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Sami’s Final Chance
By Tabrez Janjua for Stani Army in Pakistan Cricket
202 ViewsAsked to suggest an extra fast bowler to accompany the squad for the Test series against Australia, Mohammad Sami would not have been the first name I would have thought of. Though a perennial underachiever, Sami has many of the attributes to be successful at what he does. With a decent build, raw pace, repeatable, uncomplicated action, and fire in the belly, he really should have had more Test wickets to his name.
Last chance for a talent unfulfilled
So why Sami and not anyone from our contracted players? We have Rana Naved, though not an out and out pace bowler, he has many strings to his bow. Rana is quite expensive though and this is probably the reason why he has never been favoured in Tests. Then there’s Sohail Tanvir and Yasir Arafat, both of whom can bat a bit and would have added strength to an already fragile batting line up. We also have Sohail Khan, a young raw talent who’s played just the one Test, against Sri Lanka earlier this year in which he failed to take any wickets and went for more than 6 runs per over. Also, there have been better performing fast bowlers on the domestic circuit, yet because of the poor quality of our domestic league, we cannot really use those performances as the be all and end all argument, whether it’s for or against the selection of any player.
I do not want to be too critical of Sami’s inclusion as I just have the sneaky feeling that if he does play, he will do quite well. After all, if Sami ever wanted an incentive to succeed, here it is. Having been in the wilderness since 2007 and now almost 29 years of age, with the emergence of the likes of Mohammad Aamer, even Sami would not have imagined he’d get an opportunity like this.
What seems to have worked in Sami’s favour is his experience at the top level and the fact that he has played in Australia before. In December 2004, Sami took 5 wickets in two Tests, having bowled 68 overs at almost 4.5 runs an over. Another advantage is the fact that Waqar Younis, who Sami has played and worked with before, will be with the team as bowling coach. Considering the above, his inclusion does seem to be a reasonable decision. Looking at it from Sami’s point of view, it is a great chance for him to get back in the team and go some way to fulfilling his obvious potential.
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December 19th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Why on earth is Muhammad Sami recalled? His average in test cricket is 51 runs per wicket which is very expensive. He is another of those tried and tested players. Why do the PCB keeping going backwards instead of forwards? A diabolical decision like that of recalling Misbah. Sohail Khan and Talha should be given chances instead. Anyone with me?
December 19th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Ramiz Raja and Waqar Younis have stated that Australia is beatable. I agree with their statements since even WI can compete with them and what a mediocre side they are in this day and age. Some have questioned whether they should even have test cricket status, their that weak.
Also since the absences of Warne, Gilchrist and McGrath Australia have lost their dominance and ruthlessness on the international stage. They are going through a re-building process in test cricket. England beat them in the ashes and SA beat them last year in a test series so surely Pakistan isn’t a million miles off.
December 19th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Sami is probably the most un luckiest bowler I have ever seen.
I think if somebody had ranked the bowlers by the catches dropped on their bowling perhaps Sami would have topped the chart. He would comprehensively beat the batsman on four deliveries and get hit for a boundary on the fifth this has been his one problem he at least bowls one bad delivery per over. Last time I saw him bowl was in ICL where he was bowling with a shorter run up and bowling around 135k before that I saw him bowl in India in test matches he was consistently bowling around 145-150k and IMO was bowling faster than Akhter in that series.
I hope he can still bowl at that speed as we only needed an experienced express bowler, somebody who can rattle the batsman with sheer pace.
You were right about Sohail Khan he was unimpressive in his first test,he is over hyped like many other players from where he belongs.
But did we needed five pacers, I thought our batting was struggling so we should have strengthened the batting.
December 19th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Maz
The problem is that it would have been a big risk playing Talha or Khan against Australia, in Australia. They wanted experience and sheer pace, and it does seem therefore as if Sami was the only option at this moment.
I do feel a bit sorry for Abdur Rauf though. Now Sami has been called up, he’ll be wondering what he’s doing out in Australia if they’re not going to give him a chance.
Australia are beatable but we’re unpredictable. New Zealand should have been beatable too. They have 3-4 top players at the most and we really should have beaten them over the three Tests but we didn’t.
Wasim
I think Sami is on average, consistently faster than Akhter because he takes less out of himself. More of Sami’s balls will be between 86-90 mph whereas Akhter will go around 85 and then have the odd 90-93 effort ball.
I do get a bit frustrated with all these pace bowlers we hear about, ‘the next Waqar, the next Wasim’ but nothing ever seems to come of them when they step up from the domestic leagues. When these new names get mentioned now, I don’t expect much. Out of all of them, we’ve only had Aamer burst onto the scene with any success and he has come to the fore only recently. Mohammad Rameez just took 8 for 46 for Rawalpindi, he’s a Waqar fan, how long before he’s bigged up I wonder?
