Asia Cup 2010 in Sri Lanka

Agreed, I said it before... I don't think he could make it through a test. It wouldn't be fair to play him in a test as it would be putting a burden on the other bowlers to carry extra overs. He has got to do what Brett Lee has done and make a decision on tests. Certainly Lee has not been at his most fit either, but I see potential in him also playing 2020 and ODIs and he can still touch 150kph. As long as both those guys can stay away from injury I think we will see them at the 2011 WC. Difference between them though is that Lee is very, very fit, but he's injury prone. Akhtar is both unfit and injury prone and relies on natural talent the most. I'd love to seem the BOTH back in action.

In addition, as I said earlier, you could play Ajmal for Asif. Akhtar, Aamer, Razzaq is a nice pace attack, with variety and then you'd have 3 good spin options.  In tests, Asif, Aamer and Gul would be a good pace battery and you would play Kaneria and Afridi. They are different types of spinners and in reality Pakistan need to play their best players and their most penetrative bowlers... so you'd certainly pick Kaneria in front of Ajmal or a so-so pacer like Abdur Rauf and co.

Anywaz it was great to see shoaib Akhtar back in the side and he delivered well. Hope, he will get his rythm soon in ODI's and yeah he is not fit for tests  

coming to today's game Bangladesh pressed the self destruction button as usual, but we have to say that India looked a much better side. Sehwag makes such a big difference to this line up, not because what he did with the ball today but at the top of the order he gives a big psychological advantage to the team. Good to see Gambhir back in form.

I'm still hoping for an India - Pakistan final!

certainly SLN can't be eliminated now so it indeed looks like IND-SLN once again unless PAK turn it around quite dramatically from here on in, They'll also have to hope that SLN beats IND.

Edited by sam_ahmed - 18 June 2010 at 7:38pm

absolutely spinny, and I tell you what, the first game between SLN and PAK was so exciting and it tells us that there is something so special about ODI's that T20's can never ever provide. Probl;em is people are execting every ODI game to be a "close" affair which is not possible. even in T20's we see some very one sided matches.

you are right Amal, they are losing close games again and again, while the fielding remains to very very very poor. Some top quality all rounders like Razzaq are not being utilised properly and are being treated as bits and pieces players which is quite ridiculous.

Opening remains a problem and we have seen how well Salman has done once selectors and captain have showed confidence in him, similarly is Shahzaib if chosen as the first choice opener then there is no point in dropping him after just one failure. The team selection remains pathetic.

They have 4 top class pacers in Akhtar, Asif, Gul and Aamer and 3 of them should always play along with Ajmal. Relying on 20 overs from Afridi/Razzaq/Mailk is costing Pakistan very badly. this is where Razzaq should be batting higher up the order and should not be treated as a No.8.


Having said all that they have a very very long season ahead of them against some very decent teams and I think if PAK can win one series it'll lead to many...T20's against AUS are next.

Edited by sam_ahmed - 20 June 2010 at 9:47am

you are right. there is no need to restructure ODI's. I am loving all the matches and i love last match, it was a heart stopping match for a person like me(though not satisfied with my team's performer).

Pakistan will also lose all 6 matches with Younus. They will drop 5 catches per match.

everyone said after his first Innings that he is talented. How many times do we see someone playing first Inning and hammering a good Bowling line up. Afridi was always talented but he never used his brain. Now with the responsibility of captaincy he is using his brain. He is very dangouras for the opposition if he plays like this always.

Regarding team for series against AUS and ENG, I think Yasir Hameed's inclusion is a good one and he is expected to play at No.3. I'm disappointed that Fawad was left out, he showed a lot of promise on tour of AUS. So good to see Umer Gul back. Sami should have been in ahead of Wahab Riaz.

Regarding Younus, he is a very good test player and given Pakistan's weak batting, could have been included. Having said that I think this team can still do well but it won't be easy. I feel bad for Younus but I think this is still not the end of the world for him.

My team will be: Salman, Farhat, Hameed, Umer A, Malik, Afridi, Kamran, Aamer, Gul, Danish, Asif.

The Chief selector does not like him - full stop. This is how it goes here. it is a pretty weak time for my likings. I am h happy for Hameed and also happy that Uamr AMin is here - will surely make his debut once Farhat fails for 2 straight matches averaging 18 with the bat and dropping 3 catches per inning.

I dont know what pakistani selectors are looking for. What was the reason for dropping Faisal Iqbal and Sami. I know they are not good players but the didn't anything wrong to be dropped from the side. Why is Malik selected. He is a nothing player in test matches, specially in non-asian conditions. 

Why Kamran is still there? till he is in the team i dont think Pakistan have a chance of winning.

Edited by mystery - 22 June 2010 at 12:06pm

Coming back to Asia Cup, India lost 4 wickets in 4 balls today, Maharoof taking a Hatrick and a 5 wicket haul and SLN won by 7 wickets in 37.2 overs!

Things are not as rosy as they look for India, perhaps they should have lost to Pakistan because that would have been an eye opener. Now irrespective of what happens in the finals they'll happily go to Srilanka (to play them for 102737th time in 18 months ) and if they play like this they'll come back losing 3-0.

Edited by sam_ahmed - 22 June 2010 at 6:23pm

India never win finals so its useless to hope. I think you should hope they dont lose badly like by 100 runs or 9 wickets.

Edited by mystery - 22 June 2010 at 8:01pm