[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by UMAIR316: *
Sad
[/QUOTE]
very sad
PCB must get their act togetther, that is bad rep for Pakistan.
This is just pathetic. If some kind of confusion happened our players should have sat in the economy and let them use executive class.
Re: openers for Pakistan
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by the speciALIst: *
do you think Taufeeq umer and Hafiz are the best available openers right now....Taufeeq suits one dayers too?.....should we forget Afridi and Imran Nazir(although its difficult for me):)
what do you suggest buddy......?
[/QUOTE]
*Yaar SpeciAList,
It is hard to say about Taufeeq since he hasn't been consistent, poor shot selection and technical flaws are the main problems with this batting. If PCB keeps giving him a chance hopefully he will be good batsman by next worldcup.
Hafeez is serving 2 purposes just like Afridi use to do. Hafeez has a potential to become a decent player but he gets nervous and scared, he needs to be mentally strong and take advantage of bad delivers and bowler mistakes.
Imran Nazir also has a potential to become lethal player but he must get his act together and improve his game if he wants to be part to the national squad. I personally think he should join some cricket club or league in England or Holland to improve his game.
Saeed Bin Nazir, Farhan Adil, Kamran Akmal all have played for cricket club/league in England.
As far as Afridi, I think he is done; only miracle can bring him back in Pakistan National Squad.*
Multan stadium
[thumb=D]multan.JPG[/thumb]
**Bangladesh coach Whatmore issues rallying cry ahead of final Test **](Yahoo is part of the Yahoo family of brands.)
MULTAN, Pakistan (AFP) - Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore is hoping to staunch the Test minnows’ rapidly evaporating confidence to avoid a series whitewash against Pakistan here.
Whatmore was left stunned in the second Test last weekend when his side surrendered a 66-run first innings lead to be bowled out for just 96 in the second innings after dominating the opening day’s play.
The collapse handed Pakistan a nine-wicket win and gave them a 2-0 lead in the best-of-three series against Bangladesh, still looking for their maiden win in Test cricket.
“I am trying to make sure that the boys do not lose confidence after their slump in the Peshawar Test,” said Whatmore. “We need to guard the areas of improvement …”
Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud meanwhile Tuesday dismissed criticism of his team’s Test status as unwarranted.
“When someone criticises our Test status we feel hurt because the improvement is definitely there,” said Mahmud, whose team has lost 17 Tests in a row since drawing against Zimbabwe two years ago.
Mahmud, who took over as captain in April this year, said he would discuss his future with Bangladesh officials at the end of the series.
“After the series I will sit down with the Boards officials and will review my career,” he said.
The tourists are likely to replace pacers Mashrafe Murtaza and Alamgir Kabir with Tapash Baisya and Manjurul Islam.
Pakistan captain Rashid Latif urged Bangladesh team to play positively in the remaining Test.
“I dont want to interfere in their planning but if Bangladesh does not play positive cricket they will not learn and improve,” Latif told reporters in his pre-match news conference on Tuesday.
Pakistan won the first Test by seven wickets in Karachi and the second by nine wickets in Peshawar and appear set to blank the tourists in the three-match series.
Pakistan previously achieved a 3-0 rout against Australia in 1982-83, against New Zealand in 1990-91 and against the West Indies in 1997-98.
“We allowed them (Bangladesh) to perform in the first two Tests but here we will try our best to finish it off early,” the Pakistan captain said.
Pakistan face Bangladesh without their ace pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who is returning to England to complete his contract with county outfit Durham.
Shoaib wrecked the tourists with match figures of 10-80 in the second Test.
Experienced off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, summoned from county commitments in England with Surrey, and middle order batsman Younis Khan, who missed the first two Tests due to family commitments, are set to play.
Is latif an Idiot??Only idiots can make these kinda comments.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by fair_&_balance: *
Is latif an Idiot??Only idiots can make these kinda comments.
[/QUOTE]
I guess what he is trying to say is that they took Bangla side easier than they should've (or not at all).
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Changez_like: *
I guess what he is trying to say is that they took Bangla side easier than they should've (or not at all).
[/QUOTE]
you are putting an spin now.
He clearly said they allowed BD to perform well.
