Agreed Umair about the last thing you said .It has to be let them bowl as naturally as they ball.
I was wondering if anyone can please help me regarding the TV coverage of this series in Canada specially Montreal. So any help from the Canadian guppies would be greatly appreciated as I would be visiting montreal at that time.
Into the lion’s mouth from swinging Dambulla
Into the lion’s mouth from swinging Dambulla
Into the lion’s mouth from swinging Dambulla
Taha Noor - June 1, 2003
In last month’s Sri Lanka triangular featuring three evenly matched sides, Pakistan came out a close second - quite an achievement for a team full of inexperienced youngsters.
Their earlier win in Sharjah had received gentle praise with most critics reserving judgment till the Pakistan team, revamped after a dismal World Cup, faced quality opposition. The Bank Alfalah Cup provided that test as Pakistan was pitted against Sri Lanka and New Zealand under rather trying conditions in Dambulla.
Cricket in Sri Lanka is normally a feast of runs on placid tracks but bowler-friendly conditions in Dambulla were a total surprise. All three teams struggled to get past 200 runs on most occasions and only Pakistan managed to breach that barrier.
Dambulla’s swing, seam and spin had another down side for Pakistan’s batsmen as it exposed their technique - most of them will have to put in lots of effort to cope in England.
Taufeeq Umar, already under pressure, failed and was dealt a severe blow by being left out of the upcoming England tour. A left-handed opener is always important but Taufeeq’s one-day technique coupled with some poor shot selection leading to his downfall. His preference for dragging balls to leg rather than driving through covers has let him down too often.
Mohammad Hafeez’s batting at the top was also disappointing and even in his 53 against Sri Lanka he showed little intent to get on with the game, failing to pick up singles when the going was tough. The coach needs to remind him to place the ball and rotate the strike.
This tournament proved the need for a genuine fast-scoring left-hand opener and Imran Farhat fits that bill nicely. Pakistan’s excruciatingly slow starts pressurised Youhana and Younis Khan to go for runs without settling in properly. But Imran Nazir, a right-hand batsman, has been chosen for the NatWest Challenge against England.
Imran could help with quick runs if, indeed, chief selector Aamer Sohail’s strange reasoning comes true: “Besides, [Imran] is not only a popular choice of the followers of the game,” said Sohail, “but we also tested him in the nets on Monday evening. He looked in good nick.” Pakistan fans hope his slashing at balls outside off and those shades of Shahid Afridi have gone after being left out in the cold for a while. But it does mean that Pakistan head to England with an all right-hand batting line-up; something not quite ideal for diversity.
The middle order looks in good shape and Shoaib Malik has been outstanding after his return to international cricket. He has blended perfectly into the squad as a genuine batting allrounder and has the ability to rotate strike as well as hit big shots when required. He paces his innings well and is ideal for the No. 6 position.
All too often, Pakistan has promoted a lower-order batsman to open the innings or bat No. 3 after one or two good innings. They would be well advised to not repeat this with Shoaib Malik – he and Rashid Latif may come in very handy in England if the habit of top-order crashes continues.
The bowlers impressed in Dambulla but Mohammad Sami’s lack of control over extras remained shocking. He needs to get into the nets and work out a solution, or England will be handed a bounty in conditions that are already sure to be alien to the young team.
Shoaib Akhtar was brilliant in the league games, but to the detriment of the team he sat out the final after yet more problems of his own making. The ball-tampering issue needs to be looked at closely as this is not helping Pakistan’s image one iota.
For the NatWest Challenge, the selectors have made another correct move in dropping the out-of-form Faisal Iqbal, but Razzaq’s omission has raised eyebrows. It is claimed that he is fatigued and needs to recharge his batteries, but a couple of days later he was back playing county cricket. To add fuel to the fire, media reports claim Razzaq was left out because of his attitude, despite originally being included in the squad. He was lacklustre in Sri Lanka and showed a vulnerability against spin, but against an English attack of mostly medium-quick bowlers he would have been quite an asset. Is Pakistan cricket again sounding a discordant note after all the post-World Cup clean-up hype?
Azhar Mahmood and a newcomer, Bilal Asad, have plugged this gap. While Azhar’s recall is understandable after his performances in county cricket, the selection of a youngster for a mere three-match series does not make much sense. Azhar will obviously be the first-choice replacement but Bilal’s likely duty may be to carry out gloves and drinks. It would have been better to blood him during the Bangladesh tour later this year.
The unfortunate Naved-ul-Hasan again missed out after an impressive debut in Sharjah. He is a handy medium pacer and a talented batsman who has been tried and tested at the international level – yet another Pakistan-style twist for such a crucial tour.
Misbah-ul-Haq and Imran Nazir will have an ideal chance for permanent spots if they can impress the selectors, still desperate to remedy the chronic lack of top-order candidates. Mohammad Hafeez is struggling at the top and just managing to squeeze in because of his allround capabilities.
Pakistan’s performance in Sri Lanka can be dubbed more than satisfactory because the youngsters proved they could match top teams and most showed grit under trying conditions. The young brigade was under close scrutiny and did well enough to deserve further chances, rather than a reversion to some of the axed seniors.
The most pleasing sight was Pakistan’s team spirit and even in the final, the side went down fighting.
