**Official** India v Pakistan

[Mecnun]

I seriously hope Pak do not become complacent after a fine effort to darw the match however we cant forget we 'drew' not won. At the end of day cries of moral victory are just sugar-coated consolatory ramblings in face of faliure to win..however these moral victories can have a profound effect on the psyche of the players and team spirit in general. Pakistan really needed some positives and they have a got a few from this match but hopefully they wont lose sight of the fact that India was dominant in 4 days out of 5 and work at their wekanesses in all three departments of the game..bowling, top order batting and fielding..

Bowling wise Pak have the weakest attack I have seen in years..Rana opening bowling for Pak makes me cringe, alongside Sami's continued inability to capitalise given consistant opportunity..I have been an advocate of dropping him for a while to allow him some contemplation but harsh truth is we do not have any others available at the moment.Injuries are really hurting us hard. Perhaps Irshad should have been given a chance although it is a bit naive to blood the yongster on a tour of this importance and magnitude.. The only hope I see is Kaneria in Calcutta and although Afridi has failed consistantly his inclusion may not be as mad as it sounds given his ability to bowl some leg spin..

Battingwise I think YK should go..Taufeeq although not quality in my opinion cannot be dropped after just one test in his comeback to the side. Hopefully he will redeem himself in the next match..Pak will have to dig deep again to save the next test and exceptional performances are required if they hope to entertain a chance of winning.. As always lately alot will depend on Inzy, Yoyo , Kamal and Butt needs to justify his talent.

 

[mofo123]

I seriously hope Pak do not become complacent after a fine effort to darw the match however we cant forget we 'drew' not won. At the end of day cries of moral victory are just sugar-coated consolatory ramblings in face of faliure to win..however these moral victories can have a profound effect on the psyche of the players and team spirit in general. Pakistan really needed some positives and they have a got a few from this match but hopefully they wont lose sight of the fact that India was dominant in 4 days out of 5 and work at their wekanesses in all three departments of the game..bowling, top order batting and fielding..

Bowling wise Pak have the weakest attack I have seen in years..Rana opening bowling for Pak makes me cringe, alongside Sami's continued inability to capitalise given consistant opportunity..I have been an advocate of dropping him for a while to allow him some contemplation but harsh truth is we do not have any others available at the moment.Injuries are really hurting us hard. Perhaps Irshad should have been given a chance although it is a bit naive to blood the yongster on a tour of this importance and magnitude.. The only hope I see is Kaneria in Calcutta and although Afridi has failed consistantly his inclusion may not be as mad as it sounds given his ability to bowl some leg spin..

Battingwise I think YK should go..Taufeeq although not quality in my opinion cannot be dropped after just one test in his comeback to the side. Hopefully he will redeem himself in the next match..Pak will have to dig deep again to save the next test and exceptional performances are required if they hope to entertain a chance of winning.. As always lately alot will depend on Inzy, Yoyo , Kamal and Butt needs to justify his talent.

y is every1 after dropping younis khan, if inzi or youhana had a bad test no1 would dare say drop them. YK is a reliable bat on his day and a quality bat as his stats say: (yes i knw stats rnt everything but look at them)

http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/PLAYERS/PAK/Y/YOUNIS_KHAN_07010439/

yonis khan was the best player in aus, averaging 43 with 259 runs jesus christ y do u all want him to b dropped, he was our top run scorer in aus and u want to drop him coz of one bad test...and he got a wicket he may well b sehwags achillis heel...

 

[Mecnun]

Yes I also thought he turned over a new leaf in Aus, and he does try to manage his limited talent but he got out f****ing stupidly for a senior batter and now VC and his fielding was rubbish! okay I admit I dont like his mediocrity ; )

 

[mofo123]

Yes I also thought he turned over a new leaf in Aus, and he does try to manage his limited talent but he got out f****ing stupidly for a senior batter and now VC and his fielding was rubbish! okay I admit I dont like his mediocrity ; )

lol, man i hope he doesnt read that i think he might start crying....limited ability...mediocre! i feel like crying for him...man ive always been his fan since NZ tour wen he got 149*, i dont think he has limited ability i think his ability is amazing...and i do think he is underrated...yes he got out stupidly...he did lose his father a month ago... i doubt he has been training and i think he needs time.

 

[shoot_me]

Official Website for 1st ODI on April 2nd in Kochi-- http://kochiodi.com

 

[Deja moo]

Well. Words fail me. Zaheer sinks into mediocrity once again ( I can see where Lillee was coming from with his "mentally lazy" comments), and Dinesh Karthik does no better with the gloves on the last day than Pathiv Patel ( and indeed worse than him with the bat too).

And something really needs to be done about this pitch in Mohali. It was like watching a test match in reverse...usually pitches are good for batting at the start and disintegrate towards the end.

As for Pakistan, I didnt think Razzaq had it in him to play the innings he did. Well done.