I do agree with your batsmen point. These are our batsmen: Mohammad Yousuf (capt), Salman Butt, Khurrum Manzoor, Imran Farhat, Shoaib Malik, Fawad Alam, Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal (wk), Umar Akmal. Considering form, it does seem a bit lightweight especially with the likes of Iqbal who has just failed in the warm up against Tasmania with 17 off 45 balls. Butt did make 153, so expect him to do nothing in the Tests!
December 19th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Stani
During Imran’s tenure and even during Wasim’s tenure the young fast bowlers got groomed, We had a lot of bowlers who could bowl between 140-145 but speed is not the only thing a pacer requires to succeed, you need to know how to use the seam how to swing the old ball and should have a strategy to bowl in different conditions. Mohammad Talha can bowl consistently around 145 but he is completely flat, Sohail Khan bowls between 135-145 he is also completely flat it’s a pity that these players couldn’t transform themselves into a player of International quality they had the potential.
I just read a match review of the tour match written by Nestaquin at his blog you should read it.
December 20th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Geoff Lawson has also backed Pakistan’s bowlers and in particular the new Kaneria. I personally feel Pak should play 2 spinners, both Ajmal and Kaneria because the wickets tend to spin at the MCG and SCG.
December 21st, 2009 at 12:49 am
Wasim
Absolutely, Asif is 10 mph slower than some of our quickies but look how successful he is because of his use of the seam, crease and pitch. These little intricacies are what makes a ordinary bowler world class. If you look at Rauf, you’d think the guy has everything to be class but he has obviously yet to learn the art.
Maz
Ajmal did do well against Australia in the UAE although that was in the ODI’s. How useful would Afridi be!
December 21st, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Younis khan again failed. He scored just 7 runs before getting lbw. I hope now his supporters will shut up for a while. The guy wasted two months and didn’t improved his form a bit, he should not be recalled until he improves his form.
If I was a selector I would ignore him even if he regains his fitness for being stubborn and not following the PCB directives. That would send a strong message to all the players.
December 21st, 2009 at 8:05 pm
This is Pakistan’s best chance to beat Australia. The Pakistan bowling attack looks pretty awesome to me and the Australian batting seems like it can collapse anytime. The only thing Pak needs to take care of is not collapse themselves while batting. I think we have a super contest in front of us.
December 21st, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Wasim
They were saying on cricinfo that he should be recalled straight away because of his experience in Australia!? Strange, some people just never give up.
Rayden
Agree, if our batting can do themselves justice, then we have a brilliant spectacle in the offing. The Australian are very good at exploiting weaknesses though so our batting will have to alter their mindset quite drastically.
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:28 am
Stani
Not only recall him immediately but restore him as captain, on Pakspin they use different standards to judge players, one set of standard is for Punjabi players and the other one is for Karachi based players.
Yousaf’s captaincy in my opinion so far has been good he hasn’t made any big mistakes, but still some people are consistently criticising him. I read an interview of Saeed Bin Nasir one of the leading batsman in the domestic circuit, I couldn’t believe my eyes what I read, the guy said Yousaf doesn’t deserve a place in the Odi team how can they make him the captain, the captaincy should be either given to Younis or Afridi. If Yousaf had lived in Karachi their judgement would have been completely different.
If yousaf doesn’t deserve a place in Odi’s then nobody in Pak team deserve to play Odi’s.
When will these guys just argue on the basis of just merit and not jingoism.
They continously demand to recall players like Asim Kamal, the guy hasn’t performed in last three or four domestic seasons and everybody knows that he is no longer the same player but they still demand to recall him.
Saeed Bin Nasir also said that Khurram was dropped after one bad match, Is it true? Probably he was sleeping when Pakistan was playing against Srilanka.
Sohail Khan has taken just 20 odd wickets in this QEA but they are raising hell at Pak spin as to why he is not getting selected.
Even kamran Abbasi himself has a bias in favor of Younis and against Yousaf.
Any player who gets dropped from the team should not be recalled until he proves his form and fitness in the nets or in a domestic tournament.
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Although Pakistan’s chances against Australia have been classified as “beatable” it is not necessarily what I am expecting. Of course I would like it to be though. But above all I want Pak to be a competitive and bold force. I want them to promote their image and credentials to the former NO1 side in the world. I want the Aussies to be challenged and impressed. What I don’t what is Pak to be humiliated and embarrassed like last time they toured in which they were whitewashed. Hard fought action, determination and moments of on field brilliance should be the minimal expectation. The win would have been a dream but an achievable one but the point I am trying to labour is a win would have exceeded expectations not met them
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Wasim, that is the biggest ______ I have ever heard. There is no regionalsim what so ever. Players are selected on merit.
