Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
itnay piyaray piyaray bachay hayn Pakistan team mai, siwaye ek do daanton ke 
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
^ :)
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
lol 
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
Cricket: Forget ul-Haq, Black Caps should be very Afridi
Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi shapes as the danger for New Zealand in the key group match on Tuesday night.
Barring Pakistan’s blip against Canada this week, where they successfully defended 184, they are blessed with a wealth of natural skill and gutsy application, especially among senior players - and especially Afridi.
He’s been the individual star, dwarfing other wicket-takers in the competition with 14 at 5.21 and a strike rate of a wicket every 12 balls.
The control of his awkward leg spinners leaves audiences in awe and he does love a crowd. His variety is impressive, sending down a mixture of staple 85-95km/h leg breaks, mixed with the odd googly, slider and 130km/h faster ball.
Complementing Afridi has been Misbah ul-Haq, his able deputy, batting at five. In eight innings this year, he averages 64.67 and has not been out for less than 25. His cheap wicket would be a New Zealand treasure.
That pair is matched by the unpredictable Akmal brothers (Kamran and Umar) and Shoaib Akhtar mixed with the reliable Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq and Umar Gul.
Pakistan are ranked only one place ahead of New Zealand in the one-day international rankings but they are far hotter favourites than that heading into Tuesday's day-night match in the hills of the Sri Lankan hinterland at Pallekele.
When the two teams met in the six-match series this summer, the visitors won 3-2 with one game abandoned. That might seem tight but after Pakistan’s first-match slump, they turned the series around to lead 3-1 into a dead rubber in Auckland where New Zealand shone courtesy of a Jesse Ryder century.
A number of factors have swung into Pakistan’s favour since. They are playing all their group matches in Sri Lanka; their line-up is relatively settled and they are a tight group with something to prove after last year’s spot-fixing controversy.
Pakistan was dropped as a co-host of this tournament but the compromise has been to base them in one country (Sri Lanka) - the sensible option, given the simmering political volatility in India. That means New Zealand are travelling more, even if they do live in five-star luxury during the tournament. Draining charter flights and bus travel still need to be taken into account.
Perhaps the most astonishing thing, especially compared to the Black Caps, is the consistency of selection. New Zealand experimented at will during the home series but Pakistan have kept the same top eight batsmen for their eight 50-over games this year. The exception was the one-dayer in Auckland when Misbah was rested and Asad Shafiq took his place at five. The only other players were their fast bowlers and the spinning role between Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman.
After such a tumultuous year, it is remarkable Pakistan are in this shape. They have lost three of their best players to spot-fixing convictions for at least five years and are not allowed to play international cricket in their own country because of terrorism and security threats. Yet they can still produce quality cricket.
If the Black Caps negotiate their way past this one, they’ll feel they’re back in with a shot at the tournament.
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Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
I think...Ahmad Shehzad might be pondering about his tour back in the NZ last year... :D
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
I would love to see Junaid Khan in action…but thats just me…no one agrees wid me on this…
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
Shahid Afridi should win player of the tournament
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
lol! True! 
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
I think I'd agree with mighty Imran Khan here but things have proven to be working from the bowling side since shahid Afridi has proved to be a complete and successful bowler. So its good either way:
Pakistan's Intikhab rejects Imran Khan's criticism
(AFP) – 13 hours ago
PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka — Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam Sunday brus
hed aside criticism from former great Imran Khan, who said team selections at the World Cup had been negative.
Imran said playing with two frontline pacemen and two spinners, in addition to Mohammad Hafeez as spinning all-rounder and fast-bowling all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, was defensive.
But Intikhab said Pakistan had been making the most of their resources.
"Everyone has the right to give his opinion, but we have not closed our eyes and ears," he said.
"The team management is doing its homework and is doing whatever is needed in the best interests of the team," Intikhab added ahead of Pakistan's Group A match against New Zealand in Pallekele on Tuesday.
Imran's criticisms come despite three wins out of three for Pakistan, which sees them at the top of the group.
"I strongly believe that although Pakistan have won three matches, they are playing with one specialist bowler short and need to include a bowler in place of a batsman or an all-rounder," said Imran.
Intikhab, who was coach/manager of the 1992 Pakistan World Cup-winning team that Imran captained, said the teams would face the extra challenge of playing at high altitude in the hill resort of Pallekele.
"This place is 2000 feet above sea level and altitude affects the breathing, for which we are working hard during training," said Intikhab, who was coach when Pakistan won the 2009 World Twenty20.
He said his team were happy they had come into the tournament being jointly hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as underdogs.
"It was good for us that we were not rated when we came to the tournament, it suited us. But we are trying to do our best and taking every game seriously without thinking too much on how we have played so far."
Intikhab said New Zealand, who have two wins out of three matches, would be difficult opponents.
"It's a tough game against New Zealand. We won the series against them but here the conditions are different so we need to work very hard to keep our 100 per cent record intact."
Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
I have a feeling that Pakistan's luck will run out in this match. They have been totally relying on Afridi to win matches. This will be a close one but I think New Zealand will win this. I hope I am wrong.
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
This is a new stadium and uncharted waters as far as the pitch.....so hard to say...
if its anything like the one Pakistan played Canada on, then it could be double bounce and slow/low....Pakistan has ajmal, afridi, hafeez and they have Vettori and Mccullum. Their quicks are as good however, Pak has Shoaibs pace. So its hard to really say anything. On field Kiwis are a better fielding outfit then pakistan, but in spirit Pakistan has mental advantage over them...
Lets see..seems like 60-40 in favor of Pak (afridi advantage compared to vettori). For sure Kiwis will come hard at Pakistan.
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
Its in favour of Pakistan …If Pak bats 1st and scores 280 NZ just cannot chase it down with our strong bowling lineup
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
Wow. Nice strategy. They don’t call you Jame Bhaand for nothing!
What happens if you lose the toss?
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
Taking a page out of Tofibaba’s book
Good luck, Pakistan!
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
Thank you for ur Support Southie Bro 
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
Enough stratigies, and suggestions. the only way Pakistan wIns any game is the famous "dua'en" so dont forget the most important ingredient of our winning recepi and start now.
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March
Pakistan’s team is being attacked by Honey Bees at the Practise session 
Re: Pakistan VS New Zealand | 8th March