Pakistan Thread

[vic_orthdox]

Afridi has gotten a perfect little slot at about 6 or 7 IMO. He is either coming in at the death, where his hitting is perfect, or he comes in before the "death overs" and gives Pakistan a head start, where other sides are usually content to take 5 or 6 an over through singles. If the decks are reasonably flat, then it should work.

He's too risky a proposition opening.

 

[Richard]

Afridi is a risky proposition, full-stop. He's not going to suceed anywhere near all the time.
It's remarkable enough that he's succeeded as often as he has in the recent past.
Looking at the figures, in fact, he's done next to nothing at seven; it's eight (of course, can really be attributed to little more than coincidence) that he's been useful; and, of course, at two.

 

[no1_gangsta_786]

What are the pitches usually like in the West Indies? Also which Pakistani batters will be suited to these types of pitches?

 

[TT Boy]

What are the pitches usually like in the West Indies? Also which Pakistani batters will be suited to these types of pitches?

Well supposedly current West Indian pitches are slow and low, which should be right up Pakistan’s alley. If that is the case all of the batsman should be fine and able to cope pretty well.

 

[Richard]

No supposedly about it, pal...
Most West Indian pitches have been slow and low for quite some time, and most don't tend to offer that much in the way of seam or turn.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

No supposedly about it, pal...
Most West Indian pitches have been slow and low for quite some time, and most don't tend to offer that much in the way of seam or turn.

Granted there are a few new grounds to be unveiled and just about every ground has been redone...

 

[IndianByHeart]

Younis Khan is a poor ODI player wherever he bats.
Have you any inspired suggestions as to who should replace him? Bazid Khan? Top-order batsman, last I looked.

Younis khan is perfect for one down slot, he's useless only when he comes down the order.Don't see Pakistan wasting a quality batsmen after a match winning performance by him at AD.

 

[Richard]

Wow, one matchwinning performance...
Wonder if it'll take another 20 or 30 ODIs for the next one.
In any case - it's not like it was an outstanding attack.

 

[Richard]

Granted there are a few new grounds to be unveiled and just about every ground has been redone...

Have all the pitches been relaid?
If so - how many Sabina 1998s are on our hands?

 

[IndianByHeart]

Wow, one matchwinning performance...
Wonder if it'll take another 20 or 30 ODIs for the next one.
In any case - it's not like it was an outstanding attack.

I pointed out that innings to show that he can do well if he is made a permanent one down batmen, rather than being send at 6 or 7 slot where he just gets wasted.Younis isn't that awaful a batsmen to take another 20 match for a good score, i think he will do a fair job , just wait and see.

As for bowling attack, i think Irfan,Sreenath and Ajit on that bowling friendly pitch were that bad an attack.But if you are talking about an outstanding attack like England on seaming pitches, then let me tell you that except for Inzi (and maybe for Akmal) nearly all Pakistani batsmen will falter.

 

[Richard]

Well given that (rightly) we don't see an extraordinary number of really seam-friendly pitches in ODIs I hardly see that that's a terrible problem.
On a reasonable pitch Inzy, Yousuf, Salman and Razzaq are all a perfectly reasonable bet.

 

[haroon510]

Pakistan's OD team has three problems.

1 They are still struggling to find reliable pair of openers.
2 Lack of quality spinner in the team.
3 lack of quality pack up pacers.

Openers
As far as openers are concerned, i think Malik might be the solution for one of the openers, while for the other one its going to be between Farhat and Butt.While Farhat has done well recently, i'm still biased towards Butt and feel that Pakistan won't do with Butt what they have done with Nazir,Hameed,Umer etc.Butt may have been dropped from the pointless OD matches at AbuDhabi, but the selectors have said that he will consdered for Eng tour!!
Another thing to note is that the selectors have included 3 discarded openers in Hameed,Umar and Hafeez for Pak A tour, so whoever do good on A tour might get a chance to make a comeback in the team, and i have a feeling the Hameed will make it.

Spinners
Some of you guys have included Mansoor Amjad in the squad.A World Cup is not a tournament in which any young player can be drafted in, a player need to have some experiance of international cricket before he can be considered for such a tour.The fact that Inzi is still sticking with Danish shows that there will be no place for Mansoor Amjad.Inzi though do realise this weak area of Pak team, and therefore is keen to have a leggie (Danish) and a left arm spinner (Abdul Rehman) in the team.If Rehman does well then he might make it to the squad.

Back up pacers
There are 3 good frontline pacers in Akhtar,Asif and Rana, problem is with the backups.Considering that pacers are getting injured frequently, good backup pacers are vital.I think there will be place for two more pacers from the likes of Sami,Rao,Gul and Arafat.While Sami has been a great dissapointment, still i feel he will somehow make it to the team.The other one could be between Rao and Arafat.

My 15 would be.

