Azhar Ali the unanimous choice for captain: PCB Chairman
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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan on Monday confirmed the appointment of Azhar Ali as the captain of the ODI team and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed as his deputy.
A high-level meeting of the board on Saturday discussed potential candidates to take over as ODI captain after Misbah-ul-Haq's retirement from the limited-overs squad at the end of Pakistan's topsy-turvy World Cup campaign. Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, Test batsman Azhar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez and Wahab Riaz were being touted as possible contenders for the spot.
But Azhar emerged as the unanimous choice after thorough consultations with former players, the selection committee and outgoing captain Misbah-ul-Haq and coach Waqar Younis, Shahryar said at a press conference.
"We all know Azhar has not been part of the ODI squad for the last couple of years but he showed his potential during the recent Pentangular Cup. Azhar is a man with great character and is a level-headed individual," Shahryar said.
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| Sarfraz Ahmed will be the vice-captain of the T20 and ODI sides. — AP |
Shahryar also confirmed the appointment of Sarfraz as the vice-captain of the ODI team, terming the player a 'fighter'.
"Unfortunately, we don't have a culture where we can install a 22-year-old captain like South Africa did with Graeme Smith. Both Azhar and Sarfraz are experienced but they will be given time to adjust. We are looking to bring change and needed fresh faces at the top."
Sarfraz will also be the vice-captain of the T20 side, a sign that the PCB is looking at the 27-year-old as a future captain.
The 30-year-old Azhar, meanwhile, played his last ODI in 2013 but is a regular of the Test side, was recommended by coach Waqar Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq as the best choice to lead the limited-overs side.
The Lahore-born top order batsman has played 39 Tests, scoring 2851 at average of 41.31, and 14 ODIs in which he has notched up 452 runs at 41. His strike-rates of 39 and 64 in Tests and ODIs have already prompted fans to liken him to Misbah.
Misbah will remain the skipper of the Test team with Azhar Ali as the vice-captain, while Shahid Afridi will lead the T20 side.
Misbah led the side in 87 of his 162 ODIs, winning 45 of them, and has been a beacon of stability.
Ali acknowledged he had a hard act to follow.
“It's a huge responsibility and I hope that all players will support me. I salute him (Misbah-ul-Haq), the way he served and the way he played. His services are unforgettable,” he said.
“It is a very difficult task to replace him and it (Misbah's departure) will create a huge gap especially in one-day cricket.”
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Comments (187) Closed
Mar 30, 2015 05:37pm
Lahore-born again!!!!
Why not Karachi-born.
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Mar 30, 2015 05:38pm
All the best to Azhar and Sarfraz!
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Mar 30, 2015 05:40pm
Do you guys think Azhar Ali even hold the spot in ODI squad?
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Mar 30, 2015 05:41pm
Finally PCB finds another person who has not ODI century yet :)
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Mar 30, 2015 05:42pm
After these decisions and press conference, first action should be the sacking of Waqar Younis. He declared someone so useless to play him even among the playing eleven and PCB appointed him as vice captain for all three forms of the game and touting him as a future captain.
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Mar 30, 2015 05:43pm
Excellent Choice! A thinking cricketer, a stable head, and a team player.
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Mar 30, 2015 05:44pm
Good choice. We need cool heads who can lead us with respect and dignity and are consistent in their performance.
Next change after Misbah's retirement from Test cricket should be Misbah as PCB chairman.
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Mar 30, 2015 05:45pm
It seems a well planned conspiracy to abolish cricket from Pakistan. What was wrong with Afridi in 2011? Why was Misbah granted captaincy despite playing an unacceptable innings in 2011 Semi Final? And now Azhar?
All other teams have already started targeting world cup 2019 and we are reverting back to 70's cricket.
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Mar 30, 2015 05:49pm
Who is he?
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Mar 30, 2015 05:49pm
He was thought " not good enough"
For odi for the last couple of years and now suddenly make him the captain ?
-- either they were wrong before or they are wrong now !
Or ! They are wrong both times.
Moral if the story -- pcb selectors need to go.
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Mar 30, 2015 05:50pm
Talent is being ignored while nepotism is hurting many institutes in Pakistan
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Mar 30, 2015 05:50pm
The dynamics of ODI game has changed a lot since 2013. I hope Azhar Ali will adapt to the international ODI format. I also think ODI captian should have been part of the world cup squad as the exposure it gives you is huge unless we just want to play home games all the time.
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Mar 30, 2015 05:52pm
You are not serious, PCB...are you? Which other sane board would have made such a decision?
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Mar 30, 2015 05:55pm
He will be even more defensive than Misbah any best of luck Azhar. captaining unpredictable Pakistani side is a tough job
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Mar 30, 2015 05:57pm
@Murtaza Mandviwala --- He is from Lahore ... That should be enough.
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Mar 30, 2015 05:57pm
Sarfaraz is Karachi born and has been made vice captain across all formats. We should not complain about Azhar being nominated as the captain as Sarfaraz has only recently solidified his position in the team. Making him the captain at this stage will be setting him for failure with the additional pressure of captaincy. What we can criticize is the general nepotism in team selection. We fail to recognize that nepotism breeds incompetence and makes us all look bad when Pakistan loses because of it.
Ehsan
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Mar 30, 2015 06:00pm
Azhar Ali ......good choice, now he must be groomed for captaincy. It's high time we look at our players as a TEAM and stop focusing on individuals.
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Mar 30, 2015 06:00pm
'The Unanimous choice' was deliberately discarded by Board, Captain and Coach from ODIs squad for past 2 years.
