I hope Umar Gul is picked up for the starting 11 for the Final since he is accurate ..... pairing with Sami in the opening burst ..... Speed and swing from one end + economical bowling from the other end can bring KIWI to their knees ...... we hope so atleast
Shabir Ahmed didn't look too bad either, he was making the lankans play and miss a lot. I think both bowlers can do a useful job but we'll lose the ability to blast out the batsmen in the later stages which Shoaib brings.
So is Shoaib Akhtar banned for the final:confused:…
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but we'll lose the ability to blast out the batsmen in the later stages which Shoaib brings.
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i think our OPENERS + MIDDLE ORDER should go take the responsibility to share atleast 140 -150 runs between them if the team target is around 200 ..... but to rely on bowlers to take the score to a competitve tally will not always fruit especially not against teams which r confident + in form to blow the tail away for a handful runs ..... so Openers + Middle order needs to fire on all cylinders ..... Allah karay aisa he ho ... Ameen
Yes he is not only banned for the final but he will also miss the fist ODI between Pakistan V England next month.
Here is that :kaboom: News!!
WHAT? Shoaib is banned? how, when and why?. can someone update me.
see the shoaib akhtar thread
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*Originally posted by Zero_one: *
i think our OPENERS + MIDDLE ORDER should go take the responsibility to share atleast 140 -150 runs between them if the team target is around 200 ..... but to rely on bowlers to take the score to a competitve tally will not always fruit especially not against teams which r confident + in form to blow the tail away for a handful runs ..... so Openers + Middle order needs to fire on all cylinders ..... Allah karay aisa he ho ... Ameen
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Opening pair must be strong, Hafeez is very slow but i hope that he imporves his game, shot selection, play with confidence.
It is too early to predict about Yasir but from his domestic performance I can say that this guy is real talent (he can bowl & backup Wicket Keeper). I would give Tufeeq some rest........, I really would like to see Faisal Ather play, maybe he is the missing piece of the puzzle.
I think Danish & Umer Gull should get a chance to play since shoaib Akhtar is banned for Final.
01 Mohammad Hafeez
02 Faisal Ather
03 YO YO (let's hope kaka can play good)
04 Yasir Hameed
05 Khan Bhai
06 Razi
07 Malik
08 R. Latif
09 Sami
10 Danish Kaneria
11 Umer Gul
Shabbir to replace Shoaib in tri-series final
DAMBULLA: The tall and lanky Shabbir Ahmed who put up an impressive performance in his comeback match against Sri Lanka last Sunday will replace Shoaib Akhtar in the Pakistan team for the final of the Bank Al-Falah Cup on Friday.
Skipper Rashid Latif confirmed that Shabbir was the best choice to play in place of Shoaib who has been banned for two One-day Internationals which means he can’t play in the final.
“Shoaib’s absence will be felt. But in the new culture and atmosphere we are trying to create in the team, the players have been made to realize that no one is indispensable and that the team does not rely on just one player. Everyone has to make his contribution on the field,” said Rashid.
“I am pretty confident that Shabbir will do the job required of him in the final. He bowled very impressively on Sunday although he was playing for Pakistan after nearly three and half years. He has a sound temperament.”
The Pakistan skipper indicated that apart from the forced change the same side that defeated New Zealand in the last league match on Tuesday would be retained for the final.
“We are prepared for the final and everyone knows what has to be done. But I do see Chris Cairns as a major threat. We have to ensure that he is not allowed to put up a big score,” Rashid added.
**Cairns, the dynamic New Zealand all-rounder has played in the Bank Al Falah Cup as a specialist batsman and has not bowled at all. ** But his batting has been a big plus for his team in recent years as he has won several big matches for them with brilliant innings and hundreds when it counted the most.
So far in the tournament Cairns has struggled to get used to the difficult nature of the pitches at the Rangiri International Stadium but in the last match against Pakistan he showed some form before getting out for 28 runs.
'Pressure is the key' - Fleming
Charlie Austin in Dambulla - 22 May 2003
Stephen Fleming, after a triangular series dominated by low-scoring and closely fought matches, believes that the final of the Bank Alfalah Cup between New Zealand and Pakistan will be won by the team that is best able to cope with the extra pressure of the tournament final.
New Zealand are searching for what would be their first major win in a limited-overs tournament since the ICC Knockout in 2000, while Pakistan are hoping to clinch their second successive tournament since bouncing out of the World Cup in the first round.
The teams are evenly matched, having each won two games out of four in the tri-series, and both will be missing the services of their main strike bowlers. New Zealand lost Shane Bond early on with a stress fracture in the back, while Pakistan will miss Shoaib Akhtar, who was banned for two matches for tampering with the ball during the last game.
But Fleming is confident that New Zealand's senior players will be able to rise to the occasion of a final and put pressure on an inexperienced Pakistan outfit. "We have got the experience and that has got to count for something," he said. "Pressure is going to be the key … we have got to get on top early on so that the young players of Pakistan feel the pressure of a final situation."
