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Send for Younis, Yousuf and Misbah?
By Tabrez Janjua for Stani Army in Pakistan Cricket
134 Views
'We're not dumb, we batted rubbish so that we could lose the Test early to give our bowlers a rest'
If just for the sake of our bowlers, then the PCB must react to the current batting situation even if it means sending out a call for Mohammed Yousuf, Younis Khan and maybe even Misbah Ul-Haq. The argument that we should persist with the youngsters would be a fair one in any other situation, but we need to get these youngsters out of the cauldron they are in because this is not helping them or our bowlers.
The longest our batsmen have occupied the crease thus far in England has been 90 overs. With only Asif and Aamer of the bowlers showing any form, and Aamer being just 18, there is a worryingly huge workload placed on the bowlers, in particular the aforementioned two.
Kamran Akmal: The ‘wicket-keeper batsman’
The other thing exacerbating the situation is the dropped catches and general fielding. It is as if the bowlers have to get the opposition batsman out twice for every one dismissal. The chief culprit in this is Kamran Akmal. I stated in my last post that enough was enough, that since Kamran is making the same mistakes and not showing any improvement, then he has to be dropped. The argument that we select him because of what he gives with the bat is a false one. If you look at his contributions with the bat, then there is no reason why he should remain in the side in place of a good wicket-keeper who is not a batsmen because Akmal doesn’t look like much of a batsman either. In his seven Test innings in England, he has managed an average of just 14.58.
Disappointment all-round, as the ground fails to swallow up Kamran Akmal
Team for the next Test
Whilst it is drastic, this is the side I would go in with for the secnd Test against England and it looks like a much more competitive one to me: Butt, Hameed, Malik, Younis (or Misbah lower down), Yousuf, Azhar/Umar Akmal, Zulqarnain, Asif, Aamer, Gul, Ajmal.
Listening to Salman Butt’s after-match interview, it did not seem as if changes were going to be made and it felt as though they were going to stick with the same line up. Butt backed the young batsmen and the wicket-keeper Akmal. His argument was that after losing similarly to Australia in the first Test, we came back strong. Yet, our batting was still poor in that game and we were lucky to win that one in the end, and should not forget that after making just 88 in the first innings, Australia still managed to get back in the game, with our bowlers having to hit the winning runs under pressure on what turned out to be the last day.
And if we do stick with the same side as Butt indicated, what happens when we lose the next one in a similarly embarrassing manner? Knowing the media and ex-cricketers back in Pakistan, our young batsmen will get overly criticised. Both the players (current and those that are called up) and the backroom staff, need to forget the clash of personality issues, forget the character issues, it’s time to be professional and come work for the country.
UPDATE:
Danish Kaneria has been dropped for the remainder of the series and is now available for Essex. Mohammed Yousuf has been called up into the squad for the remaining games against England. Both positive steps in my opinion.
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August 1st, 2010 at 4:55 pm
We lost badly mainly due to poor fielding on day 1 and the totally useless and clueless Kaneria. Had Kamran not missed two sitters, Endland would not have managed more than 225. As for Keneria, why can’t we learn our lessons in one go? Getting rid of Shoaib Akhtar, Yusaf, Afridi was always the right thing to do and still is. I put Kaneria in that bracket; poor batsman, terrible fielder and a massively over-rated bowler. Even if he takes 4 wickes in an innings, it will always be for over 150 runs. In a tight situation, he is more damaging for us than the opposition. We lack a genuine allrounder in the top six who can provide relief to our 3 strike bowlers. Kaneria adds to their burden by forcing one of them back before desired by bleeding runs of rubbish deliveries in every over. I would definitely replace him with either Ajmal or a 4th seamer and leave Malik as our sole spinner. Also give a break to Umar Akmal and recall only Yunis who still has a few years left in him and like Amin, can contribute a few seaming overs in the middle. The reserve keeper must get a chance now but no way should Yusaf be recalled or Misbah allowed near a cricket ground!!!!
