Babar Azam has evolved into a fine young batsman

[Aiden]

12 hours ago, Gollum said:

From where did Pakistan find this guy? Gem of a batsman, what a WC he is having !!! 

He was performing good in domestic but it was PSL which brought him into lime light. 

[Vijy]

10 minutes ago, Shaz1 said:

It was easy find. He is a cousin of Akmals.

that's what makes it so surprising. babar is on the way to becoming ATG. whereas kamran akmal is a different type of ATG -the worst keeper I have seen. it's hard to believe that such a hack (kamran) and a potential ATG like babar are related.

[Vijy]

2 minutes ago, Shaz1 said:

You know Akmals had natural talent to be good batsmen. They just had a **** mentality of improving there game. Babar seems like a much hungrier batsmen than any of them. You could tell this dude wants to score runs. I am glad at least someone from there family gets it. 

how is he related to akmals? I am just curious because the surnames are not the same. I'm guessing his mother and Akmals' father or vice-versa are siblings. I agree that Umar Akmal had natural batting talent to some extent, but I don't feel that Kamran or Adnan had enough batting talent. Adnan was at least a decent keeper, but Kamran... well, you know, the less said about his keeping the better.

[Gollum]

2 hours ago, Vijy said:

that's what makes it so surprising. babar is on the way to becoming ATG. whereas kamran akmal is a different type of ATG -the worst keeper I have seen. it's hard to believe that such a hack (kamran) and a potential ATG like babar are related.

 

1 hour ago, Shaz1 said:

You know Akmals had natural talent to be good batsmen. They just had a **** mentality of improving there game. Babar seems like a much hungrier batsmen than any of them. You could tell this dude wants to score runs. I am glad at least someone from there family gets it. 

Shaz has a point. Umar had a scintillating, counter attacking 100 against Bond on a greentop (in NZ) in his 1st year, then smashed Murali in Lanka. He is responsible for his downfall, look at his fitness and attitude. Also from social media feed he appears to have mental problems. 

Kamran was a pathetic keeper, destroyed Kaneria's career. But he has some iconic knocks, 2005 Mohali and 2006 Karachi. Maybe he lost it after Woolmer's unfortunate demise. Woolmer was a great mentor and oversaw a rich batting culture in mid 2000s Pak. I guess someone like YK should have assumed the leadership mantle and taken Kamran under his wings in 2007-08. Didn't help that PCB was a real mess those years..Ijaz Butt 

I still have a soft spot for those 2, hope UA can have one final comeback. 

2 hours ago, Shaz1 said:

Honestly what a batsmen. It was pleasure seeing him bat in this World Cup. I wanna see more of him. I wanna see him break every record of Pakistani batsmen. We need to finally start a great batting culture. Go Babar Go!

He should be given captaincy at least in a couple of formats, like the fab 4 even though Smith lost it last year. Tbh he is the only viable candidate, PCB should avoid rewarding fixers, Amir as good as he is should face the consequences of his deplorable past actions. Haris is mostly unfit while Imam has the nepotism cloud hanging over his head, Shadab and Imam aren't specialists. Leaves only one choice. 

Edited July 6, 2019 by Gollum

[Vijy]

13 minutes ago, Gollum said:

 

Shaz has a point. Umar had a scintillating, counter attacking 100 against Bond on a greentop (in NZ) in his 1st year, then smashed Murali in Lanka. He is responsible for his downfall, look at his fitness and attitude. Also from social media feed he appears to have mental problems. 

Kamran was a pathetic keeper, destroyed Kaneria's career. But he has some iconic knocks, 2005 Mohali and 2006 Karachi. Maybe he lost it after Woolmer's unfortunate demise. Woolmer was a great mentor and oversaw a rich batting culture in mid 2000s Pak. I guess someone like YK should have assumed the leadership mantle and taken Karman under his wings in 2007-08.  

I still have a soft spot for those 2, hope UA can have one final comeback. 

He should be given captaincy, like the fab 4 even though Smith lost it last year. Tbh he is the only viable candidate, PCB should avoid rewarding fixers, Amir as good as he is should face the consequences of his deplorable action. Haris is mostly unfit while Imam has the nepotism cloud hanging around his neck, Shadab and Imam aren't specialists. Leaves only one choice. 

kamran didn't really do much of note apart from versus ind (hence our positive bias) in the woolmer era either in tests or ODIs. you can look at his away record outside SC for example.

