Imam-ul-Haq - Essential or a liability in ODIs?

[gazza619]

Rotate the strike and I'll be fine with him

It seems like he has mastered the dab to third man and the leg flick. He took many singles during the last game and I really liked that.

[Concerned]

Imam is below standards as an opening ODI batsmen. He is often a really slow starter and is not able to rotate the strike as he should, especially in the opening overs.

However, given the options he is probably the best opener Pakistan has. To his credit, he puts a value on his wicket and looks to grind it out.

His approach will backfire chasing big totals considering there is not many power hitters in the line up.

[BunnyRabbit]

Doesn't have many release shots and takes a long time to get going which is fine if there is an aggressive opener at the other end. But the thing is we don't have a better opener than Imam even.

So he is automatic pick, but needs to work on getting settling in as early as possible and add a few more shots in his arsenal. Still has time.

[Muhammad]

Mark my words we will never in a million years be able to score 300 plus in ODI’s in a place like SA with this kind of player at the top of the order.

We’ve got so much talent in the country he’s had his chance and someone else now deserves an opportunity.

[topspin]

Yesterday exposed the strokeless wonder that he is. Remember this was on a 300+ wicket.

He doesn't have the ability to play on the back foot.

Imagine having him opening the batting when we have to chase 300+. You may as well put money on the opposition at the interval, well before he comes out to bat.

He's had enough chances. It's time to give someone else a go.

[Adnan_Ilyas]

Out of all the openers who have been failing, he makes his comeback and scores 70+ and people are still complaining. Then we have other openers who are NOT scoring. People are never happy

[Adnan_Ilyas]

Yesterday exposed the strokeless wonder that he is. Remember this was on a 300+ wicket.

He doesn't have the ability to play on the back foot.

Imagine having him opening the batting when we have to chase 300+. You may as well put money on the opposition at the interval, well before he comes out to bat.

He's had enough chances. It's time to give someone else a go.

He did it in the World Cup 2019 vs England and we won that match

[topspin]

He did it in the World Cup 2019 vs England and we won that match

I would strongly advise you to re-check the scoreboard because in the context of Pakistan's innings, his was the worst. He had the lowest strike rate and remember he used up 58 deliveries, only to throw it away after scoring 44 runs.

44 off 58 balls was not a key contribution to Pakistan's total of 348 on the day but rather he put Pakistan behind the scoring rate that was needed to set an imposing total. Thankfully the middle-order saved us from his poor innings.

If you still think Imam's innings was good then you're either a blind fan boy of his or just delusional.

[Saj]

What is crucial is who is batting with Imam especially in the powerplay overs.

If you get someone struggling or out of form, then you will be in trouble.

[shaz619]

Imam is a fantastic talent, if there is a doubt about his place in ODI’s surely it shouldn’t be in Tests when Pak utilise utter tripe.

When paired with someone like a Sharjeel or Fakhar, having a more watchful player is fine. Having said that, despite an early wicket he had a match winning partnership with Babar

[ask_analyse_act]

Mark my words we will never in a million years be able to score 300 plus in ODI’s in a place like SA with this kind of player at the top of the order.

We’ve got so much talent in the country he’s had his chance and someone else now deserves an opportunity.

If Fakhar can play like how you want and wins 3 out of 15 games

And If Imam plays like how he is doing and wins 11 out of 15 games..

Then obviously Imam is a better opener and the team should stick with him..

Fakhar manages to score 1 out of 5 matches he plays.

just a comparison of stats here when these two openers played against the top 8 test playing nations
excluded BAN, ZIM, AFG, HKG, IRE, NETH

Fakhar avg 36 in the last three years > https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...s;type=batting

Imam avg 43 > https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...s;type=batting

To be fair , i did the comparison for last 3 years, if i do the same for last 2 years the avg for Imam will go upto 50 .. In addition to that these two have played 10+ games in England, go look at their avgs in England..

[Salman4.]

We’ve got so much talent in the country he’s had his chance and someone else now deserves an opportunity.

Where is that talent?

[ask_analyse_act]

Imam has solved a long searching problem for openers in ODIs for pakistan, yet their fans are bitter..

There is no Sehwag or Gilchrist waiting for them in domestics..

He has ensured that there will only be 10% of early collapses or even less or will lose both openers inside 15 overs once in 10 games..

