Pakistan to exclude Rana, Kaneria from ODI equation

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Thank god for that. Rana had to go

http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=52448
By Khalid Hussain
KARACHI: Medium pacer Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria are set to face the axe early next month when Pakistan will announce their team for a three-match One-day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi.

‘The News’ learnt here through reliable sources that Rana and Kaneria, who were a part of Pakistan’s World Cup squad, will not be retained in the national ODI team for the series against Sri Lanka to be played from May 9-15.

A new team of selectors would decide the squad for the Abu Dhabi assignment after a series of meetings before and after a preparatory camp to be held in Lahore from April 28 to May 4.

Pakistan are to announce their new ODI team on May 6 for the series against Abu Dhabi.

Several changes are expected in the team following Pakistan’s humiliating first round exit from the World Cup in the Caribbean last month.

According to sources, two of the World Cup squad members sure to be shown the door are Rana Naved and Kaneria.

Rana, 29, was counted as an integral part of Pakistan’s ODI squad but has lost his touch following an injury-related absence from the national team in 2006. He recovered from a groin problem to make a comeback during Pakistan’s tour of England last summer but has been a shadow of his former self, especially during the tour of South Africa earlier this year.

He was still retained in Pakistan’s 15-man World Cup squad but was not played in the last two games of the event after an unimpressive outing against the West Indies in the opening match of the tournament in Kingston on March 13.

Rana, who made his international debut in April 2003 against Sri Lanka in Sharjah, has so far taken 95 wickets from 65 one-day appearances. Also in the radar of the new selection committee for all the wrong reasons is Kaneria.

The leg-spinner surprisingly got the nod of approval from the previous selection committee for the World Cup though he was never in the picture for Pakistan’s ODI squad.

He was touted as a trump card by the Pakistani management but turned out to be quite harmless in the West Indies where in Pakistan’s last World Cup game against Zimbabwe, he was hit for 48 runs in just five overs. A specialist Test spinner, Kaneria has just taken 15 wickets from 18 ODI matches.

According to sources, the members of the new selection committee have already planned to drop Rana and Kaneria from the ODI squad.

Left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman is expected to replace Kaneria in the ODI squad while another specialist spinner Tahir Khan may also be considered by the selection committee.

Opener Imran Nazir, however, is all set to get another chance mainly because of his electric knock of 160 in the World Cup win over Zimbabwe. Imran finished the World Cup as Pakistan’s highest run-getter in the event mainly because of his career-saving innings against the Zimbabweans and is expected to be selected as one of three openers in the team.

Left-handed openers Imran Farhat and Salman Butt are likely to make a return to the side provided they prove their fitness in the training camp. Muhammad Hafeez, who opened for Pakistan in the World Cup, would only be considered as an all-rounder.

Meanwhile, the national selection committee had a marathon meeting at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday to discuss the list of probables to be invited for the national training camp.

Chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed chaired the meeting. The committee will announce a list of 30 odd players for the camp today.

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Re: Pakistan to exclude Rana, Kaneria from ODI equation

http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=52452
Younis doubtful for next month’s ODI series
KARACHI: Pakistan’s experienced batsman Younis Khan is doubtful for next month’s three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, ‘The News’ learnt here on Saturday. Younis, who refused to captain Pakistan after the World Cup disaster, is currently in England playing for Yorkshire in the county championship. According to sources, Younis would inform the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about his availability for the Abu Dhabi assignment today (Sunday).

Sources told this correspondent that a PCB official talked to Younis on the telephone on Saturday to check whether the prolific batsman was planning to return home ahead of the series against Sri Lanka to be played from May 9-15.

“Younis was playing a match and he told the (PCB) official that he would inform him about his plans on Sunday,” said the source.

Younis flopped in the World Cup along with other top Pakistani batsmen as his team crashed out of the competition at the first hurdle.

