'Official' Semi Final 2 - Pakistan v India

[Migara]

Pakistan have done themselves proud to reach the Semi Final, but realistically, this Semi Final is in our hands is we go out there and pla to our potential, then it doesnt really matter who Pakistan pick in their 11, we will win the contest.

Bollocks TBH. Pakistan is in the groove, and a single turbo charged Akthar / Gul spell could finish off India in 30 minutes time. put another way, even if Sehwag fires and score a 100 ball 150, Pakistan has batsmen to match that. But India has no answers from their bowling department to match a charged spell from Gul / Akthar.

And as a SL fan, and if SL wins the semis, I'd rather like to see India as our opponents rather than a Pakistan who has decided to turn up as the winning team.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

@ Jono, Sohail is generally a tool but he didn't start that analogy. It was someone else saying that India was like a BMW which would outclass a Pakistani rickshaw. This obviously made Sohail's blood boil.

 

[Tendulkar_200*]

If Pakistan play to their potential, India will be no where near to match us. As it has always been the case :P

Don't they have schools anymore in Pakistan

Pakistan's team man to man is much weaker. Are you a betting man? That will show you the odds are in India's favour. You would have to be a mug to think Pakistan can win on their skills alone. You are hugely depending on India not to perform for whatever reason.

 

[Tendulkar_200*]

Bollocks TBH. Pakistan is in the groove, and a single turbo charged Akthar / Gul spell could finish off India in 30 minutes time. put another way, even if Sehwag fires and score a 100 ball 150, Pakistan has batsmen to match that. But India has no answers from their bowling department to match a charged spell from Gul / Akthar.

And as a SL fan, and if SL wins the semis, I'd rather like to see India as our opponents rather than a Pakistan who has decided to turn up as the winning team.

But Pakistan's top score in this world cup is 83* by Misbah, I have an idea you are pulling these figures out of your...

 

[Migara]

India to win easily unless they get nervous in front of their own crowd or have an off day. India are a superior team for the following reasons:

-Never lost in a world cup to Pakistan, highlights we are always ready for the big occasion in this rivalry.

-Pakistan's batting is much much weaker than famed Indian batting lineup. If you look at the leading run scorers for this world cup, there is not a Pakistani to be seen. Therefore India can easily chase whatever paltry total Pakistan set, or if India bat first, the game will be over in 50 overs.

-Only Umar Gul could get into the Indian team on current form. That shows just the gulf in class between the two nations.

I was more worried about Australia and SL before the world cup, and SL still remain a worry.

Nah, Afridi easily over Ravi Ashwin or Harbhajan, and Adbul Razzaq would be selected over Yousuf Pathan (ability to bash pace). Simply, put this way, Pakistan lower half will walk in to Indian team barring Rehman.

 

[Xuhaib]

Bollocks TBH. Pakistan is in the groove, and a single turbo charged Akthar / Gul spell could finish off India in 30 minutes time. put another way, even if Sehwag fires and score a 100 ball 150, Pakistan has batsmen to match that. But India has no answers from their bowling department to match a charged spell from Gul / Akthar.

And as a SL fan, and if SL wins the semis, I'd rather like to see India as our opponents rather than a Pakistan who has decided to turn up as the winning team.

Migara,

Zaheer is bowling aswell as Gul in this tourney.

 

[Migara]

But Pakistan's top score in this world cup is 83* by Misbah, I have an idea you are pulling these figures out of your...

India played on feather beds and Pakistan played on SL pitches. Highest score by a SL batsman came off at India (against non minnows), and that was one of the difficult pitches to bat on.

Have it like this, give Pakistan a score of 250-270, they'll defend it. And if they are 160/2 at 40 overs, we can safely assume them to be 250+ by 50 overs.

 

[Tendulkar_200*]

Nah, Afridi easily over Ravi Ashwin or Harbhajan, and Adbul Razzaq would be selected over Yousuf Pathan (ability to bash pace). Simply, put this way, Pakistan lower half will walk in to Indian team barring Rehman.

If you were keeping up to date with the world cup, you would see that Raina is in place of Yusuf. We play to our batting strengh and Raina can consolidate or play big shots so he would be selected over Razzak.

Afridi is a flop with the bat, bowling wise his stats for the last two years are same as Bhajji so doubt he would replace him, Ashwin is playing well.

 

[Migara]

Migara,

Zaheer is bowling as well as Gul in this tourney.

Agreed, that's why I omited Rehman. Gul, Razzaq, Afridi and Akthar will walk in to Indian team in broad day light at #7, #8, #9 and #11 positions (where Zaheer will be #10)

 

[Xuhaib]

This would be my combined Ind-Pak XI

Sehwag
Sachin
Gambhir
Misbah
Yuvraj
Dhoni
Afridi
Harbhajan
Ajmal
Zaheer
Gul

7-4 India.

