West Indies vs Pakistan in UAE 2016

[Daemon]

**** mosquitoes. Worst ****s.

 

[Black_Warrior]

So they're set on Nawaz at six? Why has he leapfrogged Imad Wasim who's been batting head of him in every limited overs game?

because the perception is that Imad does not turn the ball and needs to work on that and his effectiveness in Test cricket is under question as a result. It's just the way these players are perceived I feel..because Nawaz has been 4 dam games for the A team for over a year now..so they've obviously thought Nawaz has test prospects

 

[Black_Warrior]

**** mosquitoes. Worst ****s.

When I first came on this thread today and saw this as the first post, I was wondering..wow no one visits this thread so Daemon is just randomly ranting about mosquitos in this thread now?

 

[Prince EWS]

Azhar, Sami, Shafiq, Misbah, BabarA, Nawaz, Sarfraz, Yasir, Amir, Wahab, ZBabar, Rahat, Sohail, Imran K

Happy with the squad.

Yeah I'd bee stoked with that. Looks like they're set on giving the whole Azhar opening thing a fair go which is excellent IMO.

I would've picked Imad ahead of Nawaz as well (I wanted Imad in the Test side even before his recent LO h4x) but I can see both sides on that one.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Yep that was one of things that made really happy post the Oval test. Misbah said that Shafiq at 3 was not a one off but a long term move which essentially meant Azhar would open.

 

[listento_me]

I'm surprised by the lack of batsmen in the Pakistan squad...something which has been their weakness for a while now. In terms of the whole Nawaz v Imad argument, I have to say they went in the right direction. Imad's bowling would be useless in tests and I dunno if his batting is any better than Nawaz.

However, there is a problem. Shafiq has built a very good test career at 5/6 and to move him up to 3 is a big call. Some players are built for the lower middle order style of things. How is Shafiq going to cope with the new ball? The swing? I know this probably isn't a factor v WI or in the UAE but surely they need to look towards building a team that can keep challenging at this level for years to come.

Anyway, my test XI out of the current squad:

Ali
Aslam
Shafiq
Azam
Misbah c
Sarfraz wk
Nawaz
Riaz
Shah
Amir
S Khan

I think Riaz should be given a rest at some point, possibly the second test so bring in R. Ali for him at that stage. I guess Z. Babar could probably get a go too. Actually, looking at the side, I think 5 bowlers is too few, considering one is a part timer. Maybe Zulfi could get a shout in anyway, to help keep the work load off some of the other guys.

 

[Howe_zat]

Asad Shafiq did fine at #3 in England tbf. There's been word about trying to get him up the order for some time.

In any case I don't think it will matter much against the West Indies, Pakistan's batting are going to smash this series with or without Younis.

 

[Black_Warrior]

I'm surprised by the lack of batsmen in the Pakistan squad...something which has been their weakness for a while now. In terms of the whole Nawaz v Imad argument, I have to say they went in the right direction. Imad's bowling would be useless in tests and I dunno if his batting is any better than Nawaz.

However, there is a problem. Shafiq has built a very good test career at 5/6 and to move him up to 3 is a big call. Some players are built for the lower middle order style of things. How is Shafiq going to cope with the new ball? The swing? I know this probably isn't a factor v WI or in the UAE but surely they need to look towards building a team that can keep challenging at this level for years to come.

Anyway, my test XI out of the current squad:

Ali
Aslam
Shafiq
Azam
Misbah c
Sarfraz wk
Nawaz
Riaz
Shah
Amir
S Khan

I think Riaz should be given a rest at some point, possibly the second test so bring in R. Ali for him at that stage. I guess Z. Babar could probably get a go too. Actually, looking at the side, I think 5 bowlers is too few, considering one is a part timer. Maybe Zulfi could get a shout in anyway, to help keep the work load off some of the other guys.

I am not sure there is a stronger test batting line up than Pakistan's at the moment. No team has scored more centuries at a higher average in the last 2 years. This notion that batting is Pakistan's weakest link is incorrect and outdated.

Regarding Shafiq, he is a number 3 batsman..that's the position he has batted in his FC career all his life. This is the position he wants to bat in and it's the right decision at the right time. A lot of people including Ponting, Kohli, Root, have started off at 6 when there were more experienced batsmen in the side and slowly made the move.

He is a solid batsman and is the right man for the position.

 

[andruid]

So are the Windies.trying to win?

 

[Black_Warrior]

Some interesting selection dilemmas for Pakistan ahead of the first test. With Nawaz in the side as the allrounder, I'm afraid this means bye bye to Zulfiqar Babar as I don't see them playing 2 left arm spinners which is a shame because Zulfi was a solid support for Yasir and has a consistent record in the UAE.
But this also allows Pakistan to play 3 seamers which is not a bad idea. To play 2 seamers, Pakistan would be picking 1 out of Rahat, Sohail and Wahab to partner with Amir and none of them are a perfect combo. Amir has only played 3 tests in Asia and that too over 7 years ago. He has never played in the UAE and will need time to figure out thing, having played majority of his test cricket in England.
Rahat is probably Pakistan's most consistent seamer after Junaid in Asian conditions but he doesn't reverse the ball and Pakistan would like someone to reverse the ball which makes places him below Wahab and Sohail. But again neither can be trusted as the second seamer along with an inexperienced Amir - Wahab can be hit and miss and Sohail will be struggling in the UAE heat to bowl over 15 overs.

So the best solution is to play 3 seamers and 2 spinners which might unfortunately end Zulfi's test career

 

[Howe_zat]

This is a pink ball test yeah?

Wonder if Pakistan will have to change batting tactics if the ball moves around under lights. I expect they'll continue to score most of the runs off spinners but won't want to hit them out of the attack.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Yeah it's a pink ball test. Should be interesting. A lot of the Pak batsmen like Misbah, Azhar, Shafiq have played with the pink ball in FC. The other thing given that most of the day would be under lights would mean that players would be spending less time in the UAE heat.

Getting pretty excited for this now. I want to see truckload of runs from Shafiq and truckload of wickets from Yasir.

 

[Gnske]

Literally going to be the Buzz Aldrin of tests

 

[vcs]

Hope Windies pull off something miraculous. Won't happen obviously.

 

[Howe_zat]

Think England could have pulled off a result in the UAE if they had day-night tests. Cooler, less dry, less reliance on reverse, less advantage to batting first. Would have made the series close I reckon.

Don't think the Windies have the quality to win a game though.

 

[ImpatientLime]

why am i looking forward to this?

is it on tv in the uk?

 

[weldone]

time to drop Marlon Samuels from the test team

 

[Black_Warrior]

Pakistan's 400th test match and first pink ball test...pumped for this

 

[Daemon]

Pretty keen to see how Azam, Aslam and Nawaz (3) go.

Wonder if Blackwood will attempt his aggressive style of play like he did in the 2nd Test against India when he realises he can't score runs against Amir and Yasir.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Wait this is a pink ball test? Hyped.