The likely Pakistan team could be:
Yasir Hameed, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Inzamamul Haq (captain), Yousuf Youhana, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Riaz Afridi, Rana Naveedul Hasan, Shoaib Akhtar, Danish Kaneria.
*What did Asim Kamal did wrong? went with the wishes of PCB and will likely become a scape goat.
hmhmm Karachi pitch and not giving another chance to Razzy, I am not quiet sure thats a wise move.
what do you guys think.
i agree with razzaq he is no way near test player unless he learns how to play spin and Asim Kamal i'm pretty sure he will b in the squad
acrobi-- I dont think that Asim will be dropped. Any source for the likely claim?
younis khan is atleast a much better player of spin than any other batsmen we have (excluding inzi and yoyo ofcourse)....
A pregnable fortress](http://usa.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2004/OCT/085825_PAKSL2004-05_27OCT2004.html)
The National Stadium in Karachi suddenly seems a less impregnable fortress. Sri Lanka won a Test in Faisalabad after starts of 9 for 3 and 0 for 1, to continue their unbeaten series run in Pakistan. It seemed like Pakistan’s problems needed more than a change of coach, and not even their golden history at Karachi could be leaned on.
Sri Lanka have lost every Test they’ve played at Karachi, as has nearly every other team, but Pakistan’s record of only one loss in fifty years there is unlikely to bother a team firmly on a roll. Barring Marvan Atapattu and Romesh Kaluwitharana, every player scored runs or showed signs of form. Even Muralitharan’s absence didn’t seem to hurt much anymore. There was a man for every crisis, and chances were clutched with the desperation of a team hungry for victory.
Until Sanath Jayasuriya took charge on the third day of the first Test, the contest was balanced. Thereafter, Pakistan bungled it on the fourth, and fell away on the fifth. After the match, John Dyson commended his side’s spirit, comparing it to Australia’s, while Inzamam-ul-Haq announced that Moin Khan had been given plenty of chances and was being dropped. To some, it was a knee-jerk reaction. Others believed Kamran Akmal’s inclusion was the right move for a side in transition.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are unlikely to change their side for tomorrow, though Pakistan will be forced to probably bring in Riaz Afridi for Mohammad Sami, who was ruled out because of a groin strain. It’s a setback that could have repercussions for Pakistan over the next few months, for they tour Australia next. Though Sami did not strike in the second innings, his four-wicket haul in the first played a large part in limiting Sri Lanka to 243.
But Pakistan have more pressing issues to deal with: Jayasuriya, for one. He played with a nonchalance depressing for Pakistan, and, with a large total to defend, the bowlers had their way. The second – and this was pivotal – was that the batsmen lost wickets in clumps after rapid starts, with few inclined to stay at the crease. It was this very thing Bob Woolmer said he would try to stop when he spoke of `skinning the Pakistani cat’ as he took over the team. The results showed in one-dayers, but his side was outdone by a more determined team in the last Test, where the attack, led by Shoaib Akhtar, was inspirational and then flat, but the batsmen had no sustained phases of success.
When it came, the win seemed easy. By then, Sri Lanka had not only scored more runs and taken wickets for less, but had deflated Pakistan’s spirit. After it, Inzamam spoke of survival and Atapattu spoke of winning abroad. Their words spoke volumes.
to me the likely squad would be
1)Yasir Hameed
2)Imran Farhat
3)Younis Khan
4)Inzi(Capt)
5)YoYo
6)Asim Kamal
7)shoaib Malik
8)Kamran Akmal(WKeeper)
9)Riaz Afridi(bcz sami is unfit)
10)Shoaib Akhtar(if fit)Navedul Hasan
11)Danish Kaneria
Shoaib doubtful for second Test
Second Test, Karachi: Pakistan v Sri Lanka
Match begins 0600 BST on Thursday
Shoaib said he damaged his shoulder during the first Test
Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar could miss the second Test against Sri Lanka in Karachi with a shoulder complaint.
“I have acute pain in my right shoulder which is very stiff,” the paceman said.
“The doctors are saying I can take painkiller injections, but I am still not sure whether I can play because the shoulder is hurting.”
Pakistan, 1-0 down in the two-Test series, are already without Mohammad Sami and if Shoaib does not play Riaz Afridi would be handed a Test debut.
Shoaib was Pakistan’s best performer in the first-Test defeat with eight wickets, but he said the effort took its toll.
“The problem developed because I bowled a lot of overs [in Faisalabad],” he claimed.
It was bad news for Pakistan, whose are facing a third successive home series defeat to Sri Lanka.
“The batsmen played badly in Faisalabad and handed the initiative to them. It is now their time to make amends,” said Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.
“The batsmen will have to put enough runs on the board to give the bowlers a fair chance of bowling them out twice.” We were in an awkward position in Faisalabad and we fought our way out of it
John Dyson
Pakistan’s batsmen managed just 264 and 216 in the first Test loss, where Sanath Jayasuirya scored an epic 253.
But wicket-keeper Moin Khan is the only man to pay the price as he is replaced by Kamran Akmal.
With Sami missing out with a groin injury and Shoaib doubtful, Pakistan’s new-ball attack will take on an unfamiliar look.
“If Shoaib does not play we will go in with the back-up bowlers Rana Naved and Riaz Afridi,” said Inzamam.
