***Official*** India in Pakistan

[Fusion]

It should be highly anticipated because it is a rare occasion on which both teams are playing solid cricket. India have thrashed Sri Lanka and drawn against South Africa, and Pakistan have defeated England. India and Pakistan, two nations with immense cricketing talent, might finally be playing to their potential.

True, but that still doesn't mean that the series would have the same interest as before. I will echo others on this board (and PCB Chairman) who think that Pakistan and India should play less often against each other. Every two years, a six match Test series like the Ashes should be adopted by Pak/Ind.

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

This series is a little too volatile to predict, but this should be the Indian Test side

• Sehwag
• Gambhir
• Dravid (C)
• Tendulkar
• Laxman
• JP Yadav(RM)
• Dhoni (WK)
• Irfan (LFM?)
• Harbhajan (OB)
• Kumble (LBG)
• RP Singh (LFM)
• RESERVE: Powar (OB)
• RESERVE: Sreesanth (RFM)
• RESERVE: Yuvraj
• RESERVE: Dheeraj Jadhav

The current Pakistani Test side is good enough as it is, with Afridi (when not banned) and Kaneria as options.

Personally Arjun, no matter who your allegiances in India lie with, I cannot see the Indian selectors picking Yadav. He is obviously a very talented player at Ranji level, and IMO more suited to the Test arena than ODIs, but the pure bureaucracy of the selectors make his selection a no-no. I can however, see him being picked on tours to SA, England, New Zealand where the ball does a little more, and I do think that he would now strengthen the bowling attack seeing as reliable runs should come from Dhoni.

But he will not IMO make his debut against Pakistan. Against SL, a possibility.

Although never say never...

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

Sorry for double post but...
a) I agree with Aussie... why have RP Singh when Zaheer is available
b) IMO Karthik is tried and tested and a much better spinner than Powar

The Indian side has been hampered by constant tinkering as of late, so why not some consolidation while the OD is rebuilt, especially just before a big series

 

[Arjun]

right on with all those points. my main point is that yadav is special because he can be a good fifth bowler in one-day cricket, but in test cricket the fifth bowler isnt as essential because overs are unlimited. that's why i think we're better served playing a 6th specialist batsman in tests. in odis, jp yadav or the supersub rule saves us.

• We've seen Ganguly picked as an all-rounder, but he just bowled two (?) overs and then was taken off.
• Moreover, time and again, we've seen the opening bowlers struggle because there's been no backup.
• With Yadav as a third seamer, you can pick Kumble AND Harbhajan, the team's best Test bowlers
• The sixth specialist batsman isn't really needed when the top five can do their job, and do better, when we know they can. There's nothing Yuvraj or Kaif can do that the top five above can't.
• You have someone who can score just as many runs and also bowl long spells, taking an extra wicket, making it easier for the strike bowlers. Besides, I've also suggested an alternative on the previous page.

 

[Arjun]

Sorry for double post but...
a) I agree with Aussie... why have RP Singh when Zaheer is available
b) IMO Karthik is tried and tested and a much better spinner than Powar

The Indian side has been hampered by constant tinkering as of late, so why not some consolidation while the OD is rebuilt, especially just before a big series

If you ask me, I have no problem with Zaheer getting a Test recall, but fielding and fitness are a concern. Not to mention, he has to attack and get back those yards of pace which made him such an effective bowler in 2002– and of course, that yorker.

Karthik is jut a replacement for Kumble or Harbhajan, nothing more, and you see it when he makes the playing XI. Instead, you can try out a fresh, young spinner or one of similar ability who can also score runs– except, this is not a one-day side. At least nine players out of eleven pick themselves, so you can take a risk with the other two. It's a good idea to take a risk that way, as long as you don't drop Tendulkar or Dravid!

