Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
^ “two of their main batsmen”? One is Inzamam, who is the 2nd ‘main batsman’? I thought only Malik and Inzi were out 
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
Itnaa dookhi mat ho
Remember Bangalore test…similar situation
Afridi should open in place of Malik…and go berserk..
You know where I am going..
And Pak can still win.
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
^ I like that mentality. Too bad Inzi and Bob don't have it. When questioned about a result in post match interview Bob immediately went all wishy washy saying umm we are short two batsmen, this is a draw, we lost the opportunity. I mean come on, all those things are true but atleast we can have positive outlook for the public!
Comparing Bob and Dravid's interviews it seemed like it was Pakistan chasing 588 and having to bat last and not the other way around.
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
may be because they are disappointed in not having to enforce the follow on. But anyway I still think that pakistan holds the upper hand in this test. India has to bat last and usually they dont bat well under pressure.
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
Well played Dhoni, wonderful innings, on Pakistan bowling part they went back to the short stuff, not good:nono: I guess the next time around when Dhoni comes to bat they will bowl with a plan like against Shewag.
its an old saying “Catches win matches” and I think Yuvraj showed us how to turn half chances into a wonderful catch when he caught Younis Khan, but its different with Pakistan 
I guess they will never learn :o
As far as this match is going, the first session tomorrow will decide what swing the game will take draw or win for either team.
buck-up boyz 
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
Believe it or not, Malik automatically becomes a main batsman since he was an opener. His absence would mean Afridi will open the innings, and if he fails, there’ll be big trouble for Pakistan.
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
Wonderful innings by Dhoni. Hats off to him. His fierce pull agsint Shoaib's blistering bouncer was highlight of the day for me. Irfan Pathan usually blocks and occassionally comes out of his shell but Dhoni took India past safety mark with ease.
I agre with acrobi and some1 that it is Pakistan who can win this match but it will take an unbelivable performance by two or three individuals.
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
^ I think otherwise. Its Either India or Draw (most likely draw). Pakistan have 9 (or may be 9.5) batsmen to play with. Inzi in injured , Shoaib Malik is out.....opening pair is broken.........phewwwww
If somehow India can take 100+ runs lead here and then take 1-3 quick wickets, I can read PANIC written all over Pakistani roster.
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
If somehow India can take 100+ runs lead here and then take 1-3 quick wickets, I can read PANIC written all over Pakistani roster.
India doesn't have to take a lead to put pressure on Pakistan. Even if they are in 40/50 runs deficit, and Pakistan starts their innings after lunch and lose a couple of quick wickets, there'd be ENORMOUS pressure on Pakistan. Just imagine this: A full day and a half to go, a lead of about 50-60 runs with 2/3 wickets down and playing with TWO batsmen less?? If Afridi opens and goes early, that'll effectively put Younis/Yousaf in the role of an opener, a role they do not relish. And if any one of them goes, this brings in Razzaq and Akmal. These two would then be batting to waste as much time as possible. The wicket will be uneven and spinning, and only Younis and Yousaf play spinners reasonably well. Lower order will be exposed. A 200+ total to score in half a day tomorrow won't pose much problems for India given what Sehwag, Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar, Dhoni can do.
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
Afridi doesn’t need to open, it could be either Younis Khan with Salman or Kamran Akmal.
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
/ 
Agar aapnay ab meri taang kheenchi naa, to mein nay aapkay kapray dhonay band kar deney hain. /
/ 
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
slip of tongue I mean keyboard yar
Not really, the way he has been playing, he has become a part-time batsman, more like what Imran Farhat/Taufeeq Umar were considered (though they were inducted as specialists but they acted halfa$$es).
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
Not really, the way he has been playing, he has become a part-time batsman, more like what Imran Farhat/Taufeeq Umar were considered (though they were inducted as specialists but they acted halfa$$es).
Yeah, but nevertheless he did manage to see off the first 10-12 overs. Younis and Yousaf are much more comfortable with the older ball.
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
My thoughts on Shoaib Malik as an opener are well-known, I'd reckon. The guy has failed to take advantage of a paradise in Lahore (Yes, I remember his 'much-needed' 59), and once again, failed to make a reasonable and decent-sized score on this pitch as well. Furthermore, the technique he plays with is quite defensive, which is why I am strongly against him as an opener (or refering to him as a main batsman for that matter), however, I would like for him to come lower down the order, as the style and strokeplay that he implies on the ground does not seem to be an arsenal of that an opener.
Nevertheless, if you are implying on the fact that he sees off 10-12 overs in the initial stages of the match, then yes, I agree.
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
Even Razzaq can manage to see off first 10-12 overs, but we are not playing an ODI where you get to face new ball only once. An opener in Test match should have enough temprament to stay at crease all day long and patient enough to let go good balls and not play ‘uppish’ unless really going for a 6, half-a$$ed uppish shots make you Shoaib Malik…oops thats who he is 
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
I think kamran would be a good choce for pakistani second innings if Afridi is not going to open.
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
Sincerely,
Captain Lota
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
Unrelated to the thread...but How I wish India's "intelligent" selectors had picked a team for this tour that had :
-A spinner-allrounder (eg Rajesh Powar) instead of Parthiv Patel (Would have been ideal to replace Harbhajan)
-Another specialist batsman(e.g Hemang Badani/Dinesh Mongia etc) in place of Ganguly
-Another pacer (eg Balaji) in place of Agarkar
I still don't see the logic behind Parthiv Patel's selection. He only used up a place. Even if Dhoni was injured...how long would it take for another keeper to fly out from across the border.
Also (but for this I don't blame the selectors) - it is funny that before the tour there was so much discussion on whether Jaffer or Gambhir would open the batting....now both will probably go back without getting a look-in.
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
I hope for India's sake they do not persist with Dravid as an opener after this series. He is the backbone of the entire batting lineup and you dont want to take your backbone and put it in the enemy's firing range right away. You can get away with it on subcontinental pitches but it can be a very unforgiving mistake in countries like australia, england, south africa etc.
I'm not undermining Dravid's abilities. He is the only person from the opposition that i truly like. But Dravid too is human and if you lose him early in a game then i dont think any other batsmen has the quality to come in and drop anchor like he does.
Sincerely,
Captain Lota
Re: Pakistan vs India 2nd Test Match @ Faisalabad Jan21 - Jan 25 2006
-A spinner-allrounder (eg Rajesh Powar) instead of Parthiv Patel (Would have been ideal to replace Harbhajan) -Another specialist batsman(e.g Hemang Badani/Dinesh Mongia etc) in place of Ganguly -Another pacer (eg Balaji) in place of Agarkar
I still don't see the logic behind Parthiv Patel's selection. He only used up a place. Even if Dhoni was injured...how long would it take for another keeper to fly out from across the border.
Also (but for this I don't blame the selectors) - it is funny that before the tour there was so much discussion on whether Jaffer or Gambhir would open the batting....now both will probably go back without getting a look-in.
Parthiv Decision was totally idiotic. Kiran More ko mera Salam. This idiot has goofed up so many times.
First of all there is no need to carry 2nd WK for a series in pakistan. And If it was needed it should have been Karthik. But then More had to do something for his zone.