Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
I back it as well. You can’t just discard someone after one match especailly as he did not fail in that role. Give him 3 matches and than make the decision. I don’t think there is anyone obvious to replace him at the moment. All the others mentioned have been tried and have failed.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
I agree with Lota, all the other opener wannabes in Pakistan have been given fair runs and failed miserably. Malik is a team man and has tremendous success in ODI's has a ONE DOWN batsman not a LOWER ORDER batsman. His past record speaks for itself. Not to mention he is good in the field and has bowling variety. This makes him head and shoulders above the rest of the competition.
I would include Rana for Shabbir and Afridi for Raza. Our batting needs to beefed up especially the lower order/tail. Lets not forget the onus is on England to win not us. This is not negative cricket, simply smart cricket.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
When Malik is touted as a opener, Sehwag example is quoted which makes that reference relevant. But comparison of records and performance of the two contradicts those theorist who wish to push Malik into that role.
Reason Iam not giving any names is because Pakistan has plenty of talented, regular openers who need a chance to prove their worth. It cud be anyone of those who have done well in the domestic circuit. On a professional basis, we cannot depend on known entities only, we have to look at our nurseries of cricket for replacements and I tell u we have plenty of talent which is being ignored simply because they are unknown. One of the problems with this admin has been their defensive posturing and inability to bring in new talent and give ita chance to prove its worth. Thus the constant tinkering with opening partners.
You say that the three names I have stated are tried, tested and failed. I agree on tried and tested but not on failure. How can u say they are failures? Simply because they have not been in good form recently? Be fair in your analysis, just go on cricinfo and see for yourself how many centuries these three players have scored while OPENING for Pakistan and compare that to your success story Malik’s ZERO centuries as a test batsman. Edging candies to slips? What do u think Malik was doing in this Multan test? Or for that matter, which opener in the world doesnt edge to the slips? That comes with the job when u open batting.
If it has to be an experiment then why not with a regular opener who has a much better chance of improving and building his confidence, whereas Malik has vastly improved his batting, how far can he go with no foot movement is debatable and in my humble opinion very doubtful.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
**Trescothick may have to fly home **](BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Trescothick staying in Pakistan)
England stand-in captain Marcus Trescothick may have to fly home from the tour of Pakistan because of a family accident.
His father-in-law was taken to hospital at the weekend after falling off a ladder at home.
An England spokesman told BBC Sport: “Until he has had another opportunity to speak with family members we can’t make any further comment.”
England, 1-0 down in the series, start the second Test on Sunday.
The spokesman said he did not know how seriously injured Trescothick’s father-in-law is adding: “We are still trying to find out more details so we can’t speculate on what might happen.”
If Trescothick does need to fly home it will leave England with a batting headache, if captain Michael Vaughan does not recover from a knee injury to lead his team in the second Test in Faisalabad.
And England are also likely to be without Andrew Strauss for the third Test as he intends to return home for the birth of his first child.
Losing Vaughan and Trescothick for the second Test would need England appointing yet another captain. All-rounder Andrew Flintoff or left-arm spinner Ashley Giles would probably be seen as the best options. England have already brought in batting cover by calling up Essex’s Alastair Cook.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
Ouch!! England's woes keep piling on! Hope his dad in law is doing okay. Also hope he stays back to play or else im afraid these tests can turn out to be no contest.
Sincerely,
Captain Lota
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
Some stats on Malik as a batsman compared to Taufeeq, Yasir and Farhat, all htree being regular opening batsmen.
Test Avg: Malik 36.14; Taufeeq (TU) 40.73; Imran F (IF) 30.03; Yasir (YH) 38.93
Test Matches played: Malik 10; TU 24; IF 15 and YH 17
First Class Avg: Malik 25.37; TU 39.24; IF 40.75; YH 36.3
Test Hundreds: Malik 0; TU 4 **(2 away & 2 home) ; IF 2 (home); YH 2 (home)
Test 50's: Malik 3** (1 away, 2 home; TU 9 (home 4, away 3 & neutral (Shj) 2); IF 4 (3 home, 1 ayay); YH 7 (away 5 & home 2)
Test played in Pakistan: Malik 8, TU 9; IF 7; YH 10
Test Avg in Pakistan: Malik 38.20, TU 43.37; IF 41.50; YH 43.23
Test Played Away: Malik 2; TU 10; IF 7; YH 7
Test Avg Away: Malik 31; TU 49.93; IF 17.75; YH 33.30
Clearly, stats show that Taufeeq Umer and Yasir Hameed have much better averages, hundreds, fifties both at home and abroad. Malik has been a middle order batsman who has played most of his test cricket at home where he has scored the bulk of his runs, whereas Taufeeq and Yasir have stamped their credentials abroad.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
^give him some time
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
Agree.