August 1st, 2010 at 5:10 pm
I think it’s fairly obvious now that Pakistan needs at least Younis and Yousuf urgently back. The bowling looks good, but with these two in the batting ranks England will probably feel a little intimidated, and that’s what’s required, scare the opposition a bit with the batting rather than the bowling alone.
August 1st, 2010 at 5:44 pm
@Zahir –
Completely agree with you in regards to Kaneria. The three Tests he has played here, he has not dismissed one specialist batsmen. They play him with such ease and just milk him for runs. He just never looks threatening.
Interesting views on Yousuf and Misbah. Why do you feel this way Zahir? They’ve just announced they are dropping Kaneria and have called up Yousuf.
August 1st, 2010 at 5:46 pm
@sunny –
Very good point about the intimidation factor. Bowling at two guys with a Test average of 50 does not seem as easy as bowling at two new-comers.
August 1st, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Told you TJ and Stani readers they should select Raza, the young SLA! I have been talking this guy up for some time now. Thankfully the PCB have listened and responded by selecting him after a grand humiliation at Nottingham.
Gosh, we desperately needed MoYo didn’t we? So his retirement only lasted 6 odd months? Anyhow we needed him badly but he might well be rusty! I would have preferred Younis Khan as he has been playing for Surrey but oh well, at least we have one of them back for now!
August 1st, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Now I am waiting for Wasim to arrive and start talking up Zulfiqar Babar
who is ironically more inexperienced than Raza. But I am certain the selectors have made the right move by opting for the youngster from Sialkot!
August 1st, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Zahir
You have completely resonated my views.
Out of the three seniors only Younis is fit enough to stand in a test match whether he will score or not that is a different question.
Out of the three ony Yousaf can be reliable with the bat but I can assure you guys that he will never do enough to make us win and create a lot of problems in the dressing room the guy is a selfish moron.
There is no point of going in circles these guys got kicked out for a reason and those reasons remain.
The problem here is not with the selectors or the board it is with us fans we want the team to win every match and the players to perform like robots,
and have too many unrealistic expectations from them.
The only place where Pakistan can improve realistically is their fielding and bowling no matter what changes we make our batting is never going to win us a test match in these conditions given the talent pool we have.
It’s foolish to make too many choping and changes during the tour.
Let’s see what Yousaf will do on his comeback, I heard that three players are being sent who is the third one does any body know.
August 1st, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Maaz
I didn’t like what I saw in him, but you understand spin bowling better than me so you are a better judge.
August 1st, 2010 at 10:21 pm
@Maaaaaaaz –
Yes chief selector Maz! Tell us more about him then? Any footage?
I think Yousuf has been more reliable recently than Younis.
August 1st, 2010 at 10:24 pm
@Wasim –
It’s Raza Hasan Wasim, the third player. Slow left armer.
Whilst you make some good points Wasim, I’m not sure how much good it will do Amin for example, to carry on playing in these conditions. Imagine the pressure on him when he comes in in the next innings. We’re in Dubai next, and maybe blooding them there on batsmen friendly pitches could be the better thing to do. Had Umar lived up to the hype, then maybe we wouldn’t be having this problem but he has been very unimpressive.
What did you feel about the Danish decision and the swiftness of the decision? I was impressed.
August 2nd, 2010 at 1:28 am
You all sound pathetic and are completely stupid. Get these useless batsmen like umar Amin etc and get younis and yousaf in..reliable with a very healthy average! They just need to stay at the crease and settle the nerves. Look at England, they are a team who are on form. Just last year they were useless now look strong. We need to build from the top and butt isn’t the opener who is not good enough!
August 2nd, 2010 at 3:51 am
Stani
One is Yousaf and the other is Raza Hassan who is the third player?
August 2nd, 2010 at 8:07 am
Yousaf and raza hassan Won’t be able to join the team before the second test and Yousaf doesn’t play cricket in Ramadan so when will he play?
