PCB has announced 15 players for the first Pakistan v New Zealand Test being played at Lahore on 1-5 May 2002, selected by the Selection Committee and finally approved by Chairman PCB.
(Note: Saeed Anwar has been advised to practice with the team)
I never understood how they choose the Captain?
Senior is not equal to good Captain!
Inzi might be a good batsmen, but he has not the ability to lead a team. Surely not.
“WatCh youR tHoughtS; they become words.
WatCh youR wOrdS; they become actions.
WatCh youR aCtiOns; they become habits.
WatCh youR hAbiTs; they become character.
WatCh youR chaRactEr; it becomes your dEsTinY."
I think either Youhanna or Razzaq should be made vice captain with a view to take over from Waqar when he retires.
Exactly Ehsan, I wouldn’t even take Razzaq in consideration right now (maybe after gaining more experience on “international platforms” , but Youhana would do for sure.
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/ok.gif
Nazir might be the future Captain of Paks team, if PCB makes a sensible decision.
“WatCh youR tHoughtS; they become words.
WatCh youR wOrdS; they become actions.
WatCh youR aCtiOns; they become habits.
WatCh youR hAbiTs; they become character.
WatCh youR chaRactEr; it becomes your dEsTinY."
Nazir future captaiN?????
Ali, what is your obsession what Imran Nazir.
Yes I understand that he is a really good player and a natural batsman but he needs to learn alot more stuff before entering the international arena.
For example, his footwork needs to improve before playing on fast track pitches like in South Africa or Australia and he needs to learn when to open up and hit fours and sixes.
The biggest example was the match in Karachi, the pitch was extraordinary fast and he had a hard time playing those shots.
He needs to be sent to Australia or South Africa for the Pakistan A team, and learn more stuff about batting on fast track pitches.
PCB has given this kid so many chances, he performs badly and he gets dropped but when they bring him back in because he does well in domestic, he scores good knocks of 60s and 70s and then fails miserably.
This scenario kind of reminds me of Hasan Raza, I'm preety sure everyone remembers him, he busted onto the international scene with some good batting and then failed miserably later on and was brought back into the team because his good domestic perofrmance and failed miserably again.
Remember Azhar Mahmood, 5 years ago when he made his test debut against South Africa and scored back to back test centuries and 2 test and since then he hasn't done well.
It looks like Wasim will not be played for the first test match against Newzeland, he will be given rest and will make way for the spinner, Danesh Kaneria.
I think it was a nice decision by the selection committe to rest him, since this pitch will be suited better for spinners.
Saeed Anwar will not be played and Imran Nazir and Afridi will open, what a surprise!!
Regardless of 2 centuries out of his last 3 ODIs, Malik will not played as well.
But the team isn't confirmed yet.
Probable team;
1.) Imran Nazir
2.) Shahid Afridi
3.) Yousuf Youhana
4.) Inzimam-Ul-Haq
5.) Younis Khan
6.) Abdul Razzaq
7.) Rashid Latif
8.) Waqar Younis
9.) Shoaib Akhtar
10.) Saqlain Mushtaq
11.) Danesh Kaneria
Sounds like a good team to me!!
Umair,
Imran Nazir is still improving and has a lot experience to gain yet. I agree on that with you.
But if we look at him as a "new comer" he has deserved more time to prove himself.
Talking about foot work, if we compare his foot work when he starts playing (and I mean playing when he starts going for the very first boundry in a match), his foot work is just out standing and there is hardly any player in this current team, who can produce such stylish shots with the accompanying foot work.
On the other hand we have the example of Afridi, who has never proven himself to be a constant factor in our team, but see there, we still have him and not on the 3rd or 4th position, yet on the 1st or 2nd.
How come?
If the Pak young fellows wouldn't idolize him and admire him that much, he would have been dropped out of the Pak team 1 year before. (if not sooner)
That's what never happened to Mahmood and he had to face even a tough "opponent" named Razzaq.
So it was always a doubt if they will keep him in PAK Team or not.
Back to Nazir. Another credit goes to Nazir for his good affort in fielding, which many players lack of, is sharp, he dives for almost every ball and has a good throw as well.
He might still have problems with the Spin Bowlers and the fast pitches, but we need to look at him a couple of matches, before judging him "in" or "out" of the Team.
I didn't say that he will be Captain in 1 week, 1 month or 1 year:
In my opinion he will be THE future Captain of Pakistan, if he establishes himself in the Pakistani Cricket team.
“WatCh youR tHoughtS; they become words.
WatCh youR wOrdS; they become actions.
WatCh youR aCtiOns; they become habits.
WatCh youR hAbiTs; they become character.
WatCh youR chaRactEr; it becomes your dEsTinY."
Both afridi and nazir are equally as good in my opinion, but nothing is more fun than watching those afridi sixes!