*Official* England in Pakistan (T20, September 2022)

[SteveNZ]

Would suggest that's more to do with the IPL and other stuff that Root doesn't play. This series a big exception, but normally T20s are just a match or too tagged at the end of a One day series he's already travelled too, rather than over a month in India, and other places, same for Kohli and Smith probably. Why Babar and Root are probably the best in the World now

Yep, you're right. Unfortunately he probably proved himself for IPL representation along the way with decent T20I scores. Either way, trust us NZ fans when we say having your best all formats batsman not play T20 is a dream we'd all like to realise

 

[TT Boy]

How good must it be for the opposition knowing if they get either Babar or Rizwan early, they’ve practically won the game? Pak seemingly have nothing afterwards. If I'm reading this correctly, Asif Ali, a specialist batsman, averages 15 in almost 50 games for Pak with a highest score of 41. What's that about?

 

[trundler]

How good must it be for the opposition knowing if they get either Babar or Rizwan early, they’ve practically won the game? Pak seemingly have nothing afterwards. If I'm reading this correctly, Asif Ali, a specialist batsman averages 15 in almost 50 games for Pak with a highest score of 41. What's that about?

They've set extremely low expectations for him. He's expected to come in and just have a slog. They don't expect him to build any sort of innings. He comes in only when there's 3-4 overs left, sometimes batting behind Shadab and Nawaz. It's baffling really. Even after all those allowances, he still has a strike rate under 140. I can't think of any other specialist batsman who comes in at 6-7 without any responsibility.

 

[Nintendo]

How good must it be for the opposition knowing if they get either Babar or Rizwan early, they’ve practically won the game? Pak seemingly have nothing afterwards. If I'm reading this correctly, Asif Ali, a specialist batsman, averages 15 in almost 50 games for Pak with a highest score of 41. What's that about?

Mix of no other options, solid returns at domestic level and clutch knocks at the last t2o WC.

 

[chris.hinton]

Toast an England success

Without Buttler, Bairstow, Stokes we won 4-3. Pakistan had no one missing and threw everything into this and we gifted them 2 games as we was testing out new players and formulas

The NEW WORLD ORDER is continuing

 

[Socerer 01]

Toast an England success

Without Buttler, Bairstow, Stokes we won 4-3. Pakistan had no one missing and threw everything into this and we gifted them 2 games as we was testing out new players and formulas

The NEW WORLD ORDER is continuing

Pakistan’s had their best bowler missing but okay, sure crow about when your side wins and disappear when they lose as always

 

[weeman27bob]

Toast an England success

Without Buttler, Bairstow, Stokes we won 4-3. Pakistan had no one missing and threw everything into this and we gifted them 2 games as we was testing out new players and formulas

The NEW WORLD ORDER is continuing

I feel like this might be ever so slightly debatable

 

[honestbharani]

I feel like this might be ever so slightly debatable

An entire couch..........

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Good series. You won’t get many series with two full strength sides, so I don’t think that matters particularly. A slightly flat ending today, but generally good quality throughout.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Good series.

Genuinely the best 7 match bilateral T20I series I can remember.

 

[trundler]

Well that didn't fix any of the problems we have. Not being able to play bounce in Lahore doesn't bode well for the World Cup. It appears no middle order batsman has any idea about how to pace an innings still. Failing at the fundamentals consistently. Can't pick gaps, can't rotate the strike, can't clear the ropes.

 

[YankeeAlpha]

Begin rant:

I’ve sat through MANY terrible Pak performances over the last 20 years but this one was up there with the worst. A loss is a loss but the manner of defeat was unacceptable. It was truly men against boys out there.

The thing that gets me the most is the sheer gulf in mentality between Pak and the rest of the world who are all full of self belief regardless of their experience or technique. Pak need to change their mentality or the will never get anywhere. Can we all remember how dire Eng were till the ‘15 WC? Next match they score 400 in an ODI with this new mindset.

