pakistan squad for the indian tour

[Armadillo]

If you think about India's bowling options, well they don't have much, thanks to injuries, Zaheer is doubtful, Harbhajan won't play, Kumble is doubtful and I doubt they'll select Nehra, if India have a good series it will be a draw at the most.

 

[Armadillo]

I'm not a huge fan of Shahid Afridi but I think he just has so much talent, if Pakistan could nurture that talent then they would have something special on their hands.

 

[pakistan1]

Umm........
Excuse me but where is AZHAR MAHMOOD he is by far Pakistan., best all rounder on his day.But his injury's have plagued him and is making a great comeback in the QUID E AZAM trophy (Pak Domestic)

 

[yohanna]

talk about akhtar he is good. Shabbir is crap and sami is just marginally better. They will be smashed.

A lot of u ppl talk about india not having a good bowling attack. But India does have zaheer khan and kumble. I think they will do well if not bogged by injuries. Do you guys really think that the p.a.k.i bowling attack (well akhtar) can get India out twice?

Well if they can bowl out Australia and SA twice then why can't they bowl out India twice???

Btw Shabbir isn't crap, unfortunately he won't be able to play though coz he was reported for suspect action.

On Indian bowlers, Zaheer Khan is talented but he isn't lethal, you sounded like Khan was like McGrath.Frankly i don't think Indian attack is good atall.

 

[masterblaster]

Watch out for a young man by the name of Irfan Khan Pathan, he might just 'surprise' many people.

 

[Salamuddin]

Well if they can bowl out Australia and SA twice then why can't they bowl out India twice???

Btw Shabbir isn't crap, unfortunately he won't be able to play though coz he was reported for suspect action.

On Indian bowlers, Zaheer Khan is talented but he isn't lethal, you sounded like Khan was like McGrath.Frankly i don't think Indian attack is good atall.

Out of interest, When was the last time Pakistan defeated Australia in a test match ?

 

[masterblaster]

IN FACT, IN FACT

The Indian bowling side has bowled out Australia twice more than any other test playing nation recently.

In test matches, whether it be Harbhajan Singh or Anil Kumble or Ajit Agarkar, whether it be in Adelaide or Kolkata or Chennai, the Indian bowling side can be proud of the fact they have bowled Australia out twice on numerous occasions.

Not many sides barring New Zealand and South Africa can claim this. While Shoaib had a huge burst of fast bowling against Australia in Sharjah and Colombo, the support of his teammates with the ball and (especially with the bat, 54 all out remember anyone?) was very, very poor.

The Indian's having a weak bowling lineup is a stereotype and a common misconception. Although they do not have the best bowling attack in the world, its certainly not the worst going around.

 

[Armadillo]

I think the playing team for Pakistan should be:

Taufeeq Umar
Imran Farhat
Yasir Hameed
Yousuf Youhana
Inzamam ul Haq
Shoaib Malik
Abdul Razzaq
Moin Khan
Shoaib Akhtar
Mohammad Sami
Saqlain Mushtaq

This should make sure that Pakistan are strong in both departments and have plenty of all round ability.

 

[masterblaster]

Thats a good Pakistani squad, very strong on paper. What ever happened to Younis Khan?

I thought he was a very talented batsman....

 

[Armadillo]

Yes he is but recently his form has dropped significantly, I think if he's going to play it will have to be in OD.

 

[Rik]

The Indian's having a weak bowling lineup is a stereotype and a common misconception. Although they do not have the best bowling attack in the world, its certainly not the worst going around.

After seeing India bowling in England and also following the Tests in Australia, I'd have to say I disagree with you. Unless they are at home in India, or on a turning track, India don't have a chance, since only Harbhajan and Kumble hold any threat. Khan will take a few wickets but is often expensive. It's not a stereotype, it's fact, India's bowling would struggle to get most teams out twice unless they have favourable conditions.

The same with England, but we are talking about India here.

 

[masterblaster]

The Indian bowlers (barring Kumble) are all very young, and have an unbelievable amount of talent.

Zaheer was just starting to prove himself as a consistent bowler before an injury struck him down. Hopefully he'll bounce back positvely.

The progress that Irfan Pathan and Lakshmipathy Balaji have made against one of the most unforgiving batting lineups in world cricket has been very commendable and respectable.

Pathan and Balaji can hold their heads up high with their performances, while their RPO is high at the moment, they wont face Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting every game and that RPO will definitely get lower.

Pathan has all the right ingredients in the right proportions to be a star bowler, he needs to 'mix' and 'stir' the ingredients in properly though.

Ajit Agarkar has somewhat started to perform consistently for India with the ball in ODI's by being one of the leading wicket takers alongside Pathan, Brett Lee and Streak in the VB Series.