Ma sha Allah!
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Mar 30, 2015 06:00pm
He wasnt even included in the World Cup team! If he was this good then why didnt u take him to Australia?
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Mar 30, 2015 06:02pm
If this guy was so good why was he not part of the one day squad for world cup
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Mar 30, 2015 06:05pm
He wasn't even in the team and now suddenly he's made captain? Can you imagine the cricket board of any other top cricket playing nations to operate like this? When will the pcb start acting professionally?
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Mar 30, 2015 06:05pm
Decision made so we will support it, however, how could the PCB not include the future captain in the world cup squad when they knew Misbah was going to retire? unthinkable - he is good enough to be the captain of the ODI team but was not good enough to go with them to the world cup!! very very strange
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Mar 30, 2015 06:07pm
@zeb -what is that obsession with place of birth. get over it my friend. There few from Peshawar born but we never complaint. I always supported Sarfraz without any prejudice. Your religion orders you to avoid such issues as well.
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Mar 30, 2015 06:08pm
This is a very very good way of putting it. You need a fighter rather than someone who hits out for two overs and then is out. He is the type of guy that will bat and bat and bat. That is what Pakistan needs. You don't need a captain who sets a bad example to the rest.
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Mar 30, 2015 06:09pm
@Awais Ali
Yes ,Azhar should have been part of the ODI team in the past also.
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Mar 30, 2015 06:09pm
Mind boggling!
Option A: Azhar didn't deserve a spot in World Cup, how could he be included in team as a CAPTAIN now?
or
Option B: Our board is so corrupt that they didn't include a guy in WC team, who should rather have been the captain?
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Mar 30, 2015 06:09pm
@Ali
We need team player like Sarfraz, Wahab or Azhar. Let's hope for the best now.
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Mar 30, 2015 06:10pm
My real feelings:
Misbah input is bad as he was not a good captain to begin with.
They are selecting the tuk tuk mentality and going forward as such
usually wicket keeper or bowlers make better captains- just have a look around and judge.
Azhar was not even in the playing XI and now a captain of ODI.
Azhar is a great test player but not ODI.
Ahmad Shehzad or Sarfraz would make a better choice or even Wahab
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Mar 30, 2015 06:11pm
technically very good batsman. No one in Pak team has such a solid defence. He must have been prefered over Younus Khan, may be than Pak had won one or two matches more...
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Mar 30, 2015 06:12pm
@zeb you already got sarfraz in, why are you complaining :0
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Mar 30, 2015 06:15pm
@zeb
Why not treat him as a pakistan born???
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Mar 30, 2015 06:16pm
Another defensive captain and approach from PCB. Why Safraz wasn't selected as ODI captain? With him, we could have solved our chronic problem of having a wicket keeper and an opener plus a aggressive captain with attacking mindset - a trait of Pak Cricket pre Misbah era.
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Mar 30, 2015 06:21pm
@nzf
Could you please explain what is defensive?
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Mar 30, 2015 06:24pm
@Adnan R. Baloch , How on earth Pakistan could play Azhar in same team with Misbah and Younus. He wasn't picked in WC squad because he wasn't going to replace Misbah or YK hence they included few quicks. He is to replace misbah as a skipper and a middle order batter too.
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Mar 30, 2015 06:27pm
Lahore,Karachi,Peshawar who cares which city he was born to,
what matters , if he is a loyal Pakistani.We people always look for some microscopic problem. Azhar Sarfraz both good. Younas Misbah,Afridi, Jamshed, they need to rest now.
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Mar 30, 2015 06:27pm
Why this "unanimous choice" was not selected for world cup?
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Mar 30, 2015 06:28pm
Now they have made him Captain, I wish him luck!
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Mar 30, 2015 06:28pm
So Azhar played his lat ODi in in 2013, was not part of the World Cup squad, has played only 11 ODIs with strike rate of 64 and PCB appointed his as the captain of the ODI team. Brilliant! Good Luck!
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Mar 30, 2015 06:29pm
its too early for sarfaraz. he needs to settle more before handling this responsibility . afraid it would affect his performance . perhaps a little later . any way best of luck .
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Mar 30, 2015 06:30pm
@Taimur - Well said.
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Mar 30, 2015 06:33pm
@zeb what is your problem. You got to be born some where. Being a Pakistani is the only requirement.
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Mar 30, 2015 06:33pm
But who is Azhar Ali?
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Mar 30, 2015 06:35pm
Azhar who?
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Mar 30, 2015 06:36pm
Has to be a joke. A person who couldn't make his place in ODI is now captain. What about Fawad Alam. Both Fawad and Azhar are in same boat.. except that Fawad has a better run a ball record than Azhar who is a pure test player.
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Mar 30, 2015 06:42pm
So Azhar played his lat ODi in in 2013, was not part of the World Cup squad, has played only 11 ODIs with strike rate of 64 and PCB appointed his as the captain of the ODI team. Brilliant! Good Luck!
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Mar 30, 2015 06:45pm
If he is so good or was good why wasn't he selected for the World Cup !! Make no sense. It's time for them to quit.
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Mar 30, 2015 06:49pm
Will someone in the BCP please explain to me how a cricketer who was not in the World Cup team is becoming the Captain???? Mind boggling! No wonder Pakistan's cricket is in such a mess. The Board needs to be replaced.
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Mar 30, 2015 06:49pm
mentality of coach and captain was the reason for pakistan failure in world cup, and based on their recommendations captain has been announced. I have lost respect for the game being played in this holy land..!!
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Mar 30, 2015 06:51pm
All the best Azhar and Sarfaraz...
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Mar 30, 2015 06:54pm
Wrong again PCB
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Mar 30, 2015 06:57pm
I agree with Dr Mashwani's comment below, First thing PCB should do is to get rid of Waqar Younis. I do not know when PCB will stop rewarding the failures. A fast bowler, who was so aggressive, which we all enjoyed watching is a such a defensive coach and it begs a believe.
He could be a good bowling coach, but not a team coach..!
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Mar 30, 2015 06:59pm
Perfect from where I can see. Azhar leads team and Sarfaraz gain experience. Team under performs for two consective cups, Azhar gets all blame (unfortunately that's how it works) and Sarfaraz takes charge with more maturity. Future looking better..
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Mar 30, 2015 07:02pm
@Dr. Abid Shah Mashwani .. Waqar should be sacked alongwith Moin.
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Mar 30, 2015 07:05pm
He has no shots to get him quick runs He can do only one thing just defend his wicket with his good defence which is not useful in todays cricket
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Mar 30, 2015 07:05pm
Not sure what they see about Azhar, no experience, didn't include him in WC squad...Nobody understands such decisions.
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Mar 30, 2015 07:06pm
@zeb stop crying about ethnicity and start acting like Pakistanis. Merit should be only criteria.
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Mar 30, 2015 07:10pm
We need an aggressive captain. And very rarely do we see a batsman as aggressive as a fast bowler. Imran Khan was the best example.
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Mar 30, 2015 07:14pm
well too early to comment. however it would be great in order to read a detail report written by all who have selected captain and vice captain with their detail reasoning.
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Mar 30, 2015 07:15pm
Was he in the World Cup Squad?
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Mar 30, 2015 07:30pm
When People say he was not part of team in past they forget that he fits into the role which Misbah or Younis has been doing and we can not have trhre players of the same kind in a ODI team. Get over it! give him time.
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Mar 30, 2015 07:30pm
@zeb What is wrong if he was born in Lahore. We are talking about National Team of Pakistan. The kid can be born in any corner of Pakistan and still eligible to be captain of the team. I would never question if the captain selected was born in Kohat, Bannu, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Kotri, Hyderbad or Karachi.
We are all Pakistanis and captain of the team should be selected on Merits and not the city he belongs.
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Mar 30, 2015 07:37pm
Last time Mr Shaharyar told Fawad Alam a fighter and now he is out of the team. The cricket board really lack cricketing visioin. Good luck Pakistan but under Azhar's captaincy Pakistan batting will continue to be what it was in 2015 world cup and also 2013 champions trophy.
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Mar 30, 2015 07:37pm
The unanimous voice of public is that, all these cricketing bosses along with Waqar Younas must be sent home.
So where is the major change? when you replace one kind with the same kind.
If Azhar is so good, then why don't name him the v. captain of test team as well?
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Mar 30, 2015 07:37pm
PCB doing strange things. Some one who has not been considered fit to be part of ODI squad for the last 2 yeas becomes captain of the ODI team.
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Mar 30, 2015 07:39pm
Man, Pakistani decision makers are weirder than our own Indian decision makers. Who is this new guy? The whole world has seen the ability of Wahab Riaz in the recent WC. Same is the potential with Sarfraz. Then why pull out this new guy like a rabbit from the magician's (PCB's) hat? Compared to this the decisions of BCCI are like an insipid/boring afternoon soap.
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Mar 30, 2015 07:39pm
@Faisal maqnateesi Very well said.
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Mar 30, 2015 07:43pm
not even a member of world cup team
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Mar 30, 2015 07:49pm
I am from Karachi and ZEB's comment doesn't make any sense to me. I think Wahab Riaz should have been made captain of team (he deserves it).
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Mar 30, 2015 07:53pm
@Awais Ali abosultely NOT
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Mar 30, 2015 07:57pm
If Azhar was so good why he was not in ODI squad for world cup. Something fishy???
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Mar 30, 2015 07:58pm
Why do you mean "we don't have culture..." What harm is there to adopt new and good resolutions. Where is South Africa in the rankings and where is Pakistan?
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Mar 30, 2015 07:59pm
What a gamble????
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Mar 30, 2015 08:10pm
Really??? PCB didnt think it would be wise to include the future ODI captain in the world cup squad? Thinking one month ahead proved to be too difficult a task.
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Mar 30, 2015 08:20pm
PCB's thinking always defy logic.
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Mar 30, 2015 08:26pm
Where is M.Hafiz? Nobody talk about him.
He possess the Leadership quality.
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Mar 30, 2015 08:27pm
@zeb you guys need to come out of this narrow mindedness. what difference will it make if player is born in certain city or not?
The guy who could not get a place in world cup squad is a blunder in itself.Why not someone from seniors who have served for longer time? why not someone enthusiastic like Wahab Riaz?
This decision will damage Pakistan cricket in the long run
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Mar 30, 2015 08:33pm
In my local language it's called "Digging a well after your beared is on fire". Captain of a national team needs to be groomed and not dropped from the sky just like that. Just look at the other teams, every team has a Captain in making and being groomed.
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Mar 30, 2015 08:33pm
@Behead not qualified even to play as a batsman in world cup while the team has poor batting side
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Mar 30, 2015 08:34pm
Sensible choice. People need to realize that being a captain in Pak cricket team is not only about performance, but also about politics. Getting a young guy like Sarfaraz in a captain's shoes so early will set him up for failure (hint: Shoaib Malik). The seniors in the team are masters of setting camps in the team n they make life difficult for a young captain. So, it's a good choice to have a non-political captain like Azhar who gets along with everyone while Sarfaraz is groomed for the role and everyone comes to accept him as a leader. In a couple years' time when he's ready, PCB will probably give him captaincy across at least 2 formats if not all 3, which is why he is made vice-captain across all formats. For the first time, PCB seems to be acting sensibly.
