Pakistan to test bench strength against Zimbabwe

[Captain1]

Re: Pakistan to test bench strength against Zimbabwe

@gravity_killz

“We will definitely try out some new faces in whichever department we need them in,” Salahuddin Ahmed, chief selector, told Cricinfo. “That’s not to say that we are taking Zimbabwe lightly, but we need to assess players on the fringes of the national side and this is a good opportunity.”

Yeah, ruin our chances of improving our ranking

The bulk of the experimentation will be carried out with fast bowling, opening and the wicketkeeping slot, areas which have for various reasons troubled Pakistan in recent years. Salahuddin suggested domestic pace stalwarts such as Abdur Rauf and Mohammad Irshad would be in line for debuts.
“We’re also keeping an eye on the progress of Anwar Ali [former Under-19 star] and Sohail Khan.” Sohail, a right-arm fast-medium bowler from the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) but based in Karachi, has lit up this season’s Quaid-e-Azam trophy with a string of outstanding performances.

Though the domestic competition is probably the only criteria for us to give someone a chance on international level, however they should be included in A team for a year and send to different countries to check out their skills in different conditions. We have been seeing likes of Taufeeq Umar, Yasir Hameed, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Sami make a comeback in the team only to show how sucky they are. (I used to defend Yasir Hameed for sometime but unfortunately he couldn’t do much on batting belters in India).

In nine matches of what is his debut first-class season, for Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), he has taken 65 wickets; he has already taken eight five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket match hauls. This includes, in his last match, a Pakistan first-class record haul of 16 for 189, including 9 for 109 in the second innings.

And what was Sami doing during the same period, probably similar figures!?

The selectors also have an eye on three openers in particular prospering domestically.** “Khurram Manzoor, Khalid Latif and Nasir Jamshed have been very good this season from all reports and they are definitely in the mix for that series, as is Asim Kamal,” Salahuddin said.**

woh wa’da hi kia jo wafa ho gaya.

And following more mediocre performances behind the stumps in India, **it is almost inevitable that Kamran Akmal will be rested **and former U-19 captain Sarfraz Ahmed given a run in his place. Sarfraz was called up to India as cover for Akmal and made his debut in the last ODI at Jaipur, impressing most observers with an assured display. The idea that both play, with Akmal as a specialist middle-order batsman, has also been discussed by the team management.

We will see, until then it is all talk as usual.