Pakistan look to finalise World Cup squad in S.Africa

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Pakistan

**Pakistan look to finalise World Cup squad in S.Africa **

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Pakistan’s tour of South Africa is a perfect opportunity to assess conditions ahead of the World Cup to be played there in February, according to captain Waqar Younis.

Pakistan arrived for the tour starting on Tuesday fresh off a 2-0 test series victory and 5-0 one-day international clean sweep of Zimbabwe.

“We’ve come here to try and win the series against South Africa,” Younis told a media conference.

"But at the same time it gives us a good opportunity to try and find our best team and exploit the conditions to get used to them for the World Cup.

“We’ve come with a squad of 17 which is maybe a bit much but we want to get our best 15 for the World Cup and we will discover them here.”

Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, suspended for one match after inciting the crowd at Sunday’s one-day international against Zimbabwe in Harare, is in the squad.

“Fast bowlers are hot-tempered and what happened was disappointing but that is the way it goes,” Waqar said.

“But Shoaib is here and is bowling well and I’m looking forward to seeing him bowl on these fast wickets.”

Pakistan meet South Africa in two test matches and five one-day internationals.

“We will have a good idea after the one-day series about the make up of our World Cup squad,” said coach Richard Pybus.

“We have a full strength squad and playing here will give us a good bench mark as to where we are for the World Cup.”

Squad:

Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq, Taufeeq Umar, Shahid Afridi, Salim Elahi, Yousuf Youhana, Faisal Iqbal, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Muhammad Sami, Muhammad Zahid, Saqlain Mushtaq, Misbah-ul-Haq, Wasim Akram, Abdul Razzaq.

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huh! is this the squad for the SA tour or for the World Cup?
where is saeed anwar:crying:

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The SA tour will be a better test of some of these guys that have been milking runs from Zimbabwe. If Elahi, Taufeeq, Faisal and Akmal can score runs on this tour then they will be in the World cup squad.

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Well i perdsonally feel if selectors are reluctant to recall Saeed the they should open with Faisal Iqbal and Elahi! Faisal especially has nice oneday shots and Elahi ... well i hope he does well in SA. I wonder if Akmal will get any chance in any onedayers in SA cz obviously Pybus and Waqar are keen to keep Rashid in the WC squad or even Moin can be brougtht back. Worldcup is a pressure cooker situation and we need players of Experience and thats where Moin or Rashid are far better then Akmal. And also Saeed :(

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Well If Akmal performs in SA the way he performed in Zimbabwe then he should be selected for the world cup. He should be able to handle the pressure. Razzaq was very raw during the last world cup and in the first match against West Indies he was sent in at no3.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ehsan: *
Well If Akmal performs in SA the way he performed in Zimbabwe then he should be selected for the world cup. He should be able to handle the pressure. Razzaq was very raw during the last world cup and in the first match against West Indies he was sent in at no3.
[/QUOTE]

Razzaq wasnt a keeper, keeper is the most invovled player in the match! and indeed constant concntration required through out 50 overs
Not like feilders who can breath in between overs and relax! Anyway i hope he does well to give Rashid and moin run for thier money!

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Pity Pakistan will only play 2 tests. I believe all test series should be over at least 3 unless the opposing team is beginners like Bangladesh. It can so easily happen that one team win a test with the second being rained out. Don't the ICC specify that only a win out of three count towards the Championship points? Unless the South Africans believe that they can also win Pakistan 2-0...... :)

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If the PCB is going to pick their squad after seeing the performences of players against South Africa, then there is no way Saaed can be playing in the World Cup. This tells us that the PCB had no intension what so ever of bringing back Saeed Anwar into the team. Although I do agree Saeed hasn't been in the greatest form over the last few months, but he deserved to be picked for squad for the South Africa series, because we will need his expirience for the World Cup, it would have told us if Saeed ca still play Cricket or if he's had it, because there lots of people out there, including me...who think Saaed can still play.

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Wasim Bari pointed out that if the openers fail in SA, Saeed is always a choice :k: Well , i saw Saeed Anwar pracitcing on LCCA ground yesterday. My friend daily practice with him. Saeed Anwar was in awful form to be honest. Under-15 bowlers were continuosly bowling him out and he seemed bored. He got cramps in his legs twice while taking a run! and my friend told me that he shod come daly but he doesnt. he, too sees unintersted occassionally! I hope he practice more often and his continuos practice will give him top shape while worldcup comes around!

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If Saeed is in such terrible form then I think he should left out of the team! If he is being careless and not practising everyday..then he doesnt deserve to play…he is smart enough to know that he needs to work hard to get a place in the team…and if he is not willing to do that then we should leave him out!!

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by yaasir: *

If Saeed is in such terrible form then I think he should left out of the team! If he is being careless and not practising everyday..then he doesnt deserve to play...he is smart enough to know that he needs to work hard to get a place in the team...and if he is not willing to do that then we should leave him out!!
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yehi tu, i was surprised to know that as well that he dest come daily or in alternative days but maybe thats because of ramazan! , . Though Saaeed appeared fit but not in top shape and that he must do before time runs out!

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I still feel Waqar Younus doesnt qualify in Pak sqad.. hes a liability.. we should bring back Ijaz Ahmad as regular opener instead of Saleem Ilahi..

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Degas: *
we should bring back Ijaz Ahmad as regular opener instead of Saleem Ilahi..
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Kaunsa Ijaz Ahmad? Woh purana wala or is there a new Ijaz Ahmad?

If you are talking about that old horse Ijaz Hathora Ahmad, then isn't he past his prime, like a looooong time ago?

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Degas: *
I still feel Waqar Younus doesnt qualify in Pak sqad.. hes a liability.. we should bring back Ijaz Ahmad as regular opener instead of Saleem Ilahi..
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Ijaz Ahmed is past his time...we have four talented people right now to contending for the opening, consisting with Taufeeq Umer, Saleem Elahi, Faisal Iqbal, and Kamran Akmal

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by yaasir: *

Ijaz Ahmed is past his time...we have four talented people right now to contending for the opening, consisting with Taufeeq Umer, Saleem Elahi, Faisal Iqbal, and Kamran Akmal
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yeh ijaz sure has, he is not even intersted. PCB included him for the practice match , he opted out even after calaming that' i will be superfit in one week' ....