao doesnt perform in the first game then i would bring in umar gul for the second game against india

[infamous9383]

can't disagree too much except for Gul for Rao. Gul has played domestic twenty20 and has ability to bowl toe crushing yorkers at the depth. I also like Rao cause he performs when given the chance but Gul is probably a little more talented than Rao.

[Tay'yab-Ali Malik]

Well, the game against Scotland, nears ever so close, and yet, what team should we be going in with? I don't believe that this is repeated, as the squad is finalised and now this can be the official thread to decide it.

My XI:

Salman Butt - Solid opener, who may play close to 100 SR, but maybe able to stabilze top order. He did well in practice matches, and I believe is the perfect opener at this moment.
Imran Nazir - Obviously, a must play for 20/20 and batting in his natural position. Opening, Nazir can get us off to flying starts, and ease the pressure lower down the order.
Younis Khan - Excellent fielder. Will provide stability if things should go wrong. Has power, so not necessary that he will play slow. Should he fail, bring in Misbah-ul-Haq, at this position.
Shoaib Malik* - The captain. A must play. Attacking batsman, who can hit big. Lots of expectations. Has played some blistering, quick knocks.
Mohammad Hafeez - Touted as the best Twenty20 player in Pakistan. His bowling is definetely really good, and provides a huge plus, in addition to his positive batting. Perfect number 5 in absence of Yousuf.
Fawad Alam - Excellent stats in domestic 20/20 cricket. Has the ability to play quick, and is also a solid batsman. An excellent fielder for 20/20 cricket, and his bowling provides a huge plus.
Shahid Afridi - The game that is tailor made for him. Coming down the order, to overpower the bowlers in the last 4-5 overs. Will be moved up and down the order as needed.
Kamran Akmal - The keeper. Has the ability to play the big shots, and has some scintillating cover drives.
Shoaib Akhtar - Pacy. Bad? Most probably. His pace may become his weakness as batsmen will be able to touch and go, however, his pace may also be the penetrative factor. Lets not forget, Shoaib's deadly slower delievery which will be more handy then anything.
Rao Iftikhar - Economical, solid bowler that maybe able to keep the runs down and even pick up a few wickets.
Mohammad Asif - Our future bowler. Played extremely well against England, and who doesn't remember that delivery to Kevin Pietersen, first ball. Swings the ball. Should be able to keep the runs down.

I think, the only thing missing is Abdul Rehman. However, we must play at least 3 pacers, and playing more then 3 specialist bowlers is an overkill in a batsman's game. We have Hafeez, Afridi, Malik, and even Fawad as bowling options, so no need for him.

After much thinking, I decided to include Shoaib, instead of Umar Gul, for the reasons listed above.

Two changes

Afridi must bat higher than both Fawad & Hafeez(the former has yet to prove himself on the international stage) . In fact on a flat pitch Afridi must open, in particlular against India. His presence alone intimidates them.

If shoaib must play then surely Gul is in front of Rao.

[iZeeshan]

Well, the batting position of Shahid is tentative. He doesn't really belong anywhere. He'll just come in when the situation is right.

I believe Rao should be playing ahead of Umar Gul. I just don't see Umar Gul performing well in 20.20. In fact, Rao, I beleve, is the better ODI bowler too.

[iZeeshan]

Also, if you would see, everyone in that team is a top quality fielder. Not one bad egg in there. I must say, Salman Butt has been fielding terriffically. If anyone would remember that run out against Sri Lanka? Wehn he delayed the throw to get the wicket? Good stuff.

Also, why are there three "???" in my thread title? I never put them there. Can they please be removed.

[Saudi]

Good analysis mate but,-- Butt seems to have stopped playing aggressively since his comeback, but him and Nazir make a stable opening partnership. Also, Gul has to play. This is actually a fantastic team though, but Yousufs presence would have made it really good.

[Easa]

I think Afridi should bat at number three - he is our BEST T20 batsman so we should utilize for as long as we can. Ideally he would open but we have a good opening pair already so he can come in at 3. If he even lasts 10 overs, Pakistan will post a HUGE total. He has the ability to just take the game away from the opposition and we just can't waste him at number 7.

[PlanetPakistan]

I think Afridi should bat at number three - he is our BEST T20 batsman so we should utilize for as long as we can. Ideally he would open but we have a good opening pair already so he can come in at 3. If he even lasts 10 overs, Pakistan will post a HUGE total. He has the ability to just take the game away from the opposition and we just can't waste him at number 7.
Easa you will find that S Malik will come out of this tournament as our best twenty 20 batsman. I say this because unlike other PAK batsmen he has the ability to rotate the strike in tough situation AND also play the big shots.

