Pakistan V England.

[LahoriMunda]

Re: Pakistan V England/ Pakistani squad announced.

Sami is a very decent bowler, he has been unlucky not to get too many wickets but as skhan said he does have the ability to produce those wicket taking balls out of nowhere. Plus Sami is a hard working athelete who gives it his best effort. He is much better in the field compared to Shabbir and to top it off Sami is a much more composed batsman then Shabbir. He might not be able to play falshy shots but he can hold one end and build a partnership if their is a batman on the other end. Overall with his pace, his ability ot swing the ball both ways Sami is a much better option to go with then Shabbir. He bowled pretty well in India and I am sure will try his best as usual in this series as well.

[fkhan2]

Re: Pakistan V England/ Pakistani squad announced.

@LahoriMunda

Sami is a very decent bowler, he has been unlucky not to get too many wickets but as skhan said he does have the ability to produce those wicket taking balls out of nowhere. Plus Sami is a hard working athelete who gives it his best effort. He is much better in the field compared to Shabbir and to top it off Sami is a much more composed batsman then Shabbir. He might not be able to play falshy shots but he can hold one end and build a partnership if their is a batman on the other end. Overall with his pace, his ability ot swing the ball both ways Sami is a much better option to go with then Shabbir. He bowled pretty well in India and I am sure will try his best as usual in this series as well.

I agree with you on the unlucky part and his batting talent.
Anyway, if not in the first test than I think by 2nd test pakistan will be playing with shoaib, sami and shabbir. The spinner policy will and should not work for Pakistan.

[yaasir]

Re: Pakistan V England/ Pakistani squad announced.

I think Pakistan needs to go with 4 fast bowlers, since Razzaq is not playing, they dont have an option of a medium pacer. I think they must play Shoiab, Sami, Rana, and Shabbir with Dani and Malik as spinners. 3 fast bowlers will not be enough, Sami sometimes gets smacked all over the park and same with AKhtar, and he might also get injured to.

[ehsan]

Re: Pakistan V England/ Pakistani squad announced.

**Wasim warns Pakistan of Flintoff **](BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Wasim warns Pakistan of Flintoff)

Wasim Akram believes Andrew Flintoff is such a dangerous swing bowler that Pakistan could struggle to cope with him in the Test series against England.

The former Pakistan captain believes an ability to swing the ball in the dry and dusty conditions could be decisive.

Wasim told BBC Sport: "The pitches will be good for batting and eventually reverse swing will be a major factor.

“Andrew Flintoff has mastered it and I think Pakistan’s batsmen will struggle against him.”

Wasim is Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker with 414 Test scalps, and he is regarded as one of the pioneers and most potent exponents of reverse swing.

He has been advising the Pakistan bowling attack in the build-up to the Test series, which begins in Multan on Saturday, and he believes conditions will play into the swing bowlers’ hands.

He said: "It’s difficult to get wickets in Pakistan, so we’ll find out who can really bowl reverse swing.

“Both sides know how to bowl it but it’s a different ball game over here. Hardly any balls will reach the slip cordon after the second or third day of a Test match.”

Wasim watched the Ashes with interest and predicts that former Lancashire team-mate Flintoff will continue his good form in the sub-continent.

“Pakistan will really have to work hard against England because they are full of confidence,” he said.

"Everybody watched the Ashes over here, the press are hyped up, the players are hyped up and everyone is upbeat. "Andrew Flintoff will enjoy Pakistan. He has lots of friends here. He’s at the top of his game and the wickets will be perfect for him to bat and bowl. “The team that wins will be the one which is more mentally strong.”