3rd Test - India @ Pakistan in Rawalpindi - April 13-17

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
41

I really don't believe in these type of "injury" news, these news are let out to say "he was not dropped, but he was injured" in case his replacement doesn't perform well. There were tons of injury news regarding Shoaib whenever he chose not to play a game (remember that nighclub drama!!?), then every now and then Wasim or Waqar would get injured "in net practice".

If committee doesn't want a player to play one game they release such news regarding him or if player has a problem with team/captain/PCB or wants to go disco and opts not to play.

42

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Nikema: *

Fazal: from what i have seen he could swing the ball very well, pretty much similar to Gul

he is a very good bowler....
consistent performer....

Rao Iftikhar: Young Sopposibly very quick bowler

he was a medium pacer last time i knew about him....

Abdul Rauf: For alot of Ex players the best pakistani fast bowling talent in domestic circuit.

he is supposedly quick....
but i dont think we need more quickies....
sami and shoaib r enuff for speed....
we need more consistent bowlers....

[/QUOTE]

43

Gul certainly did the damage in the first innings but he only took one wicket in the second innings. If sami and shoaib can perform at that level, we still have a good chance. let's see who they include now as the third option, may Allah make it an inspired and winning choice for Pakistan, ameen.

44

2 changes look imminent now !

Imran Nazir in ---- Taufeeq umer out
Fazal-e-Akbr in ---- Umer Gul out (His swings are a meter wide) I hope

Did I read correctly that some one suggested to drop Dani :eek:

Danish & Kumble will have a field day in pindi :biggthumb:

45

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Captain1: *
I really don't believe in these type of "injury" news, these news are let out to say "he was not dropped, but he was injured" in case his replacement doesn't perform well. There were tons of injury news regarding Shoaib whenever he chose not to play a game (remember that nighclub drama!!?), then every now and then Wasim or Waqar would get injured "in net practice".

If committee doesn't want a player to play one game they release such news regarding him or if player has a problem with team/captain/PCB or wants to go disco and opts not to play.
[/QUOTE]

Come on, who would 'drop' a person who was MoM in the last match. I have no doubt that his injury was seriuos as was evident from the fact that he had to go out on couple of occassions in both innings.

46

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by TUMS: *
let's see who they include now as the third option, may Allah make it an inspired and winning choice for Pakistan, ameen.
[/QUOTE]

Ameen.

The third pacer is going to be a really diffcult decision:

Rauf: supposedly the best pace bowler on the domestic circuit but obviously inexperienced at the international level.
Rao: supposed to be a consistent line and length swing bowler but also untried at the international level.
Fazl: similar to Rao. keeps a good line and length, swings the ball and has some international experience. gave good support to Waqar in the ODIs in the Natwest series of 2001 especially in the match in which Waqar took 7 wickets. seems to be aware that he's not a tearaway and knows and plays his role well.

I would like to see Rauf play but I wouldn't wanna gamble for the decider. bring in the guy who's been a consistent domestic performer and has seen some international cricket and that would be Fazl.

47

[QUOTE]
Originally posted by saby: *
Come on, who would 'drop' a person who was MoM in the last match. **I have no doubt that his injury was seriuos as was evident from the fact that he had to go out on couple of occassions in both innings.*
[/QUOTE]

MoM is not as big a factor in retaining a player, but I forgot about his injury in last test :D

48

Gul does not have any problems. This news about him being dropped is part of the psychological warfare that has been going on between pak-india teams. Watch he will be included in the team at the last min much like lahore test.

49

Wisden overview
With a high-arm action modelled on Glenn McGrath, Iftikhar Anjum is another addition to Pakistan’s seemingly endless production line of pace bowlers. Iftikhar, however, is more Aaqib Javed than Wasim Akram or Waqar Younis, and his outswinger is considered by many to be just as lethal as Aaqib’s. And as is a prerequisite for Pakistani bowlers, he can bowl reverse-swing when the ball gets a bit rougher, with good control over his yorkers. Iftikhar has performed consistently well in the domestic circuit since making his debut three years ago, taking over 200 wickets on the generally lifeless pitches of Pakistan. It was his stellar performances in the current domestic season that brought him to national attention. Iftikhar led his team – the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited – to victory in the Patron’s Trophy final against WAPDA, taking seven wickets in the first innings and ending with ten in the match. Not surprisingly, he was included in Pakistan’s one-day squad for the series against India. Osman Samiuddin

http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/PLAYERS/PAK/I/IFTIKHAR_ANJUM_07019396/

I think we should go with Fazle or Rao Iftikhar. Rafu was there in some tournament in India recently and performed terribly. Give him some more time in the domestic circuit.

50

Umer Gul is out? ummm i hope this news is wrong:bummer: lol

Fazle-e-Akbar should be in but i bet Iftikhar Anjum will be playing because he’s in the squad for quite a long time.

51

gul out :nook:
the best choice is fazle akbar :k:

52
  • seriosuly this goodwill gesture is going too far, moin + razzaq+ shabbir and now gul r injured all in a jiffy. now this is very interesting, the series is locked at 1-1 and key players r supposedly injured. surely the match fixing or series fixing claims weren’t totally inaccurate, only a fool wouldn’t see these signs clearly.

some ik’ fishy is happening for the wrong reasons :mad3: *

53

I thought key players are : Inzimam, Youhanna, Yasir, Shoaib and Sami. The players who will miss out did perform well, but are they really considered "key" players? May be Gul, but all of them?

54

English curator Andy Atkinson has found a novel way of taking a dig at detractors who blamed him for ‘shaving’ the grass at Multan - he has shaved off his moustache!

When asked by a reporter about his ‘missing moustache’ on the eve of the second Test he replied: “Inzy asked me to shave it off.”

:smack: :rotato: :rotfl: :biggthumb:

source: indiatimes.com

55

I would go with Iftekhar Rao. We already have 2 quick bowlers, we need someone who can keep their line and length under control. Fazl has international experience but is not very impressive. I think its about time we give Iftekhar a chance :k:

56

----x---------

Welcome back to earth DC, :biggthumb:
How was your trip to planet slow-mo :smack:

57

Yasir Hameed should score a big one in this test match and Imran Nazir too:k:

58

Sami struggles for Pakistan

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Sami has added to his side’s injury woes ahead of the deciding Test against India.

Sami is struggling with a back injury and may be forced to miss the game, which starts in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.

Pakistan are already without seam bowler Umar Gul, Shabbir Ahmed, Abdul Razzaq and Moin Khan.

Coach Javed Miandad said: “Though he’s braved it so far, he’s in more pain.He’s getting treatment and there is still time before the match.”

It would leave Shoaib Akhtar as the only fully-fit front-line pace bowler available for the hosts in such a crunch match, with the series delicately poised on 1-1.

Fazl-e-Akbar, Rao Iftikhar, Abdul Rauf and Naved-ul-Hasan have been named in a 17-man squad, which will be reduced to 15 on Sunday.

Only Akbar has previously played Test cricket, having taken 10 wickets in four appearances, the last in 2001

Hasan has featured in one-day internationals and took 3-73 against India in the first match of the recent series.

**Miandad added: "I’ve confidence in the ability of our back-up bowlers to give the Indians a hard time.

“We believe we still have the bowling strength to bowl them out.”**

But the loss of Gul and potentially Sami as well is a major blow to Pakistan’s chances after Gul’s 5-31 in India’s first innings in Lahore helped pave the way to a nine-wicket win.

Shabbir, meanwhile, has yet to recover from a shin injury and Razzaq (side strain) and Moin (groin) are also still receiving treatment.

One more blow for Pakistan. I hope Sami gets fit before the 3rd test. Otherwise, it will all depend on Shoaib.

59

Sami doubtful too? This COULD prove a blessing in dusguise but its going to be a major blow if he doesnt play.

60

Can we start the match tomorrow, other wise by Tuesday there might not be any fit player left. :rolleyes: