**Official** India v Pakistan

[Jono]

how long do you think ganguly will remain captain and ensure that one solid batsman is out of the lineup (either yuvraj or kaif)?

I agree with you regarding Kaif, but if I had to choose between Ganguly and Yuvraj I'd choose Ganguly. At the moment Yuvraj has no right to be in the team until that technique of his is fixed. Ganguly isn't the best test batsman in the world, but I'd rather him out there than Yuvraj if we needed 100 runs to win with 2 wickets in hand and one batsman left, that's for sure.

I feel so sorry for Kaif. Not getting into the side is one thing, and that was unfortunately expected, but not getting into the squad must be shattering.

 

[SJS]

Its all about Yuvraj and keeping him in. This, having him in the squad has ensured that he is there for at least two if not all three games.

In all probability, Laxman will play the first game (its sad that we should be talking in these terms of a player of his caliber) and if he fails, Yuvraj, by virtue of being in the squad would be in consideration and if Laxman is dropped, he would be the one to get in. Simple.

If Laxman gets a big score in the first test, Yuvraj will continue to be on the bench (how to drop him without a chance !!) and if Laxman gets a 30-40, he (laxman) may get another chance and Yuvraj still stays !!

Talking of Laxman and the possibility of his being dropped if he faiils in the first game, what a farce this is. An official said yesterday that Laxman was included because the selectors wanted to give him "one more chance" !!! This for a player who has performed so consistently, except in 2004, over last five years and along with Dravid and Tendulkar is our most successful test batsman since 2000 !

Just look at the chart below and notice the batsman at the extreme right !!!!

PS: What has Kaif done to deserve this treatment ?
PPS Laxman did not get the easy opportunities of amassing runs against the Bangladeshis.
PPPS Sponsors rule, OK !

 

[SJS]

It looks even more perplexing if you add the next two apirants.

 

[Arjun]

A similar question is being asked on ICF- except that they have considered a third option- that dreadful idea of sending Yuvraj to open again. That was where it started. Won't they ever learn?

 

[Sehwag309]

A similar question is being asked on ICF- except that they have considered a third option- that dreadful idea of sending Yuvraj to open again. That was where it started. Won't they ever learn?

...its an idea, whats there to learn? Dunno where this was asked but why not

 

[Choora]

Pak skipper, Inzamam, came up with an interesting statement yesterday.He said that Danish Kaneria would be the key man for Pakistan and Pakistan will be looking to Kaneria to get Indian wkts in test matches (something he used to say about Akhtar before the start of test series)

I'm just wondering that if Kaneria fails (most likely) in the test matches then would he ends up as the scape goat for Pak team?? As Akhtar is not playing the series, Inzi do need someone to put the blame onto.

 

[TendulkarFan]

PS: What has Kaif done to deserve this treatment ?
PPS Laxman did not get the easy opportunities of amassing runs against the Bangladeshis.

Like you said SJS, the reason behind this is politics. And it's so obvious it's sickening.

I can't imagine what Kaif must be feeling - all he has done is put his hand up and perform everytime he has been asked to. He's miles ahead of anyone else in fielding department and is, in my opinion, the second most sensible batsmen in the team, next only to Dravid. Unlike others (excluding Dravid), he doesn't throw his wicket away to rash shots and often looks to build innings through patient hard work.

 

[Sehwag309]

I am wondering if that episode where Kaif broke down due to cramps or something in Ind/Aus game has anything to do with this?

But nonetheless, shocking really.

 

[Sehwag309]

Time for some Class Humour and Crap Journalism​

Series officials decision by ICC blind and rigid

BY LT-GEN (RETD) JAVED NASIR
Despite Rudi Koertz and Darrel Hairs's grossly prejudiced and pro Australian umpiring which gave a totally unfair victory to the Australians in the second final against Pakistan and evoked painful criticism in Pakistan media for the first time, rather than taking any corrective actions or implementing PCB's recommendations, ICC's nomination of both these ante Pakistan umpires for the first Test between India and Pakistan reflects very poorly on its conduct.
Every one knows that neither of the two umpires has the guts to give any wrong decision against the Indians because the Indian media will shred them to pieces and some Indian nationals will not hesitate in posing a major threat to their lives. Therefore Pakistan will be playing the first Test under extreme adverse psychological pressure knowing that its fate has already been sealed by the imprint on the minds of Rudi and Hairs in favour of India. In the second Test Hairs will be standing with Bucknor and in the final test Taufel and Billy Bowden will stand.
One fails to understand that when Taufel, Bowden and Bucknor are all available why they are not being given the responsibility to umpire all the three tests when the same ICC had given this responsibility to Bucknor Taufel and Aleem Dar for the five tests played recently between England and RSA in which all three had performed excellently.
With Taufel and Bucknor available why has Rudi been nominated to mess up the final three ODI's. ICC has paid no attention to PCB's recommendation that all umpires even in the ODI's must be neutral. Why ICC has consented to appoint the Indian umpires? Bishen Singh Bedi was very fair when he said that the Indian umpire had gifted four victims to ensure entry of Kumble's name in world record book of ten wickets in an innings.
West Indies and Indian umpires had the worst reputation but both have now been ousted by the Australian and South African umpires. ICC must decide earliest for all umpires to be neutral if it wants to save the cricket from becoming the domain of dictatorship of umpires.
PCB must also take up the case with ICC to ensure that all countries play the same number of tests and ODIs in one year. ICC would be welcome to introduce two tier rule; the top team in the junior grade should win a position in the higher grade and the lowest in the senior's rating be relegated to the junior grade for every World Cup.

