Shoaib Akhtar unlikely to play against South Africa
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar is unlikely to play in the Test series against South Africa because of a disciplinary inquiry into his conduct starting next week. Akhtar was sent home from South Africa a fortnight ago, before the start of the Twenty20 World Cup, after he struck team mate Mohammad Asif with a bat during a row. The fast bowler said all rounder Shahid Afridi had provoked the brawl and that he accidentally hit Asif with the bat. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf told a news conference that the disciplinary committee would start its work in a week’s time. Asked if Akhtar would be considered for the Tests against the visiting South Africa, Ashraf replied: “We will not interfere in the working of the disciplinary committee or the selectors. This is a serious issue and will be investigated fully.” South Africa announced a strong 14-member squad on Thursday and play the first Test in Karachi from Oct. 1.The second Test starts in Lahore on Oct 8. Ashraf said the disciplinary committee would question all the players after they returned home from South Africa and would also investigate how news of the incident was leaked to the press. Ashraf said he was confident that senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf would be available for the Tests against South Africa despite having joined the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL). “He is a gentleman and I am confident we can convince him to withdraw from the contract and play for Pakistan. The selectors should prepare for the Tests with him in mind.” Yousuf joined the ICL along with former captain Inzamamul Haq, Abdul Razzaq and Imran Farhat after being dropped for the Twenty20 World Cup. reuters http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\09\21\story_21-9-2007_pg2_4
**Kallis returns for Tests in Pakistan, Morne Morkel called up, **Uncapped Duminy also in for two-match series](http://www.cricinfo.com/pakvrsa/content/story/311793.html)
DURBAN: All-rounder Jacques Kallis has been recalled to the South Africa squad for a Test series in Pakistan in October. Kallis was left out for the Twenty20 World Cup and reacted to his omission by resigning as vice captain, saying he was considering his options. But selection convenor Joubert Strydom told a news conference in Durban on Thursday that the impasse had been resolved. “I know (Cricket South Africa chief executive) Gerald Majola has had various discussions with him,” Strydom said.
“Personally, there have never been problems and we’re quite confident that he’s ready to go.” Batsman JP Duminy, who has played 15 one-day internationals and two Twenty20 internationals but no Tests, has also won a place in the squad. “JP has a lot of talent and we want to send him to Pakistan to gain experience,” Strydom said. “He will cover the number five, six or seven slot in the team.” South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said Herschelle Gibbs would return to the top of the order in Pakistan. “Herschelle’s Test form hasn’t been as good as he would like it to be, and I think opening the batting is his best position and that’s where we’d like to see him this summer,” Arthur told a news conference. South Africa will play five one-day internationals in Pakistan after the two Test matches.
Let’s hope mazeed dhamaake na hon between now and then
And instead of playing 2 tests and 5ODIs they should have played 3 tests and 3 ODIs, How very silly of the organisers. 2-test series should be scrapped altogether.
Re: Pakistan v South Africa Home Test Series - Shoaib Akhtar unlikely to play
lagta hai Smith security kee aar mein pehle se hee bahana talash kar raha hai
Security concerns for Proteas on Pak tour http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\09\26\story_26-9-2007_pg2_1
JOHANNESBURG: South Africa captain Graeme Smith said on Tuesday security concerns on the team’s tour of Pakistan would mean his men would have to get used to spending much of their time restricted to hotels. **“I’ve heard something like 6,000 troops are on standby for us and I think we’re going to be pretty much confined to our hotels,” **Smith told reporters before the team’s departure. “It is a big challenge being stuck in a hotel all the time because you have nothing to take your mind off the cricket and it’s easy to slip into boredom, get lackadaisical and lose that drive.” Smith said his team were going to Pakistan feeling a mixture of excitement and trepidation for the challenges ahead. The South Africans start their tour with a three-day warm-up match against a Patron’s XI in Karachi on Thursday. They then play Pakistan in two Tests and five one-day internationals. “Playing a sub-continental team on their home grounds is always a massive challenge,” Smith said. “Your patience levels have to be very high and the guys will have to adapt to the lifestyle changes and the amount of security that will be around us.”
Great opportunity: Smith, however, said he was very excited about the tour, 3which starts a busy 18 months for South Africa, who will also visit India, Australia and England. “We haven’t won on the sub-continent for a while, so this is a great opportunity and an exciting tour. In the next year and a half we have some wonderful tours coming up and I would love to win in Pakistan as much as in England or Australia,” he said. “We will be introducing some new players and there are several young bowlers who are touring the sub-continent for the first time. (Spinner) Paul Harris will have his first real go overseas and (paceman) Morne Morkel is an awesome prospect.”
Smith said he was not sure what to expect from Pakistan, who lost the Twenty20 World Cup final against India here on Monday. “It will also be a challenge for them to adapt to Test cricket again and a lack of experience can be hidden in the Twenty20. No one knows what’s happening with Mohammad Yousuf and, with Abdul Razzaq gone, will they play the extra all-rounder? Maybe there’ll be one or two guys we don’t know.” reuters
Re: Pakistan v South Africa Home Test Series - Shoaib Akhtar unlikely to play
yar GA aap itnay rangeela kyon ho gie hai Cheetay kee thrah?
