The Right stuFF

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
1

This doesn’t just apply to cricket, but watching the current new look line up there are a few obsevations.

Firstly, a couple of players who have stood out for me have been Hafeez and Malik. both good fielders and both really good competitors from what I’ve seen so far. Javed and Sohail’s influence pretty clear here :hehe:

Umar Gul: this guy seems to be a carbon copy of Glen McGrath (except that he doesn’t have anywhere near the skill or variety yet). But he has the same mannerisms even down to shaking his head when things go wrong. Seems to be pretty unflappable though. I rate him.

Faisal Iqbal: he’s still a bit raw but he’s got ability and I like his cocky attitude. he’s a good player with some rough edges.

2

I have always been a huge fan of Yunis Khan. I included him in my fantasy team before the tournament started. Something about this guy tells me I can count on him when the going gets tough. I got the same feeling from Mohammad Hafeez. He is the type of cricketers I want to see on my tv all the time. He is fun to watch batting, bowling or fielding. He keeps me on the edge. He is the type of cricketer that makes me delay my trip to toilet.

Also, seeing Javed Miandad in Pakistani colors and sitting in the player's area throughout the match gives me a very good feeling. This legendary hero is a born fighter and a winner. It's nice to have role models around youngsters.

3

Younis has been a big disappointment to me over the last 12 months, but today he played really well. As far as i’m concerned, if he’s batting well, he’s captaincy material. maybe some players need the right environment to show their best. I agree that the thinking that has gone into the current tournament has been light years ahead of what went on in the WC.

If it’s down to Javed, then kudos to him. The side looks absolutley focused and gameplan has been flawless so far :k:

I’m impressed.

4

Add to it that Razzler who looked totally listless under Waqar is suddenly back to his former self. Inflappible and totally dependable. I wonder how Waqar managed to do that to such good players. Must have taken an immense talent on his part to ruin the performance of Razzler.

5

And Yoyo looks back to his old self. man-management is surely a wonderful thing :)

6

Here we are again, basing all sorts of conclusions on just two matches :smack: I’m waiting until they bring home the next world cup before I start rooting for this team again :snooty:

7

Win or loss.. rooting for your team is the fun part. Plus this is a new-look team. I am sure they need all the cheering they can get.

In any case, the point is that our expectations were rock bottom anyway, so all what they have done has cheered the most despondent of us (with the exception of you :p)

8

Well no, this isn’t about results at all, it’s about the right stuff.

Taufeeq Umar is a great example. He’s failed twice in Sharjah but he’s definitley a big match player. he’d always be in my team.

9

Coming into this tournament my thoughts were that if we beat Kenya and lose honourably to others we would have done well. That was how low my expectation had gone. However, I am mighty impressed with this outfit. Not because they have won two matches, but the whole body language, the commitment, eagerness to perform, everything is right. Lose or win is part of the game but this outfit doesnt seems to give in. It might be too soon yet to pass judgement on them but they have put up a hell of a show so far. Hafeez, Umar Gul and Naveed Hassan have impressed. Youhanna and Younis, I have always rated them. Faisal Iqbal is another one with talent. Add to this Inzi when he returns plus Saqlain, Hasan Raza and Shoaib (whenever he comes back) and we have got a basis for a good team with a mixture of youth and experience. I hope they give the trio of Javed, Rashid and Haroon an extended run to manage the affairs of the team.

Good luck to the guys.

Oh and yes we will always have Afridi to play against the minnows and score his runs. He must hurry though, in a year or two, he wont be eligible to play against Kenya either as they would have him in the first two overs as well. If these new guys make his return difficult or nigh impossible they would have done a great favour to Pakistani cricket. :)

10

:rotfl:

:k:

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Faisal: *
Win or loss.. rooting for your team is the fun part. Plus this is a new-look team. I am sure they need all the cheering they can get.

In any case, the point is that our expectations were rock bottom anyway, so all what they have done has cheered the most despondent of us (with the exception of you :p)
[/QUOTE]

Very well said Faisal. This is a rebuilding process. We are playing with a lot of new people, names that have never been heard before. So far most of them have been impressive.

Sami and Gul are definatley talented. Some exposure to quality sides with some experience and they could be very productive.

Faisal Iqbal is .... I think he he is talented but has some rough edges , a little polish from mamma ji and he could be a match winner.

Younis for some reason have always look dazzling to me... though he has played some good innings in that past but nothing that could be termed as out of the world, something like Inzi semi final innings or Basit Ali's knock against Windies.

YoYo is a proven match winner.

Hafeez is a great find, he has the abilty and talent to develop into a lethal allrounder.

Razzaq one of the biggest dissapointment in the world cup is back with a BANG. Everyone knows he is talented and one of the most handy players in the team, he can win a game for the team with the bat or the ball.

Shoaib Malik is another very talented all rounder. His talent kinda reminds me of Carl Hooper (ofcourse right now he is not anywhere near Hooper). Not a big wicket taker but can stop the flow of runs and plays with such a straight bat that I think Miandad should work with him a little and the little guy can give the much needed stabillty in the lower order. On top of that he is an excellent fielder.

