Why is Faheem Ashraf always the fall guy?

Team management wants an extra spinner, make Faheem sit out. They want to get a pacer in, sorry Faheem. For so very long, there was an urgent need of a pace bowling all-rounder. While, the Islamabad United man hasn’t really fulfilled that role, his performance with the ball have been impressive. With the bat, as detailed before he hasn’t really got an opportunity on a consistent basis. He has been able to offer cameos at best. But at least there is potential ability to clear the boundaries, something most Pakistani batsmen, lack.

And with the ball, Faheem Ashraf is currently the highest ranked T20 pace bowler at number 8. Above him are almost exclusively leg spinners. For someone who often bowls in the power play and at the death, Faheem’s economy at under 7 is remarkable. His control of length make him a tremendous challenge for batsman. He can bowl a Yorker, bouncer and slower balls. An ideal T20 product, he is. If not an all-rounder, he is a terrific T20 bowler, who can make a quick 10-15.

Yet was dropped after the 1^st T20 to bring in Shaheen Shah Afridi. In the 1^st ODI, Faheem delivered with pinpoint accuracy wide Yorker to David Miller, who struggled to hit it towards his preferred areas. In stark contrast, Usman Shinwari kept feeding full tosses just where Miller likes them. The result was, Pakistan conceding at least 20-25 runs extra. We lost by 7.

Sometimes, it does feel like that the team management makes changes just for the sake of it. More often than not, the fall guy is Faheem.