After Saeed Anwar , Imam is the consistent ODI opener for Pakistan

[ask_analyse_act]

Where is that talent?

He will say u.akmal or shehzad..

[Adnan_Ilyas]

I would strongly advise you to re-check the scoreboard because in the context of Pakistan's innings, his was the worst. He had the lowest strike rate and remember he used up 58 deliveries, only to throw it away after scoring 44 runs.

44 off 58 balls was not a key contribution to Pakistan's total of 348 on the day but rather he put Pakistan behind the scoring rate that was needed to set an imposing total. Thankfully the middle-order saved us from his poor innings.

If you still think Imam's innings was good then you're either a blind fan boy of his or just delusional.

He actually scored some runs?? An opener isn't that what we are struggling with?

[topspin]

He actually scored some runs?? An opener isn't that what we are struggling with?

There is nothing satisfactory about scoring runs on a very flat wicket with a sub-80 strike rate.

I know the batting standards in Pakistan are low however it wouldn't be difficult to find players who'd be willing to play selfishly and maintain a low strike rate like Imam has time and time again.

The problem is if Imam doesn't have the range of shots to exploit the field restrictions in the first powerplay, how he is going to succeed in the middle overs?

He needs to go back to domestic and learn how to score boundaries of the the back foot.

[TeymurBlake]

Imam is solid at holding up one end but he's also good at staying at the crease for a substantial time whether that's a good idea or not remains to be seen who are his partners at the crease. The problem is he can't accelerate, he can't maintain a SR of 100+. Batting with Babar at the crease makes it easier for him as he can accelerate into his innings but he just stays very much in the mud.

[Greenstorm]

A similar discussion took place regarding Azhar after we won CT 17. He was scoring runs but not quickly enough. In the end, Inzi did his work and Imam came in out of nowhere.

Rizwan has done well as opener in t20s, he must be tried at opening in ODIs as I feel he is too limited to bat in middle order.
Sharjeel can be tried if he performs in T20s.
Then there is Haider or even someone like Saud can be looked into.

Imam has done well considering his limitations but I think we should keep looking for more as there is still time until the next WC. If nothing works out, we can always fall back to consistent albiet slow Imam.

[golagunda]

Most of us cricket fans like to live either in the past and or in the future. We are willing to bet on people like Naseem and Musa because they have potential to be good in future. We keep playing Fakhar Zaman because he had done well in the past. But someone like Imam who performs in the present gets criticized for perceived shortcomings that will become a problem ‘on a flat pitch’ or ‘against top teams’ or ‘in a match where both teams score 350’. Let us drop him for a mistake he hasn’t even committed yet and bring in a new opener who will in some version of the distant future average 45 with a strike rate of 100.

[Saj]

Imam is solid at holding up one end but he's also good at staying at the crease for a substantial time whether that's a good idea or not remains to be seen who are his partners at the crease. The problem is he can't accelerate, he can't maintain a SR of 100+. Batting with Babar at the crease makes it easier for him as he can accelerate into his innings but he just stays very much in the mud.

Yes. Fair points.

As I said, the problem for Pakistan is that if Imam bats for a long time and the guy at the other end is also scoring at a similar rate as Imam, then you have the situation where either the team will get a much lower total than hoped for or the lower order will have to get the team out of trouble in the last few overs, which can't always be the case.

[Raja Ishtiaq]

Imam would have been more suited to LOI cricket 10 years ago

He is not a modern day opener. You need to have a strike rate of atleast 100 these days.

Imam should be given a long run in test cricket but we must find a more attacking opener if we are to seriously compete with the likes of England and India.

[Raja Ishtiaq]

Is Sharjeel Ahmed not in the ODI squad?

[Amjid Javed]

All these deluded imam lovers who think because he deads bats everything on road wickets in ODIs he should be given run in test matches.

The guys clueless against the short ball and has already been given a run of 11 tests.

But supposidly hes been hard done by compared to other openers when in tests hes been just as useless.

People thinking if you polish a **** long enough it will turn in a diamond.

[msb314]

Mark my words we will never in a million years be able to score 300 plus in ODI’s in a place like SA with this kind of player at the top of the order.

We’ve got so much talent in the country he’s had his chance and someone else now deserves an opportunity.

Yesterday exposed the strokeless wonder that he is. Remember this was on a 300+ wicket.

