Re: PAK in ENG (2006) - Media Coverage Center - Post articles here
I thought Gul was Pakistan Mcgrath.
Re: PAK in ENG (2006) - Media Coverage Center - Post articles here
And Muhammad Asif too. :D
Re: PAK in ENG (2006) - Media Coverage Center - Post articles here
Call him McGrath part II :D
Re: PAK in ENG (2006) - Media Coverage Center - Post articles here
no, Asif is Asif 
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Pakistan’s rearguard act at Lord’s thrills Bari
KARACHI, July 18: The injury-hit Pakistan cricket team on Tuesday earned a praise for its commendable performance in the opening match of the four-Test series against England from chief selector Wasim Bari.
Talking to Dawn a day after Pakistan drew the first Test at Lord’s, Bari lauded Inzamam-ul-Haq’s young team for its tenacity despite being crippled by a spate of injuries.
“It was a courageous show put up by a side that was beset by injuries to key players,” the chairman of selectors said.
Pakistan, deprived of strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar’s services prior to the series, was further jolted by injuries to pace duo of Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (groin) and Mohammad Asif (elbow)and all-rounder
Shoaib Malik (elbow) who all returned home before the first Test. Things got worse for the tourists when vice-captain Younis Khan also dropped out of the first Test with a knee injury.
“In the prevailing circumstances, we feared the worst for our depleted side,” Bari said.
“However, the boys emerged from the game with flying colours although there were certain areas where the team performed poorly. The fielding was definitely well below the standard.”
Bari had special praise for Man-of-the-Match Mohammad Yousuf, skipper Inzamam and Faisal Iqbal and added that other members of the team should follow their examples.
“Yousuf was absolutely magnificent in both the innings as was Inzamam. Both these experienced campaigners showed why they are rated so highly in world cricket.
“The way Yousuf batted in the first innings during that wonderful double century was a lesson for the younger members of the side. I have seldom seen him bat so fluently and calmly,” Bari remarked.
The former national captain, who retired in 1984 after playing 85 Tests as wicket-keeper, opined that Faisal had all the ingredients of becoming a sound opening batsman :dhimpak:
“I think it won’t be a bad idea to try out Faisal as an opener in the second Test since he virtually came in as one in both the innings at Lord’s :dhimpak:
“The youngster has got the temperament to withstand the new ball and more importantly, he is in good nick at the moment,” Bari stressed :dhimpak:
“With Younis certain to return for the second Test at Old Trafford, Faisal gives Pakistan an opening option.” :dhimpak:
Salman Butt and Imran Farhat, the two left-handed openers, failed to make significant contributions in the Lord’s Test. Salman made only 10 in the first innings before going for a first-ball duck in the second.
Imran, on the other hand, scored 33 and 18.
Re: PAK in ENG (2006) - Media Coverage Center - Post articles here
Younis Khan produced the article based on calling Muhammed Asif - Glen McGrath. Hence, ask Younis Khan who is Glen McGrath in our team.
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Shoaib targets third Test return
Pakistan are confident that key paceman Shoaib Akhtar will be available for the third Test against England at Headingley beginning on 4 August.
Shoaib, currently training with Warwickshire, has been plagued with knee and ankle problems since the winter series against England.
“He is physically strong now and looking good for a comeback in a week,” a Pakistan official said.
“We feel he needs one or two games to get back to full match fitness.”
The return of Shoaib will be an enormous boost for Pakistan, who are without two other leading seamers Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Mohammad Asif.
“His pace gives the team that extra edge,” Pakistan Cricket Board director Abbas Zaidi enthused.
Shoaib was an integral part of Pakistan’s 2-0 victory against England at the end of last year, taking 17 wickets with his devastating mix of rapid hostility and cunning slower balls. He has recovered from surgery on his knee in February and a fractured ankle that forced the selectors to leave him out of the original touring party.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/pakistan/5202624.stm
Let's hope it's true, it will be GREAT to have him back to add a bit of fire in the attack. If Asif can return for the fourth test then we will have a MUCH better attack of Akhtar-Asif-Gul.........................let's just HOPE!!!!
We will need a miracle to survive in the 2nd test since the pitch is highly in favour of bowlers and Flintoff is returning for England. Inzi, Yousaf and Younis will need to play at their best if we have any chance of winning the second test.Re: PAK in ENG (2006) - Media Coverage Center - Post articles here
**Rashid Latif column **
So the Lord’s Test was drawn and Pakistan had Mohammad Yousuf’s batting to thank for that.
Without his wonderful double century in the first innings, they would probably have had to follow on and then might have lost the match. But, in my opinion, it’s rubbish that he has suddenly become a better player since converting from Christianity to Islam.
Cricket is about cricket, not religion, and as a batsman he is still the same Yousuf as he was before.
He loves getting big scores, has a brilliant record against India and England, and when pitches are flat and bowlers are struggling to make things happen he comes into his own.
Now it’s time to think about next week’s second Test and if I was selecting the Pakistan team I would have Shahid Afridi opening the batting.
My thinking is that Pakistan would be better off with one right-handed batsman and one left-handed batsman at the top of the order, rather than the two lefties they had at Lord’s.
Afridi is dangerous because at the start of an innings all the fielders are in the slips and the covers and he can hit the new ball hard like the Indian opener Virender Sehwag.
His partner would be one of the two left-handers we saw at Lord’s - Salman Butt or Imran Farhat, whichever one is more confident - and then the fit-again Younis Khan would play at three.
Four (Yousuf) and five (Inzamam) stay the same, with Faisal Iqbal (number three at Lord’s) dropping down to six.
