If Zahid is bowling at a "yard or two faster then Waqar" then he is an express fast bowler. Waqar bowls in the early 80's now-so that put Zahid (if 1/2 yards faster) in the late 80's and early 90's-anything consistantly over 90mph is express.
Its a young side, if they can produce even respectably, we will have a rosy future.
**Afridi ditched, Zahid recalled
Khalid H. Khan - 22 September 2002
The injury-plagued fast bowler Mohammad Zahid was recalled Saturday for Pakistan's forthcoming offshore home Test series against Australia but surprisingly all-rounder Shahid Afridi was overlooked.
The omission of Afridi, who narrowly missed the fastest 50 in One-day Internationals when he slammed an electrifying 55 off 18 balls against Holland in the Champions Trophy on the same day, from the considerably inexperienced 16-man squad remains a mystery.
Afridi, who is named among the reserves alongwith wicket-keeper Moin Khan, has a creditable 14-match Test record which boasts of 780 runs and 21 wickets. Among his two centuries are 141 against India at Chennai in 1999 and 107 against West Indies in Sharjah earlier this year. With his quickish leg-spinners Afridi claimed a career-best five for 52 on his Test debut against Australia at Karachi four years ago.
With the side already depleted by the absence of batting stalwarts Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana (both injured) and the non-availability of left-handed opener Saeed Anwar, Afridi could have added much needed experience at the top of the order against the rampaging Australians.
Pakistan go into the Test series with the most inexperienced batting line-up ever with Younis Khan, named vice-captain, having played only 20 Tests. Imran Nazir and the left-handed duo of Imran Farhat and Taufiq Umar will vie for the opening slots with just 15 Tests between them.
There are gaping holes in the middle-order, missing the 120-Test collective experience of Inzamam (81) and Youhana (39). Here Moin would have easily solved the crisis in the department had the selectors had the sense of playing him purely as a batsman. Moin's batting figures are respectable because in 63 Tests he averages 28.32. His tally of 2493 runs (three centuries) have only been surpassed by Inzamam, Youhana, Saeed and Wasim Akram among the current players.
Misbah-ul-Haq just had a solitary Test (on the tour of New Zealand 18 months ago) behind him while the recalled Hasan Raza played the last of his two Tests (both against Zimbabwe) as far back as December 1997.
Hasan, Test cricket's youngest ever debutant, now faces the biggest test of career against arguably the most potent bowling attack.
Faisal Iqbal, nephew of great Javed Miandad, gets another chance to cement his place after being in and out of the side in recent times.
With Wasim also opting out of the Australian series, the selectors have opted for risks rather pick those pacers who have performed at the domestic level. Fazle Akbar is desperately unlucky after taking more than 90 wickets in the last first-class season.
Zahid's inclusion is certainly a desperate measure by the selectors. They have taken a gamble with the fast bowler since he has been asked to prove his fitness in the 'Test' against Sri Lanka 'A' at Multan over the next few days.
Zahid had been sidelined by a spate of crippling back injuries after a spectacular 11-wicket Test debut against New Zealand at Rawalpindi nearly six years ago.
The 26-year-old Gaggu Mandi-born speedster's previous appearance at the highest level was at Peshawar when the then Australian captain Mark Taylor rewrote history with that unforgettable 334 not out.
Recalled for the West Indies series in Sharjah earlier this year, Zahid was forced to return home midway because of his mother's death.
Saqlain Mushtaq and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria are almost assured of bowling in tandem on the slow tracks of Colombo and Sharjah. Saqlain missed the recent one-day series in Nairobi and the Champions Trophy event in Colombo but kept himself match fit with Surrey.
All-rounder Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan, the only uncapped player in the squad, has been preferred over Azhar Mahmood.
Squad (with number of Test caps): Waqar Younis (captain, 80 Tests), Younis Khan (vice-captain, 20), Imran Nazir (6), Imran Farhat (3), Taufiq Umar (6), Faisal Iqbal (5), Misbah-ul-Haq (1), Hasan Raza (2), Abdul Razzaq (21), Rashid Latif (31), Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan (0), Saqlain Mushtaq (40), Danish Kaneria (8), Shoaib Akhtar (21), Mohammad Sami (3) and Mohammad Zahid (4).