He doesn't have the ability to play on the back foot.

Imagine having him opening the batting when we have to chase 300+. You may as well put money on the opposition at the interval, well before he comes out to bat.

He's had enough chances. It's time to give someone else a go.

So who are these "talented" players that deserve to replace Imam.

Not sure why Imam is getting criticism when his opening partner (Fakhar) has been failing for 2 years without any consequences..

[pakistanisgreat]

So who are these "talented" players that deserve to replace Imam.

Not sure why Imam is getting criticism when his opening partner (Fakhar) has been failing for 2 years without any consequences..

That's exactly what i was gonna say that. who is that someone that gonna replace Imam.
You know what is funny thing. everyone is saying he scored against Zimbabwe or against minnows. But the point is he is not the only player who played against minnows. Where were other 10 players when Imam scored those runs. It's the stupide logic they bring.

[shah_1]

Fakhar averages 30 since Asia Cup 2018

Sharjeel averaged 25 in this year Pakistan cup


Who are the real options? Rizwan cannot open because he is our best player against spin in the middle overs.

[pakistanigoneaussie]

to be expected

[Saj]

I knew he wouldn't last long today when he got hit on the hand first ball and later in the over one flew past his nose.

[YousafTheBeast]

He’ll be dropped as soon as we see some abdominal muscles from Sharjeel Khan.

[pakistanigoneaussie]

he is an improved version of Ahmed Shezhad, has a similar (but not as bad) attitude.

Still a liability if we are going to be a serious team

[Amjid Javed]

I knew he wouldn't last long today when he got hit on the hand first ball and later in the over one flew past his nose.

Cant play short ball. Add to that chasing such a big total he started off snail like again.

[Amjid Javed]

Most decent bowlers will pepper him with shortball.

[mazkhan]

One of the best back foot players pullers in pakistan is not playing sharjeel.

He loves bouncy tracks and this wanderers pitch was setup for him showed it in Australia with 3 consecutive 50s at odis and some massive sixes into the stadium .

But parchi will hog the spot to play his pathetic self serving innings .

[Saj]

Cant play short ball. Add to that chasing such a big total he started off snail like again.

They sized him up early.

They'd obviously discussed about giving him some chin music early and shaking him up.

Plan worked perfectly.

[Mamoon]

Both him and Babar are Pakistan’s two best ODI batsmen but both are out of their depth when it comes to chasing 300+ totals. Hence, Pakistan should end this madness of bowling first.

We are not a chasing team and we should stop trying to copy England/India. We do not have their quality and mentality.

[Raja Ishtiaq]

And that my friends is why we need Fakhar more than Imam

Imam cant play a knock like that in his dreams

[Colorblind Genius]

Most decent bowlers will pepper him with shortball.

I just can’t get my head around the kinda shot he was playing today that got him out?
Exactly what kind of shot was it from a seasoned player and a specialist batsman?

Watch the replays, and you will notice it.
It seems as if he intentionally played it with perfection to just get the snick. He didn’t look to be trying to do anything else. A well planed nudge that seemed 100% intentional. Who plays like that?

[shah_1]

One of the best back foot players pullers in pakistan is not playing sharjeel.

He loves bouncy tracks and this wanderers pitch was setup for him showed it in Australia with 3 consecutive 50s at odis and some massive sixes into the stadium .

But parchi will hog the spot to play his pathetic self serving innings .

Sharjeel averaged only 25 in this year Pakistan Cup. On what basis he deserved to get selected

[Bilal7]

He may not be essential but he definitely needs to be in the squad. We can play two possible combinations in ODIs:

1) Imam
2) Fakhar
3) Babar
4) Rizwan
5) Haris

Or

1) Rizwan
2) Fakhar
3) Babar
4) Haris
5) Haider/Someone new

Until we find some more middle order options, Imam should continue as an opener. There is enough time until the next world cup for us to figure out if he's essential or a liability.

[Bilal7]

Both him and Babar are Pakistan’s two best ODI batsmen but both are out of their depth when it comes to chasing 300+ totals. Hence, Pakistan should end this madness of bowling first.

We are not a chasing team and we should stop trying to copy England/India. We do not have their quality and mentality.

Agreed. Pakistan has always been a bat first team. They need to play to their strengths.

[topspin]

So who are these "talented" players that deserve to replace Imam.

