Who is the Best Batsman in Pakistan Right Now?

[I Believe in the Teesra]

I was reading an article on khelopakistan and it called Asad Shafiq the best batsman in Pakistan now. Many would argue that this title belongs to Azhar Ali because of his consistent performances. Others feel that it should belong with a consistent senior player like Misbah Ul Haq. What say you PPers? Who is the Best Batsman in Pakistan Right now?

Mods may we get a poll please.

[Pakistaniboy]

Azhar Ali At the moment IMO

Would Love To See Umar Become Responsible and be given a postion to bat at 3/4 and Prove Himself..

[Ibad17]

Asad Shafiq is better..

[UmarMalik]

Azhar Ali, by MILES.

He's the only consistent batsman I've seen for a while. Misbah is another one who I can depend on every time Pak is in trouble. The rest are very inconsistent..

In bowling, it's definitely Saeed Ajmal..

[Asif321]

Asad shafiq ...... is better then misbah n azhar

[Pakistaniboy]

Originally Posted by Ibad17 Asad Shafiq is better..

Asad Just Behind Azhar IMO

[Lachrymose]

Azhar Ali IMO... very consistent batsman!

[Random Aussie]

Azhar Ali at the moment

[UmarMalik]

Those of you who're saying Asad Shafique, you're probably right as you're all entitled to your own opinion.. But Shafique doesn't put the same price tag on his wicket as Azhar Ali does.. Plus, Azhar Ali plays with more confidence than Shafique

[Usman]

Unlike most who focus only on the scorecard of the last match played by Pak, I look at the overall picture. There is no doubt that in test cricket, Younus Khan is light years ahead of the next best. Yes Azhar has performed very well but at this time, Azhar will aspire to become like Younus in years to come. You are talking about a guy averaging 60 odd since 2006 with the highest 4th innings average in the world bar Bradman.

Seriously people. Let's not get carried away here.

[Ironcat]

Which format?

[UmarMalik]

Originally Posted by Usman Unlike most who focus only on the scorecard of the last match played by Pak, I look at the overall picture. There is no doubt that in test cricket, Younus Khan is light years ahead of the next best. Yes Azhar has performed very well but at this time, Azhar will aspire to become like Younus in years to come. You are talking about a guy averaging 60 odd since 2006 with the highest 4th innings average in the world bar Bradman. Seriously people. Let's not get carried away here.

The title says, "Who is the Best Batsman in Pakistan Right Now?"

Younis Khan goes out of form whenever we need him the most, best batsmen don't do that. Younis is probably lucky to be playing for Pakistan, because we dont have too many quality batsmen at the moment. If he was playing for South Africa or India, he'd be playing Rajni Trophy for the past 5 years

[Usman]

Originally Posted by UmarMalik The title says, "Who is the Best Batsman in Pakistan Right Now?" Younis Khan goes out of form whenever we need him the most, best batsmen don't do that. Younis is probably lucky to be playing for Pakistan, because we dont have too many quality batsmen at the moment. If he was playing for South Africa or India, he'd be playing Rajni Trophy for the past 5 years

x 1 million.

Some of you guys are the sort of people that would switch to Asad Shafiq in an instant if Azhar scored a duck in his next innings. Goldfish have longer memories.

I understand what is meant by "right now"! And I maintain, Younus is the best RIGHT NOW. He had a Lanka series where his highest score was 80 odd and all of a sudden he should be demoted to villages cricket!

You do not realise how lucky YOU are as a Pakistani to have Younus Khan. He would walk straight into ANY test team in the world eyes closed. I just find such posts ignorant and ungrateful to be honest.

[UmarMalik]

Originally Posted by Usman x 1 million. Some of you guys are the sort of people that would switch to Asad Shafiq in an instance if Azhar scored a duck in his next innings. Goldfish have longer memories. I understand what is meant by "right now"! And I maintain, Younus is the best RIGHT NOW. He had a Lanka series where his highest score was 80 odd and all of a sudden he should be demoted to villages cricket! You do not realise how lucky YOU are as a Pakistani to have Younus Khan. He would walk straight into ANY test team in the world eyes closed. I just find such posts ignorant and ungrateful to be honest.

