[VIDEOS] Have the PCB decided to move on from Asad Shafiq for good?

[Savak]

I find it a bit hypocritical for Azhar Ali to be persisted with whereas Asad Shafiq was dropped for good. At the time Asad Shafiq got dropped in August 2020, since 2017 he had a better average than Asad Shafiq.

[Zaz]

I find it a bit hypocritical for Azhar Ali to be persisted with whereas Asad Shafiq was dropped for good. At the time Asad Shafiq got dropped in August 2020, since 2017 he had a better average than Asad Shafiq.

To be honest both shouldve gone at same time

But the fact is azhar had a better peak than shafiq and had a higher avge than him (avged around 47 once upton
a time) hence the longer rope Being ex captain also helps

[Artaxerxes]

Azhar Ali and Faheem need to go.Azhar is coming to the end of his career.Need a youngster to open or bat at number 3.Faheem is a mediocre player.Need a good allrounder.PCB should do a talent hunt throughout Pakistan.The best player should be coached at HPC and then inducted into first class teams.The other option is to find the best allrounders in club cricket and develop them.

[ElRaja]

azhars time should be up, but in no way are the two comparable, asad got a free ride for nearly 3 years, and failed to bat higher up the order.

azhar averaged nearly 50 opening, and 40 odd over his last 15 tests, asad was a perenial number 6 and averaged 30 over his last 15 tests.

however both represent the nadir of talent development in pakistan, and were failures when it came to taking over from misbah and younis.

[zacattakk]

I find it a bit hypocritical for Azhar Ali to be persisted with whereas Asad Shafiq was dropped for good. At the time Asad Shafiq got dropped in August 2020, since 2017 he had a better average than Asad Shafiq.

"Have the PCB decided to move on from Asad Shafiq for good?"
--> Inshallah

Honestly, both should have been dropped. It took numerous failures until finally one of them was dropped. No way Misbah would have dropped both his friends at the same time It also helps that Azhar used to be a top test bat for us and played bigger innings than Shafiq ever did, as well as him being a previous captain as @Zaz pointed out.

[Justcrazy]

Shafiq main issue is his inconsistency

128 innings and an average of 38 is not that good. Also 13 ducks!

Very disappointing!

[LegendAli]

Crazy to think at one point people rated Asad Shafique pretty highly and was even un droppable in many Playing XI, how times have changed.

[Maher96]

After being dropped has really slipped under the Radar. Even domestic performance of late haven’t been noteable.

[gazza619]

A broken Azhar Ali has still played a few vital knocks in the last few years.

Asad Shafiq has an inflated average due to scoring 50s and 100s in lost causes.

[Colorblind Genius]

I would've wanted to see Asad Shafiq in the up coming PSL.
I hope someone looks into the idea and incorporates him. He was not as bad as he had been made to think of.

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Both should be gone, but Azhar was better and actually won some games for Pakistan.


I understand, if not agree with him being picked. Ideally though it should be as an opener

[Cric1234]

Shafiq main issue is his inconsistency

128 innings and an average of 38 is not that good. Also 13 ducks!

Very disappointing!

Also the fact that he played at no 6 easier position to bat makes it worse compare that to Umar Akmal who averages almost the same in tests outside Asia at a much better strike rate.

Azhar has been struggling for some time now not sure how many matches he’s won but we’ve lost all tests in SENA recently with little contribution from Azhar other than slow ducks and slow 10s and 20s.

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Poor guy only got to play 77 tests. Discarded in his youth without getting enough chances.

[Officer Barbrady]

Shafiq is out because Fawad is a vastly superior option at 5. Azhar should make space to test out someone like saud

[sweep_shot]

With the arrival of Fawad Alam, there is no room for Asad Shafiq. We probably have seen the last of Shafiq.

[Justcrazy]

With the arrival of Fawad Alam, there is no room for Asad Shafiq. We probably have seen the last of Shafiq.

Saud , Usman Sallahuddin etc also should get in now , so Asad should blame himself , after playing so many Tests , he should have been averaging in the late 40s at least , with 18 hundreds.

[shah9425]

No place for him in current team

[Markhor]

I suppose Azhar's excuse is unlike Shafiq he bats in the top 3 in a bowler friendly era of Test cricket.

Azhar should've been farewelled in Pakistan after the 2019 Sri Lanka series.

