Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
My Kolkatta Team:
Butt
Hameed
Younis
Inzi
Asim
Yoyo
Razzaq
Kamran
Rana
Afridi
Kaneria
I think Sami is useless on batting tracks of India. Send him home. Kaneria and Afridi can both bowl long spells. Afridi will be there to stop the flow of runs and Kaneria will take wickets. Imagine a batting line up where Afridi comes in at #10. He can score 30 to 40 runs in 3 or 4 overs.
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
I agree regarding Sami, but unfortunately Rana has proved to be equally useless in Tests so far… we are in with all useless pacers/seamers (by useless I mean not real threatening).
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
Good pick, but I disagree with Afridi’s inclusion at the cost of Sami, not because Afridi will not perform (I think he’ll do great if given a chance in this test series), and not because I regard Sami as a good bowler (I don’t, he’s always been erratic and might as well bowl with his eyes closed; someone we should dump as soon as Shoaib or Shabbir is back). However, given the squad we have, Sami should retain his positon for the remote possibility that he might be able to exploit the new ball and get us a breakthrough or two. Rana’s effectiveness alone is as impressive as his follicular health, and Razzaq’s penetration lacks the spinach effect his batting boasts of.
It’ll be nice to have two spinner though, so maybe our V.C could make room for Afridi/Akram with everybody moving one spot up the batting order.
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
I think Kolkata wicket will be a spinner heaven, we definitely need Arshad Khan in. even if it comes at the cost of a proper batsman. Though Razzak performed pretty well int eh 2nd innings, but his heroics in the 1st inning almost cost us the match.. He was needed to stay there with Asim Kamal, but he got out cheaply. any way he responded well in the 2nd one.
Lets bring in Arshad for sure.. 
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
With Afridi there we not only have an alrounder who can hit anyone around the park and can pick up wickets when they are needed most. not to mention his good fielding. So i would opt for replacing Taufeeq and brinning in Sahid.
And if this is the case may be akmal can open the inings with Butt.
Good Luck
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
I know its a catch 22 situation for team management regarding Razzaq. He was certain to be dropped for the next match but his match saving innings (thankfully) saved his place. I would like to see Taufeeq replaced by Yasir but it might be Salman who will be replaced. In either case Yasir will open. Younis may also opt out to accomodate Afridi. But VC thing might work in his favor :-/
This is what I would like to see
Salman
Yasir
Youhana
Inzi
Asim
Razzaq
Afridi
Akmal
Sami
Rana
Kaneria
But management might go with the following
Taufeeq
Yasir
Younis
Inzi
Youhana
Asim
Razzaq
Akmal
Sami
Rana
Kaneria
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
I guess this means there are gonna be less appeals from Balaji in Kolkata:)
Indian paceman Balaji fined for excessive appealing
2 hours, 17 minutes ago South Asia - AFP
NEW DELHI (AFP) - Indian seamer Laxmipathy Balaji has been fined for excessive appealing in the first Test against Pakistan which ended in a draw at Mohali.
Match referee Chris Broad fined Balaji 30 percent of his match fee after umpires Darrell Hair and Rudi Koertzen reported him for the offence during the Test which ended on Saturday.
“There is no place for this sort of appealing in international cricket. The player has apologised for his actions and I hope that will be the end of the matter,” Broad said in an International Cricket Council media release.
Balaji bagged nine wickets in his first Test in almost a year, after being sidelined due to injury.
The second Test will be held in Calcutta from Wednesday and will be followed by the final match in Bangalore from March 24.
The Tests will be followed by a series of six one-day internationals.
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
Saby - I kinda agree with your thought process. I also concur with **Zaalim*'s argument that Sami is needed for the new ball. I guess, I would make one modification and play the same team as Mohali except Yasir in and Taufee out.
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
Looks like each and everyone of you has a axe to grind against Younis, is it his fault he was made the VC, hell how can you people punish him for the managements blunder, Like I said in another thread, it was his first test as VC, and I can imagine the pressure he must be under to perform.
I personally think, now that he has been selected as VC, he should be given a fair chance, and after being given a fair chance, if he cannot perform, then yes he should be replaced. replacing him after just one test will not have a very good effect on the team.
Also if I would suggest take a close look at taufeeq, like you all call him butterfingers, he certainly has lived up to that repution, and if you believe in the theory that catches win matches, you can judge and decide what needs to be done, not only his feilding his batting also of late has not been anything you could write home about.
In place of Taufeeq I would bring in either Yaseer or Afridi, and given a choice I would definately pick Afridi, he is a good feilder, can bowl some, and as far as Batting is concerned, on his day he can rip thru any bowling unit.
So much so he has even made a believer out of Ehsan Bhai.
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
^^ Aejaz bhai kiya irada hai 
I agree with Afridi being in 11 for the 2nd test match, well all of us guppies have various opinions as to what the team should be and all we do is judge them based on their previous forms in the respective circuit. The current performance of Afridi suggested an automatic selection but that didnt happen.
Yes Younis and Taufeeq both should be given chances, comparing solely on the basis of what Openers we have (Taufeeq, Yasir, Butt and considering Afridi) Taufeeq has greater experience and more understanding and patient yes the dismissal of 1st innings didnt suggest that but 2nd innings oh dear! cut him some slack, simply he is the best of the lot.
