Is it really that bad? A quick analysis

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For weeks we have been waiting for exactly what our World Cup team will look like. With the likes of Akthar, Asif and Razzaq out, most would think Pakistan’s chances are bleak. But there are positives in my opinion, which may be some blessings in disguise and some factors we are overlooking.

  1. Umar Gul

The return of Umar Gul is definetely a positive return for Pakistan. Gul bowls consistently and can bother the best of batsman. Given the pitches in the West Indies, and the realtively good pace of Gul, he is bound to trouble many batsman with his bounce and generally good line and length. He will be the KEY to Pakistan’s bowling. Gul must bowl upto his talent level like he has shown in the past

  1. Danish Kaneria / Shahid Afridi

The inclusion of Kaneria in the side is an inclusion of one of the better bowlers in world cricket. Danish has never proven to be a quality ODI bowler, but here is the chance he has been asking for.

Afridi on the other hand has always been a moderate threat with his quick spin bowling, and if he is able to capture 1-2 wickets and keep the run rate down, that will also help Pakistan

  1. Shifting of the batting order

This move has been long awaited for. The inclusion of an experienced batsman has been a long time coming (Younis Khan opening). The last we saw of that was in 2003, when Saeed Anwar opened. Granted, Younis Khan is no Saeed Anwar, but Younis has the agility to overcome opening bowlers. This will ease the pressure to the opposite younger batsman (most likely Imran Nazir). These two should have been tried in the last series, but it is better late than never.

Further, Mohammad Yousuf can quickly provide stability to any Pakistan innings if one of the two openers were to fall.

Even further, If the top 3 batsman on the Pakistan side can get through the first 20 odd overs, Inzimam has more time to settle and play at #4, easing the pressure on him. This, followed by Akmal, Afridi, Malik and Azhar can add to an otherwise very strong batting line up.

We have also seen Sami bat well in tight situations

Further, Pakistan will have the opportunity to rotate Rana and Sami in their matches. With Rana completely out of form and Sami being his ordinary self, it may be Rao Ifthikar that gets the nod for Pakistan.

Here is what I would have as a lineup for the first match Pakistan VS West Indies, given Afridi’s ban

  1. Younis Khan
  2. Imran Nazir
  3. Mohammad Yousuf
  4. Inzamam Ul Haq
  5. Shoaib Malik
  6. Kamran Akmal
  7. Yasir Arafat
  8. Azhar Mahmood
  9. Rao Ifthikar
  10. Umar Gul
  11. Mohammad Sami

The reason I choose Sami for this match is to have the possibility of bowling to a decent team and not an elite team like SA or AUS. Their only option for spin would be Shoaib Malik, and I think Danesh should be tried and tested in the not so difficult matches after West Indies. If Danesh produces and gets good spin, not just wickets, he can then be considered for the Round 2 matches.

What do you all think

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Re: Is it really that bad? A quick analysis

shuffling the batting order isnt a bad idea. if it were up to me, i would send inzi and imran as openers. inzi, being in a horrible patch lately, might just start to perform. also i would send yoyo one down instead of younis as i feel younis is vulnerable in the first few overs, and takes time to settle. shoaib and afridi can be promoted up the order if the first four have made a decent foundation, else send akmal after younis.

  1. Inzamam Ul Haq
  2. Imran Nazir
  3. Mohammad Yousuf

  4. Younis Khan

  5. Shoaib Malik

  6. Shahid Afridi

  7. Kamran Akmal

  8. Azhar Mahmood

  9. Mohammad Sami

  10. Umar Gul

  11. Mohammad Sami

Stupid ho *hoonh*
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Re: Is it really that bad? A quick analysis

I dunno why but I'm not too comfortable seeing Inzi anywhere above the no. 4 position... I personally think that he's the only one in the team who's capable of batting it out with the tail if the top order fails. Nobody else has that same dynamic mix of persistence and briskness - only Inzi can toggle between the two modes effectively.

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Re: Is it really that bad? A quick analysis

maybe if pakistan were chasing then inzi can come down

but if pakistan are batting first, you need to put ur best players up the order, forget about the tail, really ur batsmen should bat out the 50 overs when setting a target, so they should really consider what positions a batsmen can be used most efficiently.