August 2nd, 2010 at 11:41 am
I can’t imagine that how can we put the biggest problem area (batting) under carpets and insist on improvement on the best area bolwing and the one we never owned in our history (Fielding). It sounds some of us have surrendered or decided that PAKISTAN team will not bat!!!! That’s why they are not pondering them. Losing or low performance is acceptable but one should not be allowed to make the whole nation ashamed of repeatedly. What we are doing in batting these days is simple HUMILIATION ! Even Zimbabwe / Bangladesh can fare better. Do we need our nation to be prepared for REPEATED HUMILIATION ? Dont allow these batters to make fun of our nation and the cricketing nation we are !
It leads me to an idea ! Why not play 10 Bowlers with Zulqarnain. Bowl england out for 150 or so and send in Umer Gul and Aamir as Openers. I guess this way we will give them tough time to ENGLAND.
I think we forgot we are talking of pAKISTAN TEAM AND NOT ABOUT BANGLADESH. Even Bangladesh these days seem to threaten with their batting more often.
Can i know any solid reason behind kicking out of Younis and Yousuf which as some one said remains there? Kindly compare likes of Akmal Brothers Kamran (Best dropper of catches and worst scorer abroad) Umer (Champion of T20s) Malik (Sania Mirza seems the sole achievementg he had for last year)? The reasons Younis and Yousuf got out are not the same that are keeping all of them in ? Why are these double standards
Our new captain and coach have some personal scores it seems to settle with two Ys specially Younis. What has made Salman Captain ? Can anybody tell me ? Any outstanding performance in tests ? One BUTT only due to the other BUTT. Salman needs to justify his spot as an opener still. Imran Farhat is outscoring him in runs and patience. Ref to recent interview he made a point of matches we won with 2Ys in past in england and forgot to mention that the bowling performances he is enjoying at the moment were not with us in last England tour. He should have checked the stats of these two in ENGLAND.
August 2nd, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Riaz
They have recalled Yousaf and probably the third unknown player will be Younis, given the performance of Umar Amin, Umar Akmal and Malik these two guys will do a bit more but will they repeat the perforance of 2006 tour, I don’t think so because they are not in that type of form.
This is the main reason why I said that batting won’t improve realistically but on paper it will.
Fielding can be improve by just dropping Kamran Akmal so no point in arguing that it hasn’t improve in the history of our cricket and bowling will also improve if we change Kaneria nad Gul who have failed.
But I think Pakistan will probably make only one change for the second test they will play Ajmal and they might rest Gul for a test because he does need rest he just came out of injury and if we used him in every match he won’t last until the Odi and T20 series.
I think I have told many times what are the reasons that remain for the selection of 2 Y’s, personally I have nothing against Younis my only concern was with his recent form but Yousaf no matter how many runs he scores I don’t want to see him in the team mark my words he will create more problems.
August 2nd, 2010 at 4:09 pm
@Shan –
Come on now Shan, don’t paint everyone with the same brush now. Nobody is disputing the record of Yousuf and Younis anyway. It is just their past behaviour and recent form that has question marks over it. I’ve always felt Yousuf should have been brought anyway.
August 2nd, 2010 at 4:10 pm
@Wasim –
Yes, sorry Wasim, you are right. I keep mixing up the three changes (Yousuf, Kaneria, Hasan) with three players being called up. Where did you read about that third player by the way?
Is Yousuf definitely missing the second Test? Maybe he has changed his policy and will play during Ramadan. It’s going to be a long fast so our players will find it tough.
August 2nd, 2010 at 4:11 pm
@Riaz –
I agree with your general sentiment that something needed to be done. 80 all out is a cry out for change. I would have persisted with the current line up had we done ok even without winning but losing in the manner we are cannot be good for anyone.
These have been our totals so far here in England: 182 and 80, 258 and 180/7, and 148 and 289. We have failed to reach 300 on any occasion and were all out below 200 on three occasions.
