Pakistan v Australia (in England)

We have already had some discussion on Pakistan's squad, the omission  of Younus and how difficult it is for PAK to even think about winning this series. Here is a proper place to discuss more!

List of Fixtures:

yes, although PAK won it very narrowly it is always good to start off a tour with a win, it gives you the momentum and esp. when you have have gone through a win less tour recently it takes away the fear of that happening all over again.

A 3 day game going on between Kent and Pakistan today and PAK scored 360, a scintillating 153 from the "not so talented" as termed by some, Umer Akmal and Umer Gul scored a valuable 30*. Not too many contributions from other batsmen though and that must be a cause of concern for pakistan, Butt scored 26, Malik 27 and Kamran 28. Rehman (who may not get a game when the real thing starts) got 30. Afridi scored a duck and already Pakistan should be worried about his place and form in the longer version of the game. It is vital that Afridi contributes with the bat for Pakistan to have that balance in the side.

It just had to be Umar Akmal and it will be him alongside his elder brother throughout the tour. Pakistan just does not have the batting to make big scores - Umar AKmal will obviously not be scoring tons every times he comes out to play. Also he should be playing at 3 instead of 5.

that MCC match must have been a good watch - pity it was not on TV. Nothing like watching Lara bat - and the match reports suggest he batted with ease and grace. And it was a seriously taken up match as well as the Ganguly-Afridi pitch spat suggests.

There is one more player which people should look out for is Ghumman have seen him play he is a very talented guy he will have a solid future along with Umer and Aamer.

Edited by mystery - 29 June 2010 at 8:02pm

That'll be great for Pakistan cricket if he comes good. Actually Pakistan have never been short of talent, often it has been reasons other than cricket that have lead to their downfall.

Yes none of them are test match quality bowlers. But from nowhere, we can produce decent fast bowlers just like we did Aamer and Asif when nobody knew them. So fingers crossed.

Unfortunately, the reasons were never made known mate. Disharmony is not a reason to ban players - it is just the mismanagement which keeps on ruining our cricket.

PAK beat Essex by 66 runs in the second warm up T20. Good stuff by all the batters and bowlers. A very fine start to the tour for Pakistan, it was also Salman Butt's first game as the captain of Pakistan side!

Razzaq was used well by Butt, I think keeping in mind his good bowling performance in last years WT20 in ENG, he opened the bowling with him and Razzy got 3 top order wickets! It's high time PAK realize the value of a genuine all rounder and stop treating Razzaq as a bits and pieces player who bowls as a part time bowler and bats at No.8! That's just ridiculous.

They can do well in test matches if the slightly experienced players like Butt, Farhat and Malik do well, I hope they play Yasir Hameed ahead of Umer Amin because Yasir is more experienced. Bowlers can certainly keep AUS and ENG to fairly moderate scores but Batting needs to click.

Amin is talented, no doubt about that Mystery but in a team where they already have very little experience, I think Hameed will be a fair choice... also Hameed is someone who was always left out while others were given multiple opportunities to cement their places. Now that finally he ahs been selected, he should be given a go.

Meanwhile Pakistan continue their winning run in warm up games beating Northampton in just 15 overs with Afridi scoring at a SR of 300!!! So all set now for the real thing which begins this monday!

Let me try my luck with predictions/wishes one more time , Aussies to skittle pakistan under 100 atleast in one of the two T20I's.If that happens twice I will be over the moon.

Originally posted by kahmad break the stumps in pieces like they did in the World T20 semi finals :-)) They were trashed by Umar Akmal and co.

If Umer's 35 ball 54 was thrashing , then I don't know what you call Hussey's 24 ball 60.So much for world best bowling (so called) line up. EDIT: "Pasting" would be a nice word.

Edited by MalhotraRaj84 - 05 July 2010 at 12:36pm

Umer Akmal is a definitely a bright hope in Paksitan lineup, but what few posters are making a bit too much a little too soon.Every little cameo/good knock he plays is Wow'ed as next best thing something never seen before.

Edited by MalhotraRaj84 - 05 July 2010 at 2:29pm

Even if Umer fails he is still better than Rohit Charma.

Edited by mystery - 05 July 2010 at 2:45pm

Oh yes, there were some stumps, although not broken but flying all over the place and NO it wasn't tait, Nannes or Johnson but Mr. T20, Umer Gul who was cleaning them up!!! Welcome backl Umer Gul.

Finally, finally, finally, Pakistan beat Australia, it was that man again Umer Akmal who did it with the bat and just how good Umer Gul was, simply brilliant!!!

For the first time since perhaps the time of Inzi, the team looks united. Afridi is doing a fantastic job.

A good start to the tour, but there is a long long season ahead.