*Official* Pakistan in England and Ireland 2016

[Top_Cat]

Credit to Masood for hanging on but he's not exactly going to push the game in Pakistan's direction. Matter of time before he gets a ball with his name on it.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Woeful stuff from Pakistan.

Woakes though... What a series!

 

[LegionOfBrad]

I have a horrible feeling this series may go the way of India 2014. I hope Pakistan put up some fight.

 

[grecian]

I have to say I'm coming to the conclusion that Chris Woakes might not be quite the waste of space I may have thought he was.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Also Woakes this summer

24 wickets at 9.

 

[tooextracool]

What do you mean on the verge?! They're 4/**** all as it is. Another one would have just completed it.

Not sure if that is necessarily true, the wicket of Rahat Ali does not really deserve to be considered as part of a collapse. In Misbah and Shafiq, their two best batsmen are not dismissed. It is a tall order for sure, and Pakistan will need to figure out how they are going to survive the tour with Younus looking like a car crash waiting to happen and Azhar Ali's struggles with the full straight ball.

 

[tooextracool]

tbf there aren't any replacements in the waiting either so its not like this is an easy option

Just had a look at the reserves in the squad and am astonished at their mediocre FC records. Would it be opening Pandora's box to wonder why Fawad Alam is not even in the squad?

 

[91Jmay]

I'm pulling a name out of my arse, but he can't be older than Misbah/Younis, is Taufiq Umar still around? He was a decent player I always thought, could play swing bowling ok.

 

[tooextracool]

Now that is a name I have not heard for a while. If some of the rumors are true, then we will very likely see another name from the past - Salman Butt - back in the squad soon especially considering Hafeez's travails this summer. Hard to believe that he is only 31 years old.

 

[nightprowler10]

Holy ****. ****ing Root.

 

[Niall]

I'm pulling a name out of my arse, but he can't be older than Misbah/Younis, is Taufiq Umar still around? He was a decent player I always thought, could play swing bowling ok.

One of the rules of the MCL in the UAE you had to retire from international cricket to play it and he has. Even so he has barely made a squad in the last few years and a lot of his reputation overseas was when he bashed South Africa which I think was 15 years ago. Sami Aslam is the back up opener will get a chance in this series and Babar Azam will be drafted into the middle order once of the old vanishes also

I'd assume once they feel that he longer is a ****, Shezhad will also be brought back into the mix.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

I have to say I'm coming to the conclusion that Chris Woakes might not be quite the waste of space I may have thought he was.

Agreed.

Have to say those selectors who are getting slagged off for the Anderson/Lord's issue deserve a lot of credit for sticking by Woakes after a bit of a nothing start to his career and a disaster in his last match. If he had been dropped for good nobody would have really argued, he has shown the faith in him was justified.

 

[91Jmay]

That 9fer saved his career.

On the Pakistani opener front, what about that fat lad who played in T20s - think has signed for Essex maybe?

 

[smash84]

Just had a look at the reserves in the squad and am astonished at their mediocre FC records. Would it be opening Pandora's box to wonder why Fawad Alam is not even in the squad?

Fawad Alam is a strange omission. His domestic record is excellent but for some reason the selectors don't think highly of him because he can't hit sixes and lacks the power to step on the gas. Also there seems to be some bias against him I reckon. Quite like another player like Sadaf Hussain in domestic cricket.

 

[Niall]

That 9fer saved his career.

On the Pakistani opener front, what about that fat lad who played in T20s - think has signed for Essex maybe?

Sharjeel?

He is on the A tour and did okish in the first class matches, but didn't kick the door down either.

His four day numbers are pretty underwhelming, it could work, but I suspect like Jamshed he'd fail horribly in test cricket which would then impact him in the formats where he may actually make a difference in.

 

[vogue]

Just watching channel 5 highlights...there's a few good tattoos on show

 

[Niall]

Fawad Alam is a strange omission. His domestic record is excellent but for some reason the selectors don't think highly of him because he can't hit sixes and lacks the power to step on the gas. Also there seems to be some bias against him I reckon. Quite like another player like Sadaf Hussain in domestic cricket.

Sadaf has been treated poorly, but has not helped his cause by crying quite a bit in the press. Fawad probably in contention once Misbah and Younis retire, however for now, he is behind Babar when it comes to selection.

He'd make no difference in this tour whatsoever though.

 

[Niall]

One of the rules of the MCL in the UAE you had to retire from international cricket to play it and he has. Even so he has barely made a squad in the last few years and a lot of his reputation overseas was when he bashed South Africa which I think was 15 years ago. Sami Aslam is the back up opener will get a chance in this series and Babar Azam will be drafted into the middle order once of the old vanishes also

I'd assume once they feel that he longer is a ****, Shezhad will also be brought back into the mix.

Actually just remembered Manzoor, must be due a recall by now

 

[Howe_zat]

I haven't seen much of today, and the thread is mainly getonwithititis which is a shame, but one thing is evident

 

[91Jmay]

Nah was 100% a Glorious today. 250+ at a SR in the 60s is special.