As for Wahab, he needs to focus on his bowling. He has all ingredients to make it great - his agression is needed on the field, not off it, which is what a captain's role might require. And Shahzad needs to be fired.
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Mar 30, 2015 08:35pm
"Unfortunately, we don't have a culture where we can install a 22-year-old captain like South Africa did with Graeme Smith."
We use whatever argument suits our purpose without any fear of contradiction.
Javed Burki was appointed captain in 1962 when he was 24 years old.
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Mar 30, 2015 08:36pm
@raza This guy along with Fawad, Sarfaraz were sacrificed because someone has to include Younis K, U Akmal and N. Jamshed even they were thinking to include K. Akmal and shoaib Malik also. I think we should rubbish this Lahore vs Karachi thoughts and make our voices heard for deserving candidates regardless of whatever region they belong to and lodge our protests strongly if we see any injustice to anyone deserving. If we think like that then we can take this attitude to any institution.
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Mar 30, 2015 08:36pm
How can you expect fellow players to respect someone who hasn't even played along with them for over two years (forget about the rapport) as their leader - appearing out of the blue! Just unthinkable.
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Mar 30, 2015 08:44pm
I would've liked Fawad Alam or Hafeez to be the ODI captain. Azhar's selection seems very mysterious to me and my family. An we all know the vice captain holds no importance anywhere.
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Mar 30, 2015 08:45pm
Good decision by PCB.
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Mar 30, 2015 08:46pm
Guys don't lose heart, the captaincy will finally be given to Sarfraz when Azhar won't be able to hold his place in ODI's. That's the only logic of appointing him comes to my mind.
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Mar 30, 2015 08:47pm
This decisions shows the quality of our selection process. This guy failed to be part of world cup playing team and now they are bringing him as Captain. This is possible in Pakistan only
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Mar 30, 2015 08:58pm
One Day X1: Babar Azam, Sami Aslam, Haris Sohail,Azhar Ali,Asad Shafique, Fawad Alam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Muhmamed Amir, Sadaf Hussain, Junaid Khan.
Reserve: Muhammed Rizwan, Raza Hasan, Mir Hamaza, Umar Almal.
T20: Ahmed Shezad, Imran Nazir, Babar Azam, Umar Akmal, Saad Nasim, sarfraz Ahmed, Hamad azam, Wahab Riaz, Muhammed Amir, Mohammed Sami, Raza Hasan.
Test : Sami Aslam, Shan Masood,Babar Azam, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafique, Muhammed Rizwan, Wahab Riaz, Muhammed Amir, Junaid Khan, Yasir Shah.
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Mar 30, 2015 09:01pm
Before you begin reading my comment I must clarify one thing. I am a big fan of Sarfaraz Ahmad. What I don't get is that just based on two innings of Sarfaraz one of which came against the Irish men, PCB decided to make him the Vice President of the team.
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Mar 30, 2015 09:14pm
@zeb I am from Khi and I have no issues with that. Azhar Ali is from Pakistan first. I don't know the guy, but if he is the right choice he should be the captain.
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Mar 30, 2015 09:14pm
What to say under such frustrating conditions ? Perhaps, another lopsided decision. How the senior players would change themselves for taking orders from their under-studies ?
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Mar 30, 2015 09:30pm
My apologies to many experts here ... Pak does not need 'level headed captain'. Recent history tells us that we have always picked 'level headed captains' ... and that is why our performance has gone down. We need someone like McCullam or AB who has aggressive nature.
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Mar 30, 2015 09:43pm
this is not on. the guy does not deserve a place in the team and yet he has been made the captain. typicial pakistan management politics. you all will ruin the pakistan cricket. God help
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Mar 30, 2015 09:45pm
If the PCB had selected Nasir Jamshed as a one day and T20 captain, I would not be surprised.
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Mar 30, 2015 09:51pm
This is just an absurd choice. He may turn out to be good, but given his statistics and history, he shouldnt have been chosen as the captain.
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Mar 30, 2015 09:54pm
@Murtaza Mandviwala He is the captain of Pakistan cricket team. Someone who has performed consistently over the years and has maintained a very decent average of above 40 in both tests and ODIs. Who are you?
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Mar 30, 2015 09:55pm
Same losers who kept on calling Misbah (Pakistan's most successful captain and most consistent batsman during last three years are now after Azhar Ali. Like Misbah, Azhar too will make them eat their words
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Mar 30, 2015 10:00pm
They should first select playing 11 and one of them should be captain. I don't think Azhar is part of one day cricket. But sometimes it works also and he might start performing in one day cricket also.
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Mar 30, 2015 10:02pm
Now look at the state of affairs in PCB... a person who was unable to find his place in cricket team has suddenly been appointed as team captain. He has played only 14 ODIs with no experience of captaincy. I think people sitting in PCB just want to have a puppet who will never dare to talk in front of them.
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Mar 30, 2015 10:02pm
@Ali Imran Shah : Please correct me if I am wrong here, Afride is not a captain material. Afridi is also not perfoming nowadays against better team and batting is very pathetic.
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Mar 30, 2015 10:04pm
What buffoonery is this? Why would you put someone with a strike rate of 64 as captain who didn't even qualify for a spot on the team? If he did so well in the domestic circuit then why wasn't he included in the world cup squad? It's the same thing all over again. We never learn from our mistakes.