Agarkar too is very young, and has got a long career ahead of him. I see nothing but brightness for Indian bowling and it isn't as doom and gloom as many point out to be.

Obviously when a new guy like Pathan starts out their International Career, they wont have an immediate record of 250 wickets at an average of 21 with an RPO of 3.5 now will they?

To build a reputation and career like that takes time, but im confident that a young crop of Indian fast bowlers (excluding Nehra) have what it takes to succeed.

I wish nothing but success for Irfan Pathan and im a very big fan of his now.

 

[Jono]

^ You and me think along the same lines. It's amazing how popular Pathan is here to the Australians, a lot of Aussie fans here are predicting big things from him I can just imagine how excited the fans back in India must be. I don't want to overhype or claim things that aren't possible from him, I'll just state I think he has the potential to be a star.

 

[ReallyCrazy]

Irfan Pathan is a very good find and he's only 19 years old. He seems to have a smart mind and is swinging the ball very well. If at this age, he bowls at 140 kmph, I think he can develop into a lethal swing/fast bowler in a few years. He has not even reached his prime yet.

Lakshmipathy Balaji beleive it or not I think he actually did better than Pathan in the VB series! While Pathan was doing his bit, Balaji was doing a good job at the other end without much fuss. He was pretty economical even in the worst of times when the aussie batters were looking to swat him away, except for that six by Brett Lee. He also seems to be a good prospect and I expect big things from him.

 

[Beleg]

The strongest squad Pakistan fielded in recent times was in the 2003 World-Cup, a squal which, atleast on paper looked formidble and we all know what happened to it.

I concour with Armadillo's team except for Shoaib Malik, specially in the tests. Younis Khan is a much better test batsman.
Pakistan's batting is nothing much to write home about in the ODI's except for the exception hitting talent down the order.
However, IMO Pakistan possess a very good batting lineup for home tests with the likes of Yohanna, Taufeeq Umar and Yasir Hameed all keyed up to deliver.
Pakistan's savior in need though can be Inzamam in the tests.
I haven't seen Pathan or Ballaji, but Asish Nehra to me looks like a good seamer.

 

[Swervy]

i think i am looking forward to this series more than i was looking forward to India vs Australia

 

[yohanna]

Out of interest, When was the last time Pakistan defeated Australia in a test match ?

What has that to do with the discussion going on? Did i ever said that Pakistan team is BETTER than India?

Reallycrazy was wondering as to whether Pak bowlers can bowl out Indian team twice in any match, i just pointed out that if Pak can bowl out Australia and SA twice then why can't they bowl out India twice!!'

The Indian bowling side has bowled out Australia twice more than any other test playing nation recently.Not many sides barring New Zealand and South Africa can claim this. While Shoaib had a huge burst of fast bowling against Australia in Sharjah and Colombo, the support of his teammates with the ball and (especially with the bat, 54 all out remember anyone?) was very, very poor.The Indian's having a weak bowling lineup is a stereotype and a common misconception. Although they do not have the best bowling attack in the world, its certainly not the worst going around.

The Pak team that played Australia was a second string one, Inzi,Youhanna and few others were missing from the line up.Fortunately that isn't going to be the case in the comming series.

Indian bowlers did fare well in the recent Aus series, but before that in almost all the test series (like against Eng,SA,NZ and WI) they fared poorly.I never said that India have the worst bowling lineup, but i certainly thinlk that its still weak.Indian bowlers are fortunate in the senese that they will be bowling to relatively weak Pak batting lineup, had they been facing Indian batsmen then they would have been murdered!

 

[yohanna]

The strongest squad Pakistan fielded in recent times was in the 2003 World-Cup, a squal which, atleast on paper looked formidble and we all know what happened to it.

That was actually the weakest team in recent time. It was lead by a man who never deserved a place in the team.Had an opener that was nothing but a laughing stock.What happened to that team was of no consequence now, how the young Pak team is faring after WC is what we should be looking at.

 

[yohanna]

I think the playing team for Pakistan should be:

Taufeeq Umar
Imran Farhat
Yasir Hameed
Yousuf Youhana
Inzamam ul Haq
Shoaib Malik
Abdul Razzaq
Moin Khan
Shoaib Akhtar
Mohammad Sami
Saqlain Mushtaq

This should make sure that Pakistan are strong in both departments and have plenty of all round ability.

That is a team with just three specialist bowlers, that's way too defensive.

I can't see how Malik can trouble Indian batsmen, it will be better to bring in a specialist bowler in place of Malik, like Danish or Umar gul. Razzak and Moeen have been brilliant with the bat lately, so i don't think Pak should go with six specislist batsmen as such Younis Khan shouldn't be in the playing eleven.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Asish Nehra to me looks like a good seamer.

Quick someone, take a photo! Nehra has a fan!