Re: 2nd Test: India v Pakistan at Kolkata - Nov 30-Dec 4, 2
I know we all are against Against Akmal due to his keeping rightly so, but he did came to rescue the team few times. One thing I must say if he drops catches that is due to his inability, but one thing for sure he always tries his best and there is no shortage in his comittment to the game....
Ofcourse keeping part is very important, I would say he can even play as a batsman in the team I am sure his batting will further improve, and give chance to Sarfraz as a keeper. Imagine he kept for two days and then batted all day long what a performance.
Re: 2nd Test: India v Pakistan at Kolkata - Nov 30-Dec 4, 2
Great fight by Misbah and Akmal. Misbah I believe is the real find
We always blast the PCB and its selectors for everything…but for once we should praise them for picking Misbah against all odds in place of Yousuf in 20/20 WC and sticking with him even after all the flak they got.
Akmal..well just when it seems like we’ve got rid of him…he makes a 100. No doubt…it could certainly go on to be a match saving 100…but I still believe he needs to dropped because his keeping is not international standard. If you constantly drop good batsmen…you end up paying a big price for it. Kallis proved that in the SA series and Tendi proved that in this match. Good players make you pay bigtime..which you cant afford.
Re: 2nd Test: India v Pakistan at Kolkata - Nov 30-Dec 4, 2
God Bless Kamran Akmal for proving his critics wrong.
he dropped 10dulkar's catch .....
every one critisize him for his keeping ...
someone said in earlier posts tht he shud play as batsman n sarfaraz shud be keeper ... i think he was right
Re: 2nd Test: India v Pakistan at Kolkata - Nov 30-Dec 4, 2
after seeing such a great fightback from our team,i was reading about younis kkan's statement regarding his dissociation from the selection of team for this test, iam a bit shocked. it may be a true statement but is it time to cough up such a statement. is he ever going to grow up and is he ever going to act like a responsible captian whenever he is given the responsibility. probably not. so shoaib ,good news for you. there does not seem to be a leader at the moment who can replace you.
Re: 2nd Test: India v Pakistan at Kolkata - Nov 30-Dec 4, 2
Misbah what can I say outstanding sportsman. In fact sometimes I think Is Misbah really a Pakistani sportsman? He has instincts of an Aussie. No, Its just what I think. So consistent, daring and leads by an example. At the age of almost mid 30s faster and aggresive than a 22 year old.
Draw is not what I wanted it but would be better then loosing it all together. Making a 100 does not secure Akmal's already jeaoperdised position in the team. His form (dropped cathches etc etc...) have contributed heavily towards Pak's losses in this tours.
Re: 2nd Test: India v Pakistan at Kolkata - Nov 30-Dec 4, 2
Misbah what can I say outstanding sportsman. In fact sometimes I think Is Misbah really a Pakistani sportsman? He has instincts of an Aussie. No, Its just what I think. So consistent, daring and leads by an example. At the age of almost mid 30s faster and aggresive than a 22 year old.
Draw is not what I wanted it but would be better then loosing it all together. Making a 100 does not secure Akmal's already jeaoperdised position in the team. His form (dropped cathches etc etc...) have contributed heavily towards Pak's losses in this tours.
Re: 2nd Test: India v Pakistan at Kolkata - Nov 30-Dec 4, 2
was it really a good idea for us declare under 750? I don't think our bowling attack is anywhere as good to reliably bowl out Pakistan twice with only 616. There is no time pressure for th Pakistan batsmen, so getting 300+ per innings should not be very difficult.
The only thing this declaration assures is that India cannot lose the series - by making sure we cannot lose this test. That to me is overly defensive an attitude.
Re: 2nd Test: India v Pakistan at Kolkata - Nov 30-Dec 4, 2
Mubarak to everyone!!!
With this rare innings, Akmal must have cemented his place for another 2 years for another Mohali/Kolkata repeat. This is the only place where PCB has shown consistancy. Despite of 4 series defeats because of his keeping, we will keep him in the team for this performance.
