Talking Points After Pakistan’s Tour To South Africa Comes To An End

Here is a look at a few talking points as Pakistan’s tour to South Africa comes to an end.

Read: Talking Points After Pakistan’s Consolation Victory At Centurion

Who Impressed?

Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Mohd. Amir, Shaheen Afridi, Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan for sure, have had a pretty decent tour. All of them have done well enough to consolidate their position in Pakistan’s future squads across formats.

Read: Talking Points After PCB Retains Sarfraz Ahmed Till The World Cup

Who Did Not?

The likes of Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Yasir Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Asif Ali, Mohd. Rizwan and Usman Shinwari have either had a disastrous or an up and down time during the entire tour. Hence, most of them have some work to do in order to regain credibility and selector’s respect.

Malik Left Exposed

For long Shoaib Malik was considered as one of the finest minds in Pakistan cricket. Nevertheless, he ended up making a number of ordinary decisions during the ODI and T20 series. Therefore, it is just fair to say that towards the end of the tour and his career, Malik and his leadership abilities stand completely exposed.

Read: A List Of Mickey Arthur’s Favorite Boys Who Must Not Play The Third T20

Sarfraz Surprisingly Emerges Stronger Than Before

Despite being under massive pressure to retain captaincy and his place as Pakistan’s first choice wicket-keeper batsman across formats and despite being part of an unwanted scandal and only an okayish performance; Sarfraz Ahmed without a shadow of doubt has emerged stronger following the tour. The failure of Malik as a stand in skipper and that of Mohd. Rizwan as a wicket-keeper batsman has allowed in restoring Sarfraz’s status as the country’s best available option behind the stumps and to lead on the field.

Read: Talking Points After Pakistan’s T20 Series Defeat In South Africa

Repercussions Likely for Mickey Arthur & Senior Cricketers

Mickey’s had to deal with criticism for making the wrong moves and playing his favorite boys ahead of deserving candidates. A stronger Sarfraz is then, likely to challenge Mickey’s moves once international engagements return following the PSL 2019. Moreover, his fallout with other senior cricketers during the Test series too is likely to keep him under pressure to retain his place.

Similarly, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and Fakhar Zaman find themselves in the kind of situation where either they deliver or simply lose their place in the squad.

Hassan Ali too has had an ordinary tour and the emergence of Shaheen Afridi is likely to hurt him if he doesn’t pull up his socks soon.

In case of Yasir Shah the tour has been a disaster of sorts. His dismal numbers in seaming conditions now leave Pakistan with no other choice but to play him on spinner friendly wickets only. Hence, as Shadab takes over, Yasir now becomes a second choice in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.