Wehn Latif reties ofcourse we can either have Moin back or bring Kamran Akmal in who proved to be a decent gloveman and batsman during the Zimbabwe series before the world cup.

Now add Shoaib, Inzi, Saqlain to this side and I think the future looks bright for us.

12

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by LahoriMunda: *
Wehn Latif reties ofcourse we can either have Moin back or
[/QUOTE]

Please!!! don't bring Moin back. We are trying to bring down the average age of our cricket team, u know. :)

13

That was just a bait :smack:

I think its great too, to see young talented players on the team, and ofcourse I’ll be rooting for our team!!

I think Muhammad Hafeez is the best find for now, our bowling attack was pretty good anyway, but our batting lineup is way too weak. I just hope he doesn’t end up being something like Imran Nazir (i.e. just flashes of talent here and there) We also need level heads like Faisal Iqbal, and Taufeeq Umar. These two will definitely flourish under Javaid’s quidance.

Hmm… I was thinking, Wasim, inzi and saeed are all class acts, so maybe the fault didn’t lie in the players, but rather just in the management.. i.e. the coach and the captain, and the selection committee i guess? Those players were ‘the right stuff’ too, weren’t they?

But yeh we’re going in the right direction :slight_smile: a good coach, and a team which is trying hard.

14

Guys I think ,Its to early to comment though Its nice to see guys doing good.They have done better than expected.

My concern is with Opening pair.I think its god idea to continue with two defensive openers in ODIs. You need someone who can exploit 15 over restriction.I dont think either Hafeez or Umair has shown that they can play big strokes to do that.May be Saleem Elhai or Imran Nazis is needed there.This weakness will be exposed pretty soon.If you see other team usually they have both or atleast one guy who can blast.
Gilchrist & hayden
Sachin & sehwag
Gibbs & Smith
Trescothuk & Knight
Jaysurya & attapattu
Windies pair.

Other weak area is quality spinner.I think theuy should invest in Kaneria and give him more matches and use Shoib as batting all rounder who can be 6th bolwer.

15

Re: The Right stuFF

[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Mr Xtreme: *
...players who have stood out for me have been Hafeez and* Malik**.

[/QUOTE]

that's the third time I have read your admiration for Malik. Is he your cousin or something? :) I think he has just been an average player so far and the only players who look promising to me are M Hafeez and Umar Gul. The others have been putting good effort but they will take some time before the are polished especially the opening pair.

Good thing about the matches so far is that their is team spirit and their is some game plan unlike in the World Cup. I still think that we could have easily beaten Aussies and England.

Today I felt the need of one senior bowler in the team. It's because in the first game when youngster batsmen were bit nervous then Rashid Latif and other seniors showed them how to be confident adn I think similar approach is required in the bowling area. I am saying it because I think we should have an attacking side who is well capable of taking all wickets. Sometimes, it pays to be a bit unconventional and this can be only learnt from seniors.

16

The most impressive thing about this new look Pakistani team is not bowling or batting but fielding.
Fielding is just as important as bowling or batting.
Young guys like Muhammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, M Sami have been fielding very nicely. The catch Hafeez took of Flower yesterday and Jayasuriya's today were amazing.
Eventhough this new look team doesn't have the same firepower as the old one but as long as we are winning, I am pleased with them.
Though the big challenge would be how they fair against better teams and favoruble bowling conditions.

Muhammad Hafeez looks to be a good batsman and he is actually willing to listen to the coach which is an excellent news. Unlike guys like Imran Nazir or Afridi, when they get carried away, they don't look back. But just like other Pakistani young players, I hope these young players don't fade away.

Umar Gul is the kind of bowler you can actually find in any team. He doesn't really have a special bowling talent like Shoaib, Sami etc but the best thing is that he bowls very tight line and length and doesn't loose his composure if he gets hit for boundries.
He still needs some time to learn good techniques and he will improve as better bowler but sadly I don't see his future in Pakistani cricket.

Faisal Iqbal played a great knock, he is a very brave batsman and like Mike Haysman mentioned today, he went on to hit Shane Warne for his six very first time he played him. He is a very stylish batsman and great cricketing brain, I can see him play for the Pakistani team for a longer period of time. Maybe the opening position is better suited for him as he doesn't play many shots with an angled bat.

Shoaib Malik, who is actually a one day specialist. He is a usefull bowler at times, and bats sensibly, but he is going to have to play very good to cement his place in the team.

17

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Faisal: *

Please!!! don't bring Moin back. We are trying to bring down the average age of our cricket team, u know. :)
[/QUOTE]

ACtually it will bring down the average. Moin is younger than Rashid :)

18

These days Rashid is playing the simliar type of cricket as Moin batting wise, he has been very useful lower down the order, lets hope he continues his good form.

19

ah I'm missing all the fun. Only if I had some time :(

20

Re: The Right stuFF

Yeah Guls action is a copy of McGrath at first I thought it resemble a little with Ambros cuz of when his left arm comes up high but nah as u said he is carbon copy of McGrath :k: