** Pakistan’s selectors have recalled middle-order batsman Asim Kamal for the first Test against Sri Lanka beginning on February 21 in Karachi. They have also named five uncapped players - Ahmed Shahzad, Mohammad Talha, Khurram Manzoor, Sohail Khan and Fawad Alam - in the 15-man squad.
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I cant believe Younis Khan wanted Kamran Akmal in the squad.
“Kamran Akmal has also been retained in the side, despite a team management report after the ODI series loss to Sri Lanka, which specifically asked for a replacement to be found for the continually under-performing Akmal. Qadir indicated the decision was Younis Khan’s, strangely admitting it hadn’t crossed his mind.” I thought he should have been the one to want change in the squad, seeing first hand how many chances Akmal has dropped. Oh well, he is the captain.
5 Uncapped players isnt too much, because we need new blood in the squad. Glad to see Afridi not picked. I also hope that they dont pick Shoaib Malik in the playing 11 but I think I am hoping against hope there. Both Fawad Alam & Asim Kamal deserve to play in the final 11.
I wonder what the bowling lineup will be? It sounds like they might go for Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, and the final slot will be between Mohammad Talha/Sohail Khan. I think Sohail Khan might get the nod, as he performed well against the Sri Lankans in the 3rd ODI. And it sounds like they will only go with 4 bowlers and no bowling all rounder. It will be between Shoaib Malik and Fawad Alam if he gets picked to be the part time bowlers. Is that a good ploy?
From these bowlers, it sounds like Umar Gul would be bearing most of the load of fast bowling. Yasir Arafat is a good bowler too and I guess they could have played him as a genuine all rounder but I guess they look at him as more of a bowler, but he is medium paced.
Re: Pakistan announced 15-men squad for first Test
This is a PATHETIC squad. Unbelivable. Like HomiD said…I can’t believe Younus Khan wanted Kamran Akaml in the team. If anything…thats one person who MUST be dropped and deserves to be dropped more than anyone else, yet he is retained. First it was Malik who had a love affair with Akmal and now its Younus.
Faisal Iqbal? Are u frikkin serious? When we have the likes of Saeed Bin Nasir and Umer Amin in domestic cricket firing at all cylinders…you pick Faisal Iqbal? A tried and tested failure.
The only positive selection is Talha and Shehzad. But accorinding to cricinfo…it was Qadir who insisted Shehzad be picked for the final 15 and Younus and Qadir even got into a heated arguement over his selection…so no credit goes to Younus for his selection and due to that…I’m positive poor Shehzad wont even get a chance to play.
I had high hopes from Younus when he took over as captain. I thought he would bring sweeping changes and would get rid of all the parchi players like Akmal and Faisal for good…but seems like its still Malik who’s captain…just with a different name.
I am really happy for Asim Kamal. Hopefully he will secure this chance and will cement his position in the squad. When it comes to test match temperament there is no one better than this guy. It will be nice to have him among all the stroke players we have.
Please no shoaib malik or even fawad alam as a batsman in the squad.... I guess we should stick with 6 specialist batsmen and 4 specialist bowlers. And no Faisal Bhanja.
Looking forward to see Mohammad Talha. Heard alot of good things about him. Hopefully he will deliver.
Cant say anything for Kamran Akmal. I seriously and sincerely hope this series turns out to be his last series.
So what about the final 11? Eventhough I don't like this final 11 (since Malik will be part of it) but I guess this is what we will see this Saturday
Salman Butt
Khurram Munzoor
Younis
Malik
Misbah
Kamal
Akmal
Gul
Talha
Sohail Khan
Kaneria
I am really happy for Asim Kamal. Hopefully he will secure this chance and will cement his position in the squad. When it comes to test match temperament there is no one better than this guy. It will be nice to have him among all the stroke players we have.
Please no shoaib malik or even fawad alam as a batsman in the squad.... I guess we should stick with 6 specialist batsmen and 4 specialist bowlers. And no Faisal Bhanja.
Looking forward to see Mohammad Talha. Heard alot of good things about him. Hopefully he will deliver.
Cant say anything for Kamran Akmal. I seriously and sincerely hope this series turns out to be his last series.
So what about the final 11? Eventhough I don't like this final 11 (since Malik will be part of it) but I guess this is what we will see this Saturday
Salman Butt
Khurram Munzoor
Younis
Malik
Misbah
Kamal
Akmal
Gul
Talha
Sohail Khan
Kaneria
Even though I hate to see Shoaib Malik in the test side, he will not be dropped from the playing 11. I agree with what you've listed but I think Yasir Arafat is probably gonna get a chance, it will be between Sohail/Talha for the final bowler slot.
Re: Pakistan announced 15-men squad for first Test
Asim Kamal is done. The guy wasnt even in the top 30 batsmen in the domestic season this year. He used to be good…no doubt…but he is history now.