Not sure why Imam is getting criticism when his opening partner (Fakhar) has been failing for 2 years without any consequences..

Ermm come again

Yesterday's knock from Fakhar was a wonderful slap in the face to his critics like yourself.

[topspin]

Imam averages 42 at a strike rate of 75 against the top 8.

That strike rate is a reflection of his limited shot range, especially off the back foot.

This is 2021 not 1991. Time to move on and give someone else a chance.

[happydavy]

I think Imam has done enough to earn a place in playing XI and he deserves to be persisted with. However, to have a long career, he also needs to work hard and add more strokeplay to his batting.

[cricketfan11]

No one is essential in the team unless they perform consistently and win matches.

Imam isn't quite doing that yet. To be honest he has been around for a while and should have improved by now.

There is something really wrong with this system. In other countries players' performance levels improve progressively whereas in Pakistan it stays the same or sometimes even deteriorates (notable exceptions Rizwan, Babar and Faheem)

[YousafTheBeast]

Both him and Babar are Pakistan’s two best ODI batsmen but both are out of their depth when it comes to chasing 300+ totals. Hence, Pakistan should end this madness of bowling first.

We are not a chasing team and we should stop trying to copy England/India. We do not have their quality and mentality.

For someone that’s been crying about Fakhar Zaman SR last night, it amazes me how you could even say Imam is our top 2 batsman in ODI’s given his career SR is almost touching the 70’s.

[Concerned]

Imam being amongst the best batsmen in Pak is a joke. If Imam ever batted 50 overs the opposition would be better off.

Given the options, he still warrants a place. More focus should be on Pak middle to lower order.

[Concerned]

Imam is just a phenomenon, Pak would want him to bat atleast 15 overs but no more than 30.

[shamaan]

I think he should continue playing in the oppening spot but we should not compare him with fakhar whos role is tottally different

[aukhan]

He is good by our standards. I used to bash him a lot in the past when Inzi was Chief selector.

[Firebat]

Imam reaches his half century after 60 balls, his 2nd of the series.

[TheNightWatchman]

SR of 80. I'm sorry but that won't cut it vs top teams

[Saj]

57 off 73 balls against this South Africa attack.

Strike rate of 78, with just 3 fours.

Not good enough for me that.

[TheNightWatchman]

Very average innings as usual. Threw away the start again.

[Saj]

Very average innings as usual. Threw away the start again.

What's known as a 'good for the average' innings.

[reversehook]

what a great TEST innings under immense pressure on day 5....

[Amjid Javed]

What's known as a 'good for the average' innings.

Whats known as playing selfishly for urself inns.

[Saj]

Interestingly today. Very little pace to trouble him, yet he still played a rather sedate innings.

Could have been out a couple of times also before he was eventually out.

[silentkiller187]

he was involved in another century partnership and made another half century, plenty of deliveries left when he got out, if we had some decent middle order players they would take advantage of the base. Because the players that come after him do nothing it makes it look a lot worse.

[Raja Ishtiaq]

Should be replaced.

[BigShak]

If we want to remain a mid tier team then he’s fine. But if we want to adopt the modern approach to white ball cricket and challenge the top teams he ain’t the answer unless he miraculously improves his SR throughout all phases of the innings.

[Concerned]

Imam opening the batting is painful to watch. He is slow and makes it difficult for any batting partner to get into rhythm.

However, there is no one else at the moment so Pakistan have to make do with what is on offer.

[Line and Length]

Should be replaced.

By whom?

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Imam is the best Pakistan have to ensure they don't lose wickets at the top.

Unless they get Finch or even Roy join them, I'd rather Pakistan kept him as an opener. You will always get an 80 strike rate from him - which is OK.

Or a different batting mindset comes in a la Eoin Mogan.

[topspin]

Fakhar has outclassed Imam once again. Yes I know this wasn't SA's best bowling line up, so I know what the former accomplished was nothing special.

As for Imam, a strike rate of under 80 again and his lack of boundaries in his 73 ball innings - yet again exposes the strokeless wonder that he is.

Another slap in the face to Imam's loyalists.

@Mamoon @msb314 You need to accept Imam isn't good enough and make peace with it.

[topspin]

57 off 73 balls against this South Africa attack.

Strike rate of 78, with just 3 fours.

