Searched for this thread, and can't see it anywhere. I don't understand why he's in the team. People say he's a utility player and adds value everywhere, including the field, but I just fail to see it. I've been watching and following every Pakistan match consistently from October 2014 and I just don't get it. He's barely had any good bowling spells and he can't bat for anything except for 1 or 2 odd innings here and there. He's not a match winner by any means (meaning, even if he does have a great day he won't win you the game). And yet the selectors have pinned him as our all-purpose solution to a bowling all-rounder. Now I don't know what happens in practice, but I would make the argument that Hammad and Yamin didn't exactly get great chances when they were in the team or in the PSL to showcase they were useless (as opposed to Nauman Anwar, Sharjeel Khan for the opening spot. In the recent PSL that just ended its "regular season" phase, Anwar Ali picked up 7 wickets in 7 matches (not terrible) but had one of the highest economy rates of 8.67 out of all regular bowlers. With that economy rate, his bowling can't really be considered even at the "utility" level. Also the dude only managed 24 runs in the PSL in 4 innings, with 2 not outs. Not that that's terrible, but if he's such a great utility player, why isn't he getting more chances to bat? Or if his primary role is to bowl, then why does he suck so much at it? Let's move into his T20 and ODI performance. He's played 22 ODIs and only has 18 wickets. That too with an economy of 6.11 and average of 52. Wtf. Ok, T20Is? 10 wickets in 15 matches at an economy of 8.14 and average of 34 (awful for T20Is)!!!!!!!! His domestic stats suck too! I just don't get it. http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/player/232491.html
He will be an absolute handful on green tracks where he will be able to get seam movement and jag it back in. On flat tracks he will go for a lot of runs which is pretty much India in a nutshell
I think it's Waqar who has the obbession with AA, since he believes in his 'batting' ability. Since Waqar's taken over, Anwar has had a nice long uninteruppted run in the team. Waqar wants bowlers who can bat, but I think he believes there isn't really other options hence he backs AA.
He's in the team to troll the fans who called for his selection for many years based solely on youtube clips of his U19 heroics.
He is a very good fielder. Can bat and bowl a bit. He is a handy player to have. We hardly have superstars fighting to take his place.
This is the part I'm arguing. He can't do either. At all. We're better off picking a specialist, in either direction. Look at his stats - what is handy about him? He literally bring negative value to the team because teams can look forward to his bowling to smash him.
You cant measure him in stats. Overall he is a good contributor to team. I dont think he has bowled really badly in this tournament other than an over and two here and there. He gives some strength to our otherwise an awful tail.
I'm saying by handy, on any given day he can grab a few wickets or make a few runs. Plus he is a very good fielder in team of useless fielders.
I think Yamin would be an upgrade over Anwar any day. At least he gets some inswing early on and he seems a better batsman too. I think even Bhatti has more potential tbh.
For some reason I don't think I will ever rate him. Just not a fan of his bowling at all although he has played some decent innings.
A lot of players have hype and good domestic form, but turn out to be flops. Hammad Azam touted as the next big thing turned out to be completely useless.
Good 'handy' players are like Bopara. Anwar is crap. Maybe he could be accomodated in a side that had 3-4 excellent players so could carry a bits and pieces player for depth but in a team as weak as Pakistans his position becomes difficult to justify.
Nobody to replace him with either though tbh. Bhatti looks promising at first but is useless now. Hammad is crap. Aamer Yamin looks crap imo. Unfortunately Anwar will be persisted with.
Idk why Yamin has been ruled out. He didn't get enough chances in the PSL to be ruled out either. He looked better than Anwar based on what I've seen. I mean seriously, maybe this is the same argument people make with Shehzad but I don't see any potential in Anwar at all. He will never accomplish anything. He bowls half volleys and half trackers that are there to be hit. He swings wildly and one his day (one in 25) it will come off, when he's batting. His stats are above - they're downright awful. If he was handy, he'd at least average 23-25 with the bat and 35-37 with the ball with an economy around 5 (7 for T20s). He's not even close.
I really don't understand how he can be given so many chances whereas the likes of Yamin and Hammad are dropped after a game or two. So unfair, especially when both of them have a lot more potential than him.
I've not seen enough of Yamin to make a judgement, I've seen him here and there, and he was nothing special during those moments, but maybe he's better than what I've seen of him. Bhatti I think we can say is atrocious lol, started off well, but he's slipped and just kept slipping. The likes of Hammad, Yamin etc ain't been given enough good runs at the top level for us to make a judgement, or at least suggest a replacememt for AA. I think in terms of batting and pace A/R's we are struggling or things are looking thin. In terms of spinners and to some extent pace bowlers, there is promising signs.
Hammad cannot even be called a bowler. Yamin should be given more chances to see if he can do better than Anwar Ali
Aamer Yamin is a better batsman compared to Anwar Ali and bowling wise he can very useful with the new ball compared to Anwar Ali... Yamin averages 63 with the bat in ODIs while Anwar Ali averages 29... Yamin averages 83 with the ball and Anwar 52 in ODIs.... So the main aim is to strengthen the lower order batting, so Yamin will be more useful....
Yamin gets the ball to swing into the batsmen and is quite skiddy. That in swinger is his stock delivery. You should watch him play. I'd like to know your impressions o him when you've watched him play Yeah on current form, Anwar over Bhatti obviously, but as I said I feel Bhatti might have more potential than Anwar. I might be biased though, I just don't like Anwar's bowling style
Hmmm, fair enough, but I don't think Zalmi will play him further as they'll go full strength, but when I do see him, I'll pass a judgement on him, lol. Tbh, like I said when started, he did show glimpses of potential, nailing those yorkers and showing he can swing a bat, but the potential is useless when he has clearly shown he doesn't have the thinking ability and overall game to improve. Anwar is a better choice (not that that's saying much lol).
He's having a free ride because there's no competition for that place and obviously our management thinks he is an all-rounder.
For this reason, I hope Hassan Ali's batting skills can be developed. He has good hand eye coordination, hopefully they can work on him with his foot movement and he would become more than capable of hitting a few lusty blows which is what Anwar does anyway. However, Hassan is five times the bowler Anwar is and if there's only one spot between the Ali boys, Hassan will nick it every time. Oh man Amir-Hassan-Wahab-Junaid
Doesn't warrant a place in the ODI team but he's a pretty decent T20 cricketer. Not like we're spoilt for choices either. (Pls don't say Yamin/Hammad)