Anyways, I don't know who is behind this stupid idea of having test matches on a week day, must be some smart a$$. I mean the whole 10 days of test cricket during this series will be played from Monday through Friday. What happened to the matches which use to start on Wedesndays and Thursdays?
Which ever way I look at it, toonty-toonty just doesn't seem like a real cricket game to me....
And practically to me the only meaningful difference in 20/20 vs. 50 over ODI cricket is just that one has less overs. Otherwise they are both about 6ers and runs, with a lot more commercialism driving them now.
So here we go, focussing again on real cricket as I will like to put it..TEST MATCH CRICKET...
Lets see if our Impressive new Captain and his young energetic team can perform well in this format as well.. I certainly hope that they do..
Saffies will be looking to redeem themselves after their early departure from 20/20 by getting a test series win in Pakistan. While Pakistan would like to win at home as always!
Let the games begin!!!
I hope PCB prepares some sporting tracks - instead of dead flat strips of dry mud..
7 hours ago
KARACHI (AFP) — Pakistan deployed dozens of police officers including elite commandos as the South African cricket team arrived here for a month-long tour of the country.
South Africa are due to play two Tests and five one-day internationals in the violence-hit Islamic republic. They open the tour with a warm-up three-day match in Karachi from Thursday.
Tight security was seen at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport with policemen surrounding Graeme Smith’s men as they left the terminal building in the teeming city of 12 million people.
“We deployed 100 policemen, police commandos and military commandos to create a tight security blanket,” senior Karachi police officer Rana Pervez told AFP.
The South African squad, consisting of 14 players and 13 officials including three security officers, were then whisked to their hotel in a heavily guarded convoy.
They are due to hold a press conference later.
It is the first time South Africa have visited the troubled city since playing the quarter-final of the 1996 World Cup. They refused to play here over security fears on their tours in 1997 and 2003.
Security fears have surged in Pakistan after a spate of Islamic militant violence that has left around 270 people dead following the storming of an Al-Qaeda-linked mosque in Islamabad in July.
The nuclear-armed country’s military ruler, President Pervez Musharraf, is also seeking re-election on October 6 in a bitterly contested poll.
Karachi itself was rocked by clashes between pro- and anti-Musharraf activists in May that left more than 40 people dead.
Earlier this month Pakistani officials assured a visiting two-member delegation from Cricket South Africa that they would provide full security for the tour.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has excluded Rawalpindi and Peshawar from the original itinerary but it insisted the decision was not over security fears but due to a lack of facilities at the two venues.
South Africa will now play Tests in Karachi from October 1 to 5 and Lahore from October 8 to 12.
Four years ago South African cancelled a tour following a bomb blast in Karachi. They only agreed to a shortened version after Pakistan threatened to sue them and agreed to provide them security normally reserved for state heads.
Australia’s A team toured Pakistan earlier this month without any problems.
But security fears and political instability forced the International Hockey Federation to move the annual Champions Trophy tournament from Lahore where it was due to be held in December.
Left-handed batsman Jean-Paul Duminy is the only uncapped player in an otherwise experienced squad while Smith, Mark Boucher, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock are the seven survivors of the Proteas’ last tour here four years ago.
South Africa’s squad for a five one-day internationals following the Test series will be announced later.
Squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Dale Steyn.
Re: Back to real Cricket - TEST Matches coming our way
Yeah it should be a good test of our real skills under a new captain. A two test series makes no sense to me. It is esp. hard for a visiting team as by the time they are getting used to the different climate and conditions, the series is over. I would n't have minded if they had completely scrapped the one-day series seeing as this series was happening so soon after tullah tullah cup. A three or four test series would have been ideal.
Re: Back to real Cricket - TEST Matches coming our way
We are short of good batsmen. We haven't found any good openers yet, we are still shuffling dead-tired horses around to see if any pair would be able to drag the cart. Add to that our middle order has "vacany" signs now. Very likely we won't have Inzi and Yousuf, so we are going to "rely" on Younis, who else?
Re: Back to real Cricket - TEST Matches coming our way
I sure hope Yousuf is back in action for Test cricket and the jerks PCB can get Asim Kamal in the middle order as well...
otherwise like you said Captain1..its seems like a really weak side for Tests...
Re: Back to real Cricket - TEST Matches coming our way
well we are short of solid openers, and add to the fact inzi and yousuf arent there leaving the middle order, frail and thats being kind. But younis is there, i would also mention that the wickets are pakistani, so I think our batsmen while being troubled but still i think they shouldnt have too much trouble on our home wickets!
Don't know how much PCB is going to make an effort to get back Inzamam. Looks like we can put his name with what happened with Wasim, Waqar, Saqlain and others.
We need good batsmen, just recently our A team performed really well against Australia A. Namely players like Yasir Hammed, Faisal Iqbal, Tafeeq Umer and Khalid Latif.
^^^Taufeeq should be given another chance...
I would not think too much of munna faisal though...then again I did not see him bat against Australia and we don't know what kind of wickets they played on..
Did the A team win via batting or spin bowling...?
