The Seven Messiah’s of Pakistan Cricket

In a matter of couple of days Pakistan Cricket has been subject to mockery, the first on the field by opponent and then the next day beaten by their own national governing body in terms of even bigger abject performance, a lot has been written on Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s governance but in this article we try to analyse who are these seven messiah’s who are on plane to England to save them from further disgrace

 

1.      Saad Baig :  Born in Karachi, 19 year old Saad Baig is a talented wicket keeper batsman, he ended up the Quaid-e-Azam  trophy, Pakistan first class tournament as top run scorer with 1000 runs at an average of 55.55 in 2025-26. He is proactive run scorer and someone who is very good keeper for spinners. As a teenage captain of the U19 national team and the Karachi Blues, he has shown an incredibly mature head.

The bigger question will it be sufficient to survive at Edgbaston if he gets a go in the Test match? Playing from empty stadium in domestic cricket to a packed house in completely different conditions, PCB thinks so he can be their messiah.

Saad Baig is a talented keeper; will Pakistan rope him young like Moin and Rashid

First Class Record

Matches	Innings	n/o	Runs	Average	Catches	Stumps	Age
27	47	3	1739	39.52	79	11	19

2.      Saim Ayub : Anyone who follows Pakistan cricket knows about Saim Ayub as a stylish opener who plays well in limited over format. Saim is widely considered one of the most naturally gifted, aesthetically pleasing young stroke-makers in Pakistan. He possesses an array of modern shots, most famously his signature "no-look scoop" over fine leg. He is gifted, possesses gorgeous wrist-work, and carries the fearless confidence of a generation raised on franchise cricket

The problem here is that he is seen as a messiah to resolve an issue in which he is not an expert, a limited over format cricketer seen as problem resolver for test opening slot. A tendency to play away from the body can lead him to all sorts of trouble against a hungry English test attack.  An average of 26 after 8 Tests does not gives lot of confidence.

Test Record

Matches	Innings	n/o	Runs	Average	100	50	Age
8	14	0	364	26.00	0	3	24

 

3.      Abdullah Fazal  :  One of the most deserving player who should be in Pakistan’s ill top order.  Born and raised up in highly professional and competitive Karachi cricket circles, Fazal was nowhere on the scene few years ago but his rise has been steady and swift. After scoring his maiden first class century in 2024-25, he showed gumption in 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam trophy final, scoring 88 and 114 to seal the title for Karachi blues. It was a prime reason why he was selected on the tour of Bangladesh where he made his Test debut, he had scores of 66,60,9 and 6 on the tour and was on tour to West Indies where he was injured and sent back home.

The big question though will be whether he would be fit enough for the grueling test at Edgbaston.

Fazal - from being unlucky to be out to being back on tour 

First Class Record

Matches	Innings	n/o	Runs	Average	100	50	Age
27	50	2	1969	41.02	4	12	23

 

4.      Arafat Minhas :  Minhas grabbed global headlines by becoming the first Pakistani male bowler in cricket history to take a five-wicket haul on ODI debut. He pulled off this historic 5-32 against  Australia in Rawalpindi. It is however perplexing to see that he averages only 32.44 in batting after 17 matches and has only 22 wickets in those games , a clear indication he has not been good in First class cricket. The issue is PCB is vying him as an all-rounder who can lift the team in the final Test, someone who can be their savior, the doubt though continues to linger on his long format credentials.

 

First Class Record – Batting

Matches	Innings	n/o	Runs	Average	100	50	Age
17	30	1	941	32.44	152*	1	21

First Class Record – Bowling

Matches	Balls	Runs	Wickets	Average	5w	4w	Strike rate
17	1128	712	22	32.36	0	0	51.2

 

 

5.      Mohammad Imran Junior  : Selected by accident in similarity to name with Mohammad Imran Randhawa, It was a funny incident disclosed by Osman Samuddin, prominent journalist. The board initially intended to select Mohammad Imran (widely known as Imran Randhawa), a seasoned 30-something right-arm pace-balling all-rounder who has put in years of hard work and boasts an excellent first-class record in the domestic circuit.

However, when the official squad was printed, the administration had accidentally called up and booked a ticket for Mohammad Imran Jnr, a 24-year-old left-arm bowler who is purely a T20 white-ball specialist. Everyone in the cricket fraternity was left completely shocked. Imran Jnr has barely played eight first-class matches in four years and had only played one single red-ball match the entire previous domestic season.

By the time PCB realized their blunder they had got tickets booked for both and hence to avoid that they said they selected both of them. Mohammad Imran Junior is an accidental messiah who have played 8 First Class games only and have 23 wickets at 30.86

Matches	Balls	Runs	Wickets	Average	5w	4w	Strike rate
8	1212	710	23	30.86	0	0	52.6

6. Mohammad Imran Randhawa:   The selectors wanted to select Randhawa as an all-rounder who can replace Aamer Jamal. A 29 year bowling all rounder who have taken 110 wickets in 58 games at 34.83 and with bat he has u useful average of 26.52. He was though selected to fill in as a bowler who can bat a bit as well.

The biggest asset driving his selection is that Randhawa is actively adapted to English conditions. He has been playing extensively in the England club cricket circuit with Whitmore Cricket Club. His physical presence in England and his vastly improved average of 26.45 in recent times worked in his favour. . The board is desperately hoping his "bits-and-pieces" package can somehow hold the lower order together.

Randhawa being seen as an Allrounder 

First Class Record – Batting

Matches	Innings	n/o	Runs	Average	100	50	Age
58	90	5	2255	26.52	179	2	29

First Class Record – Bowling

Matches	Balls	Runs	Wickets	Average	5w	4w	Strike rate
58	6514	3832	110	34.83	4	4	59.2

 

6.      Razaullah  :   The Final messiah whom Pakistan is looking at to resurrect their Test fortunes. 21 Year old pacer has played 8 First Class games and has 30 wickets with an impressive average of 20.86. It includes three separate five-wicket hauls (with a best of 5/37). He plays first-class cricket for Sahir Associates. He relies heavily on natural bounce, generating uncomfortable carry off the pitch due to a high, rhythmic release action. He operates at a steady, sharp pace and targets the stumps relentlessly.

The biggest issue here lies in the fact inspite of all the talent and promising prospects he has very little exposure to big games. A failed debut at Edgbaston might see selectors dropping him for ever, thereby killing a talent.

 

Razaulllah - A bright but untested prospect 

First Class Record – Bowling

Matches	Balls	Runs	Wickets	Average	5w	4w	Strike rate
8	1136	626	30	20.86	3	1	37.8

 

Ultimately, the PCB’s emergency flight of the “7 Messiahs” to England is not a masterclass in aggressive scouting—it is a public confession of administrative panic. By throwing raw teenagers, uninspiring bits-and-pieces players, and un-blooded prospects directly into the Birmingham fire, the executive floor is relying on overnight miracles to cover up systemic failures. Expecting individual talent to survive a volatile framework that panic-sacks veterans and prompts Chief Selector Misbah-ul-Haq to resign is peak institutional delusion. Until the board moves past this reactionary savior complex and builds a professional corporate structure, Pakistan cricket will remain permanently trapped in a cycle of boardroom chaos.