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
correction for regionalism
December 22nd, 2009 at 2:56 pm
There is a rumour that 2 spinners will be played on 26th.
December 22nd, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Maza
I think you have a comprehension problem read my comment again.
December 22nd, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Wasim/Maz
we’re better than that right? Let’s have a civilised debate so even if we disagree, we remain on good terms.
No bad language please
Maz, I think Wasim was suggesting that regionalism/favouritism exists amongst writers, not the selection committee. We were particularly referring to cricinfo in this case. It may not exist on Stani Army, Cricket Files or Boom Boom Korner, but reading around, I would have to say that it does rear it’s ugly head now and again. I think the constant blind support of Younis Khan, his behaviour and performances are an example of this. That’s not Younis’ fault of course. What do you think in regards to this?
I do agree that I don’t mind losing to the Aussies as long as we put up a honest fight. We’re still early in our return to Test cricket and with a few youngsters in our side, good honest performances should be more important than winning at the moment.
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Sorry Wasim and Stani but I remain inconvinced.
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Stani, I felt that YK’s unfortunate case was disgraceful. A top guy like that was unable to control his troops and as a result led to team dividing and this petty so called politics phrase. From there onwards the whole team morale seems to be partially divided let it be regionalism or other pathetic matters which come as a nuisance to many but I feel it’s all been amended now or since the start of the NZ test series.
But above all I think it was because of YKs character if anything. His zero tolerant policy and continuous strict approach in the field towards players made him a tad unpopular. If anything that only makes one feel uncomfortable playing and makes them low on confidence. Even against the seniors he started to put his hands out and give them the stare had they misfiled the ball or something of the sort. So it can be argued it was his own fault.
December 23rd, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Maz
You can remain “inconvinced” or unconvinced it’s your choice.
Nowhere in my comment I stated that the team is not being selected on merit. I was only criticising the statement made by Saeed Bin Nasir who believed that Mohammad Yousaf doesn’t deserve a place in the Odi team. In my opinion that judgement was purely based on jingoism and not merit.
And as Stani explained you we were only discussing how on different platforms people support and criticise different players using double standards.
I hope now you understand it if not then let me know I will try to explain it in urdu next time.
December 23rd, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Wasim Bhai,
I also heard the interview but I feel he has a valuable point. A lot of people have accused MY of playing too slowly in ODI cricket and playing for himself rather than the team. Therefore, it can be considered acceptable to drop him on those purposes. It is by no means of the imagination nepotism regardless. I feel he deserves a place but I think what Saeed was trying to infer was the pace that Yousuf plays his innings in ODI cricket which many class as selfish as well as his 5th grade fielding standards and on those basis he doesn’t deserve a place in the team and not necessarily for those external nepotism factors you are speculating upon. I have contact with Saeed personally and he also justified my assumption by claiming it was on those merit bases such as batting slowly and unprofessional laziness whilst fielding. In fact most Pakistani first class and international players have said much of the same and denied any such favouritism associated with the PCB.
Anyhow I understand that yourself and Stani are talking about the perspectives on different platforms but that is simply typical Pakistani style in which they speculate to the deepest possibility just because they’re not getting what they want i.e. their preferred line up. If the team is underperforming they are always looking into these controversial matters. This is a tendency of Pakistani supporters.
Back to cricketing matters Karachi Blues won the Quaid-E-Azam trophy. Sami and Tanvir Ahmed stole the headlines with their bowling.
December 23rd, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Maz/Wasim
I admit, at certain times Younis Khan had a very strong hand to play with e.g. the Dusti saga, but his actions did not help himself at all. He could not control himself, let alone his team. If I was a youngster in that team and saw Younis behave the way he did, he would definitely not earn my respect. I agree, the divisions within the team have been amended to some extent but maybe this is because Younis has been out of the picture?
I don’t think he was as strict in the field as he should be. He was constantly seen laughing when dropped catches, misfields or no balls were going on. I clearly remember when Gul had a no balling problem in the World Cup and it was not nipped in the bud by Younis at all. People speak of the similarities between him and Imran, but Imran would never have let that happen.
As for Mohammad Yousuf, despite all his shortcomings you cannot drop him for the simple reason that he is a world class batsman who is playing well. We do not have world class batsmen aplenty at the moment to replace him so in those terms, there really is no real justification in dropping him.
I do not know what Saeed Bin Nasir said but even I could win the argument against him if he was arguing for the dropping of Mohammad Yousuf. Whether it has a regionalism slant to it, I’m not sure. Maybe he just has a poor cricketing opinion.
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Maz/Stani
I regarded that criticism based on jingoism only because Younis Khan’s performance is no way close to that of Yousaf as a batsman but people like Saeed never criticise Younis Khan, if you look at Yousaf’s strike rate it is not bad at all he always starts slow but then accelerates later in his innings so this criticism that he bats too slow is not right. He is not a great fielder but then who is a great fielder in Pakistan team?
