***Official*** Pakistan in South Africa

[pasag]

Anytime someone wants to score a run go right ahead

 

[silentstriker]

Their #1 thing is to not lose wickets tonight. Runs don't matter. They have two full days on a pitch that is still good for batting.

 

[pasag]

Their #1 thing is to not lose wickets tonight. Runs don't matter. They have two full days on a pitch that is still good for batting.

Haha I know, just looking for some entertainment at 2:30 am.

 

[The Baconator]

Akmal continuing to be abysmal with the gloves I see. Is there any likelihood of him being replaced in the not-too-distant future?

Not sure what the other options are, is the back-up Zulqernain (?) any good?

 

[godofcricket]

Akmal continuing to be abysmal with the gloves I see. Is there any likelihood of him being replaced in the not-too-distant future?

Not sure what the other options are, is the back-up Zulqernain (?) any good?

I doubt hes going to be replaced at this point of time, with world cup just under 2 months i cant see any possibility of Zulqernain being selected. The problem with akmal is, from what i think (although i havent seen this series) is due to the different pitches, more bounce, fast tracks and abit more swing than what he is used to in pakistan???? Becuase from what i remember he had the same problem in the series against england, so that might be one of the main reasons for his problem.

 

[shortpitched713]

Yeah, the problem with replacing him at this point would be that it might take time for the new wicket-keeper to adjust at the international level and get used to facing the different bowlers in the team. With the World Cup looming around the horizon I can't see that being too likely. Mostly, we're just going to have to pray that Akmal comes back in form when he gets back to the pitches of the subcontinent.

 

[silentstriker]

I doubt hes going to be replaced at this point of time, with world cup just under 2 months i cant see any possibility of Zulqernain being selected. The problem with akmal is, from what i think (although i havent seen this series) is due to the different pitches, more bounce, fast tracks and abit more swing than what he is used to in pakistan???? Becuase from what i remember he had the same problem in the series against england, so that might be one of the main reasons for his problem.

Well they could make the switch for tests at least, and wait for the WC for ODI, if he doesn't improve.

 

[godofcricket]

Well they could make the switch for tests at least, and wait for the WC for ODI, if he doesn't improve.

They can, but i think its really going to be a senseless move beucase once you drop Akmal from the third test his confidence will go down further more, you wouldnt want to take that risk at this point of time, i have no doubt he is under pressure and he knows he needs to perform as the major reason for selecting Zulqernain was to make Akmal realise that he needs to do some good work behind the wicket. So from what i think we should keep playing him untill the world cup and make changes if necessary after the major tournament has finished.

 

[silentstriker]

They can, but i think its really going to be a senseless move beucase once you drop Akmal from the third test his confidence will go down further more, you wouldnt want to take that risk at this point of time, i have no doubt he is under pressure and he knows he needs to perform as the major reason for selecting Zulqernain was to make Akmal realise that he needs to do some good work behind the wicket. So from what i think we should keep playing him untill the world cup and make changes if necessary after the major tournament has finished.

I think that regardless of the WC, Pakistan should still pick the side that gives them the best chance to win a test match. If they feel Zulqernain will do better than the incumbent, then he needs to play regardless of what happens in ODI. This is test cricket you should never knowingly go in with an inferior side.

Now, of course this is assuming they are sure Zulqernain can do a better job, which I don't know they do. But just speaking in terms of general principle.

 

[godofcricket]

Now, of course this is assuming they are sure Zulqernain can do a better job, which I don't know they do. But just speaking in terms of general principle.

Thats the main reason for not picking him. As i said i think it will be a really risky move and given the circumstances i doubt selectors are going to make a change.

 

[Salamuddin]

Yes, SA can be no. 2, at full strength they should be no. 2. Pollock, Ntini, Nel, Steyn, Kallis is a pace attack that few other countries can match.

That's a big load of BS.
Saffies barely scraped a home series win over India and even then, you were probably gifted the last test match.
Never mind the fact that you were bowled out for 84 at home by India's pace attack of all attacks.

And Saffies have now been bowled out for 124 at home by Pakistan....
If they can't score runs consistently at home, how are they gonna do it away ?

As for your bowling, yes you can take wickets at home....can you do it away ? I have serious doubts and funnily enough South Africa's away record ain't that crash hot this decade....you lost to both Pakistan and India and didn't win a test on either tour, got hammered in Sri Lanka, could only scrape a draw in New Zwealand (where Pakistan won) and got hammered by Australia home and away.


Even India have scored more away wins than Saffies since 2001.....that's pretty damning.

Ntini also averages 38 away from home, Nel averages 30 , Pollock (over his last 30 tests from 2000/2001) averages 30 and Steyn's pretty unproven.
Hardly an earth shatteringly good pace attack......so do explain to me how they should be world no. 2?

 

[Salamuddin]

Hopefully Pakistan can keep their heads and win this one......bet the Hingston reaction then will be "Oh you only won because of your drug cheat"

 

[gunner]

with a full strength team pakistan will make SA look worse than zimbabwe,
we bowled them out for 124 and even then we didnt have umar gul,
SA could have suffered a worse fate then 84 all out against india

and we could have won by an innings too if gul had been playing this match

 

[Scaly piscine]

Hopefully Pakistan can keep their heads and win this one......bet the Hingston reaction then will be "Oh you only won because of your drug cheat"

Don't forget Shoaib took 4 wickets in the first innings. So he'll say drugs cheats plural.

 

[Salamuddin]

Don't forget Shoaib took 4 wickets in the first innings. So he'll say drugs cheats plural.

 

[Fusion]

with a full strength team pakistan will make SA look worse than zimbabwe,
we bowled them out for 124 and even then we didnt have umar gul,
SA could have suffered a worse fate then 84 all out against india

and we could have won by an innings too if gul had been playing this match

Let's just win the match first before boasting about anything.

 

[Jono]

Hopefully Pakistan can keep their heads and win this one......bet the Hingston reaction then will be "Oh you only won because of your drug cheat"

Yeah true, because Asif's steroid use helped him have that 74 run partnership with Inzy. Not crap SA bowling or anything.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah, the problem with replacing him at this point would be that it might take time for the new wicket-keeper to adjust at the international level and get used to facing the different bowlers in the team. With the World Cup looming around the horizon I can't see that being too likely. Mostly, we're just going to have to pray that Akmal comes back in form when he gets back to the pitches of the subcontinent.

Who cares about the World Cup? This is a test match we're talking about for cying out loud.

I can understand the whole "building for the world cup" thing in ODIs as it is really the only meaningful tournament the format holds, but having the selectoors select a test team differently because the World Cup is around the corner really makes me cringe.

The only thing that should be considered when selecting a test match side is to win the test match.

 

[Prince EWS]

with a full strength team pakistan will make SA look worse than zimbabwe,
we bowled them out for 124 and even then we didnt have umar gul,
SA could have suffered a worse fate then 84 all out against india

and we could have won by an innings too if gul had been playing this match

Because Gul is the best bowler of all time? Seriously...

 

[howardj]

Good God. How good is Mahomed Asif? Watched him, for an extended period, for the first time last night. He's a quicker version of Glenn McGrath - incredibly accurate; can move it both ways; and has a smooth, languid approach to the crease. He could be anything.