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Why Yassir Arafat? His domestic record is not that good..............
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I am not concerned about domestic records,, he would liekly be the first Palestinian to play international cricket, besides we could still beat BD with him in teh lineup, even if he is like 60 (just kidding bud)
Seriously I hope that both the Farhat bros get a shot to play. The guys seem to have some batting talent
Inzamam available for BD series
Inzamam available for BD series
By Our Sports Correspondent
LAHORE, July 16: Middle-order batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq has confirmed his availability for the next month home series against Bangladesh, said the chief selector Aamir Sohail on Thursday. Aamir said that Inzamam was currently in Saudi Arabia to perform Umra and he would be asked to prove his match fitness after his arrival.
He said that pacer Abdul Razzaq had also confirmed the availability for the series. He said that Razzaq who was not willing to play against Bangladesh, had now changed his mind.
He said that the announcement of probables for the next month tour of Pakistan Junior team to Sri Lanka had been delayed to include good performers of the ongoing Inter-district Championship, if any.
Youngster Yasir Arafat might get call. Yoyo will be rested and Inzi will be back in action! :dhimpak:
Youhana may be rested against BD; Inzamam to get recall
KARACHI: An under-19 youngster from Multan, who has yet to play in a first class match has been tipped by the National selectors to solve their problem of finding a reliable top order batsman in the Pakistan team.
‘The News’ has learnt that during the recent visit of the national selectors to various parts of the country to select the Pakistan under-19 team for next month’s tour of Sri Lanka, they were very impressed with the raw potential and talent of teenaged batting prodigy Yasir Arafat who appeared in trials in Islamabad. And their confidence and faith in his abilities was reflected in their decision to select him for the Sri Lankan tour although in three One-day Patrons Trophy matches for Multan in the 2002/2003 domestic season he totalled just 26 runs.
“Arafat is clearly a very exciting prospect who appears to have the makings of a future Inzamamul Haq and Yousaf Youhana and he looks the sort who can solve Pakistan’s top order batting problems for a long duration of time,” a source close to the selectors disclosed.
Although Arafat will only return from Sri Lanka in the first week of September with the Pakistan juniors, but indications are that the selectors are keen to see him bat in a senior camp and net and have not ruled out the possibility of even blooding him against Bangladesh in the One-day series.
The selectors including chief selector Aamer Sohail, Shafiq Ahmed, Saleem Yousaf, Shoaib Muhammad and Farukh Zaman also held indepth discussions during the selection process for the Pakistan under-19 and academies team held recently.
And according to sources apparently the selectors have discussed the idea of resting senior batsman Yousaf Youhana for the home series against Bangladesh and recalling Inzamam to the Pakistan team.
**“The feeling among the selectors is that Inzamam should resume playing for Pakistan against Bangladesh so that he gains confidence and match fitness against Bangladesh for the important home series against South Africa that follows in September.”
“Similarly they feel that Youhana needs to be rested against Bangladesh so that he realizes that his place in the Pakistan team is not for granted and he has to score runs to hold onto his position in the team,”** the source said.
The source insisted that the selectors were unanimous on one point that no player in the Pakistan team should take his place in the senior team for granted at any time during the home season. The sources said the recall of off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq had also been discussed by the selectors and they believe he can be played against South Africa.
**“The consensus is that Saqlain should only be recalled if the need arises to play two spinners against South Africa otherwise the single load can be carried by leg spinner Danish Kaneria,” ** the source informed.
According to the sources the selectors had also discussed in detail the problems at the top three positions in the batting order in which context Yasir Arafat was identified as a potential find. The selectors also discussed the availability of some other players for the Bangladesh series.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to announce probables for the training camp that would be set up for the home series against Bangladesh.
I haven't seen Arafat bat, I have no idea on what type of batsman he is.
About Inzi and Yoyo. I think its a great idea but what kind of rest are we talking about, its not like Yoyo has been playing cricket continiously, he is already resting as of this moment. But anyways, its a positive gesture by PCB of trying younger talent.
Inzi and Saqlain must be played against Bangladesh and with the likelyhood of using 2 spinners against South Africa is a great move.
One great off spinner and the other very unorthodox leg spinner, they would make a great duo and caused quite of trouble against Aussie batsman in October.
Sami ruled out of Bangladesh series
Wisden Cricinfo staff - July 29, 2003
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Sami has been ruled out of the forthcoming home series against Bangladesh with an ankle injury. Sami twisted his ankle playing for Kent and is expected to be out of action for up to six weeks.
"Sami will be returning home soon to start treatment on his injury," explained Samiul Hasan, a spokesman for the Pakistan Cricket Board. "Although his contract [with Kent] was until August 10, he was available for the Bangladesh series."
Sami's absence further weakens the side, with Shoaib Akhtar already haven been given permission to miss the series to enable him to fulfill his county commitments with Durham. However, even an inexperienced Pakistan should have few problems in overcoming Bangladesh.
oh crap!
im comin in the first test match in karachi! so whoz gonna b there!
Well well No shoby no Sami so our attack bowlers will be a pair out of RAZZLER + Umar Gul + Shabbir or what ???????
looking at BDs current performance and PAKs lineup this series could be quite a good contest (not neccessarely a onesided one)
I agree, with Sami and Shoaib out of the lineup, but still our 2 spinners will take care of the Bangalis. Batting is the big concern.
Still series is long time away, Sami might make it for 2nd or 3rd test.
