Afzaal set to make England debut in first Ashes test

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
1

Nottinghamshire batsman Usman Afzaal is likely to make his England debut in the first Ashes test against Australia, chairman of selectors David Graveney said on Tuesday.

``Afzaal has been in the frame for a long time. He is a fighter,‘’ Graveney told BBC Radio.

``He is probably more likely to play. It’s more likely we will play with seven batsmen, so he will play.‘’

The 23-year-old Pakistani-born batsman was brought into the squad after injury forced out Michael Vaughan.

Graveney added that Mark Butcher, the left-handed Surrey opener who last played for England in January 2000, would bat at number three.

``We have gone for Mark Butcher to bat at three. He has done well against Australia and particularly well at Edgbaston. He is also in good form.‘’

Afzaal, Butcher and off-spinner Robert Croft were drafted into the England squad earlier on Tuesday as cover for injury victims Graham Thorpe, Mark Ramprakash and Vaughan.

Vaughan became the latest withdrawal on Tuesday with a knee injury.

England still have a fitness worry over left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, who has been struggling with a bout of tonsilitis.

The first match in the five-test Ashes series begins at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Thursday.

2

teh feir sannu ki

To err is human to keep on doing so is essentially me

3

Pakistani's should not play for England.

4

He is not a Pakistani now, he is British. We should be proud of people of Pakistani origin achieving sucess in other countries and being recognised for such achievements

5

wah wah wah kya bat ke hay ap nay wasay i hope he does well

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

at last the gorays realized that they need pakis to help them out

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/biggrin.gif

6

**
[quote]
He is not a Pakistani now, he is British. We should be proud of people of Pakistani origin achieving sucess in other countries and being recognised for such achievements.**
[/quote]

I'm not sure - doesn't this raise all sorts of wider debates about the national identity and status of those not living in their native homelands anymore?

Consider the prospect of war, espionage or diplomatic sanctions. Are British Asians (Pakistanis) to support England against Pakistan?

7

The kind of harqats these British born desis are doing during cricket matches i would be more than happy if they support England rather than bringing a bad name to Pakistan
Secondly regardless of the fact whether Afzaal is Pakistani aur British why we shuld be proud of him? I mean if he will perform well he will do it for England not Pakistan hamara kia faida hey? Waisey i think we won’t have to wait for to long before he himself would give a statement saying i am british

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/biggrin.gif

To err is human to keep on doing so is essentially me

8

[QUOTE]
Originally posted by fantastic1:
**The kind of harqats these British born desis are doing during cricket matches i would be more than happy if they support England rather than bringing a bad name to Pakistan **

Did you do a thorough survey to find out how many of those supporters were british born

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/tongue.gif

and how many were pakistan born n bred until they decided to move to UK.

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

As far as bringing bad name to Pakistan, locals do it well enough they dont need the help of expats.

** Secondly regardless of the fact whether Afzaal is Pakistani aur British why we shuld be proud of him? I mean if he will perform well he will do it for England not Pakistan hamara kia faida hey? **

Faida is that you see people of Pakistani origin getting involved in all facets of UK, from politics to entertainment to sports. To become inspiration for other brits of asian origin who can feel that they can do it too.

**Waisey i think we won’t have to wait for to long before he himself would give a statement saying i am british

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/biggrin.gif

**

Would there be anything wrong in him saying he is a brit? none.

By some of the ideas here…many of pakistan’s sports and entertainment figures should not have represented Pakistan but India since thats where they were born or their families moved from

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

Great to see another brit of pak origin doing well for his country.

INteresting isnt it, if we dont see asians in prominent roles, then UK is a racist country, if we see them in prominent positions then they are sellouts and should be representing Pakistan…vicious circle of childish logic

[This message has been edited by Fraudz (edited July 05, 2001).]

9

*Interesting isnt it, if we dont see asians in prominent roles, then UK is a racist country, if we see them in prominent positions then they are sellouts and should be representing Pakistan...vicious circle of childish logic *

Agree 100%.

10

[quote]
Interesting isnt it, if we dont see asians in prominent roles, then UK is a racist country, if we see them in prominent positions then they are sellouts and should be representing Pakistan...vicious circle of childish logic
[/quote]

Token gestures and last ditch appointments made in times of crisis do not impress me. Meritocracy is a different issue.

11

[quote]
Originally posted by The Godfather:
**** I'm not sure - doesn't this raise all sorts of wider debates about the national identity and status of those not living in their native homelands anymore?

Consider the prospect of war, espionage or diplomatic sanctions. Are British Asians (Pakistanis) to support England against Pakistan?**
[/quote]

use the same yardstick to measure people who immigrated from india to pakistan too then.

12

I don't call British racist not for the reason ehsan has mentioned atleast nor i think Afzaal or others like him should play for Pakistan and not England all i was trying to say is that in my very humble opinion it oes not make a difference to us its not going to bring a good or bad name to Pakistan.

And Fraudia no comments make what ever conclusion u want to make ourt of it there is no point in arguing for the sake of arguing when we don't want to understand what other person is saying. So be chill.

To err is human to keep on doing so is essentially me