*Official* Pakistan in Sri Lanka

[chaminda_00]

Who would you have instead?

Indika de Saram is in good form, but 35. And Sanga and the current administration does not like him either.

Kapugedara, after umpteen chances, averages similar to Mubarak with same SR. When it comes to crunch games, Mubarak does better than Kapugedara. Chamara Silva is done already.

Now the million dollar quesion is who is his replacement with atleast equal ability with bat and in the field (Mubarak is a very good fielder)

Kandamby deserves another chance, his done nothing wrong to be dropped imo. JK Silva for the back up spot. He is more of a FC batsmen, then ODs, but the opening is in FC. He scored more runs then Kapu, Silva and Muburak at domestic and Sri Lanka A level in both forms. Not sure what more he has to do to atleast get a shot. He can also bat in the top order which will allow us to shuffle the batting line up around more.

 

[chaminda_00]

SL's test team postions are quite sold out IMO.

Warnapura, Paranavithana, Sangakkara, M. Jayawardane, Samaraweera, Dilshan, P. Jayawardane, Vaas, Malinga, Mendis and Murali will be the line up.

For ODI's it's less obvious. SL may field a team like this.

Jayasuriya, Dilshan, Sangakkara, Jayawardane, Matthews, Kapugedara, Mubarak, Kulasekara, Malinga, Murali and Mendis. Mubarak's or Kapugedara's place might go to either Kandamby or Maharoof.

If SLC thinks Jaya is too old and does not select him, i would open with Dilshan and Matthews.

I'll put some money on Mathews or Udana getting selected in the Test side ahead of Vaas. I don't agree with it, but I reckon that is what will happen. Udana will also be around the ODI squad. I can't see the bowling attack changing much from the T20 squad. The only changes will be in batting.

 

[aussie]

what i know, he didn't made himself available cuz he wants to pay attention on ODI'S & T20's

Damn...well i can see why. But the PAK selectors need to get him away from that mentality since Kaneria really doesn't cut it.

but for me he's better than Kaneria, Kaneria takes 5 wickets in 50 overs & give away 250 runs also, therefore Afridi could be better option, atleast if Afridi takes 5/250 in 50 overs, he 'll be better fielder & can bat too

Haa..welll i think Afridi would be a bit more economical TBH.

If PAKs attack was Akhtar/Asif/Gul, Afridi would be the perfect defensive type spinner (very capable of taking wickets of course). Thus Younis Khan could depend on those 3 quicks to as his main wicket-taking option.

But ATM although with the pace attack not as strong, althouhg i believe he should play ahead of Kaneria. Im not 100% certain if he can handle to role of # 1 test spinner.

 

[Xuhaib]

Haa..welll i think Afridi would be a bit more economical TBH.

If PAKs attack was Akhtar/Asif/Gul, Afridi would be the perfect defensive type spinner (very capable of taking wickets of course). Thus Younis Khan could depend on those 3 quicks to as his main wicket-taking option.

But ATM although with the pace attack not as strong, althouhg i believe he should play ahead of Kaneria. Im not 100% certain if he can handle to role of # 1 test spinner.

Akhtar/Druggy/Gul will never play together though if Aamir lives up to initial promise then an attack of Aamir/Druggy/Gul might just be the business. Really looking forward to see Ajmal in the longer format hope he carries the good work.

 

[Manee]

Those things are quite rare on SL pitches, which offer assistance to the bowlers.

Indeed. Some slowish seam movement and will obviously be prepared with raging spin in mind.

 

[Howsie]

Since NZ is going over there in August I will be very interested to see how Pakistan goes in the test series, I'm picking Sri Lanka to win it although Pakistan have a decent shot.

 

[HMas]

Pak have always done well in SL. Dont see SL winning the series.

 

[Kensashi]

Kandamby deserves another chance, his done nothing wrong to be dropped imo. JK Silva for the back up spot. He is more of a FC batsmen, then ODs, but the opening is in FC. He scored more runs then Kapu, Silva and Muburak at domestic and Sri Lanka A level in both forms. Not sure what more he has to do to atleast get a shot. He can also bat in the top order which will allow us to shuffle the batting line up around more.

Kaushal Silva has to get a go sooner rather than later! He's got massive potential!

If he does play, we'd have 4 keepers on the field at the same time, sangakkara, Silva, Jayawardene and Dilshan. lol

 

[andruid]

Any hope of them sticking this

 

[jeevan]

0-0 in a bizzarely high scoring test series after Younis Khan, MoYo, Jayawardene, Samaweera and Sangakarra combine to completely invalidate the bowlers efforts on both sides

Didn't Samaraweera take a bullet in the leg in the Lahore attack? IIRC he was in the hospital for 2-3 weeks - is he back to any sort of cricket yet, let alone internationals.

Was doing very well in tests just before then, though.

 

[andruid]

Didn't Samaraweera take a bullet in the leg in the Lahore attack? IIRC he was in the hospital for 2-3 weeks - is he back to any sort of cricket yet, let alone internationals.

Was doing very well in tests just before then, though.

His last interview with cricinfo indicates he was at the very least back in the nets.

 

[Fusion]

Any hope of them sticking this

Yeah considering the warm-up game is in progress I think this should be stickied now.

 

[chaminda_00]

End of the road for Vaas

Mathews earns Test call-up | Cricket News | Sri Lanka v Pakistan 2009 | Cricinfo.com

 

[andruid]

End of the road for Vaas

Mathews earns Test call-up | Cricket News | Sri Lanka v Pakistan 2009 | Cricinfo.com

He really was gun.
now Chris Gayle can breathe a bit easier.

Whys has this still not been stickied?

 

[Migara]

End of the road for Vaas

Sanga is pissed off with him IMO. Vaas believes he's a better captain than Mahela or Sanga. I also tend to agree with him, looking at the way he led his team to the Premier league title, crushing SSC led by Mahela in the way.

 

[Xuhaib]

Sanga is pissed off with him IMO. Vaas believes he's a better captain than Mahela or Sanga. I also tend to agree with him, looking at the way he led his team to the Premier league title, crushing SSC led by Mahela in the way.

Shoaib Malik ends up clean sweeping all domestic tournaments does that make him a better captain then Younis?

 

[Migara]

Shoaib Malik ends up clean sweeping all domestic tournaments does that make him a better captain then Younis?

The fact that you have not seen Vaas' moves is the problem. He is the lankan Shane Warne when it comes to captaincy

 

[chaminda_00]

I always thought Vaas was too defensive as a captain.

 

[Fusion]

There are murmurs out there that Shoaib Malik’s place in the side is in jeopardy. He’s going through a rough patch and now has to compete with MoYo in the middle order. I think he may be given a shot as an opener, though Khurram Manzoor and Salman Butt both scored in the 80’s in the practice match so that may not be the plan of action anymore. I think it would be a bad move to play Malik as an opener anyway. I think Pakistan need to stick with a specialist opener and for now keep finding room in the middle order for Malik.

 

[Xuhaib]

There are murmurs out there that Shoaib Malik’s place in the side is in jeopardy. He’s going through a rough patch and now has to compete with MoYo in the middle order. I think he may be given a shot as an opener, though Khurram Manzoor and Salman Butt both scored in the 80’s in the practice match so that may not be the plan of action anymore. I think it would be a bad move to play Malik as an opener anyway. I think Pakistan need to stick with a specialist opener and for now keep finding room in the middle order for Malik.

He should play I will select an out of form Malik anyday over Faisal 'bhanja' Iqbal.