I didnt know for sure but I heard Imran Khan talk about using 17 openers since Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail. Still we arent really settled....Before writing further...lemme remember some names of openers explored after the GREAT two ones mentioned above...
Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Taufeeq Umar, Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Ali Naqvi, Shadab Kabir, Zahoor Elahi...
Cant remember more but Imran might just be right...sigh...
Its a wonder really...how we have not been able to find a consistent opening pair...its one of the more distinguised role I guess...but we have been under the shadow of too much experimentation...
Lets try and identify the future of Pakistan Cricket Openers ...
From my Point of View openers should have to have the following characteristics for both One Dayers and Test Matched. They should have excellent technique and should be well coached. They should be able to handle the new 'MOVING' ball...should be Mentally Strong...
The job description of openers should be...KEEP YOUR WICKET....take care of the new ball...rather than score runs...your best players should have the most overs...in a match...
In this regard...the current opener...Imran farhat does not qualify no matter how many fifties he scores...i dont remember him getting out by a quality ball ever...all glimpses that come to the mind show him as playing a stupid rash shot...to get out...
M. Hafeez may not be the one with the best technique but he does hold a spot in the one day side being an all rounder...and is ok in the opening spot although they could always replace afridi from the team...and get a genuine batsman....
Arright so who do we have then to consider....I have never scouted the domestic scene so I would be recommending discarded openes...Taufiq Umar and Yasir Hameed...an inconsistent patch got them out of the team...but they deserve their places...Taufiq Umar should be an automatic choice...he has great technique...a few flaws here and there....can be fixed...by the coach...the best part he is mentally strong...i saw him as a potential captain when he played....with experience...he could become that as well...reminds one of Majid Khan at times with that gritty look on his face while batting...
I would want to recall a great player...Muhammad Wasim...he was in the perfect mould of Rahul Dravid at similiar timings as well....but dunno why was he left out...a little bad patch shouldnt affect a career...he could make a good opener too...even though he played 1 down most of the time...
Anyway, not most people usually agree with me so...BIG DEAL...i ve got my blog to say what I want...feel free to leave a comment though...heheh....
Formally Published at SPORTINGO.COM
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