The selectors by prolonging Azhar's career have needlessly blocked progression of Saud Shakeel, Usman Salahuddin and Kamran Ghulam for the last 2-3 years.

[Amjid Javed]

Asad became complacent and his failures were tolerated by selectors, thus he never improved. Now his test career is over.

Azhar should have been given boot after SL or NZ series losses in UAE.

[MenInG]

Happy birthday to Asad Shafiq:

Born: January 28, 1986 (age 36 years), Karachi, Pakistan

[MenInG]

6188 runs in 147 international matches with 12 centuries ��

Happy birthday to Pakistan's Asad Shafiq �� pic.twitter.com/EAARElLisU

— ICC (@ICC) January 28, 2022

[silentkiller187]

Lahore, 10 March 2022: Centuries from Haseebullah and Asad Shafiq led Balochistan to a 105-run win over Southern Punjab in the fifth round match of the Pakistan Cup at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. In other matches, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa won their matches against Central Punjab and Northern, respectively.

After being put into bat, Balochistan scored 320 for four in 50 overs. Opening batter Haseebullah top-scored with a 134-ball 142, hitting 20 fours and one six. The left-handed batter added 182 runs for the third wicket with Asad Shafiq, who returned undefeated on 101. The right-handed Asad innings included 15 fours and one six that came off 78 balls

[Maher96]

May be he can make a comeback when some of the regulars get injured but for that he has to continue to score a lot of runs. Feels like most of the current players are far ahead of him.

[RedwoodOriginal]

It's kinda amazing how similar Asad Shafiq and Ajinkya Rahane's numbers are.

Both average 38. Rahane has played 5 more tests than Shafiq. Both have the same number of hundreds, But Shafiq has two more fifties. Even their strike-rates are very similar.

And if Pakistan and India are lucky, both will never play another test match for their respective countries again.

[YousafTheBeast]

It's kinda amazing how similar Asad Shafiq and Ajinkya Rahane's numbers are.

Both average 38. Rahane has played 5 more tests than Shafiq. Both have the same number of hundreds, But Shafiq has two more fifties. Even their strike-rates are very similar.

And if Pakistan and India are lucky, both will never play another test match for their respective countries again.

You can’t be attacking Asad Shafiq and yet defending Azhar Ali at the same time.

Because Azhar Ali performed poorly in 2018 and 2019, we only look at his last 2 years from 2020, so let’s looks at Asad Shafiq’s last 2 years.

2019 - Averaged 42 and was the 3rd highest run scorer for Pakistan (mostly useless runs that had no impact on the game, a bit like Azhar)

2020 - Averaged 22, very poor, but he was one innings away from boosting his average from 22 to mid 40’s (like how Azhar did after scoring 141* in England)

The difference between career averages is a mere 700 runs. Give Asad Shafiq another 20 tests and we may see a couple of more 140 not outs to boost his average to low 40’s, and then we can all start calling him a legend too. 😂

[RedwoodOriginal]

You can’t be attacking Asad Shafiq and yet defending Azhar Ali at the same time.

Because Azhar Ali performed poorly in 2018 and 2019, we only look at his last 2 years from 2020, so let’s looks at Asad Shafiq’s last 2 years.

2019 - Averaged 42 and was the 3rd highest run scorer for Pakistan (mostly useless runs that had no impact on the game, a bit like Azhar)

2020 - Averaged 22, very poor, but he was one innings away from boosting his average from 22 to mid 40’s (like how Azhar did after scoring 141* in England)

The difference between career averages is a mere 700 runs. Give Asad Shafiq another 20 tests and we may see a couple of more 140 not outs to boost his average to low 40’s, and then we can all start calling him a legend too. ��

You're completely out of your mind if you are comparing Azhar Ali to Asad Shafiq. Maybe there was a time when both were at a similar level. But ever since MisYou left Asad has only regressed and rightly been discarded. Azhar despite a couple of bad years has rebounded and been Pakistan's most prolific test batter in the last two years.

Even at his best Asad never crossed 137 which is just sad for someone who has played over 70 tests. Also can't recall him ever playing a consequential knock like Azhar's 302 or 141. Infact the greatest and only innings he will ever be known for is one that came in a losing cause, which is probably the case for most of the centuries he has scored throughout his career.