August 2nd, 2010 at 4:33 pm
I really feel ashamed and felt sorry for all the Pakistan team supporters, when we have such a bias in the team selection and regionalism has been brought in to the squad, I didnt feel like watching the match ….. a person like Imran Farhat (always a failure and will remain a failure), Kamran Akmal because of whom we have lost so many matches are still being persisted is really a shame ….. Kamran can be a an asset in T20 and onedayers but in Test matches his concentration is not there and he is a liability for the team …. as aamer sohail pointed out if sarfaraz played the last test in australia and his batting was bit of an issue for the team management why was he dropped from second best to 4th best in the country (because he is not on england tour as well as Paksitan A team) instead he should have been taken to NCA and his batting skills should have been improved but instead he has been left in wilderness not knowing anything about his future, his glovework was much better then Kamran Akmal …. this is the most important thing for a keeper to be a clean gloveman. Whereas Kamran Akmal continues to play and drop catches and stumpings on the bowling of Kaneria and rest of the bowlers, I think Kaneria should only be selected in the team if the Keeper is someone other than Kamran as he must have dropped 40+ chances on the bowling of Kaneria
To take Wasim’s earlier point where he thought Rashid Latif etc. were promoting karachi based players, I would now second Rashid Latif opinion as on what grounds they have not selected Younis Khan and Fawad Alam …. it seems we have Punjab XI (except for UmerGul) or to be precise LahoreXI – not Pakistan team being represented against England. Why Yasir Hameed who is part of the squad has not been selected in the playing XI is also mind boggling. Now Kaneria has been kicked out of the team speaks volumes about the board and their thinking process …. why cant we our PCB chairman’s leave personal bias behind and let the best team represent Pakistan ….. one of the funniest thing coming from the team management is that they think they won the 2nd test because of their batsmen ?!?! as they are suggesting that they won with the same players so no need for a change, I think they forgot that they were having difficulties in scoring 40 runs against a mediocre australian bowling attack and they didnt ask for any change in the squad is shocking ….. even if the current squad batsmen score runs as per their batting average, our team will not be able to score more then 160 runs …. this also is an eye opening fact fo the team management on why they need Yousuf and Younis in the team.
August 2nd, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Wasim, Raza is already in the Uk, he has been here for a while now! In fact almost every Pakistani FC cricketer is playing at some level in the UK currently.
btw, Raza took figures of 5/9 in his last club match!
August 2nd, 2010 at 5:29 pm
@Roamer –
I agree with you in regards to Farhat, but because of his one good innings, he may well be persisted with unfortunately. As for Kamran Akmal, I will be very upset if he retains his place for the 2nd Test. If they follow the same criteria with which they removed Kaneria, then Kamran should be dropped for Zulquarnain. If this does not happen, then certainly there are other things going on that have nothing to do with cricket.
I was surprised with Butt’s point that we reacted and won the 2nd match against Australia so we’d be capable of doing it again. Our batting was still poor in that Test, and as you said, against a poor bowling attack. The only bowler they really had was Hilfenhaus.
August 2nd, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Roamer
First of all I don’t agree with you on Farhat he has done fairly well on this tour.
Fawad and Khurram were dropped because of their consistent poor performances they didn’t failed in testing conditions, it was time to try other players, Azhar Ali has done ok but Umar Amin was pathetic he needs to be changed with Yasir Hameed in the second test.
The way Fawad moves in the crease he would have been a sitting duck in these conditions and Khurram tries to cuts every ball so don’t assume that they would have fared any better, most of them must be thanking god that they were not in the team.
But it’s hillarious that those who are out of the team you are automatically assuming that they would have done better.
Yes this team lost one test, how many we won when Younis, Fawad, Khurram, and Sarfraz were in the team, one lost match and you are back to prove your point where were you when the team won against Australia and when Afridi deserted the team in the middle of the tour probably waiting for this moment.
You raised a valid point about Sarfraz.
Do you in all honesty believe that on this tour Kaneria’s shitty performance was due to Kamran Akmal’s glove work?
Probably Kamran Akmal was telling him to bowl two full tosses every over, right?
This is pathetic that you are defending kaneria’s and Gul’s poor performance.
Gul is one of my favorite Pakistani player but he came out of injury and is finding it difficult to find his rythym in both innings of a test match we have to make sure he remains healthy for the Odis and T20, every pacer should get rest for atleast one test.
