Something positive from England!

Pakistan might call this tour as a successful one, but England tour is just round the corner with know THAT won’t be our home-series!
Pakistan’s chasing traumas Sydney 2010 – An Australian collapse for 127 in the first innings had left Pakistan with a target of 176 in the fourth innings – their best opportunity to end a winless run against Australia since Sydney 1995. The openers added a brisk 34 but wickets fell in clusters thereafter and Pakistan were shot out for 139. Dunedin 2009 – Umar Akmal’s debut Test. After making a hundred in the first innings, Akmal was once again the lynchpin, scoring 75, as Pakistan attempted to chase 251. They had a fair chance at 95 for 3 and 161 for 4, but lost their last six wickets for 57. Galle 2009 – Pakistan were 36 for 0 and then 71 for 2, only 97 runs away from victory. Then followed a collapse to rival all other collapses during which eight wickets fell for only 46 runs. Salman Butt was the only one to make it past 20. Port Elizabeth 2007 – The last time Pakistan successfully chased a target of less than 200. Set a target of 191, Pakistan were facing defeat after Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini had reduced them to 92 for 5. Younis Khan, who batted steadily, and Kamran Akmal led a revival that grew into a match-winning partnership of 99, securing a five-wicket victory.

Atlast a vacuity of 15 years was shattered tonight by Pakistan on Australia. I can bet every Pakistani was on the edge of the seat when wicket tally started to move from 3 to 4, than 4 to 5 and when the scores were tied at that vary moment when Kamran Akmal got brilliantly caught off the slips by Mike Hussey, honestly speaking I had my heart in my mouth, and when Umar Gul hit the winning run, my breath got well.

It was SOMEwhat a job well done still slipups can be seen in the batting department, which apart from this time, backfired 3 times in the series (keeping in mind there were only 4 innings for Pakistani batters to bat in this short series), but there can be some positives from this England tour specially in youngsters department where we had much better bowling than Aussies in both the tests, and in batting Azhar Ali had the temperament and got into the limelight! As far as the Junior Akmal concern he didn’t impressed me much apart from being too interactive on the field!

But need of a player with the likes of Younus is required as apart from Junior Akmal there isn’t a batter who could hold the pillars of Pakistani middle order and under him I am sure Azhar Ali will be groomed the most.

Now when this Pakistan Australia series is concluded, England’s series is gonna start just in a 5 days time from now! and England players would be keenly watching this series and observing them, so one might think that another tough fight is in the pipelines for Pakistanis as Pakistanis wont have the privilege of being the host while playing against the England.

And as far as the captaincy woes concern, let us give time to Salman Butt, even a road when gets laid, needs time to get hard before it can be opened for traffic, so skipper needs sometime too and there should be strong hold on players else they’d get out of control like we saw just after ICC World T20 2009…

Too little too much…

Shane Watson took his first test Fiver

Like I said, I wasn’t over-expecting from their current performance with the Duke ball, but now when they started to bat, Aussies showed why they’re a tough side to beat. Even defending a par score of 250 odd runs, they managed to bowl Pakistan out inside the deficit with starting the second inning on high by getting an overall lead of 105, for that too we should thank Salman Butt for his inning because of which we were able to reduce the deficit closer to 100 run mark.

Else I don’t watch live test matches much but whatever I saw 127 for 7 wickets, I switched off the TV (prior to the reason that an annoying PEPCO auntie will appear on the screen telling me to switch off extra lights and use A/C on 26 degrees.. dumb-ass)

Returning to Cricket, now when I am writing this thing, the second day play has been finished which clearly belonged to the Aussies as they were able to finish Pakistan’s batting in a day and than again were batting with a lead of 105 and now when the day’s game over, Aussies have a lead of 200 runs and still 3 days game is left and 6 wickets for Aussies remaining!

I just hope Pakistan able to save this test match as literally without excuses, we were without such batsmen who know how to stay on the wicket, Asim Kamal, Faisal Iqbal, Younus Khan, Mohammad Yousuf to name some! Plus no grooming for replacement of such players can be seen and we’re heavily relying on the raw talent being produced on this land!

As far as the test match concern, Pakistan has the sniff chance but very difficult even than as Aussies have already managed to extend the lead touching 200, and with out batters batting in tendency for stroke playing instead of staying on the wicket and stroke on the badder balls, they tend to stroke every ball, and in such circumstances if Pakistan saves the match would be a greater achievement and should cease think of a positive result from this test!

