Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in UAE, Oct-Nov 2011

GoldenAsif · September 21, 2011, 1:00pm

**Fixtures

**http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-v-sri-lanka-2011/content/series/530420.html?template=fixtures

The first test is in Abu Dhabi (Oct18-22)

**Samaraweera dropped for Pakistan Tests

**Dinesh Chandimal has been recalled to Sri Lanka’s Test squad for the series against Pakistan in the UAE and is one of four wicketkeeper-batsmen in the 16-man party. Middle-order batsman Thilan Samaraweera, 34, and spinner Ajantha Mendis are the major omissions from the squad that lost 1-0 to Australia at home, while legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna was also left out.
“Thilan will not come into the reckoning in our long term plans,” Duleep Mendis, the chairman of selectors, said. “We intend giving youngsters an opportunity while the seniors are around. He might be considered on a short-term basis.”
Apart from Chandimal, who was part of the Test squad in England this summer but did not debut, fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep and another wicketkeeper-batsman Kaushal Silva were the two other uncapped players called into the side. Chandimal has played 12 ODIs and seven Twenty20s, though, and is presently representing Ruhuna in the Champions League Twenty20 in India. Neither Pradeep nor Silva has any international caps.
Samaraweera scored only 86 runs at an average of 21.50 in the first two home Tests against Australia and was dropped for the third match at the SSC. Sri Lanka adjusted to his absence by batting the captain Tillakaratne Dilshan in the middle order while Lahiru Thirimanne opened with Tharanga Paranavitana. Dilshan is likely to continue batting in the middle order.
Mendis did not play any of the Tests against Australia because of a back injury he sustained during the preceding ODI series and he remained unavailable for selection. Prasanna made his debut in the second Test in Pallekele and took 0 for 80 in the match.
The squad contained five fast bowlers in Chanaka Welegedara, Suranga Lakmal, Dammika Prasad, Shaminda Eranga and Pradeep and only two specialist spinners - Rangana Herath and Suraj ***v. Angelo Mathews was selected as a batsman because he was not yet fit to bowl.
“Angelo has gone to Australia for treatment for his left knee and we will not risk bowling him in the series,” Mendis said.
Sri Lanka play three Tests against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah starting on October 18.
**
Squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Angelo Mathews (vc), Tharanga Paranavitana, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Rangana Herath, Suraj *****v, Chanaka Welegedara, Suranga Lakmal, Shaminda Eranga, Dammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Kaushal Silva (wk).

http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-v-sri-lanka-2011/content/current/story/533237.html

GoldenAsif · September 21, 2011, 1:08pm

Re: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in UAE, Oct-Nov 2011 / SLA announce test squad

Though Samarweera averages 52.61 in tests

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/50424.html

he had a poor series against Australia averaging 21.50 in two tests.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=6600;team=8;type=series

Did he deserve the axe?

waleedhbk · September 21, 2011, 1:13pm

Re: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in UAE, Oct-Nov 2011 / SLA announce test squad

We need Gul,Wahab back in the team

Samarawera has scored two 250 against Pakistanis

rangoli · October 1, 2011, 9:13pm

Re: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in UAE, Oct-Nov 2011 / SLA announce test squad

I hope Afridi and Wahab are playing!

waleedhbk · October 1, 2011, 9:33pm

Re: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in UAE, Oct-Nov 2011 / SLA announce test squad

Wahab will be playing for sure ........Afridi needs to come back even Misbah said it in his latest interview

Anwer_Pasha · October 3, 2011, 1:40am

Re: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in UAE, Oct-Nov 2011 / SLA announce test squad

The latest’
Multan Province shared a link.http://external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQCvj73JWa3_gQ6W&w=90&h=90&url=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.thenews.com.pk%2Fupdates_pics%2F10-2-2011_23789_l.jpgPakistan squad announced for Sri Lanka Test series
www.thenews.com.pkKARACHI: Pakistan announced a 15-man squad for the three Tests against Sri Lanka to be played in the United Arab Emirates later this month.

GoldenAsif · October 3, 2011, 1:50am

Re: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in UAE, Oct-Nov 2011 / SLA announce test squad

**Umar Akmal dropped from test squad
**Umar Akmal has been dropped from the Pakistan Test squad for their series against Sri Lanka in the UAE starting later this month. Shoaib Malik, who was on Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe after gaining clearance from the PCB, finds a place in the 15-man squad.
Several of the first-choice bowlers who were rested for the Zimbabwe tour return. Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz come back and are joined by Aizaz Cheema and Junaid Khan in the fast-bowling department, with no place for Sohail Tanvir or Tanvir Ahmed. Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman is also back in the squad while Imran Farhat has been retained as a third opener along with Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar.
Umar Akmal has not scored a Test century since his hugely impressive debut in 2009. After a poor year in 2010, when he averaged just 24.33, he was left out of the XI for the two Tests in New Zealand. He returned to the side for the Tests in the West Indies, but after scoring just one Test half-century this year, and struggling to play long innings in ODIs as well, he has been left out of the Test squad.
“Umar is a talented cricketer but he was not justifying his place in Test cricket,” Mohsin Khan, Pakistan’s chief selector, said explaining the decision. "This was the reason our middle order was facing problems during the recent tour [of Zimbabwe]. He may be good in limited-over cricket but Tests and ODIs are contrasting games.
“In Tests, Umar is required to play long innings so we have advised him to play domestic cricket and learn to bat for long.”
Umar Akmal’s exclusion means Asad Shafiq and Shoaib Malik will be fighting for a middle-order spot. After a year out of the Pakistan setup, Malik gained clearance from the PCB’s integrity committee just in time to go to Zimbabwe. He did not play the Test there and did not make an impact in the ODIs and Twenty20 internationals. He has been consistently performing on the domestic circuit, finishing as the second-highest run-getter in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Division One last season, with 799 runs at an average of 73.57. Shafiq, meanwhile, has struggled in Tests since getting half-centuries in each of his first two innings.
Malik’s inclusion in the squad comes on the same day he led Sialkot to a win in the final of the Faysal Bank T20 Cup, after getting them there with an unbeaten 88 in the semi-final. Mohsin, though, said his Twenty20 performances were not a factor when deciding the Test squad. “Shoaib is not selected on the basis of the ongoing Twenty20 Cup but what inspired us was his fitness and the form he is currently in.”
The other notable exclusion from the squad is Tanvir Ahmed, who has taken 16 wickets in the four Tests he has played since debuting against South Africa in November last year. He was not on the tour of Zimbabwe, though, and Cheema, who took eight wickets on debut in the Bulawayo Test and another eight wickets in the three-match one-day series, keeps his place.
Cheema was one of several fringe players given a chance on the Zimbabwe tour, but not all have retained their places. “There might be players dropped following the recent Zimbabwe tour but that was a chance taken on youngsters,” Mohsin said. “We actually had to try new players and now we have a picture of who stands where.”
Junaid Khan also made his Test debut in Bulawayo, and though he was not as successful as Cheema, he was selected, Mohsin said, because of his ability to bowl fast. “If Junaid was retained despite his unimpressive form it is because we need to have a genuine fast bowler.”
The first of three Tests starts on October 18 in Abu Dhabi.
Squad: Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-haq (capt), Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal (wk), Shoaib Malik, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Aizaz Cheema, Wahab Raiz, Umar Gul, Junaid Khan
Standby players: Tanvir Ahmed, Mohammad Talha, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Yasir Shah

http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-v-sri-lanka-2011/content/current/story/534628.html

Malik’s selection screams politics. He averages just 17 in his previous 6 tests.

Umar Akmal has talent no doubt but he is not using it properly … lacks test temperament and discipline. He should have been dropped after a poor series against England and Australia last Summer.

He then played against Windies and averaged 57.24 in tests which basically means he has been dropped after one poor innings (a freakish dismissal) against Zimbabwe … what great logic by the selectors!!

Fine the selectors wanted to give Umar a little “kick up the backside”
However dropping him for Farhat or Malik, a horrible decision

And why they dropped Tanvir Ahmed. Who will take wickets with the new ball now?
**Junaid Khan for Tanvir Ahmed, Shoaib Malik for Umar Akmal and Imran Farhat for someone deserving :smack:
**
PCB pathetic as always..

Captain1 · October 3, 2011, 1:57am