Rashid Latif, meanwhile, tried to lighten the burden of expectation of his young side, claiming that they were the underdogs and that he was more concerned about the performance than the result. "New Zealand have much more experience than us and they have some world class players – they are a better side. I am happy with our performances here and in Sharjah and want that to continue."
He played down the importance of Akhtar to the side, although he admitted he would be missed. "Shoaib [Akhtar] is a world class bowler, and we will miss him, but I am relying on 11 players, not on one bowler to win the match," he said. Latif also publicly backed Shoaib, whose exemplary off-field behaviour during the tour has pleased the team management: "If we win this game we will dedicate the victory to him."
Pakistan will make two changes, including Shabbir Ahmed as Akhtar's replacement, and replacing Taufeeq Umar, who has been out of form throughout the tournament, with Faisal Athar, who will be making his debut.
New Zealand hope to welcome back Jacob Oram into the side, who missed the last two games with a back strain, in place of Paul Wiseman or Kyle Mills. Wiseman looks the likeliest to stand down after Fleming backed his pace bowlers on the Dambulla pitch. Daniel Vettori has recovered from the sore knee that saw him bat with a runner in the last game.
Probable teams
New Zealand 1 Stephen Fleming (capt), 2 Chris Nevin, 3 Lou Vincent, 4 Scott Styris, 5 Chris Cairns, 6 Chris Harris, 7 Jacob Oram, 8 Brendon McCullum (wk), 9 Kyle Mills, 10 Daniel Vettori, 11 Daryl Tuffey.
Pakistan 1 Faisal Athar, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Yasir Hameed, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Yousuf Youhana, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Rashid Latif (capt, wk), 8 Abdul Razzaq, 9 Danish Kaneria, 10 Mohammad Sami, 11 Shabbir Ahmed.
© Wisden CricInfo
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Pakistan will make two changes, including Shabbir Ahmed as Akhtar's replacement, and replacing Taufeeq Umar, who has been out of form throughout the tournament, with Faisal Athar, who will be making his debut.
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WOOHOO!! finally :biggthumb
*Latif also publicly backed Shoaib, whose exemplary off-field behaviour during the tour has pleased the team management *
Good to see that Shoaib is changing his attitude let's hope he keeps it up. Although he and Sami bowled well on Monday I thought that they didn't use the new ball very well, and I think Shabir Ahmed or Gul are more likely to get some movement early on so although we won't be as effective bowling at the end of an innings we might do better early on.
Not sure that it's a good idea to throw Faisal Athar into a Final, we'd have been better using him early on in a group match. I think Taufeeq Umar has proved himself in the toughest situations like the World Cup, South African tour when everyone else flopped and just recently in the Sharjah Final. Still, good luck to Athar, maybe he's a potential star in the making, like Yasir Hameed who looks a real classy prospect.
and that’s all that it boild down too. Performence over results. But we’ll still be rooting for our team. :k:
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*Originally posted by Mr Xtreme: *
*Latif also publicly backed Shoaib, whose exemplary off-field behaviour during the tour has pleased the team management *
Good to see that Shoaib is changing his attitude let's hope he keeps it up. Although he and Sami bowled well on Monday I thought that they didn't use the new ball very well, and I think Shabir Ahmed or Gul are more likely to get some movement early on so although we won't be as effective bowling at the end of an innings we might do better early on.
Not sure that it's a good idea to throw Faisal Athar into a Final, we'd have been better using him early on in a group match. I think Taufeeq Umar has proved himself in the toughest situations like the World Cup, South African tour when everyone else flopped and just recently in the Sharjah Final. Still, good luck to Athar, maybe he's a potential star in the making, like Yasir Hameed who looks a real classy prospect.
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Taufeeq hasnt made many runs in the entire tournament. Even if he was selected for the final, based on his past performance you can predict he'd get out cheaply. Also don't forget that NZ is avery professional side, and they must've read Taufeeq's weaknesses very well. So with the inclusion of Faisal Ather, all we are risking is 10-15 runs that taufeeq has made on average in every match. On the other hand, faisal's inclusion can benefit the pakistani team just as Inzi's inclusion helped us in the '92 WC. No one knew his weaknesses all that well and he clicked. (Not taking away his enormous talent, but Imran said this himself once)
:)
Im really confused about the start of the final tomorrow. is it a day/night match?
Can someone plz tell me.
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Originally posted by Ali_R: *
Im really confused about the start of the final tomorrow. **is it a day/night match?* Can someone plz tell me.
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No, Ali. It's not D/N match. Final will start on the same time.
....and replacing Taufeeq Umar, who has been out of form throughout the tournament, with Faisal Athar, who will be making his debut.
Ah!.......I smell the gamble part from Miandad.
Go Faisal Athar! :)
the game start @ 11:30 PM CST tonight?
can all those who r broadcasting the match tomorrow please post here the URL ?????
Thanx a lot
Can someone tell me when is the Final? Tonight or Tomorrow?
I thought it was suppose to start tonight at 11:30 PM CST.