Re: 1st test...Pak Vs India at Mohali
Razzaq should be dropped in the next test if he does not take at least 7 wickets in the match and JewHanna should be dropped from the whole series on the account that he can't cope with Pathan.....
Re: 1st test...Pak Vs India at Mohali
I don't think its a good idea to include Younis Khan and Yousuf Youhana in each and every match automatically...
PS: 3 regular bowlers are more than enough if they can deliver some quality bowling...
Re: 1st test...Pak Vs India at Mohali
Courtesy of CricInfo:
At 156 for 5 today, after Inzamam's dismissal, they were in significant strife, and yet they managed to double that score, thanks almost entirely, to Asim Kamal. Until this innings, the uncertainty surrounding his position in the team threatened to rank among the greatest mysteries in Pakistan cricket – and there have been a few.
Despite scoring three fifties in his first five Tests, he was dropped after failing against Sri Lanka in the Faisalabad Test last year. Then, he had batted with some reluctance at one-down – he reiterated today that: "I bat in the middle order for my domestic team." When he came back against Australia, in his more-accustomed position, he made an accomplished 87.
Much of Asim's strength, as he showed today and as has been the hallmark of his brief career, lies in a thoroughly uncomplicated technique. There is no exaggerated or unnecessary movement, little superfluous flourish is added onto his strokes, as he showed when striking a checked straight drive off Balaji soon after tea. His attitude is similarly straightforward. He said of his performance: "It is a sporting wicket. If you don't stay at the wicket, you will not perform."
But when sees fit, Asim flaunts a flowing cover-drive; he greeted the commencement of Zaheer Khan's third spell late in the afternoon with a drive through wide mid-off and held the pose to boot. He was adaptable too, using the crease and his feet well in conjunction with soft hands to ward off Kumble.
Above all, it is the intelligence and batting savvy with which he goes about his work that impresses[Sadly this trait is lacking in the gundassa weilding batters from Punjab]**. **Most of his fifties have come while batting with the lower order and it is indicative of a cool, unruffled temperament. He didn't farm the strike excessively today but instead made the most of the scoring opportunities he got himself. Singles were accepted without fuss as were invitations to attack.
*In this, there is a glimpse of Javed Miandad's coolness under pressure. Perhaps it isn't a coincidence that both are from Karachi, a city that has a certain way of making you cope. That other eminent Karachiite, Rashid Latif, has played a significant and widely-acknowledged role in his development; Asim was a graduate of his academy in early 2000. *
He seems more diplomatic than either though. When questioned again about his place in the team, he replied disarmingly: "It's wrong to say that they haven't played me properly. There are better players than me in the team." On the basis of today, that is possibly his first unintelligent statement.
Re: 1st test...Pak Vs India at Mohali
^ aya aya "zor se maro", "hit it hard" wala cricket expert!
EDIT: sorry, that was aimed at Zabardast.
Re: 1st test…Pak Vs India at Mohali
^ too late for that now CheG. The ‘whole’ loaf of bread has this bacteria. It needs to be consumed now with spicey ‘Nehari’ Indian style,.. 
:k:
I thought Salman Butt was horrible in his technique and so was Taufiq umer. They all love to “Cross over” from left stump - to the off stump line prematurly therefore not giving them selves enough space for a ‘retreat’ to correct a shot.
I thought Kamran Akmal was superb in his technique but made a mistke of over looking.,
This guy impresses me by the day,
Great knock by Inzi, he lost his wicket to his ‘chronic’ problem yet again. should have made a ton here,
Pathan was a ‘Sneering’ pethatic , but Balaji was impressive indeed. ITs now Pakistan’s turn.
Pakistan ZindaBaD - Baqi sab uskayBaD 
Re: 1st test...Pak Vs India at Mohali
I'd have preferred 4 specialist bowlers, cuz currently the players who CAN bowl are
Razzaq, Kaneria, Sami, Rana.... to some extent Salman (4-5) overs in total innings I think. That won't be good enough. Lets see, if our batsmen can score 300+ then very likely our depleted bowling attack will be smacked for 400+ but I hope I'm proved wrong.
Re: 1st test…Pak Vs India at Mohali
Both Salman and Taufeeq were very shaky from the beginning. Taufeeq was lucky to survive a couple of LBW calls early on. Youhanna 
I stopped watching at tea time so I don’t know how rest of the batsmen played, I was hoping (wishfully) that I’ll see both Inzi and Youhanna both scoring a century but ughhhhhhh. Lets see what Sami can show, I hope wicket shows similar movement which Rana can cash on and get 5+ to reply to Balaji.
Re: 1st test…Pak Vs India at Mohali
^ I bet sami fresh off the saddle will get some early break throughs - Akmal and 3 slips & a gully should be consistant for early breaks, knowing INzi that might not happen 
Forget Razzak in Bowling, he’s just a filler, you’l see
Re: 1st test...Pak Vs India at Mohali
It's pathetic that Pakistan's most successful batsman against the Indians of late (Shoaib Malik) was forced to sit on the bench so that VICE CAPTAIN Younis Khan can have a spot in the team.
Re: 1st test…Pak Vs India at Mohali
^ Ditto 
Re: 1st test…Pak Vs India at Mohali
salam, i will PM u a willow stream tonight for free.
so aish karo.