I think what Latif meant was that they let Bangladesh performed well by not performing to their standard themselves. Had they performed according to their talent, Bangladeshis wouldnt have been able to resist as much as they did. I kind of agree with him.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by fair_&_balance: *
you are putting an spin now.
He clearly said they allowed BD to perform well.
[/QUOTE]
Who in the world is stupid enough to let the opposition perform well, when you know for sure that your own team is also very weak.
Had Pakistan been a strong established side, it would have been different story.
Rashid Latif himself is strong opposed to match fixing, he would never purposely lose a game.
And plus there are so many youngsters in the team, no one would like to underperform in their first match.
Pakistan captain Rashid Latif will be looking to complete a series whitewash when the third Test against Bangladesh begins in Multan on Wednesday.
The first two matches proved tougher than expected for the home side, who even conceded a first innings lead in Peshawar last week.
But Latif has been unimpressed by Bangladesh’s tactics, especially in the field.
**“They have played negative cricket and they won’t learn if they play like this,” he said. **
“After conceding a boundary, they open the field and it’s difficult to score runs when the fielders are spread.”
“In Multan, we have to assert our authority completely and try to finish off the match as soon as possible.”
Opposite number Khaled Mahmud dismissed Latif’s criticism and insisted his side had tried to play positively.
“The boys have improved both physically and mentally toplay the five-day games. I am looking forward to another good performance from them,” Mahmud commented.
Pakistan have changed their strategy for the final match, with spinner Saqlain Mushtaq recalled to replace fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who has returned to England to complete a county contract with Durham.
Saqlain has 205 Test wickets and 288 in one-day internationals to his credit, but has been out of favour for six months and admits to feeling under pressure to perform.
**"I have always given 100 per cent for my country and I don’t want to dwell on why the selectors have ignored me since the World Cup.
“I am just relieved to be back in the team because it was frustrating to be on the sidelines since the World Cup, especially as I have a lot of passion for the game,” he said.
"I don’t believe in long-term goals, because you don’t know whether you will play the next match.
“I treat every match as the most important thing at the moment, and give it my best.” **
Rashid Latif. 
**“We allowed them (Bangladesh) to perform in the first two Tests but here we will try our best to finish it off early..” ** the Pakistan captain said.
Ok c’mon ppl take it easy what Rashid said …
i think (means it’s my humble opinion) he is trying to rise the temper and anger of BD players who clearly had and upper hand on the last hand but gave it away … I think Rashid is asking them in this way to play aggressive … especialy in the batting since pak will most certainly gamble on Saqi as the main bowling threat (strange but that’s how it looks like) … he knows very well how much he can depend onhis batsmen so he is trying the psycho way … don’t worry BD Rashid ain’t no Steve Waugh yet
Abay champu, how many times do I have to say this.
He meant that his team didn’t play to its potential which allowed Bangladesh to do well, since Pakistan has the series under its belt, they are not in pressure no more, and would likely to finish things off early.
These people! 
oey umair, zyada rutho mat. these people are hindians, offcourse they will twist and turn a pakistanis statement. what the hell do you expect.
The Big Man returns to his hometown Multan, promised a ‘special gift’ to the people of Multan City.
MULTAN, Sept 2: Pakistan’s most experienced batting stalwart Inzamam-ul-Haq promised a ‘special gift’ for his home city of Multan during the final Test against Bangladesh.
**Inzamam, who had seen the great West Indian Viv Richards hit an unbeaten 120 against Pakistan in the only Test played at the Qasim Bagh Stadium here as an 11-yea-old in 1980-81, told Dawn on Tuesday that he would like to play a big innings in front of his adoring fans at the 35,000-seat Multan Cricket Stadium.
“Whenever, and wherever, you play the desire of each player is to perform his best. But since I’m playing in hometown it is my great desire to acknowledge them with a special innings,” the big man hoped. **
Inzamam’s only other innings in international cricket in Multan fetched him 105 runs before he chose to retire in the Asian Test Championship match against Bangladesh in August 2001.
**"Yes, I remember being one of the five century-makers in that game. I would like to repeat that performance because after all, playing in your home city has its own flavour.
“Personally, you get more satisfaction and happiness if your performance is good. The people pray for you more because you are the local boy,” he added. **
:jhanda:
Saqi says country comes first, pleased to be back and hopes to perform well.