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Mar 30, 2015 10:06pm
Pakistan need new faces across all format of cricket and a new test captain should have been appointment, it is wrong to assume that young player cannot be the captain, young and talented captain can induce positive mind-set in the team. Regardless of contract old horses must be replaced by young colts on merit and they must be given support, confidence, proper coaching and grooming which is very important to overcome academic deficiency.
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Mar 30, 2015 10:11pm
I think Ahmed Shahzad would have been a better choice.
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Mar 30, 2015 10:13pm
I feel bad for azhar, no public support, hardly any team support. PCB is using him as escape goat. Is not fair for the board to ask someone to lead whom have not played an odi for 2 years.
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Mar 30, 2015 10:13pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad
You should join PCB
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Mar 30, 2015 10:14pm
Only in Pakistan...
You are not considered good enough to be in the touring Fifteen for the world cup or to be part of the odi team for years but then made the captain of the odi team
You are not considered worth playing for most of the WC games but made the vice captain of the odi team
Logic has never prevAiled in pak but my hope things work out for them
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Mar 30, 2015 10:15pm
@Nawaz what about Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Shan Masood Saeed Ajmal in one day.
Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Shan Masood and Saeed Ajmal in T-20
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Mar 30, 2015 10:18pm
Very similar circumstances to Misbah's selection as odi captain
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Mar 30, 2015 10:19pm
@zeb: "Lahore-born again!!!! Why not Karachi-born."
Why not AJK born? Why not Peshawar Born? Why not Chak 226 born?
I am sick of these ethnic taunts. For heaven's sake come out of this ethnic mentality and see it as a Pakistani issue. Wahab should have been the captain, a fast bowler; he could have been of Somali origin for all I care, so long as he played for Pakistan.
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Mar 30, 2015 10:21pm
@zeb h yu think like that. He s Pak orn and that's all is needed.P come out of this.This is the major reason, Pak as nation is notmving forward.
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Mar 30, 2015 10:25pm
Ali Azhar I wish you only the Best
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Mar 30, 2015 10:25pm
Should take a chance with Wahab or Sarfarz. If Azhar is that good to lead the side then why he was not part of the WC squad?
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Mar 30, 2015 10:34pm
That's sad. A person who could not secure his berth in the one-day squad for such a long time has suddenly been selected as the 'Captain' of the one-day team for Pakistan. It shows the retarded and paralysis state on PCB. The Board's myopic approach is not new. They don't know how to learn from their mistakes. The will never learn. It's a shame and shamble situation of Pakistan Cricket. RIP Cricket Pakistan.
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Mar 30, 2015 10:42pm
Once again PCB is resorting to hit and trial, this guy is useless, he is the biggest tuk tuk strike rate of 64, mind you Misbah strike rate was 73-74, this guy cannot even hit a six, played 14 ODIs cat C contract and captain, it can only happen in Pakistan
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Mar 30, 2015 10:44pm
only Sarfaraz and Wahab Riaz should have considered; only two have permanent place in ODI side.
Looking at his strike rate, Azhar was good material for TEST captaincy not ODI.
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Mar 30, 2015 11:08pm
The one who PCB didn't pick for world cup. Pathetic PCB.
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Mar 30, 2015 11:22pm
He has 61.7 strike rate in ODIs. Yes in ODI cricket!!! If you were happy about Misbah's retirement because of his defensive techniques then hold that thought. Moreover he hasnt played a single one day for two years and now he is captain of the team. Only in Pakistan!
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Mar 30, 2015 11:25pm
@Haroon
Guy is 30 years old (allegedly).Tell me how will you train/coach him to be anything different.he was dropped after 2013 just because he could not manage to rotate strike and kepp the score board ticking.He is very limited when it comes to improvising.His natural instinct is to block.
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Mar 30, 2015 11:29pm
PCB is totally clueless. He is out of team for two years and is captain now. Can I apply for Google CEO job? If only PCB heads Google...
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Mar 30, 2015 11:37pm
OMG
Whats wrong with Sarfraz being captain and Wahab as Vice Captain
Lets restrict Waqar as a bowling coach. Fire all the rest of coaches..I hate to hear from Misbah/Waqar that Pakistan doesn't have any talent left. They don't want to discuss their performances at the WC.
Salman
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Mar 30, 2015 11:42pm
Weird!!
The unanimous choice for ODI captain was not even considered for the World cup team.
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Mar 30, 2015 11:45pm
The PCB lock stock and barrel needs to be fired first. All there decisions are so hypocritical. Appointment of a captain who wasn't even on tour in the World Cup! Till there is no merit starting at the top forget about progress in anything in Pakistan. We may win some titles due to dua of public but not because of our consistent performance.
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Mar 30, 2015 11:53pm
How is he a good choice for captaincy if he doesn't select himself in the playing 11? It sounds like PCB is looking for a captain, then selecting the team. Azhar ali is basically another person who is gonna have 60 strike rate in ODI's.
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Mar 30, 2015 11:54pm
Good bye another great batsman Fawad Alam
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Mar 31, 2015 12:00am
Both the Unanimous choices were not the first choices in the playing eleven in the world cup. Very strange?? It seems like captain and vc has no importance. This can only happen in Pakistan.
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Mar 31, 2015 12:01am
A yes man for the job.
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Mar 31, 2015 12:09am
Oh no mr chairman(pcb), lets just make "nisar jamshed" a captain shall we....he will make a great cap, credentials does not matter to you...