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:45 am
I know, but have you heard Andy Flower the loudmouth? I considered his comments of how they don’t care about who Pakistan selects a bit derogatory.
I wish MoYo makes him eat his words.
August 3rd, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Wasim, I do agree Kaneria didnt bowl well at all and instead Saeed Ajmal should have played this test as well as second test against aussies, specially in this test because English batsmen havent faced him yet (except for T20 match) so he would have been a much better option, my point is that if Kaneria can be kicked out of the squad (not XI) for one or two poor matches then I guess there are many others who should have been kicked out too (also do count the number of catches and stumpings that Kamran have dropped on his bowling) …. Akmal brothers, Umer Amin, Azhar Ali (sitting duck on a good outswing bowler – Hilfenhaus and Anderson), Imran Farhat have been a total failure so they should also be dropped ….. not even a single batsmen looked like scoring a 100 in any of the match except for may be Umer Gul and Salman Butt in the first test … our cricket board and team management wants to persist with these guys and the combined average is of 180 runs then how do you expect to win a test match unless there is some extra ordinary bowling performance like in 2nd test against aussies, when we got them out for 80+ runs. Our bowlers needs some support from our batsmen but unfortunately these bunch of cricketers can score a big score once but they cannot be consistent like Yousuf and Younis who have averaged over 50+ runs in a long career, so we definitely need experience and why Yousuf has been asked to comeback (a person totally out of practice and fitness) whereas Younis who has been playing county cricket has been completely ignored speaks volumes about the regional and personal bias in the team management.
Why Yasir Hameed has not been selected yet is a question that nobody been able to answer, I am not saying he is the answer but atleast he would have scored more runs in these 3 tests then Umer Amin, Umer Akmal, Azhar Ali and Imran Farhat. As for the technique of Fawad Alam, Simon Katich has the same technique and he scored 2 50+ scores against Pakistans bowling attack so its the mental strength and ability to play long innings that matters a lot and Fawad similarly would have fared much better as well.
So we should stop regional bias and select a proper playing eleven that gets selected on merit ….. also can you please let me know why Wahab Riaz has been selected in the team when he took 14 wickets in the whole domestic season whereas Sami who bowled very well in australia and performed much better in teh domestic season has been dropped. So can someone please explain this to me too
August 3rd, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Roamer
I do agree with you that Umar Amin, Akmal and maybe Malik also should get replaced, but do not agree with you on Farhat or Azhar they have done reasonably well.
We keep on arguing on the same issues, lets wait and see how Yousaf will perform. I would have preferred Younis over him but I guess PCB needs a few more set backs before they will realize that they are making a mistake.
As regards Fawad he is no Chanderpaul or Katich, but he could have performed slightly better than Umar Amin.
Anybody who knows Yasir hameed and has been following him in domestic cricket would not back him at all he has always a problem of flashing on every delivery out of the off stump his foot work is horrible always get stuck in front of the wickets. But I guess in this mediocre line up he will get his chance too.
The regional bias is working in a full circle I guess, first we forced Fawad, Lateef and Khurram into the team, now we have Malik, Umar Amin and Kamran Akmal and I guess we will get Fawad Lateef and Khurram back in the next series or may be in the later half of this tour.
The problem is that when we drop a player from the team for technical deficiencies we don’t have a system in place which ensures that those flaws are removed before that player is recalled. Unless we operate the Academy in a proper way and hire proper coaching staff for it this problem is not going to get solved in near future.
August 4th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Pakistan’s pace bowling has improved under Waqar but batting has further declined. Ejaz Ahmad has completely failed, the young players should have been tested and trained for English conditions before they were selected.
Apparently the coaching staff did nothing to check the technique of the batsmen Vis a Vis facing Swing bowling as the basics are completely wrong.
The Academy is currently working under Intikhab alam who has no clue what so ever about modern batting he is just getting his pay check.
We have wasted Umar Amin, Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam, senior players are reluctant to face the new ball and these guys have repeatedly turned into sacrificial goats.
