***Official*** Zimbabwe in Pakistan

[shortpitched713]

I'm going to put it out there and say that Mohammad Sami is a much better bowler than Abdur Rauf. There are probably about 30 bowlers who deserve selection more than Rauf.

Yes, but all 45 of them are better than Sami.

 

[shortpitched713]

Farcical. Basically sums up Pakistan cricket.

Tbh, I don't think there was anything more farcical than that Test match where we went in with an attack consisting of from best to worst, Kaneria, a half fit Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, and Sohail Tanvir.

 

[shortpitched713]

So far in this series Sohail Kham and Wahab Riaz have impressed the most with the ball with Kamran Hussain and Rauf also looking decent. Definatley surprised with Wahab Riaz since there has been virtually no hype for him and in my oponion he has just shaded Sohail Khan. Psst...cant believe we persisted so long with Sami despite having such decent back ups.

It really did surprise me personally that they dropped Sohail for the last match in favor of Rauf though. If Sohail is thought of so highly then that didn't make any sense.

 

[Perm]

Yes, but all 45 of them are better than Sami.

Sami>Rauf. Easily.

 

[brockley]

This is zimbabwe anyone can look world class.
Zimbabwe made ireland look good.

 

[NZTailender]

Potential? Based on what?

I'd say he's bloody dire, look at this. His first two seasons combined were good, average of 25 and economy of 4.79. But how on earth can you select a bowler who has been averaging almost 63 and going at 6.2 an over? Farcical. Basically sums up Pakistan cricket.

Based on his FC career. I'm not really an advocate for picking someone for one form based on the other, but he's clearly not a horrible bowler if he can manage an average of 25 in first class cricket. He isn't going to be the worlds greatest ODI superstar, but Pakistan have picked him probably more as a reward for bowling well in first class domestic, and seeing how he handles the international stage, perhaps with a view to bring him into test side. Thats why I said he has talent, not potential.

 

[Unattainableguy]

Also bowling averages in PAK domestic cricket are not a good indicator of a player's ability. The guy Samiullah Niazi for example averages 18 in FC, but he looked extremely poor whereas Shoaib Akhtar surprisingly averages 26 in FC matches, but is one of the best international bowlers. I'd say for bowlers, PAK selectors should actually watch them play rather than selecting them based on FC stats.

 

[Perm]

Also bowling averages in PAK domestic cricket are not a good indicator of a player's ability. The guy Samiullah Niazi for example averages 18 in FC, but he looked extremely poor whereas Shoaib Akhtar surprisingly averages 26 in FC matches, but is one of the best international bowlers. I'd say for bowlers, PAK selectors should actually watch them play rather than selecting them based on FC stats.

Maybe the Pakistani selectors have seen something I haven't, but the figures I quoted in response to NZTailenders's post indicate an extremely poor bowler. You can't justify selecting somebody averaging over 60 and conceeding more than a run-a-ball as a specialist ODI bowler.

 

[Xuhaib]

Sami>Rauf. Easily.

Again based on stats.

I have seen Rauf bowl and even though he dosen't seem like a world beater but he still looks better then Sami, infact I believe with some good guidance he can be our Shabbir Ahmed minus the chucking arm.

 

[Xuhaib]

It really did surprise me personally that they dropped Sohail for the last match in favor of Rauf though. If Sohail is thought of so highly then that didn't make any sense.

He has been carrying shoulder niggle for sometime and was never fully fit throughout the series.

 

[Langeveldt]

well Zimbabwe has played some good cricket in Pakistan but unfortunately cudnt win I guess itz good that they didnt win...we cant afford a defeat against Zimbabwe at all...anyways thanks to them that they came n wish them Good luck especially against India lol
btw I liked it the way their Captain said Shukriya Pakistan

Yeah Prosper is a bit of a legend to be honest.. Pleased with the Zimbos performance, yes they were comprehensively beaten in this series, but they played with the pride and fight that one should always be assosciating Zimbabwe with.. No discredit to international cricket, I hope they can get some sort of a nucleus of players going and excel in the SA domestic scene

 

[brockley]

Zimbabwe's batting has improved.
But their bowling lacks fire,strang and chigumbra opening is just medium pace.
Would bring in rainsford and maybe mawhire.
Batting tho,they don't go on and get 100's.

 

[NZTailender]

They didn't get fired out for sub 100 scores or amde to look like hopeless park cricketers; in that respect, I think they showed that Zimbabwe Cricket still has some hope.

 

[brockley]

Ready enough for test status vs india in may?
Their batting has improved,
Don't have the winning feeling tho.At least they beat the west indies once recently i guess.

 

[NZTailender]

Not for test status, no. I think their batting has improved, and can rival Bangladesh but their bowling is a bit behind Bangladesh IMHO.

 

[Prince EWS]

Abdur Rauf - worst selection ever for an ODI side?

Jesse Ryder, anyone?

 

[Perm]

Again based on stats.

I have seen Rauf bowl and even though he dosen't seem like a world beater but he still looks better then Sami, infact I believe with some good guidance he can be our Shabbir Ahmed minus the chucking arm.

Well obviously, not being privileged enough to watch Pakistani domestic cricket, I've made my judgement based on the fact that Abdur Rauf takes his wickets at a huge cost each, and leaks runs. Not a good bowler by any means. Maybe he has the potential, but at this stage, he isn't anything other than poor.