I hope he plays and Vaughan plays. If both of them don’t play than…the English will be making excuses because of them if the lose the series…
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
So many people suggesting Razi should be back! Has he made a miraculous recovery all of a sudden? Just a week ago, he was ruled out of the test series! I personally wouldn't change a winning combination but, I can see Hasan Diamond Raza being dropped for Afridi. Raza didn't get a start in either of his innings, he didn't find his feet at all and looked very nervous.
I don't agree with the guys above who have mentioned that, Hasan should be gone for another couple of years. He's just rusty, give him time and he'll come good, he's a very good batsman.
Sami i think has saved his a$$ once again with his fierce bowling in the 2nd innings. He bowled fast and he bowled straight + made a couple of crucial breakthroughs.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
I think I heard even commentators discussing on the last day of the 1st test that even woolmer has realized that he made a mistake by dropping afridi.
His inclusion is almost certain. Now the question is that who he is going to replace, hasan?
First of all we have to ask the question, was hasan included in the 1st test in place of afridi? NO. He was there in place of kamal. So if hasan is dropped, the most ideal candidate is asim kamal.
Afridi on the other hand was there in place of malik and so if he is included, than malik is the only person afridi would be replacing.
Be logical guys, just have a look at the these two, top 6 line ups and see which one sounds reasonable.
Malik, Butt, Younis, Yousuf, Inzi, Afridi
OR
Afridi, Butt, Younis, Yousuf, Inzi, Kamal
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
Razzaq is not fit and even if he was I dont think he derserved to be picked Over Afridi on current form.
Though I think Hasan Raza will be persisted with.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
Hasan Raza was picked in place of Afridi. Asim Kamal was always gonna miss out because of two all roudners thing. Did you hear anyone mentioning Asim Kamal? Rarely. Commentators were all Afridi.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
C’mon saby what are you talking?
Woolmer and inzi were double minded about either playing malik or afridi. It has been said so many times that malik came in place of afridi.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
**^ **Bob also said that, shoaib Malik would play the full series as 1 half of the opening pair.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
^
Yes Bob said that malik will likely play the entire series but bob also decided not to play afridi in the first test. If he can realize that it was a mistake not playing afridi than he can also change his mind about malik for better results.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
^ Not likely, Bob usually doesn't go back on his word. He never said Afridi would never get a game but he did say he would like to give the current opening pair a long run. I am sure Afridi will be back in the next game, but unfortunately I also have a sneaking suspiscion that Yousuf's injury will allow Hasan another chance.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
There is a another possible selection dilema. Shabbir Ahmed & Malik being reported once again for their bowling actions. Both can continue playing but the main issue will be around Shabbir especially as he is just there as a specialist bowler.......whether to risk playing him again and if so the possible consequences again.......
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
Afridi has made it very clear he doesnt like to open, assuming he was to replace Malik then who will open with Butt? Can team management decide to opt for a opener to replace Yoyo/Reza?
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
But if afridi realizes that the only way of entering the side is to play as an opener atleast for this series than he would do it.
The problem is that for afridi to play down the order at # 6, there has to be an opening pair. If that pair is butt and shoaib malik, than pakistan lineup won’t look strong (butt, malik, younis, inzi, yousuf, afridi).
Either afridi play as an opener and allow the management to pick kamal for # 6 spot (afridi, butt, younis, inzi, yousuf, kamal) or else younis come up as an opener along with butt if afridi doesn’t want to open (younis, butt, inzi, yousuf, kamal, afridi).
However in the current situation or in any situation it doesn’t make any sense that afridi comes into the side on his terms and conditions. If management wants him in the side to play as an opener than he has to otherwise he will not be picked and we saw that happened before the first test.
Re: Pakistan V England 2nd Test Match, Faislabad
seeing your comments here has little to do whats on reality.
Hasan raza was given a wrong venue for his come back. But Faisalabad is hardly any better.
The idea of Afridi playing test match might be funky, but he is a useful fielder and a good back up bowler. err,bats also somewhat 
Rana Naveed should have been established as an obviouse choice for tests. What are they (selectors) waiting for,a royal salute? :nono: 
Butt and Malik look good together and a failure now and than should not be a criteria
Both have come good on many occassions.
Stick with Shoaib Akhter, but we need to think of a Mohammad Raza as his pair who has been very good on the national circuit.