Well played but…

First day of the Lords test clearly belonged to Pakistan

It was a worth test match to watch, with two Muhammad’s strike early and let the ball to to talk in windy, cloudy and seamy conditions just like we’ve here in Karachi these days, although not as cold but still, but Pakistanis pacers maneuvered the balls wherever and whenever they wanted, although fight from Clarke, Punter and Katich were seen but on the whole, it was more Pakistani bowlers on the Lords Cricket Ground than the Aussies Batsman.

Just before the first days tea, although Aussies had scored 170 odd runs but Pakistani bowlers chipped in with the wickets at regular intervals, and now the second day would be started by Mike Hussey and Australia’s last batsman Doug Bollinger, who was responsible for a match saving and later match winning inning with Mike Hussey at Sydney during the new year’s test match.

Now when Pakistani bowlers have fired, its time for Pakistani batsman to take the first inning leads and to give Australia something of a pressure, while talking of pressure, some pressure has already been exerted by the Aussies to the Pakistanis, not by their cricketers but by their article writers, because the incident they’ve been referring to was just an accident, when Muhammad Aamer being with his follow through went passed Punter with Aamer’s elbow brushing him, can’t they remember how they treated Pakistani players, not going too far, at the World T20 played in West Indies, Kyle Mills when his appeal was rejected in a Super 8 match played at Barbados against Salman Butt, Mills deliberately went closer to the batter to inquire, was that his domain than? He went that closer to be man-handled, so with due respect I’d just say that don’t try to teach us how to treat when you yourselves are involved with it too. Sledging is also above the law in ICC’s code of conduct but still Aussies have been the past masters of this techniques.

Peace!

Severe battle awaiting!

Expecting a good days cricket at the Lords Cricket Ground!

Before the start of the test series between Pakistan and Australia starting tomorrow at the Home of Cricket, keep note of these facts!

# Pakistan have not beaten Australia in a Test since November 1995

# This is the first neutral Test in England since 1912

# Ricky Ponting’s record at Lord’s is poor – he has 109 runs at 18.16 with a highest score of 42. It is his worst average at any venue where he has played at least three Tests.

Things not looking hopeful for Pakistan as now Aussies have their major skipper back in the business and so on some mystery in inclusion of Steven Smith which gives them an option of having added batsman in lower middle order, who can chip in some runs as well, and as the facts clearly mentions, Pakistan didn’t won against the Aussies since November 1995 SCG test!

As I am not a superstitious person I don’t think the last fact do give us an advantage as a team as Punter is a world class player and has a reputation with him. Pakistan team is also having some new faces in the middle order, where other than Junior Akmal, none touches the 40 Avg mark, so slightly new mid order in absence of MoYo and Younus, and we’ve to rely on Malik, Jnr. Akmal, Umar Amin, Azhar Ali, and so its relatively a new look Pakistan side it could open the door for Amin and Azhar to make their Test debuts. From the side that lost in Hobart, Khurram Manzoor, Sarfraz Ahmed and Mohammad Yousuf are gone, with Afridi recalled and Kamran Akmal back in favour with the gloves.

Form guide

(with the recent performance at the left)

Australia WWWWW

Pakistan LLLDW

This clearly shows where the two teams stand and so I need not to say much about it!

Part 1 of the triumph completed

Pakistan comprehensively beating Australia 2-0 in the T20 clash

Yesterday was the end of part1 of the home series including 2 t20 and 2 test matches which are being played in England but hosts are the men in greens. The two T20s which were played, Pakistan was manage to beat Aussies comprehensively, settling the scores from St. Lucia hammering when Mike Hussey played an unbelievable inning to take the match away from Pakistan. This time the story was different as many injured players were returned from their injuries, worth mentioning name was Umar Gul’s inclusion, and he proved worthy of his inclusion when he took the all important wicket of Mike Hussey in the depth over.

This was one dept I personally feel we should look for, as without Umar Gul we’re unable to finish our games, and so have we planned anything for life after this great fast bowler? I know many people might say there’s raw talent scattered across Pakistan, but have we started to polish them, is so? NADA

Aussies have been past masters of creating their bench-strength ready for anytime. Although they were not able to produce greats like McGrath, Warney in bowlers but they’ve produced a closed result. So being a practical sorta person I am happy what Pakistan has achieved after 12 consecutive hammerings from the same team in 3 formats, but we should not be happy so much as things are not good for us in far future! near future it might work.

Although I personally support Waqar Younis’s coaching as he is the perfect candidate to be teaching them the tricks and I personally feel, under the supervision of Waqar, we’re seeing the current Gul all of us are being discussing these days. Its too early to compare him with the Great 2 Ws, but he can near them.

As far as the series’ concern, I think it’ll be a tough contest with Pakistan not showing positive result as far as the stats and result concern but I only hope and wish that they play with the hunger of winning, and even if they lose, don’t give up the fight.

Good wishes

Untitled… Can’t say much to these people

With due respect – please start doing something constructive now!

More tough oppositions in queue for Pakistan. Now after the conclusion of Asia Cup, the next destination Pakistan would be playing their home games would be England where they’ll be conclude Test match series of which the ODI series was played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in 2009. On the other hand, they’ll also be competing against the English in their own conditions with victories against South Africa, Bangladesh and now Australia under their belts already, so it’d be tough competing against them, with current form the Pakistani team is playing, like not finishing on the advantage they’re getting (read the match against the Sri Lankans, where Afridi almost took the match away from Lankans by bringing the required run rate under 6 per over but still loosing the match from that position, no comments for the India match as it was an edge of the seat match and it was won on the last ball of the match).

As I was saying playing in England in their own backyard this time of the year wont be an easy task for Pakistan, keeping in mind this current Pakistani team is without the services of Two Y’s of Pakistani middle order, i.e. Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan, and because no experience is selected, other than Afridi and Shoaib Malik, it would be easy for the English to capitalize on Pakistan on their own weaknesses.

The flaw is from our side, with reference to my previous articles which clearly mentioned that Pakistan didn’t work out for talent hunts and under my personal calculations, the performance difference between current Pakistani national side and Pakistan A team is stretched upto 4-5 years atleast, and that’s where we’re lagging as we’ve to rely again and again on the ones who’re already used whose utility is almost at the end, don’t want to mention such player’s names but they’ve spent their times and now the time has come to start the search for newer players.

Take example of India, they won the 2010 Asia Cup without the services of their premier batsmen i.e. Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar and partially Virender Sehwag (as he was hurt in between the Asia Cup 2010), just because their backbenches are filled with their talents, are we preparing for the same? Is our backbench is ready? Are we doing anything significant for hunting the raw talent around us? Doing cosmetic things like summer camps etc, won’t give us anything, it requires long term planning, which we’re afraid of!

We just want spectacular results in short span of time, like the Wasims, Waqars, Saeed Anwars, Aamir Sohails etc, which were exceptional talents, but not everyone is that lucky to have god gifted talents! So start long term planning instead of wobbling for other things.

Injustice in selection of players

Ignoring a player like Younus for a difficult England tour, on what grounds?

I don’t know is there any example similar to Pakistan Cricket Board in the world to follow, but apart from raising fingers on the credibility of this cricket board, everyone knows about English conditions, where it seems alot although not as much as it were during 70s 80s but still worthy when it comes to players particularly from South Asia.

And in this scenario, ignoring the experience just for the personalized reason and later justifying by pointing fingers on his form and disciplinary grounds is totally rubbish! Even if they had to select players other than Younus or Faisal, Asim Kamal was a good choice, as in English conditions we need players who know how to prolong their stay on the wicket, if you stay on the wicket, you’ll be able to score else fell miserably, and this is what I am seeing as the Aussies would eye Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi, as they’re only the renowned names in current Pakistani middle order, and can include Kamran Akmal aswell, so as a sequel to my previous blogs, I am not very optimistic with the current Pakistani team doing well, as the team has not been selected on merits and like I was listening to some voices from common people on a Pakistani sports channel, I do agree with them that after conclusion of a 4 month long tour of England, Pakistan will end up finishing on 9 and so on rank from current 7 position in both One Day International and International Test Rankings, just because lack of experience in the team and plus playing with the future of Pakistani youngsters by demoralizing them if they do not perform, loosing the grip on the match clearly shows there’s lack of experience in the team which is costing them the match.