Re: Sami ruled out of Bangladesh series
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*Originally posted by Zero_one: *
Wisden Cricinfo staff - July 29, 2003
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Sami has been ruled out of the forthcoming home series against Bangladesh with an ankle injury.
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Umair yaar this report says he is out for the whole the Series not just for the 1st Test !!!!!!!!
it was almost sure we'll need two spinner but atleast some decent attck for openning or would u like to bowl the spinners some 60 odd overs on the first day if needed ?????
With Sami and Akhtar not playing, I think Pakistan’s opening attack will suffer very highly. Going by Azhar and Razzaq’s recent performences, I think the spinners will have to do a lot of hard work 
This new Yasir Arafat is a batsman, so I assume he is not the same player as the all-rounder Yasir Arafat who played for Pakistan a year or two ago??
Article is talking about Yasir Arafat played in U-19 last year In Multan but the Yasir Arafat that played for Pakistan National team is a all-rounder not a batsman.
I think this is a different Yasir Arafat because Yasir Arafat Satti is from Rawalpindi 21 years old obviously he will not be playing for u-19, this has to be different person.
I think in the absents of Shoaib Akhtar & Mohd Sami, PCB should give a chance to Abdur Rauf, Jaffer Nazir, Shabir Ahmed, Umair Gul, also Abdul Razzaq, Bilal Asad, Naved ul Hasan can also be used.
Re: Re: Sami ruled out of Bangladesh series
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*Originally posted by Zero_one: *
Umair yaar this report says he is out for the whole the Series not just for the 1st Test !!!!!!!!
it was almost sure we'll need two spinner but atleast some decent attck for openning or would u like to bowl the spinners some 60 odd overs on the first day if needed ?????
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True but look who has done most of the damage in the current series between Aus and Ban.
Stuart MacGill was the leading wicket taker. And guys like McGrath, Lee fell flat on their butts.
Sami out for 6 weeks
He twisted his ankle while taking 15 wickets for Kent and is out for the rest of the season. He will miss the BD series as a result and with Shoaib also missing should be a great chance for some of the new crop of fast bowlers to take the stage. Umar Gul and Shabir Ahmed will probably shine, but hopefully there'll be a couple of others who will make their mark.
**Sami keen on playing third Test, one-day series against BD **
By Waheed Khan
KARACHI: Pakistan’s strike bowler Muhammad Sami is due to return home on August 4 and may be available to play the latter part of the home series against Bangladesh.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Tuesday that Sami had twisted his ankle while playing for Kent in England and doctors had advised him atleast six weeks rest ruling him out of the Bangladesh series.
But a PCB source said on Wednesday that the 24-year-old fast bowler had contacted Pakistan captain Rashid Latif and conveyed to him that he wanted to play the series and would be available for the final Test and five match One-day International series.
“Sami has told Rashid that doctors have advised him atleast four weeks rest and that he is certain to miss matches played in August,” the source said.
“Sami said while he was feeling some pain in his ankle but even if he missed the first two Tests at Karachi and Peshawar he could be available for the final test from September 3 and also the One-day series which follows.”
The source said that the Pakistan skipper was keen to have Sami play the latter part of the series but had told him that he should first return home and consult the Board and its panel of doctors before taking any risk.
“Basically Rashid has left the decision of when he wants to resume playing to Sami himself,” the source added.
Rashid was a worried man on Tuesday after learning that Sami would also miss the series against Bangladesh as already the other strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar had taken permission from the Board to skip the Bangladesh series as he was contracted to county Durham until September 17.
The source said that the Pakistan skipper was also trying to get in touch with off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq to find out when he would be available for Pakistan duty and whether he could play against Bangladesh.
Pakistan’s pace attack would be resting heavily on the shoulders of two youngsters Umer Gul and Shabbir Ahmed atleast in the first two tests against Bangladesh.
Because while Sami is injured, Shoaib and experienced allrounder Azhar Mehmood have made themselves unavailable for the home series and some of the other promising pacers like Abdul Rauf, Fahad Masood, Junaid Zia are scheduled to be in South Africa in August with the Pakistan academies team.
**Younis Khan likely to miss two Tests against BD **
KARACHI:** Pakistani players appear to be taking the coming home series against Bangladesh very lightly and on Wednesday, experienced batsman Younis Khan also joined a growing list of leading players either opting out or not reporting fit for the series of three Tests and five One-day Internationals.**
‘The News’ has learnt that middle-order batsman Younis Khan has also conveyed his non-availability for the first two Tests against Bangladesh, citing pressing family commitments.
However,** it is learnt that Younis had informed the Pakistan team management about his decision in England last June since his sister is getting married and he will not be able to play the full series against Bangladesh.**
Younis, however, has informed the Board he would be available for the third Test match.
The experienced middle-order batsman has played 27 Tests and scored 1646 runs at an average of 38.27.
Damn it, now Younis Khan is out.
It looks like we are going to have to field and entire new team.
Still everyone sure Pak gonna make cleansweep of the ODI + Test series against BD ???
I hope selectors give Inzi + Saqi or Mushi a chance to show what’s left in them …
… or r we (PAK) the team, that will gift BD their 1st win in test cricket ??? 
Now I think its going to be an evenly balanced match.
With Bangladesh gaining valuable experience in Australia, specially their batsman and with a very inexperienced Pakistani lineup, don't know who is going to win.
So now its Shoaib Akhtar, Abdur Razzaq, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, and Muhammad Sami out of the series.
Inzi, Saqi, and Kaneria will make a huge difference.