 

[biased indian]

dont think afridi the bowler will be such a factor in the semifinal...if we where to chase then the first 10 overs will decide where the game is heading.if we bat first and score any thing over 275 ..we should be able to defend it

 

[Migara]

If you were keeping up to date with the world cup, you would see that Raina is in place of Yusuf. We play to our batting strengh and Raina can consolidate or play big shots so he would be selected over Razzak.

Afridi is a flop with the bat, bowling wise his stats for the last two years are same as Bhajji so doubt he would replace him, Ashwin is playing well.

When you wanted to bring in the scores by Pakistani batsmen, you used the world cup matches as the bench mark, and now when you want to discuss Afridi, you use past two years as the bench mark. Clear double standards. Afridi has been leaps and bounds above any bowler in the WC and would walk over both Ashwin and Harbhjan to any team.

Raina will be as good unless fast bowlers are coming at him. If hitting against pace concerned, Raina cannot be mentioned with the same line as Razzaq. But I can see in the most of the matches Pathan played I am not mistaken. Still as an all rounder at #7, Razzaq is miles ahead of Raina, and be more valuable to a side like India than Raina. India has no problems with bashing spinners. Even the most sedate Indian batsman do it day and day out. I am sure that you'll take a Razzaq over Raina to Indian team every day of the week if you had the choice.

 

[Tendulkar_200*]

This would be my combined Ind-Pak XI

Sehwag
Sachin
Gambhir
Misbah
Yuvraj
Dhoni
Afridi
Harbhajan
Ajmal
Zaheer
Gul

7-4 India.

Any reason why a 36 year old largely test batsman called Misbah is chosen ahead of a young emerging talent like Kohli, who was ranked number 2 in ODI recently? Or Raina who has already proved he is a great one day player.

I would say that is the only major issue with your selection. I don't agree with some of the others but they are still passable.

 

[Tendulkar_200*]

When you wanted to bring in the scores by Pakistani batsmen, you used the world cup matches as the bench mark, and now when you want to discuss Afridi, you use past two years as the bench mark. Clear double standards. Afridi has been leaps and bounds above any bowler in the WC and would walk over both Ashwin and Harbhjan to any team.

Raina will be as good unless fast bowlers are coming at him. If hitting against pace concerned, Raina cannot be mentioned with the same line as Razzaq. But I can see in the most of the matches Pathan played I am not mistaken. Still as an all rounder at #7, Razzaq is miles ahead of Raina, and be more valuable to a side like India than Raina. India has no problems with bashing spinners. Even the most sedate Indian batsman do it day and day out. I am sure that you'll take a Razzaq over Raina to Indian team every day of the week if you had the choice.

No I wouldn't. Raina can play ODI in any country, the short ball doesn't limit him. He has scored runs in all countries. Razzak wouldn't get in, he doesn't do enough with the bat and he would not get in as a specialist bowler.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Why is Ashwin even being considered. The guy has just started playing and the hype has already started. I remember when Mendis started playing cricket and people were saying he was the next Murali, until teams stated to figure him out. Ashwin will probably be the same after a year or two. Remember it has always been the spinners who turn the ball miles that have gone on to do really well. Such as Warne, Murali, McGill, etc. Ashwin doesn't spin that much.

 

[Migara]

Sehwag
Sachin
Gambhir
Kholi
Yuvraj
Dhoni
Afridi
Razzaq
Akthar
Zaheer
Gul

Now if I had the chance of adding Asif and Amir to that side as well.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Amir would replace Akhtar and Asif would not get into the side imo. Zaheer and Gul are better in ODI. However Asif was probably the best test bowler after Steyn.

 

[Xuhaib]

Any reason why a 36 year old largely test batsman called Misbah is chosen ahead of a young emerging talent like Kohli, who was ranked number 2 in ODI recently? Or Raina who has already proved he is a great one day player.

I would say that is the only major issue with your selection. I don't agree with some of the others but they are still passable.

on potential Kohli>>>Misbah but atm I would feel more confident of Misbah handliing the middle overs of a pressure game then Kohli woh I rate as the best emerging batsman in the world.

 

[Migara]

No I wouldn't. Raina can play ODI in any country, the short ball doesn't limit him. He has scored runs in all countries. Razzak wouldn't get in, he doesn't do enough with the bat and he would not get in as a specialist bowler.

The last time I saw Raina he was hopping around when the ball was just above waist height on a track with bit of juice.

And on Razzak, LMAO. You think Patel, Kumar or Nehra are better seamers than Razzaq?

 

[Tendulkar_200*]

Why is Ashwin even being considered. The guy has just started playing and the hype has already started. I remember when Mendis started playing cricket and people were saying he was the next Murali, until teams stated to figure him out. Ashwin will probably be the same after a year or two. Remember it has always been the spinners who turn the ball miles that have gone on to do really well. Such as Warne, Murali, McGill, etc. Ashwin doesn't spin that much.

There is no hype to Ashwin. Just if he doing reasonably well at the beginning, then there is no chance of him being dropped. I don't think anyone is comparing him to Warne