They probably just think Root is too important to the balance of the side. I definitely expected Moeen to be rested if anyone was though given he's played every game on the tour in a dual role and has a like-for-like replacement in the squad.
Comms reckon that Buttler's got a dodgy hamstring today.
May as well bring Shezhad if this is how he is going to play, this at the moment I type everything this partnership is everything that is wrong with Pakistan's batting over the last few years in ODI cricket
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Haha speak of the devil.
Azhar again IMO. I think if he's going to anchor he should do it as opener.
Aye, I think that makes sense, not sold on Azhar in 2016. but few other obvious options, and I don't think another hitter with a batsman as loose as Sharjeel opening is that sensible of a call, it could work out against minnows, but against quality opening bowling, very risky.
Evin Lewis and Lokesh Rahul hit T20I hundreds in the US and aren't in their team's ODI sides, but that's a bit cheaty given their teams haven't played any ODIs since then so that might change, and the conditions were a bit ridiculous anyway.
He opened before for Pakistan I think and not many people were impressed, as a middle order batsman he has been one of the few highlights of the limited overs side so best not to disturb him to much for now.
Making Azhar open again would still open up a middle order spot, so they could bring back Umar either way.
