Pakistan vs Zimbabwe | Tri Series | 18 Nov 2025 | Rawalpindi

[Pat_Bee]

[quote=Pat_Bee post_id=300079 time=<a href="tel:1763483536">1763483536</a> user_id=79152]
Imagine if old raza had come in ahead of Burl and faced a few more balls

When Raza comes in up the order everyone complains and says he's a finisher and Burl should come in earlier instead.

The guy can't win.
[/quote]

No, me and ZimDawggy say every week that he should be opening

[TapsC2]

To me the problem is at number 6 and 7. They have clearly decided to give them a long rope but I want them to at least try Dion at 3 with everyone else moving one down besides Musekiwa. If they aren't all-rounders then they need to be bloody reliable. That's the frustrating part.

It's also a solid reason to not baby Williams for his mistakes and realize he has left a huge hole in the middle order before the World Cup. Same thing happened with Ballance abruptly leaving the team. Naqvi is the only capable replacement for me but we all know how that's going.

Reading the match situation, Fakhar Zaman had absolutely no choice but to target Cremer. That's what the better teams do. If anyone watched the India/SA test you saw how even though ultimately he failed, Axar Patel knew the only chance they had was for him to target Maharaj. Those are the small margins that make the good teams great. it was a tough call because Bennett bowled a great over but they would have also had to target him even if the ball was turning away from Zaman. Could have gone either way.

Looking at this squad we are genuinely not that far off from being competitive. 1 or 2 more spots to fix then I think we can give the middle tier teams a run for their money. People will see how the ODI team will likely turn out to be very competitive for the next 2 years if they pick everyone on merit

[secretzimbo]

Well we have two absolute passengers in the team as batsmen. Arguably three.

Not going to be too competitive if we continue with that now are we…

[Googly]

Bennett seems to carry on making runs.
This was one of Maru's good innings against good opposition. Long may that last. These are two decent teams and they will have watched him. Gonna be a good test now.
For me the BT experiment has been an absolute lemon to date.
Too early to tell for Cremer. They sit him out of the previous dozen games and then opt to play him now? For why?
Burl continues to frustrate.

Tony and Musi have struggled against good oppostion for a long time.

For me the Taylor Cremer experiment has not worked and is a slap in the face for players in the wings. A well aimed and executed slap. They will be wiggling with delight.
Musekiwa threatens to be able to make the step up, and may well continue to threaten for the next decade, that's the problem. He's had ample opportunity.

4 players need replacing. That's not the makings of a good team for years to come , thats half the team

[Pat_Bee]

Clean and sober BT isn’t cutting it. He needs to retire or get back on the gear

He’s done nothing apart from that 40 vs NZ in his comeback. That ton against Ascension Islands at the qualifier isn’t worth the scorecard it’s written on. He can’t bat, can’t run and seems to pick up an injury every game

[Pat_Bee]

Old Pakistan were on the ropes and somehow it slipped away.

[secretzimbo]

I will give him the benefit of time considering he hasn’t played for 3 years but ya it’s looking bleak. To be honest the way he is batting reminds me a lot of how Craig has batted in the past year or so. It just looks like he’s not seeing it. All happening a bit too quick for him. It happens to everyone, these guys are pushing 40 ffs - there’s a reason 99% of batters retire in their mid to late 30’s.

[sloandog]

His first ball today, or it might have been his second, he didn't see at all. His reaction was very telling. Looked slow between the wickets too. Man, I hate bad mouthing a legend like BT. He's done so much for the game in Zimbabwe. Truly hoping he comes up trumps in the next few games

[ZIMDOGGY]

Imagine if old raza had come in ahead of Burl and faced a few more balls

When Raza comes in up the order everyone complains and says he's a finisher and Burl should come in earlier instead.

The guy can't win.

If you take the view he is in our top two best or cleanest hitters he should open. It’ll give him 55-65 balls to do damage with 25% in power play status.

[eugene]

I love Taylor and Cremer, but honestly what are we doing still selecting them? Why not get Chigumbura back also? These guys aren't even the present, let alone the future.