 

[Choora]

Choora posted,



Chaloo Bhiya, if you don't like barfi then I can offer you some fresh Lassi?

The drink of fraternity, as they say.
.

No thanks i have to watch my weight.............actually to be honest i don't want to accept that coz when India will thrash Pak in comming test matches it will be my turn to send you some sweets which i can't do right now as i'm short of cash!

P.S: You are often... exceedingly vocal, shall we say, in your criticism of Pakistan team - for all the wrong reasons.

Maybe i'm exceedingly vocal on my criticism on Pak team, but it rarely has been for wrong reasons. I have basically criticised the Pak think tank in Inzi and Woolmer for their foolishness, and for which they haven't won many friends even in Pakistan.

 

[Choora]

I think Ajit Agarkar has been very lucky to have played so many matches for India. Anywhere else, he would have been chucked out a long time ago.

Balaji is better bowler than Agarkar and I think will also turn out to be a better batter.

Comparing Balaji to Agarkar is an insult to Balaji. Agrakar is pathetic, once in a blue moon he does perform, but overall he's lousy.

 

[Deja moo]

BTW, what was with Sami grinning at the batsman after every useless bouncer (that is, after every delivery) ?

 

[vandemataram]

BTW, what was with Sami grinning at the batsman after every useless bouncer (that is, after every delivery) ?

Showing his dentition ! He visited an Indian dentist a week back and wanted to show that India has some great dentist.

 

[vandemataram]

I had a migrain attack and wasn't able to watch the last day's play, i've heard that Pakistan's young guns saved Inzi's neck by playing some good cricket.Well they deserve all the credit, Pakistan indeed made an achievement by drawing a test against India.

 

[vandemataram]

Bowling wise Pak have the weakest attack I have seen in years..Rana opening bowling for Pak makes me cringe, alongside Sami's continued inability to capitalise given consistant opportunity..I have been an advocate of dropping him for a while to allow him some contemplation but harsh truth is we do not have any others available at the moment..

Lets do some trading, you give us ur keeper and we'll search ur pre-school team and will find you a better pacer

 

[vandemataram]

Green Top Wicket..... YES IN INDIA!!!

Green top awaits Pakistan in Kolkata

From our correspondent

MOHALI: The Pakistan squad was due to leave for Kolkata on Sunday evening to start preparations for the second Test starting from March 16 at the Eden Gardens thereAnd the word is that a green top pitch awaits them in Kolkata, something that has not happened in Indian cricket for years now.

"From what we have heard they have left a lot of grass on the pitch and have no plans to cut it down. By the look of things they are aiming to target us with their full pace attack," said captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.

The Indians are clearly upset at being unable to force a win in the first Test in Mohali and skipper Sourav Ganguly and coach John Wright, it seems, now want a result at all costs in Kolkata which has historically been a happy hunting ground for Pakistan.



Considering the difference between the class of Indian pacers and Pakistani pacers, i believe it is a good move.

 

[Arjun]

Wait till Balaji plays at Lords.........

Yes....right......if he can score a hundred, Balaji can make 150! We can only hope...

 

[Arjun]

Comparing Balaji to Agarkar is an insult to Balaji. Agrakar is pathetic, once in a blue moon he does perform, but overall he's lousy.

Welcome to the fold...

 

[Arjun]

Green top awaits Pakistan in Kolkata

From our correspondent

MOHALI: The Pakistan squad was due to leave for Kolkata on Sunday evening to start preparations for the second Test starting from March 16 at the Eden Gardens thereAnd the word is that a green top pitch awaits them in Kolkata, something that has not happened in Indian cricket for years now.

"From what we have heard they have left a lot of grass on the pitch and have no plans to cut it down. By the look of things they are aiming to target us with their full pace attack," said captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.

The Indians are clearly upset at being unable to force a win in the first Test in Mohali and skipper Sourav Ganguly and coach John Wright, it seems, now want a result at all costs in Kolkata which has historically been a happy hunting ground for Pakistan.



Considering the difference between the class of Indian pacers and Pakistani pacers, i believe it is a good move.

Hopefully the Indian seamers can use the conditions well, but none of them have done so consistently, and the only Indian seamers who can, are not even picked in the team! Compare the bowling of Zaheer, Nehra, Agarkar, Balaji and Pathan in England with Bhandari (average of 26, 2x5WI)and Salvi (average of 29, missed a few matches) and you'll get an idea.

 

[Jono]

Lol no one has an idea of that except you.

 

[Arjun]

On another forum, half the fans agree on that idea. And what's wrong with Bhandari? Not enough commercial endorsement potential? He's done very well in conditions that suit seam and swing bowling and that's good.

 

[Jono]

Lol yeah because Balaji is in the team for his commercial endorsements and contracts right?

 

[Arjun]

Lol yeah because Balaji is in the team for his commercial endorsements and contracts right?

Name one player who isn't.