MULTAN, Sept 2: Saqlain Mushtaq said on Tuesday he was glad to be back in the national team after a lapse of almost six months.
The off-spinner was among the eight players who were overlooked after Pakistan’s first round exit at the World Cup in southern Africa last March. But with Shoaib Akhtar unavailable for the third and final Test, the selectors had decided to recall the 26-year-old for his first Test in eight months.
**"I am very happy to be playing for Pakistan again after such a long time. It’s always an honour to represent your country, Saqlain told Dawn on Tuesday.
“I was never concerned about being recalled because I knew I was always likely to play since I never felt being away from the team”, the spinner, who has taken 205 wickets in 47 Tests, said. “To me country comes first and I’m pleased to be back”** said Saqlain who returned from London on Monday after another successful season with Surrey.
:jhanda:
The third test....just abt to begin :)
More than just a dead rubber
Wisden CricInfo staff - September 2, 2003
Strange as it may sound, both Bangladesh and Pakistan have reason to look forward to the third Test at Multan, which starts on Wednesday (Sept 3). Pakistan's young players have taken the opportunity of getting used to international cricket against the easiest opposition they could face at this level. Bangladesh's cricketers, meanwhile, have shown more gumption that they have displayed in the past. Multan is an opportunity for them to journey further along those respective roads.
For Pakistan, Yasir Hameed and Mohammad Hafeez have made impressive centuries, while Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul have gained in confidence while picking up some easy wickets. Inzamam-ul-Haq hasn't taken the easy pickings on offer - yet - but with the rest of the Pakistan batsmen firing, his contribution is not as vital as it would be against any other team.
Bangladesh have fought harder in this series than in recent memory. They even grabbed a first-innings lead in the second Test but, as in the first, they faded in the second half of the match, allowing Pakistan an easy victory. Javed Omar, Hannan Sarkar, Habibul Bashar, Mohammad Ashraful and Rajin Saleh have all batted with application and discipline, though their bowling hasn't yet shown the promise of taking 20 wickets in a Test.
They will be motivated. The Bangladesh team was made to travel to Multan in economy class, while the Pakistan team sat in executive class. The Bangladeshis bristled at what they perceived to be an affront. They do not take kindly to being treated like a second-class cricketing nation, and Rashid Latif's patronising comments about the forthcoming Test would not have helped either.
"I don't want to interfere in their planning," said Latif, "but if Bangladesh does not play positive cricket they will not learn and improve. We allowed them to perform in the first two Tests but here we will try our best to finish it off early."
It is unlikely that Bangladesh will express much gratitude for this kindness. Dav Whatmore, their coach, remained focussed on the task at hand. "I am trying to make sure that the boys do not lose confidence after their slump in the Peshawar Test," he said. "We need to guard the areas of improvement."
It does not help to have a morose captain, though. Khaled Mahmud, under criticism for his allround non-performance, admitted, "After the series I will sit down with the Board's officials and will review my career." It wasn't all defeatism, though. He also said, "When someone criticises our Test status we feel hurt because the improvement is definitely there."
Bangladesh have lost 17 Tests in a row. The momentum seems overwhelming, but somewhere, someday they will stem the rot. Will it be at Multan?
Probable teams
Pakistan 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Taufeeq Umar, 3 Yasir Hameed, 4 Inzamam-ul-Haq, 5 Yousuf Youhana, 6 Younis Khan, 7 Rashid Latif (capt and wk), 8 Shoaib Akhtar, 9 Danish Kaneria, 10 Shabbir Ahmed, 11 Umar Gul.
Bangladesh 1 Hannan Sarkar, 2 Javed Omar, 3 Habibul Bashar, 4 Mohammad Ashraful, 5 Rajin Saleh, 6 Alok Kapali, 7 Khaled Mashud (wk), 8 Khaled Mahmud (capt), 9 Mohammad Rafique, 10 Manjural Islam, 11 Mashrafe Mortaza.
© Wisden CricInfo Ltd
BD 43/1 in 12 overs....
umar gul has taken a wicket but overall the bowling has been bad from the other bowlers....
shabbir and debutant yasir ali both giving away too many runs....
umar gul was tidy early on, now he is also getting some bashing....