Not good enough for me that.

Precisely.

Anyone who still backs Imam after this showing needs more help than what he needs for his batting!

[YousafTheBeast]

Anyone with a SR less than 85 should never be considered for ODI’s.

Pakistan should be using the England cricket team as a template on how to build a team.

[Mamoon]

Fakhar has outclassed Imam once again. Yes I know this wasn't SA's best bowling line up, so I know what the former accomplished was nothing special.

As for Imam, a strike rate of under 80 again and his lack of boundaries in his 73 ball innings - yet again exposes the strokeless wonder that he is.

Another slap in the face to Imam's loyalists.

@Mamoon @msb314 You need to accept Imam isn't good enough and make peace with it.

Fakhar and Imam are two completely different players with contrasting styles. Hence, it is pointless to compare them.

Imam makes the Pakistan team on merit. Sure his SR is on the lower side, but when you look at the alternatives, he is by far the best option.

Pakistan is not loaded with talent. Imam is not elite but he is the best we have got in terms of temperament and appetite for runs.

Fakhar plays a high-risk game and when it comes off it looks great, but when it doesn’t, it triggers a collapse because he is back in the hut in the first few overs.

People who devalue Imam’s importance to this team should jog their memories back the 2018 Asia Cup.

Pakistan has one of the worst middle-orders in the world. It is a complete joke. As a result, the composure that he brings at the top of the order is valuable.

Whether you like him or not, the reality is that more often than not, he scores runs. He grinds them out.

The only way Imam doesn’t make the ODI team on merit is if we suddenly produce a couple of high quality middle-order batsmen and open with Rizwan.

As long as we are playing glorified tail-enders like Shadab and hacks like Asif, Iftikhar, Danish in the middle-order, there are no question marks on Imam’s place.

Sure Pakistan could bring back Hafeez and Haris but none of them are long-term options for different reasons.

People are too critical of Imam based on what he cannot do, which is why they often overlook what he can do, and what he can do is very important in the context of this Pakistan team which is simply not a very good team by any measure.

[Major]

I dont understand what people expect from him.

Pakistan has never had an opener as good as Imam. Guy scores you runs. Stop expecting T20 cricket from a guy in an Odi team.

Posters here crying about England, in England guys like Buttler get chance after chance. You lot cant even bare the chance of Asif Ali or Iftikhar Ahmed.
Buttler avgs has dropped in the 30s.

[Raja Ishtiaq]

I dont understand what people expect from him.

Pakistan has never had an opener as good as Imam. Guy scores you runs. Stop expecting T20 cricket from a guy in an Odi team.

Posters here crying about England, in England guys like Buttler get chance after chance. You lot cant even bare the chance of Asif Ali or Iftikhar Ahmed.
Buttler avgs has dropped in the 30s.

Pakistan has never had an opener as good as Imam? Yeah ok

Imam would have been ideal in the old ODI era where a strike rate like his would have been good but in the modern era? No way

[Amjid Javed]

Difference between Fakhar and imam is that fakhar has ability pick up his scoring rate with ease after a slow start. Imam just bats like a snail all inns and if he tries to be aggresive he gets out.

[Mamoon]

I dont understand what people expect from him.

Pakistan has never had an opener as good as Imam. Guy scores you runs. Stop expecting T20 cricket from a guy in an Odi team.

Posters here crying about England, in England guys like Buttler get chance after chance. You lot cant even bare the chance of Asif Ali or Iftikhar Ahmed.
Buttler avgs has dropped in the 30s.

Buttler is several galaxies above Asif and Iftikhar. If we had someone like him he would be an automatic pick. We gave Afridi 20 years and he was a much lesser batsman.

He averages 39 but his SR is around 120. Few batsmen in the world have the talent to maintain an average of around 40 at a SR like that. He is one of the impactful and devastating ODI batsmen of all time.

[pakistani pride]

The king of soft runs. Scores 50 of 75 balls and gets out. No matter the match situation. A selfish player.

[Raja Ishtiaq]

By whom?

Sharjeel Khan would be the obvious choice

[sadida97]

Fakhar and Imam are two completely different players with contrasting styles. Hence, it is pointless to compare them.

Imam makes the Pakistan team on merit. Sure his SR is on the lower side, but when you look at the alternatives, he is by far the best option.