[iZeeshan]

Easa you will find that S Malik will come out of this tournament as our best twenty 20 batsman. I say this because unlike other PAK batsmen he has the ability to rotate the strike in tough situation AND also play the big shots.
PP, you said it so perfectly. I was looking for those words for about 5 minutes to post as S Malik's description.

Easa, I put Shahid down there, just because I felt like. Honestly. Afridi's position is tentative, and can bat anywhere.

Also, as much as I would love him at 3, its just taht if he gets out early, it may lower the morale of the batsmen to come, worrying that who will own up to the bowlers and take us to a big total then.

Its all about the situation.

[aussie-pak]

pakistan have probably the second/third strongest bowling attack in the 20/20 format............but their batting looks so pathetic....srsly Imran Nazir cant play under pressure, younis khan is a test player, afridi is a one hit wonder, kamran akmal has been out of form since the last time i remember him batting ........the only decent player is malik, only coz he rotates the strike, plays the singles and doubles, and gets the 4's and 6's WEN needed
lets hope pakistan duo akhtar and asif can bowl out oppositions easily so the batsmen dont have to chase much

[Amir]

Good team zeeshan but switch Gul for Rao. Atleast he cna swing the ball and get wickets. Economical pacers get thrashed in twenty and Rao will be devastated. Atleast Gul can swing the ballandhas a lethal yorker. Best way for pacers to keep the runs down in this format is get wickets.

[iZeeshan]

Well, if the part about the economic pacers being thrashed, then Gul shall gladly be switched in for Rao.

Aussie-pak, our batting is pretty decent IMO. I think we can get off to solid 3-4 over starts with about 25-30 runs, pretty much every game. Younis Khan is there to stabilize. I believe he has the power to hit out when needed with his raw power. Malik provides the strike rotation, and Hafeez is a very handy 20/20 player. We also have Afridi who can take the game away in just 2-3 overs, and I am pretty sure, he can hang around that long.

[hellopak]

Easa you will find that S Malik will come out of this tournament as our best twenty 20 batsman. I say this because unlike other PAK batsmen he has the ability to rotate the strike in tough situation AND also play the big shots.

Imran nazir or Hafeez will be Pakistan best batsman.

[Raz]

My team:

Salman Butt
Imran Nazir
Mohammad Hafeez
Shahid Afridi
Fawad Alam
Shoaib Malik
Kamran Akmal
Younis Khan
Shoaib Akhtar
Umar Gul
Mohammad Asif

I would have gone for Imran Nazir and Mohammad Hafeez as openers, but since Butt impressed in the practice games, he would provide the perfect foil to the devastation that Imran Nazir will inshAllah unleash. Butt, however showed in the 20/20 games that he is no slow coach and his strike rate was comfortably over 100 in almost all his innings in the practice games.

Hafeez, one of the best 20/20 batsmen in the world would then be the perfect player to come in next, should either of the openers fall early. Only if Hafeez then falls cheaply himself, should a consolidator in the form of Shoaib Malik or Younis Khan should come in next. Otherwise, lets turn up the heat a few notches and unleash Shahid Afridi, who is unmatched for sheer batting violence in the world of cricket.

Batting runs all the way down to 9 and there are a possible 7 bowling options open to the skipper with 3 fast bowlers and 4 spinners, in Afridi, Malik, Alam and Hafeez.

[Easa]

Easa you will find that S Malik will come out of this tournament as our best twenty 20 batsman. I say this because unlike other PAK batsmen he has the ability to rotate the strike in tough situation AND also play the big shots.
Well maybe he will but I just feel we just need to utilize Afridi bhai and look at his strengths - if he comes off, he will score runs faster than any player in the team and if he even lasts 10/12 overs, it'll be carnage. Shoaib Malik is a very good player and can come at 4, if the need serves.

But yeah, we shouldn't have a fixed batting line-up, the players should be flexible and be prepared to bat at any position.

[Sheikh]

Well maybe he will but I just feel we just need to utilize Afridi bhai and look at his strengths - if he comes off, he will score runs faster than any player in the team and if he even lasts 10/12 overs, it'll be carnage. Shoaib Malik is a very good player and can come at 4, if the need serves.