Pakistan have won 18 out of 36 Tests in Karachi and lost just once, to England in December 2000.
Although they won their last two series in Pakistan, in 1995-96 and 1999-2000, Sri Lanka have lost their three previous Tests in Karachi.
But coach John Dyson has been buoyed by their improved form away from home after the recent trip to Australia.
“We have learnt from our defeats against Australia as we were in an awkward position in Faisalabad and we fought our way out of it.” he said.
“I am pleased that the boys have shown they are able to do that.”
ASN BHAI, Kia aap match dikhaney ka soch rahey ho?
shabi??? 
with sami firing blanks shabi was the only main threat in the bowling department if he doesn’t play tomorrow then we will find it difficult to get the vital sri lankan wickets, with rana, afridi oh man 
Rana might be leading the bowling attack, did anyone ever imagine that when he was bowling to India while they visited Pakistan? 
I think playing two inzamams wouldv been better. :k:
sri lanka is gonna end up scoring 400 runs in both innings since we r without sami and shoaib until riaz afridi produces some miracle. i don't see rana doing anything. he never seems like a threat. who would have thought rana and riaz would be our attacking bowlers. our bowlers seriously need to work on their fitness. our 3 top bowlers are out because of injuries(third one is shabbir).
u r rite but i got 1mistake that’s y i was gonna write the WC Kamran Akmal matter of fact i wrote asim kamal 
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by pakinecro: *
our 3 top bowlers are out because of injuries(third one is shabbir).
[/QUOTE]
You forgot Umar Gul, make it four top bowlers out for injuries.
what about saqlain he is also injured having knee problem i think they should recall Mohammad Hafeez
Shoaib Akhtar keeps his proud record of breaking down in virtually every series. 
Akhtar injury causes more pain for Pakistan](Yahoo is part of the Yahoo family of brands.)
KARACHI (AFP) - Pakistan’s bid to even the series against Sri Lanka suffered a major blow on the eve of the second and final Test with pace spearhead Shoaib Akhtar ruled out because of a shoulder injury.
Akhtar, who was the pick of Pakistan’s bowlers with eight wickets in his team’s 201-run first-Test loss, told AFP Wednesday doctors had told him to take two weeks’ rest.
“I could have played by having pain-killing injections on the shoulder but the doctors advised against it as it would have aggravated the injury,” he said.
The 28-year-old known as the “Rawalpindi Express” said his shoulder had “jammed” after his long stints bowling in the first Test at Faisalabad and he was in considerable pain.
He also said he wanted to ensure he was fit for the one-off one-day game against India on November 13 and the ensuing tour of Australia.
Akhtar’s loss is a double blow for Pakistan with his new-ball partner, Mohammad Sami, already ruled out for the Karachi Test after suffering a groin injury in Faisalabad.
“It is very hard to stage a comeback in a two-match series and after batting flops we now face an injury scare to Akhtar for the second Test, it’s tough for us,” downbeat captain Inzamam-ul Haq told reporters before Akhtar’s ommission was confirmed.
With Shabbir Ahmed still recovering from a knee operation and Umer Gulis out for a year with stress fractures in the back, Pakistan are without their top four pace bowlers.
Pakistan may have to blood two Test debutants in Karachi, teenager Riaz Afridi and Rana Naveedul Hassan, both of whom lack the express pace of Akhtar and Sami.
“Our bowlers will have to bowl in the manner they did in the first innings at Faisalabad but our batsmen will have to give them a total in excess of 400 runs,” Inzamam said.
Pakistan are likely to make as many as four changes from the first Test, having already dropped out-of-form wicketkeeper Moin Khan for young Kamran Akmal.
Top-order batsman Younis Khan may also get the nod in place of Asim Kamal.
Pakistan are desperate to turn around their form from the first Test and avoid a third successive home series defeat to Sri Lanka following humiliations in 1995 and 1999.
In the first Test, Pakistan’s batsmen let the team down with no-one able to post three figures, and veteran Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya pummelled the bowlers in the second innings with an epic 253.
Jayasuriya helped Sri Lanka set Pakistan an insurmountable 418-run target to win, and the home team crumbled to be all out for 216 in their second innings.
Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu said his players had already put their first Test performance behind them.
“We are confident but the next Test starts from zero. We have won a game, it’s okay, but no big deal,” said Atapattu, who has his own reasons for wanting to forget the first Test after falling twice to Akhtar without scoring.
“It will be a fresh game and we have to put things right to get the required result at the end of the fifth day.”
Sri Lanka’s only change may be the inclusion of all-rounder Farveez Maharoof in place of fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who failed to impress in the first Test.
Teams: (from)
Pakistan: Inzamam-ul Haq (capt), Yasir Hameed, Imran Farhat, Asim Kamal, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Zulqarnain Haider, Rana Naveedul Hassan, Danish Kaneria, Riaz Afridi
Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Jehan Mubarak, Ian Daniel, Thilina Kandamby, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Rangana Herath
haan bhai just read the news on cricinfo well nothing much to worry about that's obvious that he bowled alot of overs due to sami absence in second inning let's hope InshAllah that we win depite not having akhtar
oh yea who can forget umur gul but he is out for a whole year.
i heard Rashid Latif saying that umar problems has been caused by his action they way he bowls he said if he kept on to his bowling action he will continue with the problems so that means Gul needs to change his action a bit so that it does not affect him
any body broadcasting this match?