He was supposed to take over from Inzamam-ul-Haq as the new Pakistan captain after the World Cup but rejected a PCB offer saying that the job was too stressful. Pakistan later appointed young all-rounder Shoaib Malik as their new captain.

Pakistani selectors are expected to make a number of changes in their team in the wake of the World Cup failure but sources say that unlike India, who dropped experienced batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, Pakistan will not take such a risk.

The national selectors, sources say, want to carry on with top players like Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf in order to avoid a whitewash at the hands of the in-form Sri Lankans in Abu Dhabi.

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Re: Pakistan to exclude Rana, Kaneria from ODI equation

I saw Rana's exclusion from pretty much both tests and ODIs coming like most, but I am not that sure of dropping Kaneria.
I mean what was the reason Kaneria was never really given a chance in the ODI side regularly? Do we have another world class leggie right now?
I mean we have an under 19 prospect, but he is a little ways away.

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Re: Pakistan to exclude Rana, Kaneria from ODI equation

A world-class off spinner like Saqlain can be as effective in ODIs. I think they want to give Abdul Rehman another chance. He should have been in our WC squad in the first place after impressive debut against WI.

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Re: Pakistan to exclude Rana, Kaneria from ODI equation

Abdir Rehman did a good job and should have played in the WC...hope they havent forgot him...
And i ntocie they are going with conventional openers does that mean Mohammad Hafeez is going to be dropped cos its about time...

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Re: Pakistan to exclude Rana, Kaneria from ODI equation

Time to induct Fawad Alam into the ODI squad.

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Re: Pakistan to exclude Rana, Kaneria from ODI equation

Bye bye Rana....stick to hockey from now on plz.

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Re: Pakistan to exclude Rana, Kaneria from ODI equation

A notable exclusion is Danish Kaneria, the legspinner, who is currently representing Essex. In his place is Mansoor Amjad, the promising legspinner. Azhar Mahmood, the allrounder who was recalled for the World Cup, has also been excluded.

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/291916.html

Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi

Shoaib Akhtar to miss preparatory camp

Cricinfo staff

April 22, 2007

Shoaib Akhtar is unlikely for the series in Abu Dhabi © AFP

Fitness problems has ruled Shoaib Akhtar out of the preparatory camp in Lahore as Pakistan prepare for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka at Abu Dhabi next month. The camp will be held at Gaddafi Stadium from April 28 to May 4, before the national selectors announce the squad two days later.

The National Selection Committee have short-listed over 35 players, which includes proven performers in the recently concluded domestic season. Younis Khan, who recently declined the captaincy following Inzamam-ul-Haq’s retirement from ODIs, hasn’t been included as yet as the committee is waiting for him to confirm his availability. Younis was recently granted permission from the Pakistan board to play for Yorkshire in the county season.

“We have announced more than 30 players for the camp because it is our first series since taking over the new assignment and we wanted to see maximum number of players before making the selection of the final 15.” said Salahuddin Ahmad, the newly appointed chairman of selectors. “The performance of domestic cricket, junior cricket, A teams and international cricket have been considered in their selection.”

A notable exclusion is Danish Kaneria, the legspinner, who is currently representing Essex. In his place is Mansoor Amjad, the promising legspinner. Azhar Mahmood, the allrounder who was recalled for the World Cup, has also been excluded.
The ODI series begins on May 9.

Batsmen Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Imran Nazir, Khurram Manzoor, Taufeeq Umar, Babar Naeem, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Yousuf, Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asim Kamal, Hasan Raza, Naved Latif, Yasir Hameed, Riffatullah Mohmand, Shahid Yousuf, Adnan Raza

Allrounders Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Fawad Alam

Fast bowlers Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Shabbir Ahmad, Abdul Rauf, Mohammad Irshad, Najaf Shah, Shahid Nazir, Mohammad Khalil

Spinners Abdur Rahman, Tahir Khan, Atif Maqbool, Mansoor Amjad

Wicketkeepers Kamran Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmad, Zulqarnain Haider

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Re: Pakistan to exclude Rana, Kaneria from ODI equation

I'll miss rana.

