Afghanistan v Pakistan | 2nd T20I | Sharjah | 26 March 2023 | Pre-game Discussion

[MenInG]

So a humiliating defeat in the first T20I with a new look side has happened.

What changes are necessary, or should the team management continue with the same XI to be fair to the players?

Reminder that this is a 3-match series so a win the next game is a must for Pakistan.

[MenInG]

Shadab Khan needs to be given some emergency instructions on captaincy.

Also I would like to see Imad being the senior taking a bigger role in advising Shadab - we cannot leave the team to his whims.

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

One game with an entirely new squad does not prove anything. In my humble opinion, team should be told to back themselves and go with their natural instincts, which is attack.

It’s not like Pakistan does not have spinner friendly wickets. They know how to play them.

If they sow doubts, it will be an experiment gone bad.

[Nikhil_cric]

Pakistan just found it hard to adjust to the conditions. I think they would have acclimatized by now .

[Titan24]

Should be the same team except that Nawaz should come in for Faheem if pitch is similar.

[Saj]

I just hope it's not a whitewash.

If it is, things will get messy.

[MenInG]

Ramiz Raja commenting on the series so far:

“There is no problem with doing experiments but winning still remains your top priority. You can’t put up lacklustre performances, with so many mistakes, like these since it will give the world the impression that there is still room for improvement in our next best lot"

“There is a lot of talent in Pakistan but these players also need to make the necessary adjustments in accordance with the situation of the game"

“If the pitch remains like this, I think it will be an exciting series. Now the pressure is on Pakistan and we have to see what they learn from this defeat"

“Looking at the pitch, I think you can play one additional spinner since the surface won’t offer assistance to the pacers unless you are express like Ihsanullah"

“But Pakistan need to chin up since they can still make a comeback and win the series"

[Omer2002]

I just hope it's not a whitewash.

If it is, things will get messy.

Unfotunately i predicted 2 1 or 3 0 defeat and i am sticking with that. Even with babar and rizzy they wud have struggled

[YousafTheBeast]

Batting line up needs some adjustments + Faheem out for Usama Mir or Nawaz.

Saim Ayub
Abdullah Shafique
Mohammad Haris (wk)
Tayyab Tahir
Azam Khan
Imad Wasim
Shadab Khan (c)
Usama Mir / Nawaz
Naseem Shah
Zaman Khan
Ihsanullah

[mazkhan]

If we get white washed by a war torn nation that doesn't even function as a modern state then we need to give up cricket.

Maybe start playing billiards , darts or outdoor bowling green.

[pakistani pride]

If we get white washed by a war torn nation that doesn't even function as a modern state then we need to give up cricket.

Maybe start playing billiards , darts or outdoor bowling green.

Relax its just a game. In T20 cricket it was just going to happen one day, a loss against them. Pak played lots of new players, they should be backed, when trying out new talent one also needs to accept losses and failures.

[hitthestump]

Faheem for Ifti would be my only change.

Faheem has no role in this team. We need an experienced batsman in there and someone who can turn the ball the other way to Shadab and Imad.

I'd persist with Abdullah Technique and Mohammad Haris, though it's clear the latter needs a couple of seasons of FC lest he goes the Haider Ali route.

[indianpanacea]

C'mon..this was first match and not on Pakistani soil on which they jus played psl...they r up against quality players like Rashid,mujeeb,nabi,zadran etc...who have varied experience...
Jus persist with these guys and give them freedom to play even if it is a white wash..such bilateral series are meant for experimenting...i would suggest same team should play against newzealand T20 series as that is to be played in home conditions...give rest to babar,rizwan Shaheen ,fakhar etc .as they are required for worldcup...
Only change for next match should be introduction of additional spinner instead of faheem and imad be made to bat higher in order

[BunnyRabbit]

There's not a single batter in the side who has it in him to be the fulcrum. Everyone looked without a plan and seemed like they were just there doing their own thing.