But yeah, we shouldn't have a fixed batting line-up, the players should be flexible and be prepared to bat at any position.
Dude, he rarely lasts 10-12 overs in 50 over games, do you really think he's going to last that long in a 20-20 game? In 50 over games, he knocks a few deliveries around for singles before he unleashes; in the 20-20 format he'll feel no restriction whatsoever. We shouldn't expect more than 4-5 overs of Afridi and even that should be enough to turn the game.

[hellopak]

Dude, he rarely lasts 10-12 overs in 50 over games, do you really think he's going to last that long in a 20-20 game? In 50 over games, he knocks a few deliveries around for singles before he unleashes; in the 20-20 format he'll feel no restriction whatsoever. We shouldn't expect more than 4-5 overs of Afridi and even that should be enough to turn the game.

In a 20/20 match if Afridi last 4-5 overs it will be like carrying bat in ODI. I think he will play 10-15 balls the most, and if he last so many balls especially if he bats last 5-6 over of the inning, he could make a difference.

Pakistani batting will revolve around one of the opener especially Butt and then Malik and Younis. Rest will be hit/miss and run.

[king_of_kings_ali]

Lets not forget Shoiab isnt a bad batsmen, he can hit the ball miles and miles, does anyone remember that innings he played against England in the world cup in south africa, he hit 47 runs from 16 balls or something like that, but it was brutal!!

[PlanetPakistan]

Well maybe he will but I just feel we just need to utilize Afridi bhai and look at his strengths - if he comes off, he will score runs faster than any player in the team and if he even lasts 10/12 overs, it'll be carnage. Shoaib Malik is a very good player and can come at 4, if the need serves.

But yeah, we shouldn't have a fixed batting line-up, the players should be flexible and be prepared to bat at any position.
Afridi at #6 will ok. We should have him sandwiched between two "solid" batsmen (Malik and Akmal). Younis Khan IMO should bat at #8.

So here is my order

1- Nazir
2- Butt
3- M Hafeez
4- Alam
5- Malik
6- Afridi
7- Akmal
8- Younis/Yasir
9- Shoaib
10- Gul
11- Asif

[iZeeshan]

I actually think Raz bhai, explains things really well. Hafeez coming one down makes a lot of sense, and only if Hafeez falls cheaply, then Younis or Malik should come in. But if 7-8 overs are already gone by the time Nazir and Butt and Hafeez are done, then Afridi should come in play.

While it is importaant that Afridi does not come too early, it is important to give him as many overs to play as possible because the longer he plays, the better chance we have of winning.

As for the team, I think its already set. Only a matter of order now.

[Plasma]

i say we have one of the strongest teams in the world cup, if not the strongest. Goof luck boys!

[iZeeshan]

Hmm, I dunno. Why do you say that? Our bowling looks good, but as much as I keep looking at our batting, it looks weak. And I don't mean that Yousuf is missing. It just looks vulnerable.

[Shah]

I think Arafat needs to play instead of Gul or Rao. This will bolster the batting & fielding and not adversely affect the bowling. The rest of the team picks itself.
In 2006, he contributed mightily to Sussex's county championship win. He has played much 20/20 and was a big part of Kent's 20/20 championship in 2007 (third highest wicket taker amongst all county players in 20/20).
He can bat, bowl & field and has a positive attitude.

[iZeeshan]

Hmm not a bad idea. Provides a better batsman, and not much difference in bowling as whether it be Rao, Arafat, or Gul, they all will get smashed.

But in 20/20, even 5 runs makes a huge difference, and Arafat may take that away.

[Sheikh]

I don't think Alam is a guaranteed starter. Something tells me that they may go with Misbah in the middle order. I hope not but that's the feeling I get.

[Easa]

I don't think Alam is a guaranteed starter. Something tells me that they may go with Misbah in the middle order. I hope not but that's the feeling I get.
I think his youth will serve us very well.. :|

[Sheikh]

I don't think Alam is a guaranteed starter. Something tells me that they may go with Misbah in the middle order. I hope not but that's the feeling I get.
Looks like I may be right about that one. Another surprise is no Hafeez. Looks like this will be the XI:

1- Nazir
2- Butt
3- Akmal
4- Younis
5- Afridi
6- Malik
7- Misbah
8- Shoaib (or Yasir if/when Shoaib gets injured)
9- Rao
10- Gul
11- Asif


I'm not sure if we need 4 pacers as one of Hafeez/Alam could come in their place. Ideally I'd want Alam to play. I really hope he doesn't just sit on the bench as he could be playing for Pakistan A instead. Would be a real waste.