If Malik can’t bat higher then he should be dropped I am sure the 20- 30 runs he score when the ball is old both Fawad and Umar can also score those runs may be even better.
I think if Yousaf has to replace anybody he should replace Malik.
August 4th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
@Roamer –
Agree about your point on the fact they should have done away with Danish after the first Test against Australia. What saved him was his pair of late tail-end wickets in both innings but if you analyse the match on the whole, he did not trouble the batsmen at all. Stats can lie, and in Danish’s case, his whole career is a clear example of this.
I think Hameed has been unfortunate not have been given a go on the tour yet. He made runs in the warm ups but Farhat, who did fail in the warm ups, was still given a go ahead of him. Farhat did score one good innings in the Tests but you can tell it was totally against his character and this is the thing I have been saying; he’s not a Test player. Sooner or later, he will drop back into his same attacking style and we can’t have that in the Test arena.
As regards to Sami, I think they have just given up on him.
August 4th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
@Wasim –
I think Malik should be given another chance only for the reason that he has come in at difficult situations with the tail and with victory or a draw impossible.
Excellent point on Pakistan cricket’s failure to address it’s cricketer’s deficiencies. They just go back to a mediocre domestic league, score more runs and people assume they’ve solved their problems.
August 4th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
@sunny –
Do yo have link to it Sunny?
August 5th, 2010 at 11:27 am
We just have to wonder what Cricket Academy is doing ….. I didnt know it was under Intikhab Alam …. no wonder its of no use
I think we need a change at the top, ex-players like Aamer Sohail to lead this academy and similar person to lead selection panel and a person like Majid Khan (with no nonsense approach) to be the chief of PCB …. as long as we have this buffoon heading the PCB, we will see the goof ups again and again.
August 5th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
@Roamer –
Until Zardari goes, I can’t really see much changing.
Also, the trouble with our good guys is once they get into a position of power, they lose the plot themselves and become pig-headed.
August 5th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Stani
Majid did an excellent job, BCCP had only 36 employees back then and most of the resources were spent on infrastructure and grooming of young talent.
The last two managements have spent millions did brought up several structural changes which look good in theory but haven’t produced any results the vision was there but implementation failed due to internal politics and frequent tug if war in between top mangement.
PCB’s main objective is to develop cricket in the country and that can only be done if cricketers are coached at grass root level with proper technique and facitlites, every first class team should have it’s own coaching staff and the academy should be working 365 days to develop and nurture promising talent. The Income statement of PCB on expenditure side should reflect that at least 65% of the expenses are incurred on development of cricketers and maintainance and development of infrastructure only 20-25% expenses should be allocated to administrative expenses.
Mudassar Nazar did a great job at the academy in his two years he gave us Aamer and Akmal and their were several other players at the A and U19 levels who learned a lot while he was running the academy, after he left Aamer Sohail took over the academy but resigned within months due to irrconsilable differences with Ejaz Butt. Since then Academy is under that Old fart Intikhab Alam who is good for nothing and like many old ex cricketers is just a leach.
August 5th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Kamran Akmal is out of the second test, it’s funny that when he is in the team you want to kick him out because we only remember his poor performances but soon after he is kicked out people realize that his replacements are not any better than him and don’t possess the capacity to win Pakistan a match in any format even on their best day, this is where Akmal is ahead of his competitors, but right now under all circumstances he deserved to be dropped.
August 6th, 2010 at 11:52 am
How wise our captain logic Butt or Coach is ! They learned a lesson from last outing that all was well with top 6 batting!!!!!
Needed to change spinner and keeper only. Not many on earth will be as much wise i am sure.
August 6th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
@Wasim –
I agree with your point about expenses. Unfortunately with the current lot, most of the money is going into administrative pockets.
Our domestic clubs look to me like though are just social gatherings you would see with a bunch of mates. ‘Ok lads, we have a game tomorrow morning, who’s up for it?’ kind of thing.
Thing with Sohail is that he too temperamental. He could be good but he doesn’t stick around. When you see an injustice you fight it, you don’t get upset and walk off because that helps no one.
