Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq is set to miss the first Test against England with an elbow injury.
The opening game of the three-Test series begins in Multan on 12 November and coach Bob Woolmer does not expect the 25-year-old to recover in time.
“He has been advised rest and treatment for this elbow problem for two to three weeks,” Woolmer admitted.
“I don’t think the chances of him playing in the first Test are good. He is a key player for us.”
The loss of Razzaq, who has taken 77 wickets and scored 1,523 runs in his 37 Tests since making his debut as a 19-year-old, would be a big blow for the hosts.
He plays a vital role as third seamer and has provided valuable runs lower down the order.
Razzaq’s one-day record is impressive - 221 wickets and 3,880 runs in 196 games - and suggests he has yet to fulfil his potential in the longer form of the game.
The second Test starts in Faisalabad on 20 November, with the series finale in Lahore preceding five one-dayers.
On the recommendation of the National Selection Committee, PCB has announced the names of the players selected to represent Pakistan in the first two Test matches against England:
I'm not to fussed with razi's injury. His Test game isn't quite their no more. He's lost that zip he had in his bowling. He's performed better in ODI'S and He'll be deadly once the ODI series get's underway, insha'allah.
I'm glad shabi is recalled and also Hasan Raza. This guy is a heera. He has so much potentital, I hope he get's the oportunity to prove his worth. I see him as our successor to bholey badshah once they retire.
Where is Umar Gul??? I can't believe he wasn't chosen. Poor decision.
How in the world could they leave Umer Gul out? He would've been the hidden gem in the Pakistan attack!!! Why pick Arshad Khan? He didn't do much in India.
Choosing Hasan Raza is good news. Hopefully he'll make the most of this opportunity. Even if not, he should' be persisted with for at least a few more Tests.
Re: Pakistan V England/ Pakistani squad announced.
Shoaib Malik is a very talented and hardworking player who has improved tremendously in the last couple of years. But for some reason I am still not comfortable with him playing as a test opener. Yes he can be a regular opener in ODI's.
After a very long time we have seen a player who truly has got the test match temperament. Along with stroke players like inzi and yousuf who still will have a 70% strike rate in a test innings, i would like to have a player like asim kamal who can just hold one end and play a typical test innings. I don't think dropping him off is a good idea from the playing 11.
I have said earlier as well that we have middle order line up filled with younis, yousuf, inzi and kamal and therefore there is no place for talents like faisal iqbal or hasan raza. Why not than try one of them as opener with salman butt specially when we have a crisis going on for the opening pair and still have not yet decided on our test openers. Yes fasial and hasan are not natural openers but in compettive cricket you have to be flexible enough to play at any position. If they can't be sent as an opener than other alternative is to send younis as an opener with butt and play one of them as a middle order batsman.
Re: Pakistan V England/ Pakistani squad announced.
It’s not a good idea to throw a newcomer like Hasan Raza straight into the battle as an opener. If he fails, it’ll destroy his confidence for sure, and he isn’t likely to get a second chance anytime soon. As far as flexibility is concerned, the same could be said about Shoaib Malik… let him be flexible and open the innings. If he succeeds, well and good, if he fails, no harm done, and his place is in no jeopardy since he’s a lifer in the Pak team. I do have doubts about Malik’s batting though. If the ball starts seaming, he’d be like fish out of water, especially outside the off stump. But then, the same could be said about ALL Pakistan batsmen, except Inzimam.
Re: Pakistan V England/ Pakistani squad announced.
Both hasan raza and faisal iqbal are young and inexperience but still I won’t call them a"new comer". Both have played at international level both in test teams and ODI. Yes their regular position is in the middle order but if there is no slot for them in the middle order, would it be wise for the selectors no to try them as an opener and waste their talent? Specially considering that they have performed so many experiments for the opening positions already, there is no harm in trying one of them.
As far as shoaib malik goes, I would like to change my statement which I gave in the earlier post. I should have said that I won’t be comfortable seeing him in the Pakistan test squad as a batsman. Test opening is a very crucial position and you need to have a specialist for the job or atleast a player with a sound technique. Malik has got flaws in his technique and footwork which will be exposed soon when he will play on bouncy and seamy pitches. I won’t call it an acheivement if he would score test hundreds on flat pitches. Bob woolmer has said so many times that he does not believe in taking steps in backward direction. I think keeping malik as an opener will not be a fruitful decision in the long run. Its my personal opinion and I would advocate for faisal iqbal. He has a sound technique which I guess is much better than shoaib malik.
I don’t know if Mushtaq Ahmed or Hassan Raza will get to playat all…Razzaq has been left out due to an injured elbow…and of course, as expected, Shabbir is back…but where’s Umar Gul?
lets hope the actual test pitches aren’t as flat as the one prepared for the warm-up game currently underway…
Re: Pakistan V England/ Pakistani squad announced.
Hasan Raza is not suitable for Int'l level cricket. He is playing cricket since he was 14, almost 9 years now, but still can't take the pressure of Int'l cricket. However he has seen scoring double tons in domestic. Same with Misbah and clan. The only decent batsman coming to national team is Bazid Khan from that lot.
I think we should now play Akhtar, Shabbir and Sami. If one of those fails then we can play Rana as he can give a depth in batting as well, specially in the absence of Razzler.