Saqlain needs to go and they need to get in someone who allows them to express themselves.

My XI for T20WC

Rizwan
Babar
Fakhar
Azam
Maqsood
Shadab
Nawaz
Shaheen
Naseem
Rauf
Hasnain

See you after we’re knocked out at the group stages. God bless.

 

[Niall]

From the squad picked , and I assume they will call up Zaman from the reserves if they have any sense

Babar-Rizwan-Zaman
Masood (meh)- Haider ? (Mehhhhhhhhhhhhh) Asif
Nawaz- Khan-Rauf-Shah-Afridi

If all bowlers are fit then it's a handy bowling attack, but as always the issue will be who can score runs bar the top 2 , Masood has looked best of a bad bunch but he's a limited cricketer who is fine domestically but just not good enough internationally for any format, nonetheless not many options in the squad so best to make do.

 

[nightprowler10]

 

[honestbharani]

Begin rant:

I’ve sat through MANY terrible Pak performances over the last 20 years but this one was up there with the worst. A loss is a loss but the manner of defeat was unacceptable. It was truly men against boys out there.

The thing that gets me the most is the sheer gulf in mentality between Pak and the rest of the world who are all full of self belief regardless of their experience or technique. Pak need to change their mentality or the will never get anywhere. Can we all remember how dire Eng were till the ‘15 WC? Next match they score 400 in an ODI with this new mindset.

Saqlain needs to go and they need to get in someone who allows them to express themselves.

My XI for T20WC

Rizwan
Babar
Fakhar
Azam
Maqsood
Shadab
Nawaz
Shaheen
Naseem
Rauf
Hasnain

See you after we’re knocked out at the group stages. God bless.

I mean most sides would benefit if their best batsman bats twice... once opening and once at 4.

 

[honestbharani]

From the squad picked , and I assume they will call up Zaman from the reserves if they have any sense

Babar-Rizwan-Zaman
Masood (meh)- Haider ? (Mehhhhhhhhhhhhh) Asif
Nawaz- Khan-Rauf-Shah-Afridi

If all bowlers are fit then it's a handy bowling attack, but as always the issue will be who can score runs bar the top 2 , Masood has looked best of a bad bunch but he's a limited cricketer who is fine domestically but just not good enough internationally for any format, nonetheless not many options in the squad so best to make do.

I think Zaman is injured.

 

[Nintendo]

Zaman had a horrible Asia cup and is out of form, he's not going to make this side any better.

 

[Apex Predator]

Well that didn't fix any of the problems we have. Not being able to play bounce in Lahore doesn't bode well for the World Cup. It appears no middle order batsman has any idea about how to pace an innings still. Failing at the fundamentals consistently. Can't pick gaps, can't rotate the strike, can't clear the ropes.

I saw Wasim suggesting to bring back Shoaib Malik lol.. That 45 year old dude is surely not best Pak has to offer?
Masood won't be worst option in Australia. Umar Akmal would not be any worse than these Khusdil/Ifti chachu?
If Pak can have Naseem Shaheen & Rauf fit they have a perfect bowling for these conditions & can beat India/SA on their day. All teams in Group 2 are beatable.

 

[trundler]

I saw Wasim suggesting to bring back Shoaib Malik lol.. That 45 year old dude is surely not best Pak has to offer?
Masood won't be worst option in Australia. Umar Akmal would not be any worse than these Khusdil/Ifti chachu?
If Pak can have Naseem Shaheen & Rauf fit they have a perfect bowling for these conditions & can beat India/SA on their day. All teams in Group 2 are beatable.

Umar Akmal hasn't done anything to deserve a call up. He wouldn't pass a fitness test either. That ship has sailed. Pakistan just doesn't have any middle order options right now. The only hope is getting sides 5-3 and hoping Babar-Rizwan chase down 150 by themselves.

 

[chris.hinton]

Shaheen Afridi wouldn't have made a difference