**Official** Afro-Asian Cup

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These threads usually keep their sticky status until two weeks after the series has finished.

 

[sohummisra]

Pathan was never India's "answer" to Wasim Akram, the idea that he was came almost exclusively from the Indian cricket media who seen a left arm bowler who could swing the ball and hold the bat. Already it is clear that Mohammad Asif has the tools to be a very good Test bowler with the movement he can get both through the air and off the pitch with his accuracy an added bonus.

I do believe Wasim himself pointed out similarities between the two, not to mention the fact that Pathan modeled his action on Akrams. Wasim also said that Pathan was stronger than he was at his age, and that no doubt fed the idea. As for Asif, if you have a preconceived notion that he will be the top, I would caution you slightly. Asif's career is still very young and as it happened with Pathan and Sehwag, it may just be a while until someone figures out his weakness.

Pathan just a few years into his career has prodigious in-swing, a well-hidden variation that went through, and was starting to build up some pace. The BCCI then discovered his weakness and brought Chappell in.

 

[sohummisra]

I doubt Mahendra Singh Dhoni will get much of a chance against Ireland actually, the top order will more than likely score most of the runs and he will only make little cameos. Unless India choose to open with him, which would be a foolish idea, then he shouldn't get a bat against Ireland.

He's been coming in at number 3 a fair bit.

 

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I do believe Wasim himself pointed out similarities between the two, not to mention the fact that Pathan modeled his action on Akrams. Wasim also said that Pathan was stronger than he was at his age, and that no doubt fed the idea. As for Asif, if you have a preconceived notion that he will be the top, I would caution you slightly. Asif's career is still very young and as it happened with Pathan and Sehwag, it may just be a while until someone figures out his weakness.

Pathan just a few years into his career has prodigious in-swing, a well-hidden variation that went through, and was starting to build up some pace. The BCCI then discovered his weakness and brought Chappell in.

Irfan Pathan was never a very good bowler, he was a reasonable ODI bowler who was restricted due to his economy rate which is slightly high. However in Test match cricket I think he is pretty average but his numbers are improve greatly by bullying Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Asif is very young but at the moment has no apparant weakness, other than his tendency to bowl like crap in the death overs of ODI cricket. That is the only noticable weakness I have picked up on and I'm sure as he gets older he will develop a better slower ball and yorker, which are vital tools in the limited overs game. In Test cricket he can swing the ball both ways, get movement off the seam and usually bowls at a fairly tidy pace. He has all the makings of a great and if he keeps fit then I can see it happening.

 

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He's been coming in at number 3 a fair bit.

11 times in 66 innings.

 

[Prince EWS]

11 times in 66 innings.

He's been doing it more of late. He generally comes in when there's enough time left for him to ton up really.

 

[sohummisra]

11 times in 66 innings.

He's come in the middle order (at the fall of one or two wickets) 4 out of the last 7 innings. He comes in at different scenarios as well--good start or bad start. So I think there's a pretty good chance that he will come in at number 3 in the upcoming ODI's, at least for a few games.

 

[sohummisra]

Irfan Pathan was never a very good bowler, he was a reasonable ODI bowler who was restricted due to his economy rate which is slightly high. However in Test match cricket I think he is pretty average but his numbers are improve greatly by bullying Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Well, he definitely doesn't have the numbers to show for it, but he was being hyped up a lot during one of his first tours--to Australia. It was kind of interesting at that point because his numbers on that tour were not half-decent, but the local press there seemed to be impressed with him. Besides, I never claimed that he was a very good bowler, but a bowler that was touted to be India's Wasim Akram (something that was propagated not only by the press, but also by former players). I would definitely think Wasim must have spotted something that you may not have, when he spoke positively about Irfan and gave him a lot of personal help.

Asif is very young but at the moment has no apparant weakness, other than his tendency to bowl like crap in the death overs of ODI cricket. That is the only noticable weakness I have picked up on and I'm sure as he gets older he will develop a better slower ball and yorker, which are vital tools in the limited overs game. In Test cricket he can swing the ball both ways, get movement off the seam and usually bowls at a fairly tidy pace. He has all the makings of a great and if he keeps fit then I can see it happening.

He is no doubt an exciting prospect and a fresh face after the scandals that are Shoaib Akhtar, but I would treat him with caution. There have been plenty of bowlers who have made great starts to their career only to fall off the radar soon. Injury is one major reason for this phenomenon, and I think Asif's performance after recovery from injury (and scandal) will go a long way in setting up the path of his career.