Sarfraz Nawaz fears Indian spinners will whitewash Pakistan

[Awesome Anjum]

http://www.turkishpress.com/sports/SGE.KEK93.130205102332.photo00.quicklook.default-179x245.jpg

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Former pacer Sarfraz Nawaz said he feared India's spin bowlers would whitewash Pakistan in their upcoming cricket tour.

"India will spinroll Pakistan on their turning tracks because they play with three regular spinners, with Virendar Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar as two added tweakers and have the habit of finishing a Test in three days," Nawaz told AFP on Sunday.

"Pakistan's kitty is empty with just one spinner in Danish Kaneria, the other two spinners they have were reported for illegal action and if they go without Shoaib Akhtar it would be a 3-0 win for India."

Pakistan will play three Tests and five one-day games from February 25 to April 9 on their first tour of India for six years.

A final schedule is still awaited with a stalemate following Pakistan's refusal to play in the western city of Ahmedabad, the scene of a proposed venue for the second Test where at least 2,000 people died in Muslim-Hindu riots in 2002.

Nawaz said Pakistan's cricket hierarchy seemed indifferent to the all important tour.

"Pakistan is under pressure after their 3-0 defeat in Australia but it's surprising there seems no planning, no vision and no preparation for the India tour," Nawaz said.

He criticised coach Bob Woolmer, who is having knee surgery in South Africa, and the Pakistan trainers for going on holdiday ahead of the tour, and ridiculed skipper Inzaman-ul Haq for appearing in an Indian advertisement.

"How would foreigners be interested in Pakistan's progress, they would muster the wealth and go away.

"Our captain doesn't act on the field and is acting in Indian advertisement which is a mockery of the preparation and no one is bothered what they are doing."

Nawaz, acclaimed as the pioneer of reverse swing during a career of 55 Tests for Pakistan, taking 177 wickets, said only seamers could turn the tables on India.

"If Akhtar and (Mohammad) Sami are fit then we must select them and two more swing bowlers and only they can turn the tables on India because we have not produced quality spinners, no one had bothered to in the recent past," said Nawaz.

Pakistan won 1-0 on their 1987 tour with left arm spinner Iqbal Qasim and off-spinner Tauseef Ahmed sharing nine wickets between them in the Bangalore win.

On their last tour, Pakistan were helped by off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq who took 10 wickets to help the team win the first Test at Madras but after Pakistan lost in Delhi Akhtar took eight wickets to help Pakistan win the Calcutta Test.

Saqlain Mushtaq, who lost his place in the team last year, is recuperating from knee surgeries and is not ready for a comeback.

Nawaz said India without an injured Sachin Tendulkar would still be strong.

"Tendulkar would not be missed if he doesn't play because their real star is Rahul Dravid and other batsmen are capable enough to guide India to big totals," he said.

Pakistan are likely to announce the India tour squad on Friday.
http://www.turkishpress.com/i/0/l_afp.gif

[MIG]

I love that picture of his - that will be put on the SourceNews site immediately!


He criticised coach Bob Woolmer, who is having knee surgery in South Africa, and the Pakistan trainers for going on holdiday ahead of the tour, and ridiculed skipper Inzaman-ul Haq for appearing in an Indian advertisement.


Need I say anymore ? Maybe the bottle top factory should be informed of possible orders if he is EVER made the coach!

[Schiller]

after seeing the picture at the top i was speechless as it was but ill attempt :-D

he has made a few valid pts waisay

[Amjid Javed]

good article by safraz, harsh but true!

[Schiller]

even a knee surgery is bw's fault

i like that waisay

[Amjid Javed]

even a knee surgery is bw's fault

i like that waisay

|-H umar, thats harsh

[Schiller]

:oD

[Amjid Javed]

:-D even i wudnt blame such an injury on bob!

[MIG]

Umar , you turncoat ! :oD

[darkarchon2]

Has he ever said anything positive about the team ? He is like a broken record player stuck on the same old song.

[adi 101]

ever single pakistani explayer says that they dont get the same media atention as they did so they just say unnecessary comments all the time there no good for nothings

[Naveed]

Has Sarfra ever said anything postive about the Pakistani squad? No credibility.

[Amjid Javed]

yes he has

[MIG]

some of the other things he has said before.....


http://expressindia.com/cricket/fulliestory.php?content_id=43191




‘Do I really look that bad?’


INTERVIEW: Unarmed and dangerous, Sarfaraz Nawaz still rages against the dying of the light

CHANDRESH NARAYANAN

Posted online: Thursday, March 18, 2004 at 0000 hours IST


RAWALPINDI, MARCH 17: Even as the crowds at the Pindi Cricket Ground were cheering the fours and sixes, the travelling Indian media focused part of its attention on one man in the media centre: Sarfaraz Nawaz, the enfant terrible of Pakistan cricket.

Now a commentator for Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television (PTV), Sarfaraz was one of the early whistle blowers in the match-fixing scandal, which has contributed to the number of enemies he currently has.

Indeed, as this reporter tried locating the man, every person who was asked for a lead warned me off. ‘‘Don’t talk to him, he’s a loose cannon’. That was one of the milder, printable things said about him.


When the interview finally took place, and Sarfaraz was told about the ‘warnings’, the man had a hearty laugh. Then asked, ‘‘Do I really look that bad?’’

In a more serious vein, he sought to explain why the public impression of him persists. ‘‘The problem is, I speak the truth and these people, you know, they are opportunists, they don’t like me because I am fearless.’’

Another way of putting it is ‘‘big-mouthed’’. A one-time Federal Sports Advisor to Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, he has a running feud with his old new-ball partner Imran Khan. And another with Sunil Gavasakar, whom he accused of being the kingpin of match-fixing on live television.

Four years after the dirt in world cricket has seemingly settled down, Sarfaraz is still breathing fire on the state of the game. ‘‘There are still many black sheep. But I do not think anything will ever happen and the system will remain rotten forever.’’

For a brief while Sarfaraz came aboard the establishment and even coached the current Pakistani quick bowlers from 1999-2001. Indeed, as he watches them in action, he has a look of pride. ‘‘All of them, Sami, Razzaq...I have trained them,’’ he says.

The conversation reverts to Sarfaraz’s pet topic. He spews venom at the current Pakistani establishment and relates stories that cannot be printed for obvious reasons. On his part Sarfaraz says if he is approached by the ICC, he can give them a plan to check match-fixing. ‘‘Form a high-powered committee and ask them to monitor one player per match. If they find any player performing under par they should immediately do an enquiry.’’

Wouldn’t that put pressure on all players? ‘‘No, I don’t think so. You know who says such a thing, people who are corrupt.’’

‘WHY HAVEN’T YOU BROUGHT MUNAF?’

Sarfaraz on Indian bowling

There is no attack here. With the three stars injured, the bowling looks very weak. Make no mistake, during the Tests if the Indians do not get replacements, they will suffer immensely. Zaheer, Nehra both look unfit and Balaji is at best a support bowler. Are there no bowlers in India? I heard about Munaf Patel, why isn’t he here. Is he really as fast as Shoaib, they should have brought him at least.

Zaheer Khan: There is a problem in his final jump. He jumps too high and especially in his last two or three strides he is too open. My advice to him is to go a little forward and try getting his bowling arm a little higher. Another problem I noticed with Zaheer was that he jumps and stops. This eats up all the momentum and slows him down

Lakshmipathy Balaji: He is a medium-pacer and should concentrate only on line and length. He should use more of the crease to be effective. He should realise that he is only a support bowler. I have seen him lately and find that there is a problem in his release: in the final release he does not push the bowl through and thereby loses out on bowling a bit more faster

Ashish Nehra: I have just one observation: He needs to be more upright while bowling. When I see him I get a feeling that he holds his stomach in and is in a crouched position. Come on, you are in an international game, put your chest out and bowl with fire. Again with him too the final release is a problem. He needs to develop a stronger body. And if he wants to do that he needs to bowl at least two to three hours everyday. This is the only way he can develop his bowling muscles

[Fawad]

Sarfraz on Balaji:

"He should realise that he is only a support bowler."

The indians think he's their best bowler. lol :-D

A bit harsh on Balaji. He's better than Nehra.

[Naveed]

yes he has

Show me something positive that he has said. He is almost as negative as you!

[pakistani pride]

What sense does his comments make ? !

[Waqar's inswinging yorker]

lets lay off the guy a little - does produce some good bowlers - and inshallah yasin bari will be the next one - i hope his progress doesnt suffer as a result of what safraz has said

[pakistani pride]

Wel al those comments are really poor !

[Abdul Qadir 236]

Sachin is the real Indian batting star!

[Geordie Ahmed]

He criticised coach Bob Woolmer, who is having knee surgery in South Africa, and the Pakistan trainers for going on holdiday ahead of the tour, and ridiculed skipper Inzaman-ul Haq for appearing in an Indian advertisement.

"How would foreigners be interested in Pakistan's progress, they would muster the wealth and go away.

"Our captain doesn't act on the field and is acting in Indian advertisement which is a mockery of the preparation and no one is bothered what they are doing."


:-^ :-^ :-^

[pakistani pride]

So ?

[MIG]

PP:

How would foreigners be interested in Pakistan's progress, they would muster the wealth and go away


Doesnt that imply that because he is a foriegner, he is not interested in Pakistan and is interested in making money ?

Is that a technical criticism from one PROFESSIONAL ?

Does this man understand what being a "professional" actually means?

Do people in Pakistan not take interest in making money and getting fame ?

Wasnt Sarfraz not also a member of a political govt/party which indulged in exactly the same ?

Some people need to be shut away permanently and the gene pool cleansed for the good of tgis world !

[Farhad]

Saw him yesterday in Defence X-Block as he arrived at his residence in Lahore. Drives around in a Lexus jeep with his bodyguards....needs their presence around him, the controversial stuff he utters from time to time.

[Officer Barbrady]

erm welcome back farhad. Shoaib is in real need of your support on this forum.

[MIG]

Farhad!!! Welcome back Mian - Sab Theek Hai ?

And then Sarfaraz tells us about people wanting to make money for themselves ! Subhanallah !

[Farhad]

MIG / Marooned

Cheers. Yah, everything is fine with the grace of Allah (swt).

Haven't followed cricket at all in the last couple of weeks or so. Watched the highlights of the Finals though and some decisions seemed to be downright biased.

Regarding Shoaib's defence, there isn't much to worry about. His overall performances is what counts, not where he hangs around or does off-field. His detractors can engage is as much obssession and gossip about his "other" activitis, but that is their own choice. Even in the last Series, he was the quality bowling performer from our side.

But it seems now, Inzi's position is in jeopardy unless he can conjure something acceptable in the Indian Series. He scored a single run in the Test Series Downunder and ended the ODI clashes with yet another patented early-innings lbw off a seamer. Regardless of that fact, ODI performances can NEVER make up for debacles and disasters at Test level which is the real test and standard, unless it is World Cup that is in question.

[MIG]

V true - Inzi and I would say BWs position is on the line in India - whether people accept it or not. But, Shoaib is not gonna win any more friends if he is selected ( no doubt he will ) and doesnt deliver or breaksdown. Lots of careers at stake here and many opps to make heros...

[Schiller]

" He scored a single run in the Test Series Downunder and ended the ODI clashes with yet another patented early-innings lbw off a seamer'

Now this is what was missing

welcome back :-)