I stick with him for all the test matches and rather remove butt and get in Afridi.
Taufeeq Umer
Shahid Afridi
Younis Khan
Yousef Youhanna
Inzimam ul Haq
Asim Kamal
Abdul Razzaq
Kamran Akmal
Mohammed Sami
Arshad Khan
Danish Kaneria
Rana Naveed*
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
No doubt the Indians would want Younis Khan in our team 
I don’t care about the rest, Malik should be brought in for Younis and Afridi for Taufeeq.
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
Younis Khan mite just get axed. I dont even see him around Inzi, when Inzi is talking to his players on the team. Its usually Youhanna and Inzi who are together and talking. And previous feuds between and Inzi and Younis Khan might just work in the favor of Pakistan. :)
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
i would say this:
Openers:
Hameed for Salmaan
Malik(Hafeez if we took him) for Taufeeq
Middle Order:
Kamal at number 3
Inzi
Yoyo
Akmal
Allrounders:
Afridi (similar, but not as equisite Kubmle is - we need a spinner in Kolkotta)
Razzaq
Tail order/bowlers:
kanaria
Rana
Sami (Despite he is usless but we need 2 pacers as zaalim said)
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
what about the changes to the Indian team?
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
I bet you the only change the Indians make will be to switch Zaheer Khan for Chuckbajan Singh
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
1 Sulman Butt ---> out due to low confidence
Yasir Hameed ....> IN (good technique, good fielder)
2) Taufeeq Umar ....> out (low confidence, mentally lazy, horrible foot work ... his performance against India is something that he wants to forget for ever..... he probably gets Balaji and Sehwag in his nightmares)
Shahid Afridi ....> IN (cheap insurance against 25 runs that Taufeeq and Salman can give with their current form, excellent fielder, good backup spinner for Eden Gardens.)
3) Younis Khan ----> out (under pressure, not good against spinners, too much butter on his fingers)
Shoaib Malik ---> IN (superb fielder, good batsmen)
4) Inzimam ---> IN, No question about him, especially with his current form
5) Yousuf Youhana ---> IN, Okay for the time being
6) Asim Kamal ---> IN, For sure we need three more like him at the top for test matches.
7 Abdul Razzaq ---> IN, Not a test quality bowler, not a very strong fielder either. On long term basis his position in the test team is really iffy.
8) Kamran Akmal ---> IN, For sure a good keeper and a good batsmen at the tail end. This could be a good investment for Pakistan for the long haul.
9) Mohammed Sami ---> IN, struggling to get his rythem. We need Sami for his fast bowling along with supportive fielding. Rana is a good fighter but not a test quality bowler. He can not get wickets for Pakistan at the test level. Plus he may not have big future with Pakistan when Shabbir, Umar Gul and Shoaib are all going to be fit and available for both test and odi's.
10) Danish Kaneria --->IN, good bowler and supportive fielder.
11) Arshad Khan ----> IN, only for the spin track otherwise not.
Keep Younis, Taufeeq and Salman in the pool of players available for future test matches but include them only when they are super hot in Side matches!
Imran and Surfraz keep telling the media that we need fast bowlers for India but tell me when they both were playing for Pakistan, including the time of Wasim and Waqar, did Pakistan win matches in India with their bowling or with the spin bowling of Iqbal Qasim, Tauseef Ahmed and later Saqlain Mushtaq? I know when it comes to winning matches, Imran usually shows that he suffers from short memory syndrome. Surfraz was a good fast bowler but not a good salesman!
India will axe Zaheer Khan and bring Hurbajan Singh in his place! Only one change.
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
1) Yasir Hameed
2) Salman Butt / Younis khan--> dunno y i have hopes this time that our vice captain may play his roll in TEST#2
3) Yousef Youhanna
4) Inzimam ul Haq
5) Asim Kamal
6) Abdul Razzaq
7) Kamran Akmal
8) M. Sami
9) Shahid Afridi
10) Danish Kaneria
11) Rana Naveed.
12) Shoaib Malik --> 12th man event though we need him in this match on this pitch he would be an asset but ohh well.
this is wat i really want
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
Excellant point. In India the fast bowlers generally only give a supporting role.
I disagree with opening using Afridi. I think he is a great player, but to expect him to open at this stage in his career is wrong. The guy has’nt been conditioned to hold his wicket in a long time and playing a long innings should not be expected from him, its not reasonable at this stage.
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
It's a spin wicket in Kolkata. Considering we do not have great paceman who can take wickets, especially on spin track, this should be the team:
Some of you might object on Razzaks exclusion. But if the top 6 batsman bats properly and Akmal provide some support we shoul be fine. But we need 2 proper spinners and 2 pace bowlers to do the job against strong indian batting.
Hope it makes sense to most of you :)
Re: 2nd Test - Pakistan vs India - Kolkata
I meant Akmal and not Butt again at #7. Have made the correction.
It's a spin wicket in Kolkata. Considering we do not have great paceman who can take wickets, especially on spin track, this should be the team:
Some of you might object on Razzaks exclusion. But if the top 6 batsman bats properly and Akmal provide some support we shoul be fine. But we need 2 proper spinners and 2 pace bowlers to do the job against strong indian batting.
Hope it makes sense to most of you :)