Eyes closed? I'm not being "unthankful" for not having a great talent as him, but I'm criticizing him for failing so many times to hold the best batsmen slot in the eyes of people.

Since you've said ANY test team in the world, please tell me who he can replace in South Africa or England's test side. ....with his eyes closed

[withlovefrom vizag]

Azhar ali (going by his stats)

[JibranAnsari]

Azhar Ali for sure.

[Bilal7]

Misbah ul haq overall in both formats of the game. Azhar Ali and Shafiq follow closely behind with Umar Akmal the next best.

The upcoming Australia series will be a good test for our batsmen.

[SIMBA]

Mohammed Yousuf but he is not selected

Younis khan and Azhar Ali are by far the best batsman in the side without a doubt. You could rely on these guys when times are hard. Misbah is good but under rated - he is the glue that holds the fragile batting line up together.

Asad Shafiq = Over rated.

[Qadeer]

Azhar Ali is currently best batsman in pakistan although his style of play is not suited in limited overs cricket he still is a very effective batsman if our management know how to use him well.

[King Khan]

I can't believe that only one person has mention Younus Khan, shameful the fans we have when we don't know who the best bat in our team is. It's like the Indians saying their best bat is Kohli.

[waqar goraya]

Surely Azhar ali... but slightly......Misbah is not far either...I am not sure how long Azhar will continue in this manner....Honestly,he just does not look natural some times...How can he be consistent when he just can not rotate strike??particularly he has many shortcomings for Limited over cricket..

Currently Azhar and younis for tests are the best...Umar for limited over cricket....But Misbah is good for each format...I am in doubt ...Why not Misbah as he has done well in each format??

[JibranAnsari]

Misbah is good but he does not have in him to play a big innings in terms of runs scored. How many centuries has he scored after his return? Azhar takes the cake at the moment with two monumental centuries and pretty consistent as well.

[IAJ]

The top three:
Azhar
Asad
Umar Akmal

From players who havent represented Pakistan I would say Afaq Raheem.

[ads101]

Misbah Ul Haq in my opinion. He's averaging something like 65 since his comeback.

Then Younis.

Then Azhar. Azhar's done well, he's averaged around 50 since start of misbah's captaincy. But Misbah's averaged over 60, and younis just under 60.

Asad just had a great Sri Lankan series. England wasn't great it was more good, but some incredible knocks (hence overall average there still low 30s). The other three have consistently had good series. Asad's gone above Hafeez and Taufeeq though with the Sri Lankan series.

[IAJ]

Originally Posted by ads101 Misbah Ul Haq in my opinion. He's averaging something like 65 since his comeback. Then Younis. Then Azhar. Azhar's done well, he's averaged around 50 since start of misbah's captaincy. But Misbah's averaged over 60, and younis just under 60. Asad just had a great Sri Lankan series. England wasn't great it was more good, but some incredible knocks (hence overall average there still low 30s). The other three have consistently had good series. Asad's gone above Hafeez and Taufeeq though with the Sri Lankan series.

Lala, I think you are taking the easy way here. If we describe the best batsman out of averages then there is no need for this thread as we can have one post which shows the averages since Misbahs comeback and close the thread.

Describing the best batsman I am more interested in which player is performing when given proper chance, which player is talented and has potential to become really good.

Misbah is a very fine batsman but his average comes because of the situation he finds himself in. He is the captain, he is the eldest player and he sort of has to take the responsibility to hold the innings together and some not outs etc will take your average up. Even if he wasnt the captain now he would have done well because of the experience and the maturity.

So talking about mere averages Younis Khan is still the best player in Pakistan, but I don't think the purpose of this thread is based on averages only.

[Amjid Javed]

Tests - Misbah (Younis Khan and Azhar Ali not to far behind)

ODIS - All our batsmen in ODIs seem to be pretty average/mediocre

[AdidasBeard]

Right now Azhar Ali

[LegCutter]

Wasnt Umar Akmal supposed to be the best batsman in the world ?

Anyway I'm going with Azhar Ali. I would have gone with Misbah but his lack of centuries annoys me.

[iZeeshan]

YK was the first one that came to my mind. I mean, based on experienced, record, technique, talent, everything, Younis Khan is lightyears ahead of any Pak batsman.

But based on taking "right now" literally, it's Azhar Ali easily.

Misbah rarely plays any big knocks or something of importance - it's usually a supporting role.

[srh]

Umar Akmal

[VTEC]

Azhar Ali

There is no comparison he is by far our best bat currently

[leatherface58]

Azhar Ali is doing very well in tests and odis. his conversion rate in tests is improving.

Sent from my MT11i using Tapatalk 2

[aneeq7]

It depends of what format we are talking about here!

Test: Azhar Ali, the most consistent batsman for Pakistan in the last couple of years or so. His average increases match by match!

ODI: Interestingly, there is no-one IMO who we could say is the best batsman. Azhar Ali needs to improve his Strike Rate. Umar Akmal needs to improve his Temperament. Nasir Jamshed has not been given enough matches to judge him that early & Asad Shafiq hasn't been consistently picked in the XI to judge him.

T20: I think there's a race between Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik. Both of them are regular member's of our T20 team and both of them have proved themselves in that format.

[LastLaugh_PK]

Younis
Misbah
Azhar

In that order.


Talking about real cricket here..

[Sandeep99]

Azhar Ali, Misbah and Taufeeq Umar from an outsider point of view....
Stabilized the batting order with consistency....

[Bullet Drive]

Test cricket - Younis, Azhar, Misbah.

ODI cricket - Umar, Misbah, Hafeez - the last two batsman show how poor our ODI batting really is.

[LastLaugh_PK]

Originally Posted by Bullet Drive Test cricket - Younis, Azhar, Misbah. ODI cricket - Umar, Misbah, Hafeez - the last two batsman show how poor our ODI batting really is.

TBH we have never been this bad in ODIs.. As far as I can remember..


Kinda surprising though since our Test team has been consistently doing very well..

[salman24]

Mohammad Yousuf

[Akmal Dynasty]

Obviously Umar akmal.

[Usman]

Originally Posted by UmarMalik Eyes closed? I'm not being "unthankful" for not having a great talent as him, but I'm criticizing him for failing so many times to hold the best batsmen slot in the eyes of people. Since you've said ANY test team in the world, please tell me who he can replace in South Africa or England's test side. ....with his eyes closed

It's not his fault that the "eyes" of the people who call themselves supporters of Pakistan are clouded by only what has happened in the last match Pak played! Who scored a century in the last match? Azhar not Younus = Azhar is the best. What about the fact that statistically, both in terms of averages and rankings, Younus is ahead of the rest? Doesn't matter, it's all about the last match!

To answer your question directly, in the South African team, he would replace Rudolph or Duminy. For England he would replace Bopara. Any more questions?

[I Believe in the Teesra]

I'm surprised there's a ton of Misbah answers here.

My rankings:

1. Azhar Ali
2. Misbah
3. Shafiq
4. Hafeez
5. Umar Akmal
6. Younis Khan

How would you rank them fellow PPers?

[mastermind_quad]

If we talk about Test then Azhar Ali ...

But currently Asad Shafique is the only batsman who can be part of the team for all three formats so I am picking him as the best Pakistani batsman right now.

[AzharIsTheBest]

Azhar- good shots, consistent, good under pressure, (Lord's).

[iZeeshan]

Originally Posted by I Believe in the Teesra I'm surprised there's a ton of Misbah answers here. My rankings: 1. Azhar Ali 2. Misbah 3. Shafiq 4. Hafeez 5. Umar Akmal 6. Younis Khan How would you rank them fellow PPers?

Azhar
YK
Shafiq
Misbah
Hafeez

Akmal doesn't play tests

And for all those saying ODIs aren't real cricket, get over yourselves. The format's been around for years and is consistently played along tests. It's just as "real" and requires a different type of skill set to compete in.