Pakistan is not loaded with talent. Imam is not elite but he is the best we have got in terms of temperament and appetite for runs.

Fakhar plays a high-risk game and when it comes off it looks great, but when it doesn’t, it triggers a collapse because he is back in the hut in the first few overs.

People who devalue Imam’s importance to this team should jog their memories back the 2018 Asia Cup.

Pakistan has one of the worst middle-orders in the world. It is a complete joke. As a result, the composure that he brings at the top of the order is valuable.

Whether you like him or not, the reality is that more often than not, he scores runs. He grinds them out.

The only way Imam doesn’t make the ODI team on merit is if we suddenly produce a couple of high quality middle-order batsmen and open with Rizwan.

As long as we are playing glorified tail-enders like Shadab and hacks like Asif, Iftikhar, Danish in the middle-order, there are no question marks on Imam’s place.

Sure Pakistan could bring back Hafeez and Haris but none of them are long-term options for different reasons.

People are too critical of Imam based on what he cannot do, which is why they often overlook what he can do, and what he can do is very important in the context of this Pakistan team which is simply not a very good team by any measure.

what are your views on pakistan's top order? is it one of the best ones we've had recently?

[msb314]

Fakhar has outclassed Imam once again. Yes I know this wasn't SA's best bowling line up, so I know what the former accomplished was nothing special.

As for Imam, a strike rate of under 80 again and his lack of boundaries in his 73 ball innings - yet again exposes the strokeless wonder that he is.

Another slap in the face to Imam's loyalists.

@Mamoon @msb314 You need to accept Imam isn't good enough and make peace with it.

Yes Imam is not good enough by Rohit, Bairstow, Warner, De Kock standards.

But he is the best we have and cannot be worse than clowns like Abid, Shan etc. Won't even mention Sharjeel who is unfit and a fixer on top of that.

Haider is still young and has potential but seems a bit hack-ish to me. Needs more time to develop before getting chances in the ODI team - fine for T20's right now.

Imam's approach is fine as long as he has Fakhar as an opening partner. Keep in mind that whilst batting together - their run rate was still 5.5 when Imam got out..

[Farabi]

what are your views on pakistan's top order? is it one of the best ones we've had recently?

Sensible analysis. I would add that Imam is still newish and has age on his side.
My biggest concern is that this series has shown that Fakhar can be more dangerous when he takes time early on. This means he needs shielding and can’t be the aggressor in the opening partnership. Fakhar can be more dangerous when he takes his time...
As a result, both Imam and Fakhar were going at 3 RPO today. It came off today against SA B team but it doesn’t always go well because teams comes under pressure after a wicket or 2. Given Fakhar’s potential, perhaps a more aggressive player is needed who can go at a higher SR and cover Fakhar. Ex, Like Warner covers Finch, or Dhawan covers Rohit.

I have a Q: If Sharjeel does well in T20s, should he be given a go in place of Imam for the aggressor role to shield Fakhar earlier on

[badsha001]

He has been playing international cricket for more than few years now and he still hasn't learnt the art of power hitting? Hell even Azhar Ali played better than him with his best innings being against India in CT final which Imam can never even compete against in his dreams.

[Mamoon]

what are your views on pakistan's top order? is it one of the best ones we've had recently?

Yes it is, but the team has not improved because the middle-order, spin bowling and fast bowling have all declined alarmingly.

This top-order with Inzamam, Yousuf and young Malik in the middle-order and the likes of Razzaq, Afridi, Ajmal, Gul, Asif and young Amir would have been a genuinely formidable team.

But this has been Pakistan’s problem over the last 20 years why we have failed to get rid of our mediocrity – we have never been able to put all the pieces together and strengthen all departments at the same time.

[Colorblind Genius]

He has been playing international cricket for more than few years now and he still hasn't learnt the art of power hitting? Hell even Azhar Ali played better than him with his best innings being against India in CT final which Imam can never even compete against in his dreams.

Even Imam's today's 50 was quite an ugly innings.
He looked clueless against the short ball even though he was well aware that short balls are coming his way.
Many lucky top edges gave him some momentum but the innings was not impressive at all.

[Cryin Out Loud]

You go to war with the weapons you have, not the weapons you want.

Imam is clearly the best option for Pakistan right now, unless there are some really talented openers hiding somewhere. Which doesn't seem to be the case.