[YousafTheBeast]

You're completely out of your mind if you are comparing Azhar Ali to Asad Shafiq. Maybe there was a time when both were at a similar level. But ever since MisYou left Asad has only regressed and rightly been discarded. Azhar despite a couple of bad years has rebounded and been Pakistan's most prolific test batter in the last two years.

Even at his best Asad never crossed 137 which is just sad for someone who has played over 70 tests. Also can't recall him ever playing a consequential knock like Azhar's 302 or 141. Infact the greatest and only innings he will ever be known for is one that came in a losing cause, which is probably the case for most of the centuries he has scored throughout his career.

So Azhar Ali is allowed a couple of bad years but Asad Shafiq isn’t?

[RedwoodOriginal]

So Azhar Ali is allowed a couple of bad years but Asad Shafiq isn’t?

No. Because unlike Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali has actually won Pakistan some matches. Even at his worst his average never dropped below 41. Whereas, for Asad, maintaining an average of 40 was a battle, and ultimately a losing one for him.

There is a reason why Asad is no longer in the team and Azhar is, and doesn't take a genius to figure out why. In fact its actually downright ironic that Misbah: the guy who was one of the biggest reasons why Shafiq played so many tests ended up being the one to discard him before the tour of New Zealand. And no one has bothered to bring him back since which shows exactly how indispensable he was to begin with.

[YousafTheBeast]

No. Because unlike Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali has actually won Pakistan some matches. Even at his worst his average never dropped below 41. Whereas, for Asad, maintaining an average of 40 was a battle, and ultimately a losing one for him.

There is a reason why Asad is no longer in the team and Azhar is, and doesn't take a genius to figure out why. In fact its actually downright ironic that Misbah: the guy who was one of the biggest reasons why Shafiq played so many tests ended up being the one to discard him before the tour of New Zealand. And no one has bothered to bring him back since which shows exactly how indispensable he was to begin with.

He’s only won 4 MOTM awards (one vs Bangladesh) compared to Asad Shafiq’s 2 (one in a loss)

If Asad Shafiq was averaging 43 would you call him a legend?

[RedwoodOriginal]

He’s only won 4 MOTM awards (one vs Bangladesh) compared to Asad Shafiq’s 2 (one in a loss)

If Asad Shafiq was averaging 43 would you call him a legend?

Thanks for proving my point.

Thing is, I don't deal in hypotheticals like you and so many other fans. I prefer to live in reality, not fantasy.

[YousafTheBeast]

Thanks for proving my point.

Thing is, I don't deal in hypotheticals like you and so many other fans. I prefer to live in reality, not fantasy.

So, basically Azhar Ali is a legend with an average of 43. And, it’s “hope we don’t see Asad Shafiq again”, even if he averaged 43.

The difference in career averages between Azhar and Asad is 700 runs. Ones a legend and the other isn’t.

[RedwoodOriginal]

So, basically Azhar Ali is a legend with an average of 43. And, it’s “hope we don’t see Asad Shafiq again”, even if he averaged 43.

The difference in career averages between Azhar and Asad is 700 runs. Ones a legend and the other isn’t.

Does he average 43? How stupid do you have to be to base your entire argument on a make-believe fantasy that exists only in your head?

Asad Shafiq could never average 43 unless he was batting in a pressure-free No.6 position where all the work would be done by the batsmen before him and he could come in to add some pressure-free runs.

Unfortunately there is only so long you can spend hiding at No.6 before the responsibility of done the work falls on you and then your mediocrity is exposed.

Also, if you want to continue debating in B.S hypothetical arguments, don't bother replying at all.

[Markhor]

I've wanted Azhar to be moved on but he shouldn't be compared to Shafiq.

Azhar bats at 3 (often coming in early) whereas Shafiq hid away at 6 and rarely made consequential runs.

[YousafTheBeast]

Does he average 43? How stupid do you have to be to base your entire argument on a make-believe fantasy that exists only in your head?

Asad Shafiq could never average 43 unless he was batting in a pressure-free No.6 position where all the work would be done by the batsmen before him and he could come in to add some pressure-free runs.

Unfortunately there is only so long you can spend hiding at No.6 before the responsibility of done the work falls on you and then your mediocrity is exposed.

Also, if you want to continue debating in B.S hypothetical arguments, don't bother replying at all.