As for Zulquarnain, I honestly don’t care what he does with the bat. I just hope he does not make any major keeping mistakes.
August 6th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
@Riaz –
I think I made the point on Wasim’s blog, that they should have just put Yousuf in no matter what and use this Test for him to get his eye in. I think they were a bit stubborn.
As for Farhat, I have made my views clear on him. I think Hameed has been unlucky not to get a game.
August 6th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
@Wasim –
Good to see Akmal clapping Zulquarnain.
August 6th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Stani
I think Yousaf declined to play in this test, the moment he landed on the Airport he told the reporters he was too tired and couldn’t practice for the last 15 days due to heavy moonsoon. I don’t think it’s fair to blame the captain here, Yousaf himself wasn’t keen.
As regards Farhat the only test we won on this tour was due to him. I was hoping that Hameed will come in place of Umar Amin.
August 6th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
@Wasim –
But Wasim, our batting line up needed something done to it, this was obvious but which changes did they make? The keeper and a spinner. Whilst I agree with those, they just left the batting as it was and just moved Malik (and then Umar) up the order. Either they were not watching the last Test, or they are asking for a thrashing. Crazy selection, crazy decision at the toss. The match is already over.
August 6th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Stani
This shows that other than Yousaf the team management based on the performance in the nets doesn’t think that the remainder player on the bench are good enough or any better in these conditions.
I hoped they would play Yasir hameed instead of Umar Amin but for some odd reason it didn’t happened.
To bat first after winning the toss was completely stupid, they tried to dominate the other team by exposing the weakest part of their game which is batting, Salman Butt probably got impressed by Ponting but he should have known better that his team in these conditions probably has the worst batting strength in the world.
Yup it was a crazy decision by a captain who had no options left but to make stupid but bold moves and hope something clicks.
August 6th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
We dont need YOUNIS!!!
These inform batsmen are doing wonders ….We should be patient with youngsters and tolerate so that they can again and again humilate us!!!
These batsmen earned their places with tons of runs in their pocket in domestic season. They should be persisted with even if BANGLADESH / ZIMBABWE should feel proud of themselves that they were not that good as Pakistanis are!!!
Younis was out-of form and did not deserve the place. He was not scoring and has no future!!
Even if we are breaking our own records in achieving the lowest scores but as per coach and lots of us We dont need YOUNIS!!!
August 6th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Riaz
Ijaz Butt will make Younis play in Odi’s I am quite sure, but if he doesn’t play him in the third test he will definitely lose his job, I don’t think he will survive this time unless Pakistan performs really good in the last two tests.
Right now the way these guys are playing against England anybody would do better but will Younis and Yousaf be able to win us a match or bring respectability to Pakistan’s score cards that is doubtful, but a change won’t harm at this stage there is nothing to lose at least we will know if we can do better with those guys in the team.
August 7th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
@Wasim –
I think there is only one way we CAN and should go now, and that’s to play our normal way. We’ve tried to bat like Test players but it’s not working. I think we can get a much better total with that mentality.
The decision at the toss was just crazy. We could have put in England and had them on the back foot. Instead, we put pressure on ourselves, on the weakest link in our chain, our batting.
Any signs that have made you suggest Ijaz Butt is on the brink? I really do hope so.
August 7th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
By the way, I would just like to make clear that Riaz is being sarcastic everyone
before you start taking him literally and arguing against it. He is upset at the exclusion of Younis.
August 8th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Stani
He send Yousaf to England who hasn’t played serious cricket in six months and didn’t even considered Younis who wasn’t much successful with Sussex but atleast he was acclimatized with the conditions.
His Ass will only get saved if Yousaf succeeds or Pakistan does really well in the remainder tour, or else the media, ex-players, fans, and the senate will chew up his ass after this tour, I don’t think he will survive.
He must have to sleep with Zardari to survive this one.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
@Wasim –
Zardari is probably too worried about his own behind. I wonder who he’d have to sleep with. Obama?