Why Pakistan must move beyond ‘bits and pieces’ players

Pakistan are set to face Sri Lanka in a do-or-die Asia Cup clash, with both teams needing a win today to stay in contention for direct qualification to the final.

One of the main reasons for Pakistan’s downfall in recent years has been the inclusion of “bits and pieces” players. Those who bat in the lower order but rarely bowl, or bowl part-time without being trusted, add little value to the team. Whether it was the inclusion of Mohammad Nawaz in the Asia Cup 2022 final—where he just bowl a single over—or the underutilization of Nawaz and Shadab in the T20 World Cups of 2022 and 2024 under Babar Azam, such selections have consistently cost Pakistan.

Looking back, Nawaz was the player of the series in the tri-nation series and even took a hat-trick in the final against Afghanistan to seal the trophy for Pakistan. Yet, against India, he wasn’t given the ball and was used only as a batter. The same inconsistency is seen with Saim Ayub, who managed just 21 runs in 4 Asia Cup matches. He picked up six wickets overall, but when handed the ball against India, he conceded 35 runs in just three overs, including two expensive overs in the powerplay. More surprisingly, he was bowled ahead of a proper spinner like Nawaz.

For Pakistan to win big matches, there has to be a proper balance of batters and bowlers. Currently, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha (the captain himself), and Faheem Ashraf are all playing in-between roles—neither genuine batters nor fully utilized bowlers. If Faheem and Nawaz are considered bowling all-rounders, then the skipper must trust them enough to use them properly.

The better combination is simple: Pakistan should go with six proper batters, one all-rounder, and four proper bowlers. Between Nawaz and Faheem, only one should make the XI based on conditions. If the pitch suits spin, Nawaz plays. If it favors seam, Faheem should get the nod. Both are capable with the bat, so their inclusion should depend on bowling needs, not favoritism.

Among bowlers, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Wasim Jr. can be rotated according to pitch conditions. Either Abrar Ahmed or Sufiyan Muqeem should play as the genuine spinner, and on spin-friendly tracks, both can feature together by replacing a pacer.

As for Saim Ayub and Mohammad Nawaz, if they aren’t contributing in their primary roles, they shouldn’t be part of the XI. Saim is not a genuine spinner, while Nawaz is not a reliable batter. Pakistan would be better off fielding a proper batter like Hasan Nawaz in place of Nawaz, or a genuine spinner like Sufiyan Muqeem instead of Saim.

The focus should also shift from gestures to results. Haris Rauf bowled well, but his on-field gestures only carry weight if the team ends up winning. Sahibzada Farhan celebrated his fifty like a match-winning knock, but after reaching fifty off 34 balls, He eventually managed just 58 off 45, and Pakistan’s innings slowed down soon after. After reaching fifty, he managed just 7 runs off his next 11 balls. Compare this to Abhishek Sharma, who smashed 74 off 39 with genuine impact—that’s the difference.

Pakistan’s coaches and players keep talking about “aggressive intent,” but their actions show otherwise. Celebrating 58 off 45 balls as if it’s a masterclass, while managing only 38 runs between overs 11–17 against India, shows the mindset issue. And how can Pakistan claim to play fearless cricket when their most aggressive batter, Hasan Nawaz, was benched against their arch-rivals? Hussain Talat, Nawaz, and Agha slowed the innings with cautious play. Faheem Ashraf made an impression, but had he been promoted alongside Mohammad Haris and Shaheen Afridi—who already smashed 6 sixes this tournament at a strike rate of 206.45—Pakistan could have easily crossed 190+ and changed the game.

The debate around Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan also resurfaces here. They were criticized for slow play, but at least they had the skills and consistency. They were sidelined due to their unwillingness to adapt, but now Salman Ali Agha is repeating the same mistakes. Even tactical calls, like not sending Haris ahead of himself, show a lack of intent from the captain.

Pakistan cricket continues to reward mediocrity. Even after back-to-back losses to the same opposition, players celebrate personal milestones as if they’ve achieved something. This mindset needs to end.

To truly progress, Pakistan must move beyond bits and pieces players and field an XI filled with genuine batters and bowlers. Anything less will only keep them stuck in mediocrity.

Still, the clash against Sri Lanka won’t be easy. Sri Lanka’s batters are in form, their bowling attack is strong, and history isn’t on Pakistan’s side. Pakistan hasn’t beaten Sri Lanka in a T20I since 2017, and Sri Lanka has won the last five encounters between 2019 and 2022—including the Asia Cup 2022 final.