No, but the difference is only 700 runs so how is that a freakin’ fantasy lol? The fact is he’s only 700 runs short of averaging what Azhar averages. Now, if you’re calling one a legend and the other a failure because of a gap of 700 runs then idk what to say.😂

[RedwoodOriginal]

No, but the difference is only 700 runs so how is that a freakin’ fantasy lol? The fact is he’s only 700 runs short of averaging what Azhar averages. Now, if you’re calling one a legend and the other a failure because of a gap of 700 runs then idk what to say.��

The fact that you are basing your entire argument on "just a gap of 700 runs" now shows how truly dim-witted you are.

Never heard anyone use this as a way of comparing two batters. But then again, considering how desperate you are to make this comparison, I'm not surprised. Especially since any actual barometer of comparing the two i.e. batting average, number of test runs, number of consequential knocks, number of MOM awards has completely abandoned you.

Even this comparison is an utterly idiotic one considering Shafiq did not score 700 runs in 2019 and 2020 combined. Which means if we brought him into the team today it would take Shafiq 2+ years to get where Azhar is now average-wise.

You're so over the hill that it's not even funny anymore. And I have no desire to continue indulging you.

[YousafTheBeast]

The fact that you are basing your entire argument on "just a gap of 700 runs" now shows how truly dim-witted you are.

Never heard anyone use this as a way of comparing two batters. But then again, considering how desperate you are to make this comparison, I'm not surprised. Especially since any actual barometer of comparing the two i.e. batting average, number of test runs, number of consequential knocks, number of MOM awards has completely abandoned you.

Even this comparison is an utterly idiotic one considering Shafiq did not score 700 runs in 2019 and 2020 combined. Which means if we brought him into the team today it would take Shafiq 2+ years to get where Azhar is now average-wise.

You're so over the hill that it's not even funny anymore. And I have no desire to continue indulging you.

The 700 run argument wouldn’t have been used if you hadn’t claimed that Azhar Ali is a legend and that averaging low 40’s is “very good in this day and age”. Neither are good, one has rightly been dropped and the other keeps hanging on with 1 performance after every 7-8 games. The fact that you seem to be in awe of Azhar Ali’s achievement of obtaining 4 MOTM awards in 90+ tests says how low your standards for a legend are. The fact that you’re using Azhar Ali’s average (low 40’s) as something to gloat about is laughable. Your argument to defend Azhar is “but he’s out-scored everyone else in the last 2 years” yeah well done Asad Shafiq scored more than him from 2018 -2020, didn’t matter in the end because he was dropped and rightly so.

[RedwoodOriginal]

The 700 run argument wouldn’t have been used if you hadn’t claimed that Azhar Ali is a legend and that averaging low 40’s is “very good in this day and age”. Neither are good, one has rightly been dropped and the other keeps hanging on with 1 performance after every 7-8 games. The fact that you seem to be in awe of Azhar Ali’s achievement of obtaining 4 MOTM awards in 90+ tests says how low your standards for a legend are. The fact that you’re using Azhar Ali’s average (low 40’s) as something to gloat about is laughable. Your argument to defend Azhar is “but he’s out-scored everyone else in the last 2 years” yeah well done Asad Shafiq scored more than him from 2018 -2020, didn’t matter in the end because he was dropped and rightly so.

The difference between me and you is that unlike you I like to live in the reality.

You keep comparing Azhar to Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan but fact is no Pakistani batter since Misbah has been able to score as many runs as Azhar over such a long period of time while averaging in the 40s throughout. Since Azhar's debut only Cook and the Fab 4 have outscored him. And in the past two years he has found new form and emerged as Pakistan's most prolific batter.

You should be grateful to have a batter like Azhar Ali in a sea of mediocrity that is Pakistan cricket, instead of being as ungrateful as you are.

I do consider Azhar Ali to be a modern day legend because despite his limitations he has managed to persevere and succeed in a way that few Pakistani batters in history have been able to. If you have a problem accepting that than that's too bad.

But don't go around making ludicrous comparisons like that between Azhar and Asad. You're insulting your own intelligence and everyone else's.

[YousafTheBeast]

The difference between me and you is that unlike you I like to live in the reality.

You keep comparing Azhar to Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan but fact is no Pakistani batter since Misbah has been able to score as many runs as Azhar over such a long period of time while averaging in the 40s throughout. Since Azhar's debut only Cook and the Fab 4 have outscored him. And in the past two years he has found new form and emerged as Pakistan's most prolific batter.