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Re: Is it really that bad? A quick analysis

I think Inzi has to bat up the order, no. 4 position is just about right for him to lead from the front. Far better than keeping the lower order intact (because by then it's a hopeless cause anyway) is to play upfront and prevent such a batting collapse from happening in the first place. Ofcourse he won't be successful in preventing collapses all the time but Inzi can't really expect to inspire his team if he bats any lower than 5. Your best batsmen MUST play the maximam number of overs.

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Re: Is it really that bad? A quick analysis

Sorry Umer Talib I don't know what happened there :p but I was merely trying to reply to your post (have PMd you as well). Your post was n't edited, my apologies

Stupid ho *hoonh*
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Re: Is it really that bad? A quick analysis

I disagree that Inzi should bat up the order and the whole team should be shuffled, I understand and know that Younis will not bat worst than tried and tested at no.1 slot but he will be under immense pressure, yes usually he may come to bat after 2/3 balls as we have seen in the past but sending younis 1 down sets the tone and gives the message to openers that "we trust you guys and now go perform" and like UT said above Inzi fusion of calmness and changing gears in seconds is unique.

IMO playing 11 for the 1 game:
1) Nazir
2) Akmal (yes regardless his failures)
3) Younis
4) Yousef
5) Inzimam
6) Malik
7) Azhar
8) Sami
9) Rana
10) Gul
11) Kaneria

this gives us the option of playing off and leg spinner and a combination of 6 bowlers (if required) and good mix of pace and medium pace bowling. Yes I have left out Hafeez (he has been good with leather in his hand) but I think Malik is not used properly either.

~**~ Tussi Baray ----- Ho ~~~~ ~**~
~**~ Tussi Baray ----- Ho ~~~~ ~**~
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Re: Is it really that bad? A quick analysis

chalo edit karo:snooty:mr kk new mod :smiley:

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Re: Is it really that bad? A quick analysis

i'm reminded of the famous quote: “insanity is repeating the same procedure and expecting different results.”
here a little reminder from the odi series in sa (openers and inzi)

1st match

Mohammad Hafeez 21

Kamran Akmal 13

Inzamam-ul-Haq 15

2nd match

Imran Nazir 57

Kamran Akmal 0

Inzamam-ul-Haq 13

3rd match

Imran Nazir 13

Kamran Akmal 6

Inzamam-ul-Haq 1

4th match

Imran Nazir 0

Kamran Akmal 3

Inzamam-ul-Haq 45

5th match

Mohammad Hafeez 0
Imran Nazir 22
Inzamam-ul-Haq 0

sending akmal as opener isnt working. nazir, i think needs a big brother to guide him in his shot making (as was obvious in the 2nd odi) while inzi is having a horrid time. they can try sending inzi and nazir as openers against canada just to see how it goes. but knowing how dheet their mindset is, changing the order will be blasphemous.

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Re: Is it really that bad? A quick analysis

  1. Imran Nazir
  2. Mohammad Hafeez
  3. Younis Khan
  4. Inzamam-ul-Haq
  5. Mohammad Yousuf
  6. Shoaib Malik
  7. Afridi/ Arafat
  8. Akmal
  9. Mohammad Sami
  10. Umer Gul
  11. Kaneria

Changing openers is useless now as make-shifts are no help. Kaneria can play the role of strike bowler when Shoaib and Asif are gone.

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Re: Is it really that bad? A quick analysis

^Not bad, except for Hafeez. The less he bats and more he bowls, the better. Problem is we can't use him in the middle order or as a slogger either. Apart from bowling, useless player.

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Re: Is it really that bad? A quick analysis

Knowing Inzi, he might go for the following team

Imran Nazir
Kamran Akmal
Younis
Inzamam (c)
Yousuf
Shoaib Malik
Azhar Mahmood
Rana
Umar Gul
Rao
Danish

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Re: Is it really that bad? A quick analysis

arafat should definately play...and so should afridi..,i seriously think arafat might just make this wc his own...

really good bowler up there in teh 140's ...and has a decent yorker...he should defooo get a decent go...nuthin to lose really and he did take 9fer against england in the warm ups when they toured str8 after their ashes victory