Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
shoaib doubtful???here we go :( :(
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
Asif and Umar Gul can take on indians...
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
I very much doubt that Shoib is going to sit out of this game i think if he is 70% fit they will play him and after winning the toss Pak is going to bat for atleast 4 session this gives him some more time to recover from his injury...and even if he is unfit it wouldnt be Akhter's first time plaing for Pak when not 100% fit. :D
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
psychological warfare is at play...
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
^ thats what I think as well.
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
Pakistan wants to give false notion so that Indians will play Ganguly… 
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
why not? PCB has screwed up the whole sereis.
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
Your guess is as good as mine.
Also, I would like to stress on the notion that if Akhtar is not a 100% fit for the Karachi test, just drop the guy. There have been so many missed opportunities (or at least a handful that I can count by hand) where he should have been given the ball on numerous ocassions (post-lunch/post-tea), but, for one reason or another (injured ankle is my assumption here), he was not brought into the attack. It has been pointed out by Woolmer as well. I just want to see him bowl his heart out, especially when it matters most, and not a 4-5 over spell in the morning and be done with it for the entire day. I love the guy, but this just has to stop. If he is unfit for the rubber, pick Umar Gul, or our dear beloved Sami. I want to see the captain (and the fielders for that matter) make the most of the opportunities given to them, and given the fact that we already have dropped a number of catches in the series, it is about time we look at our bowling strategies and pick a bowler who is easily reliable, affordable, and is able to bowl long spells without the worry of injuries or detriment.
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
^ completly agreed .... it might be a big gamble playing him half fit.....what if he breaks down in the middle and our attack will be deprived of one FT bowler .... it would be wise to play Gul if the wicket is green ...
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
I don't think Pakistan will take a risk of not playing Inzi, Mali and Akhtar. That would leave us with only 2 experienced batsmen, Yousuf and Younis. And we are already short of good openers. This will not only hurt our batting but also bowling.
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
So Pak groundsmen are going to doctor the pitch more succesfully than the first 2 times....very sporty indeed!
Assuming they do succeed to create a pitch that provides the undue favors and handicap for the Pak bowlers, even then I think the match will be determined, less by how effective the Pak bowlers are and more by how less ineffective the Indian bowling is.
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
:) You are saying as if Pakistan has a choice in this matter. Malik should be excused since he just lost his father and thats always a big blow to anyone. Inzi and Akhtar should play if they are fit, and not play if they are not. Simple as that.
Whats the worse that can happen? We lose a game? No player should be forced to play when they are not fully fit. Having said all that, I think Pakistan will approach this game in a positive frame of mind. The batsmen are in top form. Younis is an energetic captain on the field, in case Inzi doesn't play. If the pitch and the fielders cooperate a little bit, the bowling has the ability to get 20 wickets as they had shown against England in the last series. Indian batting is also firing all guns (at least Sehwag, Dravid and Laxman have proven in the last two games). If our bowling doesn't click, the game will be a draw. The performance of both teams in the first two tests shows that it won't be easy to steamroll either of them. In a larger scheme of things, Malik's absence is really not that big a deal. Idle boasting and chest thumpings aside, I don't think India is entering the game with much hopes of pulling a victory just because of injuries to two players.
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
Hmmm, I have a strong feeling that Pakistan will take the field with both Akhtar and Inzi. Akhtar hasn’t exactly bowled a lot in this series as compared to England, I am sure he will be fine. Inzi has said that even if he is 60% fit, he will still play. Just some mind games going on.
One thing is for sure, if Akhtar really isn’t playing, then kiss your “fast and bouncy” wicket goodbye .
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
Woolmer draws flak again, this time from Akram
- Faisalabad, Jan 26 (PTI) *After Imran Khan, another former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram took a dig at coach Bob Woolmer, saying he was not being positive by allowing dull wickets and making it a “very painful and boring” affair to watch the first two Tests against India.
“I apologise for deciding to become a commentator as it is very painful to watch such boring cricket coming from Pakistan. They are such a talented side but why aren’t they being positive. Please tell, Bob woolmer to be positive,” Akram said after the second Test at Faisalabad also ended in a tame draw.
The first Test in Lahore had also ended in a tame draw.
Akram said the Pakistan Cricket Board should stop making excuses as everyone knows that the coach and the captain have always had a say in preparation of the wicket.
“I have captained the side for eight years and I know what it is. ‘I am not a groundsman’ is not an acceptable excuse,” he was quoted as saying in a press release issued by ‘ESPN-Star Sports’ today.
Former Inndia captain Ravi Shastri also joined the criticism, saying Pakistan had gone on defensive in the first two matches of the three-Test series.
“They (Pakistan) are scared of losing,” he said and expressed reservations that even in Karachi, the venue for the third and the final Test beginning on January 29, Pakistan team would not prepare a sporting wicket. PTI
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
For some reason, i believe Pakistan expected the first two games to be a draw.... I think we were banking of Karachi from the start. The reason being that we always play our best cricket after first couple of games. Now that we have settled in the series, we can go out there and surprise India with the bouncy pitch. With all due respect to Team India, our team has this belief in them that they can take the series in Karachi with the help of pitch, their fast bowlers, fantastic Karachi crowd and some good luck charm of Karachi's test history.
This will be quite a test for our team, especially if the Inzis and the Akhtars play in this test. I for one wouldn't mind the loss if we are gonna go for a result in this test. Quite honestly I was worried that we can lose the first test and the next two ending as a draw and i loved the decision of creating batting pitches.... but now, I just want to see some exciting cricket with 100% effort from both sides and seeing a better team win the game. India has gained the confidence and the pressure shifts back on Pakistan ; thanks to our ex cricketers n media for ripping apart the management for the pitches. Now, if the pitch has some life in Karachi and our players give their 100% and play aggressive cricket, I would consider them as winners as they will be taking the risk of losing the series to INDIA.
If we can get a result from this game, that should just hush the people who are having a blast pointing fingers. Sure there will be one team on the losing end in that case, but CRICKET will come out as a winner and that is what its all about.
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
Nice Cartoon Published on THE HINDU.
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
I know Inzi is the most vital cog in our team but It wont be end of the world if he doesnt play. Pakistan will learn a great deal if we win this match without Inzi. But On the other hand I think both Inzi and Shoaib will end up playing.
Regarding psychological advantage, I am okay with Pakistan being underdogs. Favourite tag doesnt really suit us in crunch matches.
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
if inzi n shoiab aren't playing i dont think we should risk losing the series...if those 2 aren't fit, make the picth dead again and play 10 batsmen plus the wiki...best way to ensure we won't lose...the idea fo losing a second home series in a row to india is just damning...well...okay not 10 batsmen...but u get my flow ya??
but watever it is...i think they will play inzi, shoaib, rana and sami...(i should think so)...just mind games or something goin on is what i think...lets see
and about the pitch...it just depends on whether inzi/shoaib play or not...
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
i have a bad feeling for the 3rd test
if inzi doesnt play its not the end of the world another batsman will come
if shoaib does not play then a bowler maybe better will replace him
Re: Pakistan vs India 3rd Test Match @ Karachi Jan 29 - Feb 2 2006
is it confirmed that akhter and inzi aren't playing ?