[Kianig89]

Would be very tough to make a comeback considering the manner of defeat in game 1

[Justcrazy]

Pakistan need to play all three spin all rounders Nawaz , Imad and shadab

[Justcrazy]

Unfotunately i predicted 2 1 or 3 0 defeat and i am sticking with that. Even with babar and rizzy they wud have struggled

Babaar and Rizwan would have struggled but would have adjusted as well , Pakistan would have reached 125 - 130 by the end of 20th over.

[hitthestump]

Babaar and Rizwan would have struggled but would have adjusted as well , Pakistan would have reached 125 - 130 by the end of 20th over.

Rizwan and Babar routinely get us to 150-160 on these pitches.

Let's see if the boys tomorrow can cross 100.

[Kianig89]

With the induction of PSL creme everyone thought RizBar doctrine will be buried once for all but we got kick in the teeth,History beckons for AFG

[Xoib]

I am happy we played this side results are not important in this pointless series target should be to find 2-3 new talents

[Saj]

I hope they don't drop any of the youngsters.

Maybe give Faheem a 'rest'.

[Firebat]

I'd put Nawaz for Faheem and Usama Mir for Naseem

[shamaan]

I would make one change and that should be Fahim out for either Iftikhar or Nawaz depending if they want to strength the batting or bowling.

[nextover666666]

I know some people will say its a meaningless series, but your playing a rival team, Pakistan need to try to find a way to win the series and make sure they play best squad. If pitch is same like last time, need to bring in another spinner as well

I would go with this squad

1) Saim Ayub
2) Mohammad Haris
3) Abdullah Shafique
4) Iftikihar Ahmad
5) Tayyab Tahir
6) Imad Wasim
7) Mohammad Nawaz
8) Shadab Khan
9) Mohammad Wasim JR
10) Naseem Shah
11) Ihsanullah

Ideally I would want to play Usama Mir but he is in the reserves, can only come in if a player is injured. We do not need Faheem ( espically on this pitch) and Azam Khan needs to go.

I want to back the 3 main youngsters, Saim, Abdullah, and Tayyib Tahir, I am tempted to add Shan Masood, but since he should not bat lower than 4, I think Iftikhar can do alright, plus he can bowl some overs as well if needed.

[Kroll]

Another youngsta beauty Iftikhar to come in.

[ZaidTR]

Another youngsta beauty Iftikhar to come in.

Some players look good in waterboy

[ZaidTR]

Should stick to same roster

[CricVet]

PCB made a good decision to send a young team. I hope that the team selection would be better. On slow, dual paced wicket, why not Usama Mir? If young squad was needed and unfit Azam had to be selected, Usama unjustly excluded to make room for Iftikhar.

Also, Shadab playing his buddy Faheem over a spinner was also a terrible decision on the game day. These little things matter. On a terrible Sharjah wicket, where our best OVERALL bat Babar averages 21 (thanks largely to 66 against Scotts. Otherwise in other 3 games he scored 9,9, and 0), it was an awful decision to go with 3 pacers.

I am hoping for the team to have one change since I know Azam has big parchi - Faheem out, Nawaz in. I hope that our top 3 remain the same throughout the series and play their natural game. The loss does effect the psyche however, it is the captain’s job to provide the needed confidence to let them play freely - no bogging down no matter what.

[Cric1234]

With the induction of PSL creme everyone thought RizBar doctrine will be buried once for all but we got kick in the teeth,History beckons for AFG

They have made 8 changes that’s the problem almost a completely new team with hardly any experience in the top order is playing at one of the worst pitches for T20s which favours the Afghan spinners a full team might lose a match here too they almost did aswell.

[Ryw]

ACB being the host planned smartly and prepared a spin friendly pitch with lot of break likeBangladeshcricket board, it was a spinners paradise.
Pakistan team think tank didn’t read the pitch and played Ihsanullah,Naseem,Zaman,Faheem 4 pacers on a doctored pitch which suits spinners. It was a recipe of disaster and thats what happened in 1st T20 they lost so easily lol

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Shocking result. Pak will bounce back in 2nd game.