Re: 2nd Test: India v Pakistan at Kolkata - Nov 30-Dec 4, 2
*All hail Akmal; the king of saviors when it comes to crisis against the Indian team. This is the third time he has got us out of SERIOUS trouble against the Indians in a test match. His keeping still sucks though, so maybe we should play him instead of Bhanja Iqbal in the next match and include Sarfaraz as keeper.
Misbah has been brilliant in this series. I hope he can carry us to atleast lunch on day 4, and this match will then quickly head towards a draw Inshallah (a win for us, to be honest). *
Re: 2nd Test: India v Pakistan at Kolkata - Nov 30-Dec 4, 2
All hail Akmal; the king of saviors when it comes to crisis against the Indian team. This is the third time he has got us out of SERIOUS trouble against the Indians in a test match. His keeping still sucks though, **so maybe we should play him instead of Bhanja Iqbal in the next match and include Sarfaraz as keeper. *
Misbah has been brilliant in this series. I hope he can carry us to atleast lunch on day 4, and this match will then quickly head towards a draw Inshallah (a win for us, to be honest). *
Good suggestion.
We want to reward Kamran for his batting and get more use out of it, but at the same time we don't want to drop the process of preparing a second keeper. So let's play Kamran as a MIDDLE ORDER batsman, in place of "the nephew." However, I hope they don't make him an opener again, and keep his position in the middle order where he can provide stability to our low order in the test matches, and provide a hitting option in ODIs.
Re: 2nd Test: India v Pakistan at Kolkata - Nov 30-Dec 4, 2
Yeah agree Akmal should play as a 6th specialist batsman and Sarfraz should take over the glove work.
If we manage to survive till lunch (regardless of whether or not we save the follow-on, as I mentioned before I don't think Kumble would enforce the follow on, he would have if the Indians had a 300+ lead on the first innings), it would mean India batting for atleast a session and a half in the second innings because Kumble would want to set us a target of atleast 375.
Bottomline: We will have to bat thru three sessions and a bit to save the game
I would drop Hameed for the next game and open with
Malik and Butt >> Younis, Yousuf, Misbah and Akmal >> Sarfraz (wk) >> Shoaib Akhtar, Asif (?) or Sami (very reluctantly), Sohail Tanveer and Kaneria
Re: 2nd Test: India v Pakistan at Kolkata - Nov 30-Dec 4, 2
I see all the green flags for Misbah and tainted-green for Akmal (tainted for keeping). Well the fightback was really unexpected and that of all from Akmal though he has done in past (kingdom far far away) well.
In 1st Test match we saw similar fightback from Misbah+Sami and when we were setting our expectations to gain good 100-150+ lead it was Misbah who got out first (run-out???).
I hope Misbah can stick for longer this time around.
Can we make Yasir Hameed as keeper if Akmal is bad (considering we don't want to give chance to Sarfaraz)???
Re: 2nd Test: India v Pakistan at Kolkata - Nov 30-Dec 4, 2
but i whole heartidly agree with kamran playing as a specialist batsman. infact for me, akmal and butt should open the batting followed by youny,yousy, shoaib, and misbah (to round out top 6)
Re: 2nd Test: India v Pakistan at Kolkata - Nov 30-Dec 4, 2
but i whole heartidly agree with kamran playing as a specialist batsman. infact for me, akmal and butt should open the batting followed by youny,yousy, shoaib, and misbah (to round out top 6)
I disagree with the part playing him as an opener. I believe play a batsman on a position where he is so successful not where he is not successful. And akmal mostly is been successful at number six position.
Re: 2nd Test: India v Pakistan at Kolkata - Nov 30-Dec 4, 2
^ he's made quick runs opening; not mention a century (albeit in ODI). but im sure if he were to concentrate only on batting he would be a good opener (atleast better than the lot we have now aside from butt)
