**Official** Pakistan and England in the UAE 2015/16

[Black_Warrior]

Odds are good that Aamir will eventually be back in the Pakistan side though I was wondering if any Pakistani posters can tell me news on the likelihood of Md Asif ever playing international cricket again?

The thing about Pakistan cricket and the way the PCB functions is that no one can really predict anything.
From what I can gather is that the PCB is facing a lot more resistance to Asif and Butt from various quarters both cricketing and non cricketing than they did with Amir.

At one point it looked like Butt and Asif would be playing in the revently concluded T20 domestic tournament but they were not allowed to. I think PCB is taking it slow with them, and I think they will be playing first class cricket from next year perhaps and then see how they perform. They might even play in the PSL next year. But yeah nothing happening this year.

 

[hendrix]

As far as I'm aware Butt has denied the charges the whole time during his ban and then approaching the end he seeks forgiveness. WAC.

 

[Niall]

Misbah, please stay

England series looms as Misbah's swansong | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

Will be missed, but at his age,, it is doubtful if he would have done the business over the next few years when Pakistan leave the UAE. He hasn't been as prolific recently as he has been previously, so I think he is the type of guy unlike so many other Pakistan players who won't want to hang around too long if he feels he can't perform to his own expectations.

I assume Shafiq will slot in at five and Alam will then bat at six.

As far as I'm aware Butt has denied the charges the whole time during his ban and then approaching the end he seeks forgiveness. WAC.

Aye pretty much. Its tricky to have much pity for Butt, born into a wealthy family, decent education, but an absolute scumbag. Its one thing giving a kid like Amir another chance, but Butt? A so-so opener who couldn't even be bothered to pretend to show some shame for what he has caused?

**** off.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Aye pretty much. Its tricky to have much pity for Butt, born into a wealthy family, decent education, but an absolute scumbag. Its one thing giving a absolute superstar in Amir another chance, but Butt? A so-so opener with what he has done? **** off.

Heh, I like your honesty tbh. Wanting to give Amir a chance because he's talented is fair enough. Not something I agree with, but that's fine.

In terms of the age argument though, Butt was just 24 when he was captain, right? Hardly as though he was some veteran.

 

[hendrix]

Heh, I like your honesty tbh. Wanting to give Amir a chance because he's talented is fair enough. Not something I agree with, but that's fine.

In terms of the age argument though, Butt was just 24 when he was captain, right? Hardly as though he was some veteran.

There's a massive difference between 24 and 17. Colossal.

Not saying 24 year olds don't make mistakes btw. It's the actions afterwards that make it worse though.

 

[Black_Warrior]

As far as I'm aware Butt has denied the charges the whole time during his ban and then approaching the end he seeks forgiveness. WAC.

Both of them confessed in 2013 IIRC

 

[Black_Warrior]

This is a question for GIMH who has this genius ability to predict the scoreline.

Last time he predicted 3-0 and 3-0 it was. What's your take this time?

 

[morgieb]

Heh, I like your honesty tbh. Wanting to give Amir a chance because he's talented is fair enough. Not something I agree with, but that's fine.

In terms of the age argument though, Butt was just 24 when he was captain, right? Hardly as though he was some veteran.

Butt was 26 /pedant

 

[Black_Warrior]

Misbah, please stay

England series looms as Misbah's swansong | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

This has been my dilemma for a while now.. I have been waiting for this series to start...but there's a part of me that wants it to not start so soon because it will be Misbah's farewell

 

[weldone]

Fawad or Haris - who will be better in middle-order? (after Misbah goes)

 

[OverratedSanity]

Misbah WAG. Pity most of Pakistan's dumb**** fans still don't appreciate what a gun he's been for them. They're going to miss him for sure.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Fawad in my view...and it looks like the selectors have that view too but the guy has been treated so awfully by the management, wouldn't be surprised if he is thrown out after one bad test match.

 

[Prince EWS]

Fawad or Haris - who will be better in middle-order? (after Misbah goes)

I'm still pushing the "both and open with Azhar" bandwagon, but if only one then Fawad.

 

[weldone]

I'm still pushing the "both and open with Azhar" bandwagon, but if only one then Fawad.

If Younis Khan is your no. 3, then Shafiq-Fawad-Haris will be an incredibly inexperienced middle-order especially outside the SC. If Clarke-Voges-Watson/Marsh couldn't do it in England (in spite of a solid top 3), imagine what these guys may go through.

 

[Furball]

Flat track bullies tend to ton up on day one on an overcast day in swing friendly conditions when the oppo have already been rolled for 60, sure

so good

 

[Prince EWS]

If Younis Khan is your no. 3, then Shafiq-Fawad-Haris will be an incredibly inexperienced middle-order especially outside the SC. If Clarke-Voges-Watson/Marsh couldn't do it in England (in spite of a solid top 3), imagine what these guys may go through.

Meh this post just puts forward a silly bias towards stronger middle orders for some reason.

I could easily turn it around to say

"If Azhar Ali is your no. 3, then Masood-Shehzad will be an incredibly inexperienced opening partnership especially outside the SC. If Rogers-Warner couldn't do it in England (in spite of a solid middle order), imagine what these guys may go through."

That's not really any better or worse a point. The decision shouldn't be made on such logic either way.

Pakistan's batting isn't going to be very good outside of Asia. This is going to be true regardless of who they pick, but ultimately I'm much more interested in actually picking the best batsmen than trying to balance the experience across the order or other such superstitions. Azhar got picked in Tests in the first place based on his performances as opener so I think having him move up would make a lot of sense given (IMO anyway) their reserve middle order options are much better than their other openers. For what it's worth I'd probably leave Younis at four because he's been killing it there and move Shafiq up to three instead.

 

[WalkingWicket]

Flat track bullies tend to ton up on day one on an overcast day in swing friendly conditions when the oppo have already been rolled for 60, sure

OK - flat track bully was the wrong phrase. Perhaps I should have said home track bully.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Misbah WAG. Pity most of Pakistan's dumb**** fans still don't appreciate what a gun he's been for them. They're going to miss him for sure.

because he is the hero the dumb nation needs but not the one it deserves

 

[flibbertyjibber]

So the team that the TMS Facebook feed and the one cricinfo have up are different.

TMS feed goes with what we all expected with Ali opening and Rashid in down the order but cricinfo has 12 players named and no Root. All come out in the wash I guess.

 

[theegyptian]

Dean Wilson ‏@CricketMirror 34m34 minutes ago

Bell missed on 6 by slip as the ball went between him and the keeper #3rdlife

Dean Wilson ‏@CricketMirror 2m2 minutes ago

Bell had been getting into trouble with premeditated shots and the attempted sweep his undoing there



Hardly reassuring that Bell gave 3 lives in his first 6 runs. Can't help feel that he and England would be better served if he opened (if he was going to play) rather than Ali. Tends to be a very nervy starter against spin. Not a good player of spin in general but least if he opened he'd be that bit more comfortable when spin comes on. If they are prepared to 'horses for courses' the selection and shove Ali up to open for one series, I don't see why they wouldn't be open to doing the same with Bell.

Can't help but feel the team they are preparing to play will put an inordinate amount of pressure on Cook and Root to score the runs. Having no quality spinner really impacts selection and they seem to be going towards Broad, Anderson, Stokes, Wood, Ali and Rashid all playing to cover all options. Ideally I'd have preferred the extra frontline bat.