You should be grateful to have a batter like Azhar Ali in a sea of mediocrity that is Pakistan cricket, instead of being as ungrateful as you are.

I do consider Azhar Ali to be a modern day legend because despite his limitations he has managed to persevere and succeed in a way that few Pakistani batters in history have been able to. If you have a problem accepting that than that's too bad.

But don't go around making ludicrous comparisons like that between Azhar and Asad. You're insulting your own intelligence and everyone else's.

But, are you living in reality? Aren’t you the one that’s already predicted a certain bowler will be world class based on zero performances on the other thread?

My issue with Azhar Ali isn’t even with his average (which isn’t great) but it’s his consistency of late. Doing s%#@ all for 4-5 games and then scoring a big hundred to make up for it thus inflating his average.

There’s nothing to be grateful for, I’m sure Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam can average low 40’s too if they were given the opportunity.

Asad Shafiq played what, 72 games without being dropped? That would be considered a success too, no?

Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq are two players who Pakistan heavily invested in and they failed to pay back. Two failures who’ll be forgotten in the next 10 years.

[ask_analyse_act]

Should not go back to Asad shafiq, instead groom youngsters like Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam

[Gharib Aadmi]

One can only hope that we have seen the last of Asad. Azhar should have been gone too, but we are stuck with him for now.

Ideally Pakistan needs to have Saud Shakeel, Kamran Ghulam, playing tests. Usman Salahuddin as well as a backup.

[Cric1234]

Someone somewhere thought that Asad Shafiq and Shoaib Malik are better test batsmen than Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam that in itself is quite something.

[RedwoodOriginal]

But, are you living in reality? Aren’t you the one that’s already predicted a certain bowler will be world class based on zero performances on the other thread?

My issue with Azhar Ali isn’t even with his average (which isn’t great) but it’s his consistency of late. Doing s%#@ all for 4-5 games and then scoring a big hundred to make up for it thus inflating his average.

There’s nothing to be grateful for, I’m sure Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam can average low 40’s too if they were given the opportunity.

Asad Shafiq played what, 72 games without being dropped? That would be considered a success too, no?

Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq are two players who Pakistan heavily invested in and they failed to pay back. Two failures who’ll be forgotten in the next 10 years.

As opposed to guys who aren't even doing that? Where does this entitlement come from? Kohli hasn't scored a century for more than 3 years, Babar hasn't scored a test century in 2+ years, Williamson hasn't scored one for more than a year, but how could Azhar Ali possibly score 3 centuries in the same time and inflate his average?

Your bias towards Azhar is just pathetic and sad. You have no ground to stand on because you know you have no argument based on statistics and numbers. So you keep resorting to different versions of whataboutery.

Oh and its a little more than 4-5 games and that average is a little more than low 40s. In the past two years he has averaged 48. The second highest for Pakistan behind Fawad Alam. But yeah, keep living in your deluded fantasy where you think players that average 40+ in test cricket over a 10 year career just fall out of trees.

[RedwoodOriginal]

Someone somewhere thought that Asad Shafiq and Shoaib Malik are better test batsmen than Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam that in itself is quite something.

Umar Akmal is a joke and a living, breathing meme...not a test batter.

[Amjid Javed]

As opposed to guys who aren't even doing that? Where does this entitlement come from? Kohli hasn't scored a century for more than 3 years, Babar hasn't scored a test century in 2+ years, Williamson hasn't scored one for more than a year, but how could Azhar Ali possibly score 3 centuries in the same time and inflate his average?

Your bias towards Azhar is just pathetic and sad. You have no ground to stand on because you know you have no argument based on statistics and numbers. So you keep resorting to different versions of whataboutery.

Oh and its a little more than 4-5 games and that average is a little more than low 40s. In the past two years he has averaged 48. The second highest for Pakistan behind Fawad Alam. But yeah, keep living in your deluded fantasy where you think players that average 40+ in test cricket over a 10 year career just fall out of trees.

You keep on harping on about this 48 average in last 2 years?