[dhump]

Current Performance
Azhar Ali
Asad Shafiq

In general I think YK is the best test batsman we have these days available and selected to play.

[BoomBoomCricket]

Azhar Ali in the main format

Across both forms of the game Misbah

Younis Khan on reputation

[Square Drive]

Azhar- Solid, consistent.

[shahrukh619]

Misbah ul haq....

[rhussain33]

Easy...

Tests: Younis Khan then Misbah

ODIS: Jamshed then Asad shafique

[iHammad]

If we look at the rankings then our best ODI batsman is Umar Akmal, and for tests, it's Younis Khan. BUT Azhar Ali is not far behind YK, just a difference of 8 points.

Imo our best batsman overall is Misbah Ul Haq, solid and consistent in both formats.

Also, that doesn't mean the likes of Asad, Umar and Azhar are not good batsmen, they have the potential to be future greats for Pakistani insha'allah.

[chacha kashmiri]

azhar and azad are the best products since ben and jerry's

[Ayyubjavvs]

MashaAllah we now have more class batsmen than bowlers! Yeh din bhi ana tha

[Bullet Drive]

I cannot believe people are actually saying Misbah ul Haq is our best ODI batsman. He just is not.

[ares1000]

Younis Khan and Azhar Ali are the core of our test batting.

[Ironcat]

Originally Posted by Bullet Drive I cannot believe people are actually saying Misbah ul Haq is our best ODI batsman. He just is not.

What a superbly crafted post with deep analysis and supporting schedules.

[theconsultant21]

What is the definition of best? Way too open ended for a question.

Mohammad Yousuf would top my list any day if we looked at "best in Pakistan".

[Bilal7]

Originally Posted by Bullet Drive I cannot believe people are actually saying Misbah ul Haq is our best ODI batsman. He just is not.

Who would you rate ahead of him? Barring Umar Akmal, I see no one who is a better bat than Misbah in the ODI format.

Umar Akmal also hurt his credibility when he cost us that fourth match against Sri Lanka after Misbah had put the match on a plate for him to finish off.

[Bilal7]

Originally Posted by theconsultant21 What is the definition of best? Way too open ended for a question. Mohammad Yousuf would top my list any day if we looked at "best in Pakistan".

'Best in Pakistan right now'
Unless you have contacts, I can't see how you are rating MoYo ahead all our current batsmen.

[LastLaugh_PK]

Originally Posted by Bullet Drive I cannot believe people are actually saying Misbah ul Haq is our best ODI batsman. He just is not.

You really know how to back your statements with facts..

So in your opinion who is a better bat? Afridi? Farhat? Ajmal?

[FusedBulb]

Originally Posted by Bilal7 'Best in Pakistan right now' Unless you have contacts, I can't see how you are rating MoYo ahead all our current batsmen.

Do you realize that going by "right now" will take Misbah out of the picture? If Test cricket is the ultimate oracle to form the reasonable consensus then both Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq have played with better average in the entire year 2012 (which is perhaps an over kill of "Right now", yet Misbah can't catch up).

I don't disagree with folks who have vouched for Azhar Ali; however, in my personal opinion Asad Shafiq will take over in the long run due to having a better technique. I wish them both All the best.

[Bilal7]

Originally Posted by FusedBulb Do you realize that going by "right now" will take Misbah out of the picture? If Test cricket is the ultimate oracle to form the reasonable consensus then both Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq have played with better average in the entire year 2012 (which is perhaps an over kill of "Right now", yet Misbah can't catch up). I don't disagree with folks who have vouched for Azhar Ali; however, in my personal opinion Asad Shafiq will take over in the long run due to having a better technique. I wish them both All the best.

Do you realise that this thread is about our best batsman overall? As in in all formats of the game, maybe not T20's but like I said, OP should have given us more detail.

Maybe you could provide us with some sort of evidence to back up your claim even though right now in tests will obviously not comprise of just six test matches.