 

[Arjun]

Personally Arjun, no matter who your allegiances in India lie with, I cannot see the Indian selectors picking Yadav. He is obviously a very talented player at Ranji level, and IMO more suited to the Test arena than ODIs, but the pure bureaucracy of the selectors make his selection a no-no. I can however, see him being picked on tours to SA, England, New Zealand where the ball does a little more, and I do think that he would now strengthen the bowling attack seeing as reliable runs should come from Dhoni.

But he will not IMO make his debut against Pakistan. Against SL, a possibility.

Although never say never...

Even though I often support Central teams in domestic matches (Punjab, Haryana and Mumbai are exceptions, while I support other teams for a few players), that's not why I push for the selection of Yadav. I've seen Test teams which are consistently successful, and they have an all-rounder or two. The Indian team, as we all know, are inconsistent. When have they had an all-rounder in the side? Currently, there's an opening for one, so it's not a bad idea to sneak one in. Besides Yadav, I'd even recommend the relatively raw Joginder Sharma or even take a risk and have Munaf Patel (batting unproven) or a specialist bowler (Irfan needs to score more then), but Yadav's the best choice so far.

 

[Arjun]

Ummm.....hold on there. This is Pakistan, not India. We've seen an Indian XI with three seamers and one spinner playing in Pakistan on their last tour. In that case, would you have both Kumble and Harbhajan? Sicne they are India's best Test bowlers, it's not too bad an idea, and the third seamer should just be a backup for these two and also score more runs. Otherwise, pick three seamers, and then go in for Ramesh Powar or Yusuf Pathan as the second spinner.

 

[James]

***Official*** India in Pakistan

Series Schedule

 

[Deja moo]

Should be a good series, although not as highly anticipated IMO as the 2003 one.
Pakistan have the edge IMO, but you never can say. They have only 2 bowlers capable right now of taking 20 wickets.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

This is getting to be like the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. Fans aren't getting time to build up enough saliva to drool over such an encounter. Three series in three years between the same countries is a bit rich.

 

[Nonentity]

This is getting to be like the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. Fans aren't getting time to build up enough saliva to drool over such an encounter. Three series in three years between the same countries is a bit rich.

couldn't agree more

 

[deeps]

Afridi and Tendulkar will dominate this series

 

[Run like Inzy]

Afridi dominating a game or two perhaps not consistent enough for the whole series! lol Tendulkar will make runs IMO too and Dhoni! Key players for Pakistan are of course Shoaib and Inzy (the all rounders too i guess)

 

[Xuhaib]

Sachin has never dominated an Ind-Pak series sure he's had his moments but he has never been the major star of the duels. I guess this would be a fitting time to have a BIG series.

 

[Run like Inzy]

yeah but how many indo pak series have there been? just 2 in recent times (not talking about Sharjah etc. as it involves other countries)

 

[Pratters]

Merge merge merge!

 

[Xuhaib]

The Dream Scenario​

We are at the National stadium karachi day 4th after tea the series is 1-1 and India chasing 249 are 223/8 on strike is SRT 118* and charging in from the University Course end is Shoaib Akhtar 6/55.LOLz getting goose bumps just thinking about it

 

[Neil Pickup]

The Dream Scenario​

We are at the National stadium karachi day 4th after tea the series is 1-1 and India chasing 249 are 223/8 on strike is SRT 118* and charging in from the University Course end is Shoaib Akhtar 6/55.LOLz getting goose bumps just thinking about it

... and Sachin chokes. Again

 

[aussie]

has i mentioned before in another similar thread i hope next years series is the last one for at least 2 years, IMO an annual series is overdoing it...

 

[Jono]

Yeah an annual series is overdoing it, but if there is one positive from this, both teams are probably playing their best cricket overall for a long time. India are a totally different unit in the ODI form, and look to have made minor changes to their test team as well. Their batsman are in pretty good form, and Pathan is showing plenty of potential with the bat as well.

Need not worth mentioning why Pakistan are in ripping form. Its pretty obvious. Should be a good series IMO.