2020

Vs bangla - 34
Vs England - 0, 18, 20, 141, 31 ( 4 failures in 5 inns)
vs NZ - 5, 38, 93, 37 (again 1 good knock in a series)
vs SA - 51, 31*, 0, 33 (pretty poor series with the bat)
vs Might Zimbabwe - 126, 17
vs WI - 17, 23, 0, 22 ( poor series with the bat)
vs Bangla 0, 24, 56* ( again 1 good knock in a series)

yet people will hide behind the stats rather then looking at his over poor contributions per most series in those 2 years. Im sure you see his batting in england, SA and WI series as acceptable?

[Cric1234]

Umar Akmal is a joke and a living, breathing meme...not a test batter.

He’s a better test batsman than Azhar and Shafiq that’s what matters the biggest joke are these slow batters putting everyone to sleep on flat wickets batting like there are playing on greentops.

[RedwoodOriginal]

He’s a better test batsman than Azhar and Shafiq that’s what matters the biggest joke are these slow batters putting everyone to sleep on flat wickets batting like there are playing on greentops.

Maybe he was in 2009. But that 13 years ago bro. Time to move on...

[RedwoodOriginal]

You keep on harping on about this 48 average in last 2 years?

2020

Vs bangla - 34
Vs England - 0, 18, 20, 141, 31 ( 4 failures in 5 inns)
vs NZ - 5, 38, 93, 37 (again 1 good knock in a series)
vs SA - 51, 31*, 0, 33 (pretty poor series with the bat)
vs Might Zimbabwe - 126, 17
vs WI - 17, 23, 0, 22 ( poor series with the bat)
vs Bangla 0, 24, 56* ( again 1 good knock in a series)

yet people will hide behind the stats rather then looking at his over poor contributions per most series in those 2 years. Im sure you see his batting in england, SA and WI series as acceptable?

Keep laughing all you want but fact is you can't find a single Pakistani batter who scored more runs than him during this period. The fact that you are climbing all over him just tells me that you don't really care about successes or failures...you just don't like him.

Where is the same breakdown for guys like Babar, Abid, Rizwan? I bet you couldn't even find as many successes/good knocks in their breakdown for the last two years which just tells me that you are dictated by your bias towards Azhar rather than any sense of objective analysis. Btw wanna know how many batsmen IN THE WORLD have outscored him during this period? 3. That's right 3....in the entire world.

I wonder how many failures, poor series all the guys below Joe Root, Rishabh Pant and Azhar Ali must have had. Eagerly looking forward to the innings breakdowns from you.

[Amjid Javed]

Keep laughing all you want but fact is you can't find a single Pakistani batter who scored more runs than him during this period. The fact that you are climbing all over him just tells me that you don't really care about successes or failures...you just don't like him.

Where is the same breakdown for guys like Babar, Abid, Rizwan? I bet you couldn't even find as many successes/good knocks in their breakdown for the last two years which just tells me that you are dictated by your bias towards Azhar rather than any sense of objective analysis. Btw wanna know how many batsmen IN THE WORLD have outscored him during this period? 3. That's right 3....in the entire world.

I wonder how many failures, poor series all the guys below Joe Root, Rishabh Pant and Azhar Ali must have had. Eagerly looking forward to the innings breakdowns from you.

so again you keep harping on like a broken record about amount of runs. so 1 good inns per series is that of a pakistani legend is it?

Most quality batsmen score 2 or 3 knocks a series, something Azhar has failed to do in any series in last 2 years. Yet your doing bhangra as you see performing in 1 inns per series to save a place in team as legendary.

I see you avoided my question about the england, SA and WI series. feel free to respond and then il look at your request and respond.

[Amjid Javed]

Keep laughing all you want but fact is you can't find a single Pakistani batter who scored more runs than him during this period. The fact that you are climbing all over him just tells me that you don't really care about successes or failures...you just don't like him.

Where is the same breakdown for guys like Babar, Abid, Rizwan? I bet you couldn't even find as many successes/good knocks in their breakdown for the last two years which just tells me that you are dictated by your bias towards Azhar rather than any sense of objective analysis. Btw wanna know how many batsmen IN THE WORLD have outscored him during this period? 3. That's right 3....in the entire world.

I wonder how many failures, poor series all the guys below Joe Root, Rishabh Pant and Azhar Ali must have had. Eagerly looking forward to the innings breakdowns from you.

1) Abid Ali is a tried and test failure and shouldnt even be in the test side, so for you to even bring his name up in comparison is stupid.

