***Official*** Asia Cup

[Lambu]

Ind will be gearing up for the double header on 2nd and 3rd against the other two Asian giants Pak and SL respectively .... double-headers are tough but i guess, the positive is that Ind needs to win one of the two to go to the final

if Ind can win both the games then it would be a great morale booster for the youngsters

so whats on the plate:

SL - As i said earlier that Jayasuriya and Sangakara's combination looks good and is something SL should consider persisting with. the bowling has experience with Vaas, Murali and Jayasuriya .... Sangakara and Jayasuriya are the obvious threat

Pak - strong batting line up considering that guys like Butt, YK and Afridi do well against Ind

As a team, i think Ind is stronger than the above two and can handle challenges that these two teams can throw at it

Raina has played superbly so far and now it's time for others like Rohit, Yuvi and Yusuf to step it up .... Sehwag and Gambhir's is an awesome combination. I feel that the attacks are not good enough to get Sehwag out, unless he does something stupid. Gambhir, iirc, has one good inning of 90 against BD so may be its time for him to come to the party .... it would be great if the bowling gets its act together in good batting conditions

the 11

1 to 3 ----> Sehwag, Gambhir, Rohit
4 to 7 ----> Raina, Yuvi, Dhoni, Pathan
8 to 11 ----> Praveen, Chawla, RP, Ishant

Chawla out,Ojha in for mine.And i think thats what you are going to see tomorrow.

 

[ret]

Team News according to cricinfo

Ind vs Pak

"Pakistan are losing patience with Shahid Afridi's miserable batting form - he's made just three half-centuries in his previous 45 innings. Lawson said he would be dropped but a late change of mind means he will get another chance tomorrow . Pakistan have confirmed two changes to the XI that played Sri Lanka: Abdur Rauf replaces left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz and offspinner Saeed Ajmal will make his debut, legspinner Mansoor Amjad making way."

Pakistan: 1 Salman Butt, 2 Shoaib Malik (capt), 3 Younis Khan, 4 Mohammad Yousuf, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq, 6 Shahid Afridi, 7 Sohail Tanvir, 8 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 9 Abdur Rauf, 10 Iftikhar Anjum, 11 Saeed Ajmal.

"India are likely to bring back Virender Sehwag and Praveen Kumar while Irfan could find a place ahead of elder brother Yusuf Pathan, who has a minor viral infection. Either Robin Uthappa or Rohit Sharma might miss out and fast bowlers Manpreet Gony and Ishant Sharma could also find themselves on the sidelines."

India (probable) 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Gautam Gambhir, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), 6 Rohit Sharma/Robin Uthappa, 7 Irfan Pathan, 8 Piyush Chawla, 9 RP Singh, 10 Praveen Kumar, 11 Pragyan Ojha

 

[WhatisRight]

Pakistan:
1 Salman Butt
2 Shoaib Malik (capt)
3 Younis Khan
4 Mohammad Yousuf
5 Misbah-ul-Haq
6 Shahid Afridi
7 Sohail Tanvir
8 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk)
9 Umar Gul
10 Shoaib Akhtar
11 Mohammad Asif

I was just thinking if akhtar wasnt banned and asifs return.....what a line-up the above would have been!

 

[Manee]

That bowling attack would be quite dangerous in both Tests and ODIs. Shame that it will never likely be.

 

[Fusion]

Pakistan:
1 Salman Butt
2 Shoaib Malik (capt)
3 Younis Khan
4 Mohammad Yousuf
5 Misbah-ul-Haq
6 Shahid Afridi
7 Sohail Tanvir
8 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk)
9 Umar Gul
10 Shoaib Akhtar
11 Mohammad Asif

I was just thinking if akhtar wasnt banned and asifs return.....what a line-up the above would have been!

I stopped playing the "what-if" game about Pak's bowling a long, long time ago.

 

[SJS]

I stopped playing the "what-if" game about Pak's bowling a long, long time ago.

Yes. But you seem to be an honourable exception. Even Imran Khan has joined the list of those wailing at the loss of Asif and Shoaib in an article this morning and stating that Shoaib's punishment is very harsh and while he does have a discipline related problem it is nothing that a tough captain cant handle.

Just the kind of stuff Pakistan supporters have been fed for so long to the detriment of its team, the game and its captains - strong or timid.

 

[Arjun]

The Indians should play their full-strength team against Pakistan and play for a bonus point and nothing less. They can then give some of their main players a break for Sri Lanka, so that they are prepared with something before the finals and then the first XI comes back fresh from a break, with the Lankans not having played them. After all, the Lankans won't play Mendis against the Indians. Might sound a little risky, but with back-to-back games against SL and Pakistan, this is the best the Indians can do.