Butt
Malik
Younis
Inzi(C)
Yousuf
Razzak
Akmal
Afridi
Akhtar
Rana
Asif

--Yasir Hameed
--Sami
--Rao(if he continue to do well) otherwise Yasir A
--Abdur Rehman or Tahir Khan.

i agree with u. pakistan have 75 days of cricket days. it would be good for pakistan to both play with salman butt and imran farhat and also yasir hameed. the pair that conistently gave pakistan a good start and scored well should be selected for the world cup. as far as malik is concern. the best place for him is number 3. he is a very good one down player.
for no reason saqlien mushtaq is out of the team while he is the best test and oneday spinner today in pakistani team. for a long time he was out cuz of injury he is fine now and he is playing county cricket. there fore he should be selected for the world cup as off spinner. pakistan have tried danish kunaria but he isn't a one day baller the only option which is best is to call saqlen back. he is as good as anil kumbli, murli and shane warn.
as far as fast bawling goes. pakistan have had wonderful fast bawlers in the best and right now also. iam sure mohmmad sami is going to make his place back in the team. shoiab will be back with mohmad asif. i think this is a strong team for pakistan in world cup
1 salman butt
2 imran farhat/ shahid afridi
3 shoib malik
4 inzi
5 yousuf
6 younes
7 kamran akmal
8 abdur razak
9 saqlen mushtaq
10 shoaib akhter
11 mohmad asif

-- mohmad sami
--rana naved ul hasan
--yasir hameed

 

[adharcric]

Regarding the opening pair, Butt and Farhat should both be in the one-day squad. Hameed is already in the A side and if he can't do well enough against A-level opposition, he doesn't deserve a call-up. Forget about Afridi opening, he is far too play-and-miss at the top and good new-ball swing bowling will undo him (ie Pathan's ripper the other day at Abu Dhabi). He is a slogger and is best at #6. Malik is best-suited to the #3 spot but Younis is ONLY suited to the #3 spot and Younis won't get dropped anytime soon. Therefore, Malik has to open. Younis, Inzy and Yousuf are fine as the 3-4-5 batsmen. Akmal and Razzaq are very good lower-order batsmen. In today's one-day cricket, Pakistan don't need a specialist spinner (Kaneria or Mushtaq) as they already have two very handy part-timers to go with 4 seamers. Mansoor Amjad is handy with the bat so he would be a decent option, but he has a long way to go in the bowling department. Akhtar and Asif are world-class. Rana Naved is adequate on his good day. Gul and Sami should both be bowling in the A team along with Arafat.

Butt/Farhat, Malik, Younis, Inzamam, Yousuf, Afridi, Akmal, Razzaq, Naved/Sami, Akhtar, Asif

 

[Pup Clarke]

With the announcement of the squad in the one dayers agianst SA.Does this give a clear indication to the WC squad
My Pakistan WC Squad
Mohammed Hafeez
Shoaib Malik
Yasir Hameed
Younis Khan
Mohammed Yousuf
Inzamam ul-Haq
Shahid Afridi
Abdul Razzaq
Kamran Akmal
Umar Gul
Rana Naved ul-Hasan
Shabbir Ahmed
Shoaib Akthar
Mohammed Asif
Abdur Rehman

And My First X1
Mohammed Hafeez
Shahid Afridi
Younis Khan
Mohammed Yousuf
Inzamam ul-Haq
Shoaib Malik
Abdul Razzaq
Kamran Akmal
Rana Naved ul-Hasan
Shoaib Akthar
Mohammed Asif

 

[pakster]

Well folks, time to moisten up this thread a bit...reasons why Pak will win the world cup:

1. Arguably the longest batting lineup in international cricket (mahmood at 9)
2. Probably the most experience ODI side..players like inzi, yusuf, afridi, razzaq etc have been around for yonks.
3. Best fast bowler in International cricket..there, I said it.
4. Best middle order = Inzi, Yusuf and YK
5. Amazing depth in bowling.
6. Yusuf being the modern day reincarnation of Bradman.
7. 2 huge hitters in Afridi and Razzaq.

 

[IndianByHeart]

And why the won't win it!

Well folks, time to moisten up this thread a bit...reasons why Pak will win the world cup:

1. Arguably the longest batting lineup in international cricket (mahmood at 9)
2. Probably the most experience ODI side..players like inzi, yusuf, afridi, razzaq etc have been around for yonks.
3. Best fast bowler in International cricket..there, I said it.
4. Best middle order = Inzi, Yusuf and YK
5. Amazing depth in bowling.
6. Yusuf being the modern day reincarnation of Bradman.
7. 2 huge hitters in Afridi and Razzaq.

So lets debate as to why they won't win it.

1,crapiest openers in game, safe to say that no one knows who the openers will be in the cup.
2 buttered finger keeper, some say he keeps better for bookies..LOL!
3, players lack fitness, can anyone say for sure that Akhtar and Gull will last till the end of WC??

 

[godofcricket]

So lets debate as to why they won't win it.

1,crapiest openers in game, safe to say that no one knows who the openers will be in the cup.
2 buttered finger keeper, some say he keeps better for bookies..LOL!
3, players lack fitness, can anyone say for sure that Akhtar and Gull will last till the end of WC??

And the biggest point u missed out and which is why i think pak cant win the world cup is they need to know how to play under pressure, they cant win without it. Thats the only thing which counts, teams can be really talented but if they dont know how to perform when it really counts, then u will most likely lose ur track very early.

 

[FRAZ]

Personally I'd give serious consideration to Afridi opening.
.

Same as I thought !

 

[pacespinner]

This is my take on battin line up:

Imran Nazir (bt & bw)
Sahid Afridi (bt & bw)
Sohaib Malik (bt & bw)
Inzamam ul Haq (bt)
Mohammad Yousuf (bt)
Younis Khan (bt)
Kamran Akmal (bt & WK)
Abdul Razzak (bt & bw)
Azhar Mahmood (bt & bw)
Naved ul Hasan (bw)
Mohammad Asif (bw)
Saqlain Mustak (bw)
Sohaib Akhtar (bw)


DAMN THEY HAVE A LOT OF GOOD PLAYERS...PEOPLE WATCH OUT..PAKIS ARE COMIN..

 

[Richard]

Oh, dear... Imran and Shahid opening... recipe for 2-down-instantly...

Mahmood = the poor man's Razzaq.