2) Rizwan in 2020 and 2021 - played just 4 tests inns so the sample size is very small so again a stupid comparison to make. How can you gage someones test form on 4 inns in 2 test series?

No wonder you brought these names up, do you even think before making these pointless comparisons?

[YousafTheBeast]

Keep laughing all you want but fact is you can't find a single Pakistani batter who scored more runs than him during this period. The fact that you are climbing all over him just tells me that you don't really care about successes or failures...you just don't like him.

Where is the same breakdown for guys like Babar, Abid, Rizwan? I bet you couldn't even find as many successes/good knocks in their breakdown for the last two years which just tells me that you are dictated by your bias towards Azhar rather than any sense of objective analysis. Btw wanna know how many batsmen IN THE WORLD have outscored him during this period? 3. That's right 3....in the entire world.

I wonder how many failures, poor series all the guys below Joe Root, Rishabh Pant and Azhar Ali must have had. Eagerly looking forward to the innings breakdowns from you.

Being the best mediocre player out of the rest of the mediocre players doesnÂ’t make you a legend. Azhar is 37, whilst the others are in their 20Â’s and havenÂ’t yet peaked. So, why should we compare him to the youngsters?

The problem is no one is calling Rizwan and Babar a legend in test cricket.

Give some of the other teams a chance to play against Zimbabwe and youÂ’ll see more batsman out scoring him.

We get it, youÂ’re an Azhar Ali ****** like IÂ’m an Umar Akmal ******, but even IÂ’m willing to criticise UA whereas youÂ’re just throwing your toys out the pram and getting personal just for a mediocre player.

[Kianig89]

It's Hindsight but Asad is a better player of fast bowling and spin than the Fawads and Faheems and Imams

[Kianig89]

Should be immediately brought back he is a veteran team needs a solid middle order player as Azhar and Fawad will be axed he should play at 5

[Zaz]

Should be immediately brought back he is a veteran team needs a solid middle order player as Azhar and Fawad will be axed he should play at 5

Lol No chance We should be looking forward not backwards He wasnt good enough when he was dropped Hes in his mid 30s Hes had his time Move forward

Time to invest in saud and kamran ghulam

[Colorblind Genius]

Should be immediately brought back he is a veteran team needs a solid middle order player as Azhar and Fawad will be axed he should play at 5

It's sorta too late for him now at the age of 36.
But yes, we did need another solid batsman in the line up. Our tail started at #6 against Australia.

[shamaan]

Should be immediately brought back he is a veteran team needs a solid middle order player as Azhar and Fawad will be axed he should play at 5

Brought back and play till 50 ?

[ElRaja]

please no.. people forget shafiq averaged 30 for years before he was dropped. pak dont need more mental midgets, need to get in someone who is aggressive and can actually win you a game, rather than contribute consistent but eventually meaningless innings.

ghulam, shakeel, hurraira, haider ali, agha salman, saad khan deserve it more than asad shafiq.

[Raja Ishtiaq]

@Villager6964

I think we should bring back Asad and also keep Fawad in the team.

[Kianig89]

Highest scorers for Pakistan in Test cricket from March 2018 to March 2020:

Player Matches Runs Average 100s 50s
Babar Azam 15 1375 65.47 5 9
Asad Shafiq 16 979 37.65 1 9
Azhar Ali 16 790 27.24 2 4
Haris Sohail 12 643 35.72 2 1
Shan Masood 8 624 44.57 2 3
https://propakistani.pk/2022/03/25/t...-shafiq-stats/

Amazing just amazing the one averaging 27 is persisted with while the others are left in oblivion THats Pakistan cricker for you.

[MenInG]

Done well in Pakistan Cup

In second semi-final- for Balochistan vs Sindh

Asad Shafiq batting at number four scored 64 off 69, which included five boundaries.

[MenInG]

Takes a wicket in Pakistan Cup final for Balochistan:

[James]

Mohammad Yousuf on Shafiq:

“Coming to Asad Shafiq, I feel his performances in First-Class are not to the level that is expected; Especially, when you want to make a comeback, you have to play exceptional cricket so that you can displace someone who is already in the side. I still believe that Asad Shafiq has it in him to make a comeback. However, if he is not able to perform well in FC, then its upto the captain, coach and selectors to decide on his inclusion and [this is] not in my domain.”