*Official* Pakistan in Sri Lanka 2014

[Maximas]

Junaid had a really good series last time in SL, he's certainly a threat. Rehman has had some good hauls against SL too in the last two tests he's played against them, SL might play spin well but they also play mediocre pace bowlers pretty well at home too

 

[smash84]

It's undoubtedly true that the Pakistan pace bowling battery is incredibly weak (personally, I don't believe Junaid Khan is a world-class seamer either - can't seem to swing the new ball much recently either) but that doesn't mean proactive selections can't occur.

Abdur Rehman is likely to be an automatic selection but IMO, he will be handled with ease by the might of the Sri Lankan batsmen on their home grounds. Whereas Wahab Riaz, despite his inconsistency and erratic nature, has enough pace to trouble these spin-proficient SL batsmen (particularly Sangakkara and Jayawardene) - as he made it evident in the 2013 Champions Trophy match against the West Indies - and also has the ability to reverse-swing the old cherry too.

He has a five-wicket haul on Test debut too against England in the 3rd Test of 2010, don't forget:

Abdur Rehman shouldn't be as clear a selection as he is always considered to be.

Actually I disagree with you on this. I feel Abdur Rehman isn't selected as often as he should be. And I agree with Maximas that SL play mediocre pretty well at home too. So you better take 2 spinners who can bowl tight and use the 2 quicks in short bursts.

 

[Migara]

This series is going to be dominated by spin, and for SL, it's not going to be Sanga or Mathews making the impact innings. These two will score with consistency, possibly to average 50+ in the series, but the punchy innings will come from else where. I can name two possible candidates, one, Kaushal Silva, second is MJ. A big grueling hundred which will grind Pakistani bowlers to the dirt is the decisive innings that these two going to play.

If SL suddenly decided to make green seamers, and play three fast bowlers and Mathews, then it's going to be very interesting. Then I pock Mathews to play a whirlwind series deciding knock.

 

[smash84]

This series is going to be dominated by spin, and for SL, it's not going to be Sanga or Mathews making the impact innings. These two will score with consistency, possibly to average 50+ in the series, but the punchy innings will come from else where. I can name two possible candidates, one, Kaushal Silva, second is MJ. A big grueling hundred which will grind Pakistani bowlers to the dirt is the decisive innings that these two going to play.

If SL suddenly decided to make green seamers, and play three fast bowlers and Mathews, then it's going to be very interesting. Then I pock Mathews to play a whirlwind series deciding knock.

dude, take your pick about series scoreline, highest run scorer, wicket taker, MOS.

It would be great to come back and see who got it right.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Not too sure about Wahab. If he gets it right, he can do some real damage because of his pace but he does tend to spray it around.

I really like Junaid but he has regressed a bit and has lost his ability to swing (what happened to all those in-swingers and out-swingers he used to bowl with the new ball). SOPL is right that he can't swing the new ball, but I am hoping he has learnt something during his time with Lancs.

I really want Pak to select Sadaf Hussain. I have been waiting for him to selected for a while now.

 

[SOPL]

Smalishah84, these are my predictions:

Ajmal
Younus Khan
1-0 to Pakistan (passionate Pakistani supporter!)
Ajmal

I really want Pak to select Sadaf Hussain. I have been waiting for him to selected for a while now.

As do/did many people. The claims of him being the Pakistan domestic Richard Hadlee have been spread in hushed tones, but it seems that isn't the case.

He played a few televised matches lately (exhibition matches for the IDPs) and didn't appear to be anything particularly special.

Possibly indicative of an incompetent First-Class structure or a poor quality of grounds, but I agree with you. Would love to see him bowl with a red cherry and then come to a final conclusion.

 

[slowfinger]

Why isn't Alam in the test team? seems very disappointing.

 

[hendrix]

Junaid will be the highest wicket taker.

Shocked at the people underrating him. He'd make any side in the world, probably even Australia.

 

[Maximas]

Seemed to have lost his edge a little by late last year tbf

 

[Agent Nationaux]

I agree that Fawad should be in the team.

 

[smash84]

I am hopeful about Junaid getting back to his old self under waqar

 

[Migara]

dude, take your pick about series scoreline, highest run scorer, wicket taker, MOS.

It would be great to come back and see who got it right.

Series score line 0-0, Highest run scorer - Mahela Jayawardane, Highest Wicket taker - Junaid Khan, MOS - MJ

 

[Maximas]

Pakistan in Sri Lanka 2014 : Suranga Lakmal out of Pakistan Tests | Cricket News | Sri Lanka v Pakistan | ESPN Cricinfo

Sigh, he was a big part of our success in the UAE, although it seems Eranga will be fit for at least one of the tests, worried about going into a test match without both of them and no Kula in the squad though

 

[smash84]

Lakmal is about as good as Akmal

 

[Jassy]

What? Junaid Khan would definitely not make the Aus side, no way. Junaid's career is still WIP and he has a long long way to go. He hasn't had a particularly amazing start to his career either. If I am not wrong he played a series in SA in which he was disappointing, a match vs England where he didn't do much but one match is hardly anything. He has played Zimbabwe and SL a lot and succeeded against both....discounting Zim for obvious reasons, we really can't be arguing that Junaid would walk into every team on the basis of performance against SL alone. He may well go on to demolish every side in the coming years but ATM he is nowhere near close to being good enough for selection in the Aus side. Saying he would make most teams is a bit of a stretch in itself. Aus, SA definitely don't need him. I don't think England or NZ would either but that is probably arguable. Of the top eight, only SL, India, WI would definitely take him and that is not saying too much.

 

[hendrix]

probably a stretch to say that Aus and SA would take him in hindsight, but NZ would definitely take him over Wagner and England would take him over any of their 3rd or 4th seamers.

 

[Flem274*]

NZ wouldn't take him over Wagner, they'd take him over the spinner as would South Africa. I'd chuck him in England too, but he wouldn't make Australia.

Lakmal being injured just improved Sri Lanka's bowling.

 

[viriya]

I hope this Lakmal injury forces Mathews to bowl more.. I think he has the potential to be able to bowl 30 or so overs a match with an overall average of somewhere between 37-40 with a consistent 3 wkts/match. This might not sound like much but atm he has a 60 avg and 116 sr - I would think the only way is up, but he has to trust himself and bowl more to get better. If he can do this mini-Kallis role in the future it would bring a lot of balance to the side, especially since our specialist seamers are not much better than 35 average bowlers..

 

[viriya]

Amazing that Ajmal will have played 40% of his test matches vs SL after this series...

 

[Swingpanzee]

Yeah that's why I never regarded him as a great spinner, boosting his career stats by playing Sri-Lanka every now and then