December 23rd, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Malik,Afridi and Fawad are good fielders.
December 24th, 2009 at 12:27 am
Wasim/Maz
If Saeed Bin Nasir’s argument centred on Yousuf’s poor fielding then we have a number of poor fielders in our team. Should we drop them too? Maz, you’re right to say that Malik, Afridi, Fawad (not a regular though) are good fielders but three, or even four (I’d add Umar Akmal) good fielders is not enough to justify Nasir’s argument. According to him, we should then drop the other 7/8?
Like I said before, I don’t know if he says it because of regionalism, I hope he doesn’t, but we all can agree that Yousuf being dropped is a no-no. I think, as long as a player performs in his main duty i.e. a batsmen scoring well, a bowler taking wickets and/or not giving runs, then that player has justification for a place in the team regardless of their fielding. Yusuf, I would say, has this justification. Younis does not at the moment because he’s struggling with his main job, getting runs.
December 24th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Pak and Eng have agreed to play 2 t20s in February next year in preparation for the 2010 t20wc. The Pakistani selector had commented that he will take this as an opportunity to experiment in some new players and give them exposure to international cricket. I feel this is great news because Pak have now got several fixtures in stock for 2010 which has been a rarity in past years due to security concerns. Let me also bring up this point that Pak have won 7 consecutive t20s. If they win the next one they have overtaken a record.
Stani and Wasim,
I agree that there is no justification for the absence of Yusuf in limited over cricket but the point I was trying to convey was that Saeed’s statement was not necessarily based on regionalism as you may be thinking. Other factors also have to be taken into account.
December 24th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Maz
Afridi, Malik and Fawad are no doubt better feilders than Yousaf but are they better batsmen than Yousaf?
If his statement was not based on jingoism then why these guys never discuss Younis Khans performance and keep on saying that he should be restored as a captain,
December 25th, 2009 at 11:11 am
The first test at the MCG is just hours away. Pak team are sleeping currently and dreaming of a successful tour one shall ponder. 2 spinners must play. It’s an attacking move and in order to do well against Australia you have to play attacking cricket. Many people have questioned that 2 pacers in insufficient as the first change bowler will then have to be a spinners but whats wrong with that? Both of the Pak spinners are world class bowlers and therefore the skipper should have full faith and confidence to introduce them into the attack under most circumstances. Good captains don’t sit back, they attack.
December 25th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Wasim
I don’t think he should be restored as captain. However, Younis is an established world class batsman and is also an ace fielder. He is neither lazy in the field or slow scorer with the bat.
December 25th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Maz
I would like to see us go in with two spinners because they’re attacking and exciting talents. But, I fear that should we go in like this we’ll run out of pace options later in the innings such is the workload in Test matches. One way we could do it is to go with 6 batsmen and 5 bowlers and hope the batsmen do their job. e.g.
1)Butt,
2)Farhat,
3)Yousuf,
4)Misbah
5)U Akmal,
6)K Akmal,
7)Aamer,
8)Gul,
9)Ajmal,
10)Asif,
11)Kaneria
The above team will require a century from a batsmen each innings for us to be competitive. Hence, Ajmal may be left out for Iqbal or Malik.
December 25th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
If we play 5 bowlers we would lack depth in our batting. After all that is our area of weakness and struggle.
December 25th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Key factors to watch out for:
-Johnson. ICC player of the year 09. Top bowler, a wicket taker and can score priceless runs lower down the order.
- Sledging. A tendency or culture of the Aussies to get a psychological advantage and get into the skins of the opposition. Its aggression. Pak must not let this dominate their mindsets. BTW, watch out for Faisal Iqbal if selected. It’s in his nature to be mouthy!
December 25th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
The series is a mammoth test of character for our young cornered tigers. Pak will and should play 2 spinners regardless. Both Ajmal and Kaneria are in form and Australian batsmen are somewhat vulnerable against them. You need 20 wickets to win and Pak must choose their best bowlers. I am a fan of Gul but he should make way for the two spinners so they can operate in tandem and bamboozle the Aussies. I am agreeing to the opinion that we should insert the Aussies to bat had we won the toss. We must also persevere with the openers for a healthy duration of time because then only we have an indication of the future and where they stand.
Aussies get ready and beware; the cornered tigers are on a mission!
December 25th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Maz
Yes, that is my fear. I don’t think we can trust our batting with 6 batsmen and 5 bowlers. That and the fact that 2 pacers is too less may mean us going in with just Kaneria for spin. Any other team combination, other than one spinner, 3 pacers and 7 batsmen, will be very brave, possibly stupid.