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A Defining Tour for Six Players
By Tabrez Janjua for Stani Army in Pakistan Cricket
59 ViewsI can’t help think that for some of the Pakistan players, this tour of England will be a defining one. Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik and Shoaib Akhtar seem to be in the last chance saloon and will be hoping for some better than average performances if their international careers are to be prolonged. With captain Shahid Afridi looking to introduce younger talent, and the PCB ready to come down hard on unruly behaviour, it is now or never for the aforementioned three.
Peculiarly, it will also be a defining tour for three players that haven’t made any of the announced squads: Mohammed Yousuf, Younis Khan and Misbah Ul-Haq. The performances of those that are about to fill the slots of these three veterans, may dictate how easily they get back into the side, or if they do so at all. Performances on the pitch aside, even just a happy camp with a good dressing room atmosphere may be enough to keep Younis and Yousuf out. I say this because the PCB and the captain may get the sense of having ‘moved on’ thus will view the selection of Younis and Yousuf as a potentially troublesome retrograde step.
Whatever happens as a result of the current side doing well over here in England, it can only be a good thing for Pakistan cricket in the long term, if the current crop put in some commendable performances here in England.
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July 9th, 2010 at 6:32 am
Stani
For Razzaq and Akhtar the tour is already over as they are not in the test team. They might comeback for the Odi and T20 matches against England. There is nobody on the bench even threatening their place and to keep them on their toes, I think Akhtar will continue to work hard as he has a big reputation to protect and maybe a point to prove but Razzaq’s performance if you have noticed has dipped since his only competition Rana Naveed got banned he knows for the time being he won’t get axed.
July 9th, 2010 at 10:39 am
Malik is one of the players who really needs to impress in Tests; I can’t remember having seen a decent performance from him in this format.
However successful or unsuccessful this tour might turn out to be, I think Younis and Yousuf should definitely make it back to the squad and I don’t think they have been the real troublemakers.
And hey, I thought Yousuf had retired for real this time around?
July 9th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
@Wasim –
That’s right Wasim, I meant the tour as in including the England games. Are they going back though? The squads that were announced included the England games so Razzaq and Akhtar are in those.
That’s a good point and shows how competition for places pushes people. Right now, I think Yasir Arafar would do a better job in our t20 side than Razzaq. Plus he’s a good fielder.
July 9th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
@sunny –
Yes, you are right Sunny in regards to Malik. With the relatively weak batting line up, I think he will have to be the one to look to get a century each innings. Afridi will be a hit and miss, we can’t put too much pressure on Umar Akmal, so that leaves Butt and Malik for the big one.
Can you realistically see Yousuf and Younis returning?
July 9th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Stani, I would want to see them returning, but with a demented board like the PCB, I can’t predict anything. I just feel it a shame that they are going on tour without the two best Test batsmen Pakistan has.
I’m doubtful as to whether Butt and Malik will really step up; if the Stanis want to win, they will have to rely a lot on their bowlers.
Test cricket just doesn’t seem to be Pak’s thing at the moment.
July 9th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
@sunny –
I agree, and I can’t really see us getting more than 350 in an innings….and even that would be a struggle. Ponting will bloody get that on his own….and then there’s Hussey and Clarke….this is depressing. We should apply to the ICC for an extra batsmen and see if they allow us 12 players
They need to occupy the crease but something tells me they will still be in twenty20 mode. Look out for the silly shots!
July 10th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Rather than asking for playing a 12 man team, the ICC should be asked whether Pakistan can be exempted from playing Test cricket. The scheduled matches can be replaced by T20 games, at least the Stanis know how to win those.
July 10th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
@sunny –
But then what will I do? There is nothing like Test cricket….there’s something about the white clothes and the red ball no?
July 10th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Yes, there certainly is, so for the Tests you will just have to go with another team. Go for the Saffers, they’re awesome.
July 10th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
@sunny –
Vomit! They seem too camp. Have you seen images of them socialising?
I will have to go for my home-boys the English (most of them are anyway). Thing is they’re just so boring. There’s nothing more exiting in cricket than watching Pakistan play. Biased or not, it’s pure skill. Like Nasser said on commentary….this is….bloody hell, I forgot the quote. I’ll have to go rewind the game and find it
will post on my twitter.
First signs of old age.
July 10th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Hey, no bad words against my team, okay? I think they are a great bunch, I don’t care the way they socialise.
I totally agree the Stanis are the most interesting lot to play cricket and that’s what I love them for. And please, not the Pommies.
July 10th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
@sunny –
So you’re a Saffa Sunny?
July 11th, 2010 at 8:01 am
Nah, I’m not a Saffa, but I was booked by them the moment I started watching cricket. Nothing to do about that.
July 12th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Now that the greatest sporting spectacle on Earth has concluded with Spain emerging champions for the first time my full attention resumes towards the glorious cricketing world. Can’t wait to see Pakistan in the whites playing on home territory. Aussies don’t like the duke remember!
my team would be as follows: Butt, Farhat, Azhar Ali, Umar, Malik, Kamran, Shahid Afridi, Aamer, Gul, Asif, Ajmal
I would like to see us bowl first if we win the toss but who knows what Shahid Afridi is thinking! I think bowling first and bowling out the Aussies on day one is the best chance Pakistan have if they are looking to win this test match.
Enough talking for now, its time to rumble in less than 24 hours time!
July 12th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Maaz
Farhat? Why?
July 12th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
@Maaaaaaaz –
No Farhat Maz. Low on confidence, low on runs, he’s a walking wicket. At the moment, I’d even have Fawad in the side instead of Farhat. Not opening though.
July 12th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Well Farhat and Butt bat well together in partnership and actually did during the winter but it did not reflect in our results…… he is likely to play anyway
July 13th, 2010 at 10:34 am
Hey Stani, there is a great piece on Cricinfo’s Page 2 about your ‘Stani Army’.
Are you really also this kind of barmy supporter?
July 13th, 2010 at 11:44 am
Shoaib Malik dropped and Imran Farhat is in the playing xi ….. hmmmm interesting, but I would have prefered Yasir Hameed instead of Imran Farhat ….. anyway my prediction for Imran Farhat will be …. Caught by Paine or in the slips on the bowling of Bollinger for less then 10 runs … I hope he proves me wrong
July 13th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
@sunny –
Yes, but I’m known to be a bit more in control of my emotions i.e. less ‘barmy’. Doesn’t mean I support them any less though! Just means you won’t see me on the pitch….clothes or no clothes!
July 13th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
@Roamer –
I agree Roamer. I’m not the biggest fan of both Farhat and Hameed, but I would have preferred Hameed of the two. He is less overly aggressive.
Umpire Ian Gould has been awful.