I agree that umar's debut knock was a magnificent one, but one has to take novelty factor into account. he had some fairly conspicuous technical limitations, which came out in tests. to me, umar was more like azhar mahmood who also has some ATG innings toward the beginning of career, without being anywhere close to a "great" player.

 

with that said, I agree that umar could have been a pretty good player (especially in LOIs) if he worked hard. I think he could have had stats similar to KP, and been a similar type of impact player.

 

In ODIs, pak can consider imad wasim (apart from the obvious choice of baabar) for captaincy. he did it at U19 level. not a flashy player but an effective one who knows his limitations.

Edited July 6, 2019 by Vijy

[Gollum]

2 minutes ago, Vijy said:

In ODIs, pak can consider imad wasim (apart from the obvious choice of baabar) for captaincy. he did it at U19 level. not a flashy player but an effective one who knows his limitations.

Bits and pieces cricketers get found out very quickly, so long Imad was away from spotlight. I expect him to have a downward slide in a couple of years, I am a firm believer in specialists, any AR should make the team at least in one discipline. 

[Vijy]

1 minute ago, Gollum said:

Bits and pieces cricketers get found out very quickly, so long Imad was away from spotlight. I expect him to have a downward slide in a couple of years, I am a firm believer in specialists, any AR should make the team at least in one discipline. 

given how weak their batting is in ODIs and their lack of quick scoring batsmen at 6 and 7, I think wasim can make it as a specialist bat in this position(s). mind you, I am not saying he merits it, but the lack of alternatives in this specialist position is clear. as far as I can tell, the only other options are that asif ali and fahim ashraf, who are even bigger hacks.

[SK_IH]

I admire his consistency and stroke play, but still a master of sub 250 chases. He needs one defining innings chasing a big score. 

[First class]

16 hours ago, Gollum said:

From where did Pakistan find this guy? Gem of a batsman, what a WC he is having !!! 

Came through the system, played under 19 WC twice , at age 16 and 18, was captain in his 2nd under 19 WC. Scored big hundreds at some important domestic FC season matches. . Was already in the team before PSL started. 

[Cricketphile]

2 minutes ago, Shaz1 said:

Nice post bro this was a good read.

 

As for Babar being captain is concerned. I don’t know about that. I feel like right now he needs to focus on his batting to assure he can handle the burden of our batting. We can’t afford to have him be in any extra pressure due to captaincy. 

 

I’d like to try Imad Wasim as captain. I feel like he  could probably improve as a player if given more responsibility. 

Imam or shadab could captain. Both have some experience captaining psl sides too 

[Suhaan]

1 hour ago, SK_IH said:

I admire his consistency and stroke play, but still a master of sub 250 chases. He needs one defining innings chasing a big score. 

Doesnt have that gear or intentionally bogs down to pad his stats,very selfish in his approach,no im not demeaning him as a batsmen but seems there is no one down his neck to keep him on his toes,he has no competition from others,need atleast one competitor to push him further,seems content with hundreds neither does he looks bothered to carry his team over the line

Very elegant but needs more intent,no doubt he is their number 1 batsman

[Vijy]

10 minutes ago, Shaz1 said:

Nice post bro this was a good read.

 

As for Babar being captain is concerned. I don’t know about that. I feel like right now he needs to focus on his batting to assure he can handle the burden of our batting. We can’t afford to have him be in any extra pressure due to captaincy. 

 

I’d like to try Imad Wasim as captain. I feel like he could probably improve as a player if given more responsibility. He’s educated, knows how to speak to the press as well. Unlike illiterate Sarfraz.

I agree regd wasim and babar (about not putting pressure on him). also said the same some posts above about wasim. what the team needs is a solid cricketer who has captaincy experience and is not a prima donna. I think wasim may fit the bill.

[Suhaan]

Pak will only excel when their captain leads from the front,being their number 1 player Babar has to captain them,Wasim ,though having the rub of green at the moment is more of a bits and pieces cricketer,i believe having him as a capatin is just a quick fix,Babar has to take over in 1-2 years

[Vijy]

1 minute ago, Suhaan said:

Pak will only excel when their captain leads from the front,being their number 1 player Babar has to captain them,Wasim ,though having the rub of green at the moment is more of a bits and pieces cricketer,i believe having him as a capatin is just a quick fix,Babar has to take over in 1-2 years

I don't think imad wasim would be a long-term captain. just long enough for babar to become comfortable in his role and then take over.

[Cricketphile]

1 minute ago, Shaz1 said:

I am not exactly sure from what side he is from but I am assuming its his mothers side as well.

 

When it comes to the Akmal brothers this is how I rate them:

 

Umar Akmal: The most talented batsmen out of the brothers. He had the ability to take the game away from any opposition. Terrible wicketkeeper though. He was the worst of the three in terms of wicketkeeping. He fits the middle order very well. 

 

Kamran Akmal: Had the ability to play some very nice cover drives. His ceiling was not that high as a batsmen cause his main role was wicketkeeping. When unsung he had the ability to take on any attack. He is a perfect fit as a opener. Out of the brothers he stays right in the middle in terms of batting and wicketkeeping. Speaking of wicketkeeping. He was good when he started, as his age grew he became very terrible wicketkeeper. Used to drop very crucial catches. He is better at keeping than Umar though.

 

Adnan Akmal: The worst batsmen out of the brothers. The best wicketkeeper. His position in the team would be 7. He is nothing more than a specialist keeper. If he came in the 80s he would make the spot. Not worth keeping this day an age.

 

 

Won’t mind either of them. I just want someone who can bring some respect to the team.

And more often than not, a team moulds into the captains image. Shadab is the fittest and best fielder in the team too so that may rub off on the team’s fitness and fielding 

[Vijy]

3 minutes ago, Shaz1 said:

I am not exactly sure from what side he is from but I am assuming its his mothers side as well.

 

When it comes to the Akmal brothers this is how I rate them:

 

Umar Akmal: The most talented batsmen out of the brothers. He had the ability to take the game away from any opposition. Terrible wicketkeeper though. He was the worst of the three in terms of wicketkeeping. He fits the middle order very well. 

 

Kamran Akmal: Had the ability to play some very nice cover drives. His ceiling was not that high as a batsmen cause his main role was wicketkeeping. When unsung he had the ability to take on any attack. He is a perfect fit as a opener. Out of the brothers he stays right in the middle in terms of batting and wicketkeeping. Speaking of wicketkeeping. He was good when he started, as his age grew he became very terrible wicketkeeper. Used to drop very crucial catches. He is better at keeping than Umar though.

 

Adnan Akmal: The worst batsmen out of the brothers. The best wicketkeeper. His position in the team would be 7. He is nothing more than a specialist keeper. If he came in the 80s he would make the spot. Not worth keeping this day an age.

 

 

Won’t mind either of them. I just want someone who can bring some respect to the team.

good summary. they should find a way to combine umar and adnan. resulting player would have been very good and could have played as the keeper instead of surfer (sarfaraz) ahmed.

[Vijy]

Just now, Shaz1 said:

Thats very true. I for some reason see potential in his batting as well. With the way he looks it makes me feel like he could be a better version of Shoaib Malik.

his bowling is already much better than shoaib. but malik was always more of a batting AR, whereas shadab as of now seems more like a bowling AR, although he is a compact and organized batsman.

[Suhaan]

On 6/27/2019 at 10:00 AM, Real McCoy said:

This. They are probably the best batsmen for them this WC. Add nephew and fcuker, they have a decent batting unit to go along with their bowling lineup

Fcukrr is a real fucrker atleat for them,they need to replace this hack as soon as possible,he is actually not helping pakistan's cause, for ages they have been looking to build some sort of batting culture around their cricket but genuine hacks like Fackker dont help,they are probably stuck ,Imam.and Babar cant go together ,only one of them, as i see ,has to play, both play at sub par strike rate,Babar will stay for sure,future captain ,huge role to play in next wc

Edited July 6, 2019 by Suhaan

[Vijy]

3 minutes ago, Shaz1 said:

Agreed. Combo that with a nice leveled head. You got a beast Akmal.

His surname would be Beastmal not Akmal then.

[Vijy]

5 minutes ago, Shaz1 said:

Out of the spinners I have a special love for leg spinners. When a good leg spinner gets going its a sight to see. He should focus on his bowling if that is what he needs to do. On the side work on his hitting ability. Just in case the team needs a quick cameo from him.

pak had some entertaining leggies to watch. qadir and mushtaq. kaneria was good too, but kamran destroyed him more than opposition.

Edited July 6, 2019 by Vijy