**
Looking at that situation, I think Muhammad Zahid shouldn't be given a chance, his domestic performance wasn't that special, they could have gone with Fazl E Akbar, who has been doing preety well in domestic cricket these days.
Zahid was picked only because he is fast, that is ridiculous.
We definatly need experience on top, and Younis Khan is the most experienced batsman in the team, he has only played 20 tests, and that is frightning.
well fazle-akbar has got so many oppurtunities to perform and he never did unfortunately. and whenever Zahid got the oppurtunity he was exceptionlal.... but yeah he shouldnt have been picked ... Afridi would have been a better choice against aussies
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by saby: *
whenever Zahid got the oppurtunity he was exceptionlal.... but yeah he shouldnt have been picked ... Afridi would have been a better choice against aussies
[/QUOTE]
I dont think quite true about Zahid performing exceptionally, the last time he bowled was against the Aus in Pakistan, his performance was very ordinary, maybe someone can pos the figures here.
He was good once but I think in this forum he has been over rated.
With the exception of Wasim, no other fast bowler has had much success in Pakistani pitches, so I wouldn't use that performance to judge his overall bowling.
He did bowl very well against Australia and Westindies in Australia in World Series Cup back in 1997 which Pakistan won. But they guy hasn't played international cricket in 5 years and his domestic performance is nothing to shout about then why are they calling him back. Shouldn't we be going for another bowler.
How about Muhammad Akram, I think he has moved to England so he is out of the question.
I heard Umar Gul was also a good bowler.
well Mohmmad Zahid last played against Austriala in peshwar right ehsan bhai? and in that test too he made a come back after an injury and infact got injured durinmg that test as well....
and Umair Mohammad Akram is also a disappointment since so long..
we should gop for a young quick.. Umar gul you mentioned is extremely pacey.... and yeah he needs an exposure, my cousin plays with him and according to my cousin he is " as quick as shoaib".. well lets see when he does get a chance After the world cup 2003 ;) when waqar and wasim hang up their boots ;)
Just wondering guys, Is Shoaib also pulling out of the series against Australia.
Because I just read that he is going to be participating in World XI vs England XI match in the Millenium Stadium on October 4 & 5.
And Pakistan plays Australia starting 3rd of October.
So that means Shoaib will not be playing in the test match.
I have yet to find a source which states that Shoaib won't be participating in the test series, but looking at the schedule, that could be possible, someone verify this for me please!
nah,
i dont think so.....
Afridi is still an unpolished asset... Dropping him would do us no good...
Afridi is likely to remain an unpolished asset. But he is an asset for sure. Everytime we are down, the guy makes us the news. He is probably the most interesting thing about pakistani cricket. An enigma, for sure. Bowlers are afraid of him, are'nt they?
Lack of international cricket in Pakistan worries Waqar
Brian Murgatroyd (22 September 2002)
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Pakistan captain Waqar Younis says the continuing lack of international cricket in his country is a “big disaster” for players, administrators and supporters.
Fear of terrorist activity has meant only New Zealand have toured Pakistan in the past year and that trip was cut short when a bomb exploded outside their hotel in May.
The problem has meant Pakistan are now playing scheduled home matches in neutral countries, with their latest series against Australia starting early next month in Colombo before moving onto Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
The absence of touring teams going to Pakistan has also hit the Pakistan Cricket Board hard through a resultant lack of potentially lucrative sponsorship deals.
While Waqar understands the reasons why teams are currently opting not to visit his country, he said it did not make it any easier to take.
“If the atmosphere is not right then I don’t think any team will come,” he told Reuters. "But not playing at home, it’s a big disaster as far as cricket is concerned.
"As far as revenue is concerned it’s a great loss for the country and for the cricket board.
“The crowd back home are missing cricket and we’d love to play but unfortunately we can’t at the moment and it’s a disadvantage to the team because we want to play at home and get some support and win at home,” he added.
NOMADIC TEAM
Waqar also hinted at the stresses and strains the current arrangements are placing on the players, who have become a nomadic team roaming from country to country without a base.
From the Champions Trophy and the first Test against Australia in Colombo they head to Sharjah, followed by tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa and then the World Cup.
The hectic schedule, allied to the lack of time at home, has seen senior players Wasim Akram and Saeed Anwar opt out of the Australia series and Waqar had sympathy for that decision.
“We don’t really go home. I haven’t seen my parents, my wife and my kid for a while,” he said. "So it does get a little bit too much occasionally.
“But my wife is coming soon and some of the guys have got their families here so hopefully it will get better,” Waqar added.
Pakistan signed off from the Champions Trophy with a crushing nine-wicket win over the Netherlands, although the victory meant nothing in terms of the competition.
Waqar hoped the win would be a turning point for his side after recent poor results, even though it came against a side playing only its seventh match in senior cricket.
On Saturday, Pakistan announced the squad for Australia series and Richard Pybus was confirmed as coach, returning for a fourth time, after the sacking of Mudassar Nazar.
well said...
yeah every bowler is concerned about him.. and to be honest he is not concerned about anyone ;).... he will play his game whenever he plays :).. he should be in the squad but i think he will make the squad if mohammad zahid is not declared fit enough..... and that is a strong possibility
I don't know if any of you guys notice but the 1st test against Australia starts on Wednesday, while our bowling lineup looks pretty good regardless of loosing Wasim, with the fast pace department of Akhtar, Waqar, Sami, Razzaq, and the spinner duo of Saqlain and Danesh Kaneria is more than enough against the mighty Australian batsman.
As the Aussies have the advantage going into the test with their full strength but Pakistan are also are on a little advantage.
Australia recently loosing to Srilanka might lower their confidence level and 3 of their batsman Langer, and Waugh brothers who haven't played cricket in 6 months won't be in premier shape either.
So there are some hopes for our team, eventhough Australians are the definite favirotes but I won't be surprised if our young team can pull of an upset.
I am pretty confident on teh bowling side but I have lil doubts on the batting side. Since PAK is playing with the new batsmen with very less experience don’t know how well they will perform but bowling looks good. Hope the batting clicks… :k: :k: :k:
my opinion ditto 
win or lose insha’'llah fight degee team :k:
I can assure you that our management will end up calling Saeed Anwar back for the 2nd and 3rd test.
Remember Saeed Anwar changed his mind and he wanted to play but our board didn't let him.
Just to let you know, here is the combined test matches played between all the young batsmans in the forthcoming series.
Imran Farhat 3 tests
Imran Nazir 6 tests
Taufeeq Umar 6 tests
Naveed ul Hasan 0 tests
Faisal Iqbal 5 tests
Hasan Raza 2 tests
Younis Khan 20 tests
Mizbah ul Haq 1 tests
Abdul Razzaq 21 tests
Combined tests=64 tests from 9 batsman
Out of these 9 batsmans the highest appearence is by Razzaq and that is preety scary to realize that the most experienced batsman in the team is Razzaq who is not even a specialist batsman.
well , Yousuf Youhana is reported to be fully fit in two weeks time so maybe he will make the team for 2nd or 3rd or both tests .. insha'allah
2 more days left, the match starts on wednesday night, I don't know the exact time but it would be similiar to Champions trophy.
Question, will you be showing matches?
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by UMAIR316: *
2 more days left, the match starts on wednesday night, I don't know the exact time but it would be similiar to Champions trophy.
Question, will you be showing matches?
[/QUOTE]
Hell YES but if Dishnetwork is going to telecast or any other channel otherwise I can't. :(
Well.. throughout the Final they were showing ads for West Indies touring India series on Dishnetwork.
Sometimes TV Asia can suprise you. (So keep a look out for them too).