[Bilal7]

Actually I did my own research and I wasn't impressed. Azhar and Shafiq have played one more match than Misbah which further shows that a sample size of just five matches is just too little, even if this thread was only focusing on test performances.

[FusedBulb]

Originally Posted by Bilal7 Do you realise that this thread is about our best batsman overall? As in in all formats of the game, maybe not T20's but like I said, OP should have given us more detail. Maybe you could provide us with some sort of evidence to back up your claim even though right now in tests will obviously not comprise of just six test matches.

Do you realize the it was YOU who interpreted the OP to be talking about "right now" when someone talked about Muhammad Yousuf. So my reply was in accord to your "right now" interpretation.
So now, it's your turn to define in minute details as what is "right now"?

[I Believe in the Teesra]

Ok well to clarify I meant the best overall batsman! Doing it by format is pretty easy to divide players but when we take about the best overall batsman in Pakistan, I think the discussion takes a new turn.

[Saqs]

In Pakistan, Mohammad Yousuf, then probably Inzi lol

Within the Pakistani team - Younis Khan.

Not much has changed over the past 7 years it seems. They are still cream of the crop for us.

[emclub]

I'd say Younis Khan that just shows how bad we are in the batting department :juanid

[Bilal7]

Originally Posted by FusedBulb Do you realize the it was YOU who interpreted the OP to be talking about "right now" when someone talked about Muhammad Yousuf. So my reply was in accord to your "right now" interpretation. So now, it's your turn to define in minute details as what is "right now"?

I have not interpreted anyone. It clearly says '...right now' in the thread title. As you yourself have said, I was responding to a poster who said that the best Pakistani batsman 'right now' is Yousuf. This does not fit in with the criteria of the OP as Yousuf last played an international match in 2010.

'Right now' would be results from the SA series as all the currently playing batsmen were present in either the test or the ODI leg of that series. That is the sample size I would use and so would many others.

[FusedBulb]

Originally Posted by mastermind_quad If we talk about Test then Azhar Ali ... But currently Asad Shafique is the only batsman who can be part of the team for all three formats so I am picking him as the best Pakistani batsman right now.

Thanks.

[BoomBoomCricket]

Originally Posted by Bullet Drive I cannot believe people are actually saying Misbah ul Haq is our best ODI batsman. He just is not.

Silly comment

It's a no brainer

Umar Akmal cannot take pressure

Misbah is the most stable and dependable

Stats back that up

[Inziquicksingle]

Originally Posted by BoomBoomCricket Silly comment It's a no brainer Umar Akmal cannot take pressure Misbah is the most stable and dependable Stats back that up

Yeah stats show that Misbah has the second lowest Strike Rate for all top order ODI batsman in the last 3 years sandwiched between Imrul Kayes and Younis Khan.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...s;type=batting

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...s;type=batting

If you don't think a SR of 68 is an issue for an ODI batsman in 2012 then you don't understand the game.

[Singham]

Misbah ul haq.

No other pakistani batsmen plays like a man.

[Ironcat]

Originally Posted by Inziquicksingle Yeah stats show that Misbah has the second lowest Strike Rate for all top order ODI batsman in the last 3 years sandwiched between Imrul Kayes and Younis Khan. http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...s;type=batting http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...s;type=batting If you don't think a SR of 68 is an issue for an ODI batsman in 2012 then you don't understand the game.

We run your list, and here are the ODI players you consider among your top 10:

Your #1 ODI batsman: Afridi
Your #4 ODI batsman: Pollard
Your #5 ODI batsman: Stirling
Your #6 ODI batsman: Raina
Your #7 ODI batsman: D Hussey
....

How can anyone take your seriously when you post lists with such embarrassing results?

[shahrukh619]

Originally Posted by Ironcat We run your list, and here are the ODI players you consider among your top 10: Your #1 ODI batsman: Afridi Your #4 ODI batsman: Pollard Your #5 ODI batsman: Stirling Your #6 ODI batsman: Raina Your #7 ODI batsman: D Hussey .... How can anyone take your seriously when you post lists with such embarrassing results?

+1... inziquicksingles only thinks that players who hit sixes are good batamen.. Thats it... He only looks at strike rates but not averages..

Had he ever took a note of avrages, he would realize that his idol, afridi, holds an average of 20a

[shahrukh619]

Originally Posted by BoomBoomCricket Silly comment It's a no brainer Umar Akmal cannot take pressure Misbah is the most stable and dependable Stats back that up

Umar akmal fans dont understand the words stable and dependable. Kiyun key yeh umar akmal key fans hai

[shahrukh619]

Misbah haters are usually on about, how it is important to play good against top teams, and only performances agaibst a top team matters the most...

Well, the england vs pakistan odi series, misbah hold the highest battong avrage amongest pakistabis..

Also in the recent sri lanka odi tour, misbah along with azhar ali were the only dependable batsmen out there... Only these two went on to show a good performance, sofor me have to be these both

[Inziquicksingle]

Originally Posted by Ironcat We run your list, and here are the ODI players you consider among your top 10: Your #1 ODI batsman: Afridi Your #4 ODI batsman: Pollard Your #5 ODI batsman: Stirling Your #6 ODI batsman: Raina Your #7 ODI batsman: D Hussey .... How can anyone take your seriously when you post lists with such embarrassing results?

Thankfully I already don't take you seriously.

Otherwise I would have to explain to you that obviously I don't consider just SR as the sole factor to determine the ability of an ODI batsman. That only a person who cannot accept that his hero Misbah has a ****-poor SR and in trying to not address this obvious shortcoming in his heros stats would make such a statement.

Take a look at the second list I posted. It omits the poor averages for the most part.

Now address the issue of Misbah's horribly low SR. The lowest among almost all international batsman.

[Bilal7]

Originally Posted by Inziquicksingle Thankfully I already don't take you seriously. Otherwise I would have to explain to you that obviously I don't consider just SR as the sole factor to determine the ability of an ODI batsman. That only a person who cannot accept that his hero Misbah has a ****-poor SR and in trying to not address this obvious shortcoming in his heros stats would make such a statement. Take a look at the second list I posted. It omits the poor averages for the most part. Now address the issue of Misbah's horribly low SR. The lowest among almost all international batsman.

Have you been following Misbah for the last two to three years? Granted he bats with a comparatively low SR in the mid-70's most of the time but Misbah has had to block his way out of sticky situations during the past couple of years. The Bangladesh tour is a classic example, Pakistan would always find themselves two or three down and Misbah would have to play with a SR in the fifties to bail them out due to the pitch being really slow. Misbah does have a moderate SR but we all know that he isn't the second slowest player in the world and can accelerate if there isn't any pressure on him to anchor the innings.

[SOSami]

Younis Khan.

The only batsman in the Pakistan side that could score the calibre of century against England during the UAE series. No batsman on either side managed anything remotely near that quality in the whole of the three tests.

As a test player, still a class above the rest of the Pakistan batsmen.

[Ironcat]

Originally Posted by Inziquicksingle Otherwise I would have to explain to you that obviously I don't consider just SR as the sole factor to determine the ability of an ODI batsman.

Is that why you are posting that laughable list? "Because you don't consider SR as the sole factor"?

Originally Posted by Inziquicksingle That only a person who cannot accept that his hero Misbah has a ****-poor SR and in trying to not address this obvious shortcoming in his heros stats would make such a statement.

The only person who will post a laughable list like the one above is the person who has no other list to post.

Originally Posted by Inziquicksingle Take a look at the second list I posted. It omits the poor averages for the most part.

According to the second list, Raina is #3 ODI batsman in the world, nearly 15 spots ahead of Kohli.

Accordingly to the second list, McCullum is a better ODI batsman than Hussey and Kohli.

Originally Posted by Inziquicksingle Now address the issue of Misbah's horribly low SR. The lowest among almost all international batsman.

Your list is a sham. Afridi #1, Pollard #4. Raina #3.

[I Believe in the Teesra]

Ironcat, out of curiosity, did you sign up for PPCL?

Sorry for the OT