Pakistan WINS SERIES against NZ

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1021

Shoaib in line for return](BBC SPORT | Cricket | Shoaib cuts through Kiwis)

Second Test, Wellington: New Zealand v Pakistan
Match starts 2200 GMT 25 December

Shoaib has been suffering from hamstring and calf strains
Pakistan’s hopes in the second Test in New Zealand could be boosted by the return of fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said the team doctor had given Shoaib the all-clear, although coach Javed Miandad would not confirm his recovery.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said Shoaib’s return could decide the match.

“Shoaib hasn’t had a lot of overs so the more we deny them the better chance we’ve got,” Fleming said.

“The first two hours we bat is going to be very important.”

Miandad said Shoaib’s place would depend on a fitness test before the Boxing Day Test, which starts at 2200 GMT on 25 December.

The bowler has been suffering from hamstring and calf strains.

New Zealand tactics criticised
“I can’t say at the moment but he’s working hard… and we have to see, it depends how he goes,” Miandad said.

The first Test ended in a draw on Tuesday after bad weather restricted play.

But New Zealand were given a fright on the final day when they were reduced to 96-8 in their second innings before bad light and rain brought the match to a halt.

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Sami took 5-44 off 16 overs to cut through the New Zealand line-up.

New Zealand have added a second spinner, Paul Wiseman, to the squad for the second and final Test.

1022

so, shoib is back. whose place will he take? gul?sami?shabbir? all these bowlers performed very well. and if they replace razzaq than one batsmen less, wat abt kaneria? but then pak will have no spinner unless they let yasir, farhat and taufeeq bowl.

this is confusing :konfused:

1023

He will take the place of Gul.

1024

I think Shoaib will come in place of Umar Gul. Kaneria bowled beautifully but was unlucky. I think he got quite a bit of turn on the last day.

I also think we need to bring in Aasim Kamal in place of Razzaq to boost our batting line up. Razzaq should be kept for the ODI’s. Shoaib, Sami, Shabbir and kaneria should be enough to bowl out the Kiwis.

1025

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ehsan: *
He will take the place of Gul.
[/QUOTE]

oh ok

1026

Shoaib Akhtar back … or is he?

Wisden Cricinfo staff

December 24, 2003

[thumb=E]inline16965_3897386.JPG[/thumb]

Shoaib Akhtar unwinds in the nets - but his fitness remains a doubt
© AFP

Nothing is simple where Pakistan team matters are concerned, and their side for the second Test against New Zealand at Wellington (starting on Friday) is no exception.

Early reports indicated that Shoaib Akhtar could be fit for the match. He missed the Hamilton Test because of a hamstring injury, but it was said that he was on the mend and faced a late fitness test before a final decision.

Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s captain, pronounced Akhtar fit and ready to go, insisting the team doctor had given him the all-clear. But then Javed Miandad, the coach, clouded the waters by saying that the matter wasn’t that straightforward. “I can’t say at the moment but he’s working hard,” Miandad told bemused reporters. “We have to see … it depends how he goes.”

What Miandad was sure about was that New Zealand’s defensive tactics in the field were somewhat mystifying. “In my opinion, when you are defending 563 you have to attack more,” he said. “I feel the bowlers didn’t attack the stumps enough and they bowled a line just waiting for our batsmen to make a mistake and that was to our advantage. They didn’t try to make our batsmen play. Had that been my team, I would have said we must attack and make sure the other team didn’t make the follow-on.”

Stephen Fleming explained that he believed the way New Zealand bat in the opening session of their innings could decide the outcome of the match. “No doubt about it, the first two hours we bat against them is going to be very important,” he said. “Shoaib hasn’t had a lot of overs so the more we deny them the better chance we’ve got of posting a big score again.”

New Zealand made one change to their Test squad for the match. Richard Jones, the 12th man at Hamilton, was replaced by Paul Wiseman, the offspinner. Wiseman had been included in the squad of 13 named for the first Test, but was released to play State Championship cricket for Canterbury.

New Zealand (from) 1 Mark Richardson, 2 Lou Vincent, 3 Stephen Fleming (capt), 4 Scott Styris, 5 Craig McMillan, 6 Chris Cairns, 7 Jacob Oram, 8 Robbie Hart (wk), 9 Daniel Vettori, 10 Paul Wiseman, 11 Daryl Tuffey, 12 Ian Butler.

Pakistan (from) 1 Imran Farhat, 2 Taufeeq Umar, 3 Yasir Hameed, 4 Yousuf Youhana, 5 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Abdul Razzaq, 7 Moin Khan (wk), 8 Mohammad Sami, 9 Shabbir Ahmed, 10 Umar Gul, 11 Danish Kaneria, 12 Shoaib Akhtar.

© Wisden Cricinfo Ltd

http://www-usa.cricket.org/db/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2003/DEC/027733_NZPAK2003-04_23DEC2003.html

1027

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ehsan: *
He will take the place of Gul.
[/QUOTE]

Ehsan is more certain than Inzimam and Miandad :)

1028

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmnnnnnnnnnn FSME is going to show AUS vs. IND instead of NZ vs. PAK which is almost at the same time :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

1029

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Decent 6Chora: *

Ehsan is more certain than Inzimam and Miandad :)
[/QUOTE]

Yeh experience kee baat hai. :D

1030

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ehsan: *

Yeh experience kee baat hai. :D
[/QUOTE]

aur Umr ka Taqaaza. :D

1031

Now thats a positive way to look at things. :k:

:hehe:

1032

lets just let this guy heal i think we can win without him in this test match, we need him healthy against india, i hope he doesent hurt himself n e more

1033

Gul was awfully impressive in the second innnings. It will be great to have Shoaib back. Can you imagine him and Sami working togeather, if Sami plays like he did in the 2nd innings last test, the Kiwis are done before the match even began.
I hope the batting can keep it up, they did well to score as well as they did in the first match. Might be nice to see Asim Kamal play, you reall yneed a steady guy like him in Test play. I heard Yunis Khan was on tour with the team as well, curious, I have'nt yet heard a word abou thim playing.

1034

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by elahi: *
Gul was awfully impressive in the second innnings.

[/QUOTE]

What is awfully impressive ?

1035

shoaib shud replace gul.....

lets seeeee

1036

I know man,it pisses me to the core! :mad:

1037

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Some1: *

What is awfully impressive ?
[/QUOTE]

Umar Gul 8.1 2 25 2

Not too shabby I did'nt think, got Cairns and Richardson

1038

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by elahi: *

Umar Gul 8.1 2 25 2

Not too shabby I did'nt think, got Cairns and Richardson
[/QUOTE]

and that was enuff:D..

1039

this match will also be interupted, as rain is predicted throughout the 5 days, that sux

1040

Saby, Nancy, anyone of you in Pakistan: What time does the match start according to Pakistan time?

Thanx.