 

[Arjun]

Yes. But you seem to be an honourable exception. Even Imran Khan has joined the list of those wailing at the loss of Asif and Shoaib in an article this morning and stating that Shoaib's punishment is very harsh and while he does have a discipline related problem it is nothing that a tough captain cant handle.

Just the kind of stuff Pakistan supporters have been fed for so long to the detriment of its team, the game and its captains - strong or timid.

Unfortunately, without Akhtar, Asif and even Sami, this bowling attack is toast!

 

[duffer]

The Indians should play their full-strength team against Pakistan and play for a bonus point and nothing less. They can then give some of their main players a break for Sri Lanka, so that they are prepared with something before the finals and then the first XI comes back fresh from a break, with the Lankans not having played them. After all, the Lankans won't play Mendis against the Indians. Might sound a little risky, but with back-to-back games against SL and Pakistan, this is the best the Indians can do.

Well the Pakistan game is do or die for them so go all out and put them out should be the way to go.

Personally not a fan of rotation even with double headers around the corner, big advocate of continuity and stability where possible.

 

[SJS]

Unfortunately, without Akhtar, Asif and even Sami, this bowling attack is toast!

There is no toast tastier and crunchier (for the batsmen) then the Sami-toast

 

[Arjun]

Where's the letter from Ashraf when you need it most?

 

[Arjun]

Well the Pakistan game is do or die for them so go all out and put them out should be the way to go.

Personally not a fan of rotation even with double headers around the corner, big advocate of continuity and stability where possible.

What would you suggest? Now Yusuf Pathan has a viral infection which may keep him out of today's action. RP Singh isn't a first XI bowler now. Some sources indicate resting Ishant Sharma as well. Ojha is still raw, while Chawla has struggled on these flat pitches, especially against Pakistan.

For this match, the same XI that faced Pakistan earlier should take the field, with Irfan replacing RP Singh, although Ojha for Chawla is also an option. The question is whom do they hide from the Lankans, because there are not enough batsmen for backup and the bowlers need to return to form.

 

[duffer]

What would you suggest? Now Yusuf Pathan has a viral infection which may keep him out of today's action. RP Singh isn't a first XI bowler now. Some sources indicate resting Ishant Sharma as well. Ojha is still raw, while Chawla has struggled on these flat pitches, especially against Pakistan.

For this match, the same XI that faced Pakistan earlier should take the field, with Irfan replacing RP Singh, although Ojha for Chawla is also an option. The question is whom do they hide from the Lankans, because there are not enough batsmen for backup and the bowlers need to return to form.

Well I meant continuity when possible, illness and injury obviously require change but for big teams lik Pak and Lanka really don't like resting players.

Wouldn't mind Irfan in but think we should keep faith with Chawla. Rate him higher than Ojha and since Mishra and Bhajji aren't around he should be our forst choice ODI spinner for now.

 

[adharcric]

Both Chawla and Ojha for me, along with Irfan, Praveen and RP.

 

[sanga1337]

India wins the toss and chooses to bat. Malik also ruled out due to failing a fitness test. Already things don't look to great for Pakistan

 

[Jono]

India 72-0 after 8 overs.

Wow. Sehwag and Gambhir ripping Pakistan's 2nd string bowling attack a new arsehole.

 

[Jono]

Wow, from 88-0 to 91-3. Fair play Pakistan, healing the arsehole wound.

 

[SJS]

The first ever international match I saw was a Test match against Pakistan in December 1961. In 47 years since then, I dont remember a more toothless attack in any Pakistan versus India match in either format as is the one in this game. But for some loose strokes, India could have actually been looking at 400 today. Seriously and thats not because we are the greatest batting side.

Whats happened to Pakistani cricketers? Where is the spirit? Every one seems to be just going through the motions. You can see how that makes even the Indian batsmen so casual at the crease. This doesn't look anything like a game between two international sides with anything worthwhile at stake.

Bring back Miandad

 

[Perm]

Dhoni and Sharma 'rescuing' India here, good partnership of 85. Only the Pathan brothers to come after these two, so hopefully they can bat for another 5-10 overs and then start trying to clear the ropes. Nice to see Sharma in the runs too.

 

[Manee]

Dhoni and Sharma 'rescuing' India here, good partnership of 85. Only the Pathan brothers to come after these two, so hopefully they can bat for another 5-10 overs and then start trying to clear the ropes. Nice to see Sharma in the runs too.

Kumar and Chawla can both give it a fair thwack on a flat pitch like this.