He is an excellent cricketer. A hard worker. With some proper guidance, he could have been a great asset. Another talent wasted.... and he isnt getting any younger... hope he can bounce back.

PCB is a freakin joke. The only thing they are good at is changing teams and wasting talents.

The guy was phenomenal in the county season... and has always given his 110%
He loses track sometimes and just needs some expert advice in such times about reading different pitches and bowling accordingly. Ah well, I'm still your fan Ranay. Hope you get another go and prove all your critics wrong.

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Re: Pakistan to exclude Rana, Kaneria from ODI equation

I think I also said the same thing in another thread. If Rana works hard, and some one guides him, he can make a come back. But not right now. Time will tell. PCB should explore new bowling talent to uncover "great bowlers" that our country really possesses.

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Re: Pakistan to exclude Rana, Kaneria from ODI equation

My DaD will be happy more than anyone to hear about Rana is been Excluded :yahoo:

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Re: Pakistan to exclude Rana, Kaneria from ODI equation

Younis thumps 100 off 92 for Yorkshire - Is he trying to show off in England “daihaat” ?

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Re: Pakistan to exclude Rana, Kaneria from ODI equation

^ making up for the failure in the 4-day match against surrey where he scored only 4 and 12 runs before being BOWLED in each innings....

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Re: Pakistan to exclude Rana, Kaneria from ODI equation

Ehsan Bhai,

Khayal accha hai, mugar zara mushkil. Fawad Alam has been dubbed as a all-rounder lumped with Malik (Capt), Afridi, Razzak and M Hafeez. With that kind of company, this poor kid has very little chance of ever making it ino the top 15. I wud have clubbed him with middle order batsmen who can bowl also.

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Re: Pakistan to exclude Rana, Kaneria from ODI equation

We may have seen the last of Younis Khan in ODIs

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/292049.html
**Younis Khan has confirmed his unavailability for Pakistan’s forthcoming series in Abu Dhabi against Sri Lanka. **
Younis was not named in the list of probables announced by Pakistan selectors yesterday for the series, though officials had refused to rule out his participation. But Salahuddin Ahmed, Pakistan’s new chief selector, confirmed that Younis had pronounced himself unavailable. “He has informed me today that he is not available for this particular ODI series,” Ahmed told Cricinfo. “He has county commitments with Yorkshire and has told the board officially as well that he would not like to be considered for this series.”
Younis declined the Pakistan captaincy in the immediate aftermath of the World Cup, citing the mental strain that comes with the job. He also suggested publicly that he might retire from ODI cricket altogether, though Ahmed said he was not aware of any such decision yet. “As far as we know, he is only missing this ODI series so far and has not said anything about retirement from this form of the game,” he said. Nevertheless, his decision to miss the series is unlikely to dampen the speculation that he will likely quit one-day internationals soon enough.
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Danish Kaneria are also high-profile absentees from those who went to the Caribbean and despite good form for their county sides, Ahmed said only that “they were not under consideration for the moment”. He didn’t rule out a return for either in the future.
A statement from the board added that a few more players may not be able to attend the camp. “As per the Selection Committee, there are a few other players from the 39 names announced who have signed contracts for league cricket in England and may not be able to attend the camp. The situation would be clear by tomorrow evening with regards to their availability and the decision for their replacements would be announced accordingly.”
A number of former Under-19 stars have also been picked for the camp, due to be held in Lahore from April 28 to May 4, including wicketkeepers Sarfraz Ahmed and Zulqernain Haider, legspinning allrounder Mansoor Amjad and Fawad Alam. “Our choice of a young captain is forward-looking and the players we have picked for the camp, I believe, reflect that,” said Ahmed. “We have great young talent and the players picked have proved themselves at domestic level.”