Fawad Alam is the future…mark my words…if Younus does go with Kamal…it will turn out to be another HUGE blunder from him…after his HUGE blunder of retaining Akmal.
Younus keeps saying he is an aggressive captain…well so far every decision of his has been defensive. If he decides to go with Arafat instead of both Khan and Talha…that will be another defensive decision. Khan, and Talha are our top 2 domestic bowlers. Arafat is supposed to be an all-rounder…but he will be a bunny for Mendis and Murli. Scoring a few runs at an english county or against our weak domestic teams doesnt make you an all-rounder.
And yes…I would hate to see Malik still playing in the team as a batsman Why did the PCB even bother to change the captain if we were gonna have this same team and defensive tactics all over again
Asim Kamal is done. The guy wasnt even in the top 30 batsmen in the domestic season this year. He used to be good...no doubt...but he is history now.
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Eventhough we all know consistent performers in our domestic cricket often find it difficult to translate their potential into national team and so it becomes hard to evaluate a player soley on the basis of his current domestic performance. But still it should be one of the main criteria of selection.
However there should be certain exceptions and Asim Kamal is one sich exception.
The guy was never supposed to be dropped from the team in the first place for lalo panjos like Shoaib Malik. He is there because of the potential he has to become a solid middle order batsman for Pakistan.
As far as Fawad Alma goes, I guess they need to keep trying him in the ODI squad and until he doesn't cement his place over there, there is no point of experimenting him in the Test Matches.
Re: Pakistan announced 15-men squad for first Test
Abdul Qadir (see below) also likes Asim Kamal. Now Saturday will tell us if Younis Khan likes him or not.
He added that Asim Kamal was not treated according to his talent and he would do his best to do justice with the middle-order batsman if he gave a good performance. “Asim was not treated fairly by the former selectors as he is a very good batsman. I will try my best to give him chances if he performs well,” said the former spinner.
KARACHI: Pakistan cricket allrounder Shahid Khan Afridi said that he is sorry for not being included in the Test team but this is the part of a player’s career.
Talking with Geo News here at the Defence Stadium on Wednesday, Shahid Afridi said that this team is not mine but of Pakistan and I accept the selectors’ decision.
**But Afridi, most Pakistani fans are happy that you are not in the 15 member squad. Your 26 tests were enough chances although I’d prefer you instead of Shoaib Malik. Good luck buddy. **
Eventhough we all know consistent performers in our domestic cricket often find it difficult to translate their potential into national team and so it becomes hard to evaluate a player soley on the basis of his current domestic performance. But still it should be one of the main criteria of selection.
However there should be certain exceptions and Asim Kamal is one sich exception.
The guy was never supposed to be dropped from the team in the first place for lalo panjos like Shoaib Malik. He is there because of the potential he has to become a solid middle order batsman for Pakistan.
As far as Fawad Alma goes, I guess they need to keep trying him in the ODI squad and until he doesn't cement his place over there, there is no point of experimenting him in the Test Matches.
I agree...its not always about domestic performences...but they do count for something. The likes of Faisal Iqbal and Hasan Raza score heavily in domestic cricket yet perform horribly at the international level...now imagine a guy who's been struggling at the domestic level...what will he do at the international level?
I don't recall anybody struggling the whole year at the domestic level and being selected all off a sudden for international cricket. Asim Kamal didnt even play all of the domestic games last year because he was so short of runs...even domestic teams dropped him...and even this year since this new board has taken over has started playing all domestic games and he's nowhere near the top batsmen.
At the time he was wrongly dropped...he was in his prime form...I agree...he never should have been dropped in the first place. But, I think its a little too late now to recall him when we have a lot of upcoming batsmen who I believe are ready for international cricket. Unfortunetly players are being picked due to their relations with the captain. In Malik's case it was Rao and Akmal...and now in Younus's case it seems its that man Akmal again and Kamal.
Fawad Alam has had a terrific domestic season...he has scored 855 runs at an average of 122. He's by far the best batsmen in the country this season. During Malik's captaincy...Fawad NEVER got a chance to perform due to Malik's own insecurity. Fawad was always sent way down the order at #7,8, and even 9. Fawad is not a big hitter of a ball, and he likes to come up the order at #3 and #4 to pace his innings perfectly...somewhat like Yousuf. Not once, was Fawad given a chance up the order to prove his worth. If anyone deserves a proper chance...there's no one more deserving than Fawad.
If I’m not mistaken Sohail Khan got some pace in his bowling. Right? He seemed pretty quick to me with his runup and follow through, similar to Waqar Younis and Akhtar.
Re: Pakistan announced 15-men squad for first Test
Talha can bowl up to 150 km/h and Sohail Khan bowls regularily in the mid 140's and up to 150 km/h...which is much faster then what Akhtar was bowling at in his last few games....so no we wont be missing a genuine fast bowler.
hope he isn’t picked for playing XI.