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Mar 31, 2015 12:43am
so we have a player who is good enough to be a captain but not to be in the WC squad and a vice captain who could not play in the first matches........
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Mar 31, 2015 01:01am
@Faisal maqnateesi
yes Australia brought Bailey as captain in place of Clerk.
even he was not in team.
bro its pakistan cricket.they dont know how to take bold steps....i agree woth u on the end though
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Mar 31, 2015 01:02am
@Fawad Khan
Exactly...this is so hilarious and unprofessional..
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Mar 31, 2015 01:12am
1) Hafeez fell out of favor; he was always supposed to succeed Misbah. Wasn't he the ODI vice-captain ?
2) Since Hafeez had a recent fall-out with the team management including Waqar Younis, the management decided they needed a captain who would be easy to get along i.e., someone like Misbah.
3) The board looked around and realized that with Misbah and Younis gone, Misbah's role will have to be handed over to someone who is Misbah-like i.e., Azhar Ali.
4) Since nobody has ever had issues with Azhar Ali, the board decided Azhar Ali should be the guy who should be the captain.
In all this, the common theme is that the management and the board are looking for someone who's easy to get along with. There is no notion of the brand of cricket they want to play, and who could be the best candidate to lead the side in order to play and excel in that brand of cricket.
By the way, I don't have a problem with Azhar Ali -- not at all. In fact , I wish Azhar Ali all the good luck in the world.
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Mar 31, 2015 01:17am
@Moosa george bailey captained australia when clark was out but when clark came back he was benched . Its called horses for courses, azhar replaces misbah in ODI cricket, u could not take both in the squad for Wc because they are similar type of players
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Mar 31, 2015 01:18am
More Than half of the population don't even know him and all of a sudden he's a captain. Good joke! Way to go PCB.
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Mar 31, 2015 01:18am
@zeb, Let us not make it geography dependent. We need talent and it does not matter if it comes from Swat or Sibi or wherever.
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Mar 31, 2015 01:24am
@Ehsan, why does it matter where the player is from? As long as he is from Pakistan and can deliver, lets go for it.
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Mar 31, 2015 01:32am
Whole of the board is appointed , not selected by the cricketing regions.When you have un selectable selectors doing the selecting,they will come up with a poor selection.In other countries most crickter around 30 odd start to think about retiring.In Pakistan at 27 it is cosider to be immature ,Most crickter are at their peak around this age with very few exceptions. Sarfarz would have been my pick. As for Shahid Afridi that is a laugh as well,He was awful in the World Cup ,He is too old to be captain or in the 20/20, May be he should retire while public still loves him.
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Mar 31, 2015 01:38am
Azhar Ali? Am I dreaming or what? Well then bye bye team Pakistan. We might not see you in glory for a long time...
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Mar 31, 2015 01:40am
Based on this criteria, Nasir Jamshed will be our next criteria and somehow that will not surprise anyone. What a joke.
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Mar 31, 2015 01:54am
That's what happens in a country of NO accountability.
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Mar 31, 2015 02:05am
@AK
Fawad Alams place is all but gone.
Fawad Alam could have been a nice replacement for Misbah but....
This is my ODI team
Ahmad Shahzad,Sarfaraz Ahmad,Azhar ali (the weakest link),Sohaib Maqsood,Umar Akmal,Harris Sohail,Wahab Riaz ( all rounder),Yasir/Saeed Ajmal.Muhammad Amir,Junaid Khan,Muhammad Irfan.
Do you agree?
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Mar 31, 2015 02:10am
After 2010 disaster, Afridi took the team to WC 2011 semi-final. After another four years of rebuilding, Misbah tuktuk could somehow manage to reach QF. With someone like Azhar, Pakistan can ensure exit from the first round in the next WC.
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Mar 31, 2015 02:20am
lol. Out for two years and is made Captain that too unanimously. PCB should have waited for couple days and announce it on April fool's day.
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Mar 31, 2015 02:49am
Waqar Younis should be out from his duties because he cant take Pakistani team on heights something wrong there you are putting a name as a captain he was not a member of odi since last two years how team will adjust with him you need to search that players who can become match finisher Azhar Ali also 50'60 run player only Wahab Riyaz is best choice if you want a solid team..PCB is in difficult task but you need to remove all low performer without hesitation for Pak cricket future.
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Mar 31, 2015 02:53am
All talk about a player''s bowling or record or his runs.
Australia always picks a Captain who can work under intense pressure and has nerves of steel. No wonder they have the most world cups.
Choice for Captain should go to that player, who is emotionally and mentally very strong.
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Mar 31, 2015 03:01am
though I didn't like Misbah at all and I was always against him, I will miss him and Afridi a lot.
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Mar 31, 2015 03:06am
What is difficult task to replace Misbah and what Misbah has done that Azhar cannot do? If Misbah was tuk-tuk ka ghulam than Azhar is tuk-tuk ka badshah. When Misbah became Captain, Pakistan ODI team was ranked 6th in the world. Misbah left with ODI team ranking 7th in the world (only WI, BD and Zimb behind Pakistan). Maybe for some, that is great achievement. It seems, with SR 64, Azhar would promote (or demote) the team ranking to 8th or 9th, and PCB would make that as achievement. Not a difficult task, or is it?
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Mar 31, 2015 03:19am
Really, it was experts decision if Yes than focus on other game to love than cricket only heart broken performance are waiting....
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Mar 31, 2015 03:26am
Interesting..The guy who was sidelined in WC is now the vice captain.
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Mar 31, 2015 03:58am
That's what was expected from these chaps. Someone who is not even a regular in the ODI side is made captain. I think this fairy tale for Azhar will not last long. He should make hay while the sun shines.