I very much agree with this article, especially about Hafeez, I don't think he is a good opener but is still in the side cuz of handy bowling and good fielding. Pakistan's Middle Order is strong, its only the opening which is the problem so I wonder where they will put Misbah? I think we should try opening with him or put him at no.3, since the middle order is already strong enough with Younis, Youhana, Shoaib.
Our middle order is strong???by names, yes, by performance, NO!
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by a1kashur: *
Our middle order is strong???by names, yes, by performance, NO!
[/QUOTE]
I disagree, 4, 5, and 6 are very capable of doing well, 1, 2, 3 are still very fragile.
Youhana might have been off form, Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik were brilliant.
But the worry continue for 1, 2 ,3 positions, I think its a do or die for Hafeez, if he performs good against England, he gets to stay.
youhanna has recently been out of form....
but other middle order batsmen, especially younis khan, latif and malik have been very consistent....
mohammad hafeez might not be the best opener, but he is needed....
he was probably the most economical pak bowler on the sl tour....
and a superb fielder too....
i heard yasser hameed can open and is pretty good at the job
Misbah is being sent in as a cushion for the captain for number 4 spot. thats because Yoyo hasn't been performing well and if he fails in the side matches in England, Misbah will replace him -Aamir Sohail.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ChthonicPowers: *
Misbah is being sent in as a cushion for the captain for number 4 spot. thats because Yoyo hasn't been performing well and if he fails in the side matches in England, Misbah will replace him -Aamir Sohail.
[/QUOTE]
Yaseer hameed = number 3 spot. He's impressed the selectors so much that there isn't even a replacement for him so that it doesnt pressurize him.
"we've given him a free hand for couple of tournaments with no replacemtn, and given him the go ahead to play his shots." -Aamit Sohail.
Re: Into the lion's mouth from swinging Dambulla
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by yaasir: *
"Besides, [Imran] is not only a popular choice of the followers of the game,"
[/QUOTE]
Thats a classical statement. Since when did we started doing team selection by popular choice of the followers. If that was the case Wasim Akram would have been still in the team, Inzimam would have been called back, Waqar wouldnt have been the captain in the world cup, Saeed Anwar would have been seleted for tours before the world cup and would have been still in the team. The list can go on and on.
Will be looking forward how Nazir-Hafeez duo work against England. Also, keep your eye on Yasir Hameed. 
Top-order key to success in England, says Rashid Latif
KARACHI: Pakistan cricket captain Rashid Latif said on Tuesday that top order batting will be key to his team’s success in the coming tour of England.
“Clicking of top three in batting order will set the tone in the outcome of the series,” he said in an interview here prior to his departure to Islamabad from where he will fly to London on its way to Scotland with the 18-member squad for the opening tour game at Glasgow.
The performance of the top order batting will have great impact on the tour, he added. He said opener Imran Nazir has staged a comeback in the team while Bilal Asad has been included for the first time while Yasir Hameed will be coming at one drop spot. Rashid said Muhammad Hafeez is settling down as an opener and if these batsmen showed form and clicked together, Pakistan team will put up a fighting show in the three one-day series.
He stressed that top order batting went through a great practice during the tri-nation event in Dambulla and was learning process for them against moving and seaming balls.
He said in presence of Muhammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul, Pakistan has got a strong pace-quartet.
Rashid said in the spin department they have leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, off-break bowlers Shoaib Malik and Muhammad Hafeez. The Pakistan skipper said all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, who has been recalled in the team is already playing on the County Circuit for Surrey.
He said after the triumph in Sharjah and exposure in Sri Lanka, England tour is very important.
“We are looking to play positive cricket in England,” he said. Rashid said the England side is a tough opposition in their on backyards.
Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick are their main batting strength and in pace duo of Darren Gough and Michael Anderson, he said.
Commenting on his coordination and combination with coach Javed Miandad, he said he has great rapport and respect for him.
wow another newbie..BIlal Asad.. 
i wish each of our players would be All Rounder :~(
ppl don't be offended but i think Eng will win this series 2:1 ..... since our batting is something u can't always rely but bowling ..... i thinh it won't be enough by just making some 220 - 230 runs to give our bowlers a go at their batting since they (ENG) r playing in familiar conditions ..... I hope and pray that Pakistan may win but to be realistic it seems difficult ....
I agree Zero one, but I think England will make a clean sweep of it i.e. 3/0. I will be delighted if I am proved wrong.
I'm of the same opinion, I think this series is the first one for a while were we will be underdogs against England, but they are a quite well established one day side now and we'll do well to win any games. If the top order can see off the new ball and we can get 240+ on the board we will have a good chance though. You never know, we might see the emergence of a few stars like Yasir Hameed or Hafeez making their mark.
I think everything will be relying on our star players, Sami, Shoaib, Youhana, Younis, if they can score then things might go our way, I disagree with you guys, I think Pakistan might just win 2-1.
Ummm, well the inclusion of Darren Gough is certainly a big boost to English bowling which was heavily reliant on James Anderson as caddick has retired. English sides has quite a few new players too but thier advantage will be the familiarity with the conditions.
I agree with Umair that mostly we will rely on Yousuf and Younis and bowling duo of shoaib and Sami.
The players who will be most threatning to our teams should be Anderson, Vaughan, Collingwood, Gough.
looks like most of the guys have no faith in current Pakistani team. I think Pak can win the series 2-1. Shoaib, and Azhar sould be fun to watch.