Pakistan's test team post ICL defections.

[fair_balance]

Re: Pakistan’s test team post ICL defections.

@legbreakgoogly

Pakistan’s test x1 formed with contracted players excluding the ICL group will look something like this, assuming for now no new signings.

Salman Butt (VC)
Yasir Hameed
Younis Khan
Faisal Iqbal
Shoaib Malik *
Shahid Afridi
Kamran Akmal +
Shoaib Akhtar
Umar Gul
Danish Kaneria
Mohammed Asif

That is pitiful batting. I mean Hameed and Iqbal may play off for a place if Nazir gets the nod, but that is so weak. I have never seen an international top order devoid to class like that one. As it stands Younis Khan is the only world class batsman in that line up, with Malik the second best player.

The bowling is strong, it remains our first pick.

I hope for the sake of Pakistani cricket that some talented youngsters are unearthed from the domestic structure and they adapt to test cricket quickly.

India, Australia and South Afica coming up this home season. Any confidence I had has slipped, the batting is too weak. Even if they escape humiliation at home, on those flat tracks, overseas that line up will be skittled.

I think it is better than this batting lineup
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64002.html