Atlast Afg win against pak

[Firebat]

ACB being the host planned smartly and prepared a spin friendly pitch with lot of break likeBangladeshcricket board, it was a spinners paradise.
Pakistan team think tank didn’t read the pitch and played Ihsanullah,Naseem,Zaman,Faheem 4 pacers on a doctored pitch which suits spinners. It was a recipe of disaster and thats what happened in 1st T20 they lost so easily lol

Yep, they watched these guys smash it all round the park on Pindi highways and realised the recipe for winning this series. These slogging youngsters will have to invent a new side of their game that they haven't needed thus far to survive, good learning curve.

[Suleiman]

I remember something similar happening under Shahid Afridi when he was t20 captain.

Brand new batting line up. Really shook things up for a game.

This was Vs Australia around 2016 iirc.

Same result. Dog crap of a pitch and I think we got bowled out for under 100 then too, can’t remember, but it was shambolic. Sharjah as well I believe

Same panic and knee jerk after that. And next thing you know, no more experimentation.

Hope we don’t panic this time. Why do we always play on these garbage t20 pitches when we are testing things out lol.

[sweep_shot]

Afghans are favorites due to Pakistan's depleted side.

But, this is a great opportunity for Pakistan to test out bench strength.

[moghul]

Pakistan need to play all three spin all rounders Nawaz , Imad and shadab

Yes, and send the pseudo allrounder Faheem home.

[CricVet]

I am hoping that we win the toss and let Afg set a target. If we are made to bat first, Shadab would need to let the young openers play freely. If the first 2 wickets fall in the power play, set the 130-140 target. 120 won't be bad either.

[Bilal Ahmad15]

Play the exact same team. These players cant be dropped after one match, they need to be given the time, its stupid to drop any of these debutants and youngsters after one match.

If I was forced to make one change, then it would be dropping Faheem Ashraf for Muhammad Nawaz, since there is no point having Faheem in the lineup if he is going to bat at number 8 and not bowl a single ball.

[Omer2002]

I would actually drop naseem shah and play iftikhar ..but then cant drop faheem for nawaz as it would mean only having 2 pacers

[Colorblind Genius]

If we could learn ONLY ONE lesson from the previous game?

That is, our batters tried to hit too hard and too pre-maturely.

Everyone's head was up in air looking at the sky while the bat was making a contact with the ball.


KEEP YOU FREAKING HEAD DOWN and focus your eyes on the ball when you hit. It's the very basic of the basic fundamentals of batting.

[gazza619]

I just hope it's not a whitewash.

If it is, things will get messy.

Saj, you deserve a whitewash when you have on board a Tik Toker captain, a scammer wicketkeeper and a dumb coach.

[RehanG]

Will be 2-1 Pakistan. They got lucky in the first game, had AFG batted on that pitch they would also had made 100. And PK management misread the pitch.

They doctored the pitch to accommodate their spinners. Knowing that PAK batting is inexperienced and is their only chance to beat PAK.

[MenInG]

Afghanistan finally gets their first win. A strong performance by them. But dont worry Pakistan & @76Shadabkhan, you guys can make a strong Comeback.

Full video: https://t.co/ahCh5hbzRm pic.twitter.com/nHSqegpvCe

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) March 25, 2023

[Colorblind Genius]

Will be 2-1 Pakistan. They got lucky in the first game, had AFG batted on that pitch they would also had made 100. And PK management misread the pitch.

They doctored the pitch to accommodate their spinners. Knowing that PAK batting is inexperienced and is their only chance to beat PAK.

Perhaps the Afghanis got lucky because the pitch was a Landmine. It tremendously helped the Afghani spinners.

And unlucky for Pak to have had to bat first - by the time they read the pitch, the match was over.

I hope they have learned their lesson to quickly read the pitch and adjust your batting accordingly.