As for England, I cannot really understand why they don’t have more grass on the wickets for the Test matches.
On a flat track Pakistan are very dangerous. They can score big runs and then utilise reverse swing and spin - that’s why they are thinking of adding another spinner, Mushtaq Ahmed, to the side.
England should go for a green track - not like a garden, but one that is a bit lively for the first two days.
If the team batting first hits 500 or 600 in the first innings, the match will quite often end in a draw.
But if it’s 300 then it’s much more likely there will be a result.
Pakistan have had problems in green conditions in the past, and with no Shoaib Akhtar they wouldn’t have their best bowler to exploit the situation.
On the other hand, Mushtaq and Danish Kaneria on a flat or turning wicket would give Pakistan a good chance of winning the series.
They would also have a third leg-spinner, Afridi, available to bowl some overs at the end of each session, and England could struggle.
I certainly hope the Pakistan fielding improves at Old Trafford. The dropped catches at Lord’s were inexcusable.
Pakistan and Indian players have always been more concerned with batting and bowling and that’s why we have had problems with fielding in the past.
But you certainly cannot blame the background at Lord’s - I’ve played there twice before - or the pressure of the big occasion. You have to perform your best for your country.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/5199362.stm
He makes some good points but why would you open with Afridi in English conditions?? He doesn’t even feel comfortable opening in subcontinent and he has been performing well at six and there is no need to open with him.
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make up ur mind wo-men…i mean sir gee
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Well, long before Asif, Rao Iftikhar and Fazle Akbar were regarded as McGraths of Pakistan.... Fazle was useless and so did Rao prove to be later on, Asif however has proved that he IS the McGrath of Pakistan (atleast so far).
Re: PAK in ENG (2006) - Media Coverage Center - Post articles here
Cheetah
McGrath II was for Umar Gul 
Re: PAK in ENG (2006) - Media Coverage Center - Post articles here
chaloo jee karloo baat
Flintoff injury scare for England
Andrew Flintoff is in doubt for the second Test against Pakistan after feeling discomfort in his ankle during his comeback match for Lancashire, against Kent, at Canterbury.
A decision on his availability for the second Test at Old Trafford will be made after he visits a specialist tomorrow.
An ECB statement said: "Andrew Flintoff has made good progress with his rehabilitation from an injury to his left ankle. He has worked extremely hard and at every stage of the rehabilitation program has shown improvement.
“However, bowling in a four-day County Championship match against Kent was intended as the final test of the progress that he has made. Unfortunately, he has experienced some discomfort today and he will see a specialist tomorrow to reassess the ankle and future management of the injury.”
Flintoff has steadily increased his workload over the last couple weeks, starting with two Twenty20 matches for Lancashire before his Championship return. He bowled 19 overs in the first innings against Kent, taking two wickets in his first spell. However, despite opening the bowling in the second innings he sent down just four overs before feeling pain in his ankle.
England drew the first Test against Pakistan, at Lord’s, and the four-man bowling attack was lightweight without Flintoff’s presence. Andrew Strauss led the side and would again stand in if Flintoff is ruled out of any further Tests.
SOURCE: http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/engvpak/content/current/story/254111.html
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Flintoff injury scare for England
Andrew Flintoff is in doubt for the second Test against Pakistan after feeling discomfort in his ankle during his comeback match for Lancashire, against Kent, at Canterbury.
Competing with Shoaib Akhtar, eh?
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I agree with Rashid Latif's column, I would not be worried if Afridi goes for duck early in the inngs than Faisal Iqbal. We know Faisal cannot play well as an opener, so it is better he comes in late in the inngs. In addition, Faisal at six will be more reliable than Afridi at six.
Afridi and Farhat/ Butt to open.
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Afridi and Farhat/ Butt to open.
If I remember correctly, Afridi does not want to be an opener, just like our experienced campaigners (Inzi, Yousuf) don't want to play one down.
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Well, it seems that no one wants to be an opener for Pakistan and the current ones do not know how to take charge and play with responsibility. Although, I always thought Afridi like to open than to come later in the inngs. He had some decent inngs as an opener in Test than Faisal so I would choose him.
We are in a sticky situation, I would love to see a decent pair in Old Trafford, but it seems that we left with no choice than to gamble. What I think is that Afridi opening and going for duck is less of a problem as compared to loosing Faisal Iqbal so early in the inngs. If our middle order collapses, we can rely on Faisal, Razzaq, and Kamran to save the game for us.
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How do we know that?
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Never make Shahid Afridi as an opener. He had enormous amount of chances for opening than any younger batsman today and hence our team should not place him as an opener again.
Re: PAK in ENG (2006) - Media Coverage Center - Post articles here
Imran Nazir, M Hafeez, R Mohmund, Taufeeq Umar.... they all want to be opener, I think Asim Kamal also mentioned that he will do anything to be part of squad :D
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fkhan2 bhai, I can say the same thing, how do we know he is going to make a better opener? So far, his stats show that he has scored better coming later in the inngs than first down. Faisal is a middle order batsman with sound defense and an attitude to play long inngs. You can try him if you want but chances are that he will fail. If you want to utilize him than later in inngs is the best as he is very impressive against spinners.
These are talented players, and our youngest do have what it takes. The problem is our management that does not do its best to nurture the talent. In addition, in our team it seems that seniors are more involved with their own game than helping the youngsters. That is why, in my opinion, we see so many youngsters loose their career. Management’s inadequacy to help nurture them, while senior’s inability to guide and help them become consistent.