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Mar 31, 2015 04:02am
Govt appointed PHF, PSF etc been instrumental in destroying sports they have been in charge of. And now the incompetent PCB is playing it's part in bringing down cricket.
How can anyone expect players to be selected on merit when governing board members, themselves, are undeserving of their positions.
Hope when Pak looses this time, people can take on Sethi and co. and not rest till their ouster from PCB. Enough is enough.
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Mar 31, 2015 04:17am
The man does not have earned his place in the ODI world cup squad and now suddenly got the place as well as captaincy out of blue,pcb is ruled by some kind of mafia who want to destroy our national talent by keep ignoring them by saying beautiful words like 'cool heads'
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Mar 31, 2015 04:18am
Another brilliant, heart warming, professional, far sighting, really unanimous......choice.
I think we need to select not just the ODI captain but the entire PCB board, selectors, coaches and officials.
Mind boggling choice, makes you wonder if the decision makers are insane or what.
I request the PM to look into this stupidity if we are really honest and concerned about Pakistan and the future of Pakistan's cricket.
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Mar 31, 2015 04:20am
I support Sarfraz or Fawad alam for captain of ODI side and Afrdid should retire from all formats.If we takes decision now it will pay and matured in 4 years till next world cup.
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Mar 31, 2015 04:47am
Mohammad Hafeez should have been made the ODI captain with Sarfaraz his deputy. Anyway time will tell whether the choice is correct or not. I am a non-Pakistani and would like to say that Misbah did really well since taking charge of the team. No second thoughts here. Those not happy with his performance are not doing justice to him. Hats off to Misbah who has a good cricketing brain. Many cricket experts including Jeff Lawson agree to this. Misbah should have been in side long before he actually joined.PCB should utilize his cricket brain even after his retirement.
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Mar 31, 2015 05:17am
Lol. Only in pakistan will u pick a captain who does not even qualify for odi team
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Mar 31, 2015 05:18am
What Is mean by unanimous.
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Mar 31, 2015 05:25am
I don't understand what is the fascination to have an aggressive player as Captain? Just aggression will only get you admiration (like Wahab's spell against Watson), but its the controlled aggression what wins you a game (like Australia proves time and again).
I think Azhar is a good choice as captain but he needs to have proper support around him. We need to get rid of the flat-track bullies like Ahmed Shehzad, Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed etc and build a strong middle order around Azhar Ali, Harris Sohail and Fawad Alam who can rotate the strike and get you 5 an over in the middle overs without losing too many wickets. Then tail-enders like Umer Akmal or Sohaib Maqsood can hit out in last 10 overs. If Pakistan can get 250-300 runs, we can win almost 90% of the games on any track with the kind of bowling resources we have.
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Mar 31, 2015 06:19am
Lol unanimous haha. More so, a yes man
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Mar 31, 2015 06:59am
chairman PCB IS SO SHORT SIGHTED THAT HE CAN not SEE BEYOND Azhar Ali. This is right time to say thank you chairman and look for a new one.
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Mar 31, 2015 07:05am
WRONG choice!!! Azhar Ali didn't and still doesn't have a place in ODI team with the strike rate of mid 60. He was not in the plans for World Cup? Now all of a sudden Misbah and Waqar woke up on the wrong side of the bed and is talking about Azhar as a captain??? If he is good to be captain then why he wasn't selected in the World Cup?!!! Sarfraz or Fawad is the better choice!!! Much better choice!! Don't worry about sarfraz's English speaking abilities... He is a solid cricketer with positive and aggresive attitude. Azhar sure has Misbahic style but style was only good back in eighties and nineties... Cricket has changed a lot. He may do good in sub continent but will struggle in seaming and bouncy wickets. Next World Cup is in England and as cricket changing we will need to prepare a different breed of cricketers for that. Totally revamp things!!! Waqar needs to GO first
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Mar 31, 2015 07:56am
A guy not even selected for the world cup squad is now captain. Wahab Riaz was the obvious choice here but they wanted someone almost like Misbah. But not quite, Azhar doesn't have the talent for odi cricket. His technique works in tests, but he is not an odi player.
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Mar 31, 2015 08:05am
@zeb Why not the other part of the Country born? They aren't Pakistani enough. Captains and players from both major cities have been tried out in the last decade or so and they all have not been up to mark. And its ludicrous that Azhar was not even part of the World Cup squad and tukk tukk and Waqar are recommending him for the job. There seems to be no method to the whole madness in this Country.
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Mar 31, 2015 08:25am
@South Asian
Yes sir and was promptly replaced after a disastrous 1962 tour of England. So too was Miandad replaced after a "seniors" rebellion. And poor Shoaib Malik had his promising career destroyed after he was made captain and the "seniors" failed to co operate. Until the board makes it clear that they will not tolerate dissent on national duty, much like a military command, you can continue to expect groupings and conspiracies. If the board had sacked the 6 or 7 players who took an oath to underperform during Younis' captaincy for "treason", things could have been different. I see national duty as nothing but a sacred trust.
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Mar 31, 2015 08:40am
no he is not the right captain. currupted PCB chose him. he even dont be a test player.
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Mar 31, 2015 09:08am
how a player who not played ODI since 2013 can be best choice until he prove himself as a best player of ODI . I cant understand why such decision are taken by management. Its seems that decision maker should be replaced by cricketers who has vast experience of cricket rather then silly decision maker.
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Mar 31, 2015 09:13am
YOUR COMMENT
It is always confusing that the people who dont impress your selectors and are not the part of national team are brought back as team leaders whileas the leaders are thrown out like anythin.....most ironical !