Re: 1st test…Pak Vs India at Mohali
------------x—st–j—u—d—n------
Lai Aish keroo,
Kaisay ?, naal mai khana-peena ve tay hai naa,cash we tay kadooo fair,:D,OK thats not funny ,matti paoooo :k:
Re: 1st test...Pak Vs India at Mohali
Yasir Hameed should have been in the side in the place of Taufiq...
Taufiq umer has such a poor technique that when he is getting ready to play his shots as the ball is approaching him, he does this gay a$$ elbow and wrist in and out thing that prevents him from playing any cut shot or forceful drives, because his bat get angled towards the onside....
And no surprise that most of the balls he intends to hit in the mid off region end up going to the mid on if he is lucky, but usually ends up pushing them to midwicket/square leg area and on other occasions insiding edging onto the stumps.....
Taufiq Umer does not dererve to be in the team....Yasir Hameed who scored two fifties in his last test and who can at least cut and drive through the covers should have been picked instead of Taufiq Umer......Plus right/left combo would have posed a bit of challenge to the left arm dominated Indian pace battery.....
Easiest way to lock Salman Butt down or to get him out....keep pitching it to him in his stumps or the leg side.....
Re: 1st test...Pak Vs India at Mohali
At the end of the day, Pakistan didn't do as badly as one would have thought after the first hour of play. Frankly, the way our top order plays, it gives all their supporters some serious shudders. I am willing to excuse this innings just on the account of nerves, which is expected of youngesters when playing such a high profile series. But they should get back to their playing ways in the next innings. I am sure they are all highly talented.
Asim Kamal ne kamal karr diya. He carried the whole innings on his shoulders. Our late order did not disappoint. 312 is not a bad score at all on a green wicket. Although all batsmen these days score at a very high pace, perhaps due to over-exposure to ODIs, therefore the entire innings completed in just one day.
Needless to say, our bowling is remarkably weak. I think Kaneria should be our prime weapon. Although on a green pitch Sami and Rana can be very destructive if they stick to the basics.
Indian bowling was penetrating. As expected, Balaji continues to cause problems for Pakistan batting, which is unforgivable. Pathan and Zaheer did the early damage, that is hard to get over in a test match.
If Pakistan can make sure India does not take lead (or a significant lead) in the first innings, this match is actually quite evenly balanced, with a slight advantage to Pakistan. Pitch is likely to break starting day 4, which will cause problems for team batting fourth. I am sure Ganguly realizes that and is hoping for a massive first innings lead so Indians don't have to bat all that much later in the game.
Re: 1st test...Pak Vs India at Mohali
Faisal, nice analysis. However I would disagree with our bowling being weak. I think it is as good as it will get in recent test history. Rana will be our Balaji with all the controlled swing in his fingers. Mohammad Sami at 90 MPH should generate more bounce than Pathan or Khan did at under 80 MPH. Razzaq has usually been good against the Indians, specially Sachin. Danish may be the weak link but I think he can take some tailender wickets.
I feel very comfortable with our bowling, yes even without The Rawalpindi Express.
I beg the selectors to keep the same batting composition for the rest of the test series. Please please we need consistency. If any change at the top of the order, it can be of Yasir with Taufeeq but that's it.
Good luck Pakistan!
Re: 1st test...Pak Vs India at Mohali
312 runs not bad considering the fact that first 2 wickets fell with in 30 runs and at one point it seemed like Pakistan may not be able to scoore more than 250. Still its not good when your team has 5 specialisst batsmen, a batsmankeeper and an all rounder. At this point Pakistan have just three spacialist bowlers and an all rounder. I am quite surprised to see this. Even for an ODI match you have to have atleast 5 bowlers so they can ball for you for 50 overs and Pakistan is playing with just 4 bowler (3 speciallest and 1 all rounder). We all know that Sami hasn't done much with the ball for a long time, and what ever the performances of Razzaq and Naveed where in Australia were because of bowling pitches. The only bowler Pakistan team is leaning on is poor Danish Kaneria. I feel that for this game instead of Younis Khan, Afrdi should have played down the order (5th or 6th position). We have seen him that he was quite a bundle of dainamite at this position against Australia where the pitches are more bowling support. This would have given Pakistan an extra bowler. Also in some respects I would put Kumble and Afridi togather as both are not big turners but are quick and good wicket takers.
Re: 1st test...Pak Vs India at Mohali
I agree about the batting consistency... and yes, Taufeeq doesn't seem to be a confident player at all. His shuffle bothers me a lot. What I find ironic and sad at the same time is that we have to sit our best #3 batsman, Malik, to accomodate a mediocre vice captain. Really shameful. C'est la vie.
Re: 1st test...Pak Vs India at Mohali
So who won?
Re: 1st test…Pak Vs India at Mohali
Jamie Fox did.
Re: 1st test...Pak Vs India at Mohali
Taufeeq showed the signs of grit that helped him to good innings against Saffies home and away but he also showed the nervousness and unconvincing stroke play that marred his series against Indians at home. And his dismissal was the typical of the way he got out against Balaji at home. He made Balaji a star in pakistan and other batsmen are keen to follow suit in india. Having said that, I hope he succeeds in second innings and make competition a bit tough for Yasir who must be feeling hard done by after his last test match performance against two quality spinners in Warne and Mcgill.
Regarding Younis khan, I wont jump the gun and start maligning him because he was a consistent performer in Australia but if he gets out as clumsily as he did today, he should be replaced by a utlity cricketer like Afridi.