As far as they wobble Pakistan have a great middle order batsman in Shoaib Malik, he didn’t played in the team when Inzi was skipping the test side against England in their last tour to England, so how can you say he’s able to take the pressure and burden onto his shoulder? Whatever knowledge of cricket I’ve, I think experience in any arena of cricket whether ODI, test or T20, you must particularly rely on the experience candidates who’re specialist in their field, prior to Malik’s short spell of captaincy, his place in the team wasn’t confirmed during those days, and what major performance did he contributed in test in recent times? Questions to be answered.

Even there were news that Selection Committee was not happy with this team, means team was approved by someone else and not the selection committee panel, so what is the credibility of this panel when they can’t decide and make a team on their behalf?

Shahid Afridi confirms himself for tests

Yesterday Shahid Afridi confirmed himself for the upcoming test series against Australia and than England in England. He last played a 5 day international test match against England in England in 2006.

Although couple of days ago from unconfirmed sources it was being said that he might go for a test retirement but yesterday all those rumors got vanished when he confirmed that he’ll be available for playing tests for Pakistan in England against Australia and England.

If we go through tests stats for Shahid Afridi, it shows positive results, his last home test was against the Indian, where he had shown his class and told the world that he can play test cricket aswell and labeling him to ODI and T20 limited cricketer only is unfair to him. He had his self exile from test cricket as since 2006 he was not selected for test matches although according to stats he’s more successful in tests compared to ODIs and T20s.

[reference]http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/42639.html?class=1;template=results;type=allround[/reference]

Career batting and bowling averages
	Span	Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5	Ct	St
overall	1998-2006	26	1683	156	37.40	5	47	5/52	34.89	1	10	0
home	1998-2006	13	841	156	38.22	2	22	5/52	34.22	1	7	0
away	1999-2006	11	714	141	35.70	2	22	3/13	36.04	0	2	0
neutral	1999-2002	2	128	107	42.66	1	3	2/31	31.33	0	1	0

Still having such healthy record in tests, I am sure quite better than some of established test players in Pakistani team, he was being ignored, he hasn’t played a home and away test since 2006 and on neutral venue since 2002. What a waste of a good player.

We should thank him that although he was abruptly ignored but still he’s willing to crack his self exile from tests.

Wishing his inclusion in the team may brings something good.

Ameen

What is next!

After a fight shown against the Aussies in 2nd semi final of World T20 2010 edition, Pakistan cemented their position in 2012 edition of ICC World T20, being the leader of group D, if seeding system is taken underway.

Pakistan’s group D would consist of Pakistan, South Africa and an associate nation. Don’t wanna say that we lost because of the following reasons, but some of them are really logical enough to be overlooked!

Pakistan’s team combination!
Pakistan’s team comnination was in complete disarray, and induction of players was continuous and it wasn’t allowed to be settled, unlike the last time when Younis Khan and co. were glued and had a combination which later fired in favour of Pakistan. This time it wasn’t the similar case.

Undertainity aspects!
There were many undertainity aspects in the team, like announcement of the team before announcement of skipper, just imgine, you are announcing the team without the person who’ll be leading them in the tournament to get understanding in the team.

Ill Management
Ill management was observed, just like the traditional days management we’re still following the same old management standards where one man is responsible for all the chores of the team, including the media side, which is an important one and which wasn’t the domain of the person assigned manager, still he was given that job too, and he did the job so well that 12 hours before any Pakistani match, Pakistani team was allowed to be announced in front of media personnel.

Injuries and No Backup plans
Injuries in current cricket is nothing new, and every player whether he’s a batsmen, bowler or just a fielder or an all-rounder, he’s affected with it, but literally injuries and players have close relations with it each other, so in order to tackle with it, backup is created so that burden is not only on the particular player but even if he (the main player) gets injured, the reserve player is almost the equivalent to the player whom he’s replacing, but nothing of such thing was seen when Umar Gul and Yasir Arafat were replaced with Muhammad Sami and Abdul Rehman from out of the gray. We’re lucky, Abdul Rehman did justify his inclusion but not the similar case with Muhammad Sami.

Now Pakistan is supposed to play the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in June and later off-shore home series against the Aussies and then against England in England, which should be a tough series and most probably Pakistan is going to be the second team in the series instead of being 1st (means not very optimistic with Pakistan) as Pakistan would be without their backbones, i.e. Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan, although hearing Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul may/can return, so bowling dept. would be looking powerful but batting looks on the grayer side.

Lets hope for the best but not very optimistic.

Peace!