LINK

 

[adharcric]

I personally don't know too much about this issue so please excuse any ignorance on my part. Is this guy labeling these umpires (Hair, Koertzen) as biased against Pakistan or as umpires that easily succumb to home-side pressure. Is he saying that Koertzen and Hair will make pro-India/bad decisions because they don't want to get blasted by the media and others? In that case, why wouldn't the other umpires do the same. Or is he saying that Koertzen and Hair are simply "bad" umpires? I'm not sure about this, but this guy seems to be throwing all the BS he can possibly come up with out there to make some kind of excuse for why Pakistan will lose the series. (so much for believing in your national side)

Is there not a home-side pressure in every nation, and not just India?

 

[adharcric]

Is it true that India will play 3 seamers and 1 spinner in the first test at Mohali? Why else would they have picked Balaji and Nehra behind Pathan and Khan? Pretty sure we won't leave out Kumble right now, but how can we leave out Harbhajan Singh?!

 

[honestbharani]

depends on the track. My gut feeling is that we will see 2 pacers and 2 spinners.

 

[dudeurfriend]

Spot on... 2 seamers and 2 spinners......

 

[adharcric]

darn, if they were going to go with 2 seamers, why couldn't they just include Kaif as an eighth batsman instead of including both Balaji AND Nehra. even if they had included powar instead, that would've been a solid selection. oh well, perhaps this will give kaif a chance to score a century against pakistan in the BPXI match and force the selectors to include him for the 2nd test ... while yuvraj, balaji and nehra sit on their asses

 

[Sehwag309]

Another twist​

PCB conveys reservations to India over Dalai Lama

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked the Indian cricket authorities to keep politics away from its forthcoming series in India.

Sources in the Board told ‘The News’ on Saturday that Pakistan had conveyed its reservations to the Indians over the decision to invite the Dalai Lama to inaugurate the three-day match between Pakistan and the Indian Board President’s Eleven in the northern hill resort of Dharamsala.

Pakistan play the three-dayer from March 3 to kick off their tour of India that includes three Tests and six One-day Internationals.

"The PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan spoke to the Indian board officials on Saturday insisting that Pakistan should not be put in an embarrassing position as it enjoyed very good relations with China," the source disclosed.

The Dalai Lama leads a life in exile in India after an uprising against Chinese rule 42 years ago, after which he fled, followed by thousands of Tibetans.

"BCCI conveyed to Shaharyar that it was not their decision to invite the Dalai Lama to inaugurate the match and that this was done by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association.

"But Pakistan has said it has no problems with the Dalai Lama opening the match or witnessing it from the confines of the pavilion," he added.

"Shaharyar however has asked BCCI to be very selective while confirming future engagements of the Pakistan team on the tour," the source stated.

LINK

 

[Arjun]

darn, if they were going to go with 2 seamers, why couldn't they just include Kaif as an eighth batsman instead of including both Balaji AND Nehra. even if they had included powar instead, that would've been a solid selection. oh well, perhaps this will give kaif a chance to score a century against pakistan in the BPXI match and force the selectors to include him for the 2nd test ... while yuvraj, balaji and nehra sit on their asses

Yuvraj may have a lot of work outside the playing XI- he may be, or should be, called on as a substitute fielder repeatedly.

Powar may not have made the first Test team, but if he carries on his good form with the ball and strikes a rapid score of over 50 (preferably a 100, though hopefully at least twice as much as the little one) in the BPXI match.

Was Nehra picked specifically to stay on the bench and give the playing XI regulars an extended stay? Maybe he will get a match if he keeps up his good form from the last match in the next one against South Zone.

 

[Arjun]

Is it true that India will play 3 seamers and 1 spinner in the first test at Mohali? Why else would they have picked Balaji and Nehra behind Pathan and Khan? Pretty sure we won't leave out Kumble right now, but how can we leave out Harbhajan Singh?!

There might be some point in playing a third seamer in Mohali, but it's not so favourable to the seamers as it was when Benjamin and Walsh ran through an Indian batting lineup. In the last two Tests, 3 spinners from either side got as many as 19 wickets between them in 2001 and in 2003, the pitch assisted nobody, had no pace, bounce or turn. Zaheer and Balaji went for more than 150 runs and got no wicket, so picking four medum-pacers is a mistake, unless the curator is keen on making a seamer-friendly wicket, like his Nagpur counterpart.

 

[SJS]

Yuvraj may have a lot of work outside the playing XI- he may be, or should be, called on as a substitute fielder repeatedly.

.

In other words someone or the other from the indian team should keep gettinmg hurt or sick ...repeatedly

 

[Arjun]

In other words someone or the other from the indian team should keep gettinmg hurt or sick ...repeatedly

Zaheer Khan....or Ashish Nehra....or VVS Laxman?

 

[SJS]

Zaheer Khan....or Ashish Nehra....or VVS Laxman?

Should keep getting injured...repeatedly ?? Are you a well wisher of India or what