Shoaib Asif Officially Ruled Out

[wpdavid]

There's going to be a lot of weak attacks out there. SA vs SL final anyone?

 

[IndianByHeart]

I wonder as to who bad is this news to Pakistan? lets face it, Akhtar wouldn't have played all WC matches, at some point he would have broken down and would have led to another controversy.Asif loss is big though, without him Pakistan bowling lineup suddenly looks weak, but then again had they two played for Pakistan, there would have been lot of noises about drug cheats playing for a team in WC and Pakistan would have been in pressure throughout the tournament.

Pakistan should now look to get maximum out of the current bowlers in the squad, and it wouldn't harm them if they hire Waseem Akram as the bowling coach for WC, he can surely help the likes of Rana,Arafat etc.It would also be a good idea for Pakistan not to over use Umar Gul, who remains a fragile player and if he breaks down, then it would be a complete disaster for Pakistan.

 

[Richard]

Well I never...

I mean, you can hardly expect anything else, obviously, but that has to be the lamest, most transparent excuse in the history of cricket!

And yes, it does rather weaken Pakistan's attack...

Mohammad Sami... again... ... is there REALLY no-one better out there?

 

[Richard]

i wonder why pakistan didn't try this bowler. he only played once but his record looks promising.

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/current/player/41036.html

Yes indeed, over 7-an-over in his only game... brilliant...

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Yes indeed, over 7-an-over in his only game... brilliant...

Because his one international game is not only what he should be judged on, but it is so clearly the record he was pointing at...

 

[Neil Pickup]

Still backing Ireland.

 

[Evermind]

What an astonishing twist of fates. I never saw this coming.

post of the month

 

[social]

Avoiding drug test = guilty

Life bans for these 2 shockers

Good riddance to drug cheats

 

[Scaly piscine]

I'd love it if the ICC decided to 'randomly' test the two cheating scumbags anyway - probably not possible but it'd still be great if it were.

 

[Richard]

It's not. Bad luck, sucker.

 

[Richard]

Because his one international game is not only what he should be judged on, but it is so clearly the record he was pointing at...

Well his List-A-OD record's hardly outstanding either, is it?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Well his List-A-OD record's hardly outstanding either, is it?

Hmmm, I've seen worse.

 

[Xuhaib]

Well I never...

I mean, you can hardly expect anything else, obviously, but that has to be the lamest, most transparent excuse in the history of cricket!

And yes, it does rather weaken Pakistan's attack...

Mohammad Sami... again... ... is there REALLY no-one better out there?

Bari is easily the most defensive chief selector in Pak cricket history otherwise there are atleast 6-8 fast bowlers who are better then this Imraan's love child.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Great news tbh, lol @ the PCB claiming they were injured.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Think it's the promise of "targeted testing" that has prompted this. It obviously doesn't take a genius to work out that the guys in the white coats with the test tubes were going to come knocking on Shoaib's & Asif's doors at the first opportunity.

 

[BoyBrumby]

why didn't they pick shabbir instead of sami any ways ?

Shabbir's delivery action as posed by our model:

 

[Rajeev]

What a farce, at the expense of a world cup these two will prolong their careers

PCB did a very smart thing, its commendable but what a shame to this game

 

[Richard]

Hmmm, I've seen worse.

No coincidence that Gul and Rao (who you listed twice, BTW - dunno if you meant to list Rana, because he'd be applicable to the same) are poor ODI bowlers to date.

And I for one would like to see a pre- and post-2005\05 breakdown for Asif. Because he was poor for quite a time and has been excellent for the rest.

 

[Richard]

Shabbir's delivery action as posed by our model:

A nice big red X of a model...

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

No coincidence that Gul and Rao (who you listed twice, BTW - dunno if you meant to list Rana, because he'd be applicable to the same) are poor ODI bowlers to date.

And I for one would like to see a pre- and post-2005\05 breakdown for Asif. Because he was poor for quite a time and has been excellent for the rest.

My point being that bowlers with worse List-A records have been given many more chances to prove themselves. And really, Pakistan can't find much worse than Mohammad Sami (who was meant to be one of the Raos in my post), Rao and Gul. Might as well give someone with a better OD record a chance.

And it's very harsh to call Gul a poor ODI bowler. Average at worst. Definitely not poor to date.