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Mar 31, 2015 09:38am
@ Mansoor - pls don't ask PM to look into this - he will make another committee and appoint Najam Sethi as the Captain of Pakistan Tests, One-day and T20 side!
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Mar 31, 2015 10:04am
@Awais Ali
sure he can.Likely scenario: Pakistan 2 down with 9 runs in 44 odd overs.in comes Misbah junior errrr Azhar Ali,blocks 10+ overs for 15 odd runs.thats what his role is and will be.
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Mar 31, 2015 10:05am
@Shehzd
More than anything,u need talent to execute,which unfortunately he does not have.
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Mar 31, 2015 10:08am
@Mohammad Alamgir
Mohd.Hafeez should be discarded.He is a liability as a batsman outside Asia. Inject young blood who are hungry to showcase their talent and grrom them.
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Mar 31, 2015 10:11am
@Hashim
Actaully, he fits in perfectly with out given brittle batting.He comes in two down with 10 odd runs and just blocks everything for another 10 overs without rotating strike, just preserving his strike rate of 50 something.
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Mar 31, 2015 10:12am
@pakistani
I dont see fawad alam even as 12th man after this shocker..
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Mar 31, 2015 10:13am
Maybe its an attempt by PCB for people to forget our poor outing in world cup.they gave us such a socker that we don't even realize what happened.
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Mar 31, 2015 12:13pm
i really don't know why they are giving captaincy to such cricketers whose average is below fifties.. please its a one day international game limited overs game and now in modern era the game is boosted so much please make those captain who have potential this guy even did not played ODI since years ... please leave this Lahore born or Karachi born play for Pakistan please make some bold declensions quit this chit selections.
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Mar 31, 2015 12:21pm
AZAHAR ALI IS not best choice m.hafeez or saeed ajmal best choice for odi caption remove the coach also change the coach
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Mar 31, 2015 01:49pm
Politics only at the cost of snatching happiness from the fellow citizens. Continuing Sheyar Khan an amateur & immature cricketer and not an analyst who could easily be influenced by the managent. followed by other two wrong decisions I.e continuing Waqar as coach who only know bowling and running and is not a qualified or experienced coach.Future will curse the people who are at the helm of affairs. Azhar what a selection without any measuring scale or norms.Obvious that he has to dance as per the tune of chairman and management. Going to the WC debacle it must have been right to set up the enquiry committee and punish the defaulters. For example Shehzad,Umar,Haris and Maqsood should have cherished to stay for 10-15 balls each in the quarters and pendulim would have in been f/o pakistan. These played aerial shots where fielders were already placed . Atleast should be debarred from playing the upcoming series so that others learn a lesson. what good we will learn from your politics.
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Mar 31, 2015 04:07pm
Wishing Azhar Ali and Sarfraz Ahmed success in their challenging mission.
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Mar 31, 2015 05:00pm
yes, Azhar is a good choice & he can proof himself as alternate of Misbha.
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Mar 31, 2015 05:48pm
You can't expect good from PCB or ----
1) Why azhar was not part of the world cup team if he was so good.
2) Why sarfaraz given vice captaincy just by performing in two matches in WC/
3) To be in Pakistan team you have to perform in the debut appearance/ and then you need ''sources'' to keep you in the team.
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Apr 01, 2015 12:13am
Azhar takes 5 overs more than Misbah to break duck! what a choice?
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Apr 01, 2015 10:22am
PCB made Azhar Captain so that Misbah batting looks boom boom instead of tuk tuk, and Misbah's pathetic performance as captain look respectable. Misbah is clever recommending name of Azhar, and Younis is doing damage control for what he done to Pakistan team in WC, else, if Pakistan would have started doing good with ODI capable players than Younis would look bad. PCB as usual is behaving as if they are clueless, but they are only devious. In the end, Pakistan cricket would lose out. Maybe, if PCB would keep damaging Pakistan Cricket, in near future PAK would stop qualifying for world cups and teams like WI, BD, Zimb and Ireland would rank above us.
As ICC is thinking WC to be 10 teams competition, Pakistanis should forget Pak participating in future WCs as those 10 teams would be: Aus, NZ, SA, Ind, SL, WI, Eng, BD, Zimb and Ireland. Thanks PCB to take Pakistani cricket from what it was to what it is today.
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Apr 01, 2015 12:38pm
Once he has not part of ODI squad and now got a permanent place in ODI team. Ridiculous
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Apr 01, 2015 12:49pm
@Ehsan : people like me taking this decision as NOT FIT. If he is a good ODI playet, why he was not part of CWC 2014 team. Further, Sarfarz is taking captaincy responsibility since he attended U19 CWC, so why an experienced one ignored.
Fawad Alam was asked to lead Team A as Captain against Kenya bt Azhar was not there.
Kya ye khula tazad nahee hae
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Apr 01, 2015 01:47pm
@Ali (CA) thank you.
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Apr 01, 2015 03:37pm
@Parvez
Groomed for captaincy at the age of 30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Apr 02, 2015 01:24am
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan if you think that Sirfaraz would be great for all three format as a wise captain so can't you just let him do as a captain.
Azhar Ali W.captain for test cricket
Muhammad hafiz. W.captain for ODI
Shahid afridi. Captain for t/20
And sirfaraz should be leading team in test and ODI cricket.
I think that would be great
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Apr 02, 2015 03:08pm
best of luck ali you can lead the team very well!
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Apr 02, 2015 03:13pm
yes you are right,nobody is thinking about him!
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