pakistan's wicketkeeping position

[kas]

pakistan mashallah seems quite fortunate at the moment and for the future when it comes to wicketkeepers. they seem to have quite a few keepers who can fight for the spot if it becomes available.

at the moment kamran akmal keeping has been excellent and his batting is improving.

but who do u think can challenge him for the spot:
1 haider- good batsman
2 adnan akmal- kamran's brother
3 humayun farhat- explosive batsman similar to afridi
4 amin ur rehman- promising batsman/keeper

[Officer Barbrady]

It seems Zulkernain is the designated reserve keeper. And I don't disagree with the selection. On a slightly different note he should have batted up in the order (rather than 9) in the warm-up today.

[Muddaser]

Zulqarnain. Only 19 years old.

The guy is averages 35 with the bat and I can safely say that his keeping is better than most. Kept well against our U-19 spinners.

Definitely better than Moin and Dhoni.

And hes the only one with a retainer contract so he is next in line.

[Monsee]

I personally think that had Akmal not improved his glove work and batting, in the last year or so..Zoni would have gotten in the team in place of Akmal!

This kid is just that good. His keeping is just about as good as Kamran's, maybe a bit less at the moment but with FC experience he will become even better

His batting is as Muddaser said "Better than most of our proper batsmen"...when he bats, it's this calmness of approach, time to play the shot, playing each ball on the merit, and always playing valuable innings under pressure, that reminds me of a younger Inzi.

By no stretch, I am saying he is as good as Inzi in batting, but his calm and composed style is reminiscent of a younger Inzi

[kas]

Originally Posted by Monsee I personally think that had Akmal not improved his glove work and batting, in the last year or so..Zoni would have gotten in the team in place of Akmal! This kid is just that good. His keeping is just about as good as Kamran's, maybe a bit less at the moment but with FC experience he will become even better His batting is as Muddaser said "Better than most of our proper batsmen"...when he bats, it's this calmness of approach, time to play the shot, playing each ball on the merit, and always playing valuable innings under pressure, that reminds me of a younger Inzi. By no stretch, I am saying he is as good as Inzi in batting, but his calm and composed style is reminiscent of a younger Inzi

so monsee bhai do u think Zoni has the ability to become a world class keeper/batsman? if so when will he overtake akmal in your opinion?

[Officer Barbrady]

Not sure about the young Inzi comparison but he did look fairly comfortable in the bits I saw. Hopefully a long-term option and if he can really bat that would be a big help to the balance.

[Monsee]

Originally Posted by kas so monsee bhai do u think Zoni has the ability to become a world class keeper/batsman? if so when will he overtake akmal in your opinion?

IMO, Akmal slips and Zoni takes over...we might be seeing a Rashid/Moin episode of sorts pretty soon

Akmal has cemented his place but so much cricket is being played these days, that by law of averages Akmal will have a bad patch sooner (hopefully not cause that might mean us loosing a game or two) than later or Injury (Again I hope not)

The only reason Zoni didn't get a chance when Akmal was kinda struggling up untill the Aussie series, cause Bob and others deemed 'Zoni needs a few FC matches under his belt'...they wanted to give him time to mature

[Monsee]

Originally Posted by Marooned Not sure about the young Inzi comparison but he did look fairly comfortable in the bits I saw. Hopefully a long-term option and if he can really bat that would be a big help to the balance.

I was merely pointing that 'He seems to have a lot of time when playing Fast or Spin bowlers', and plays them with a lot of ease and confidence...a trait that is attributed to Inzi's batting.

But, at the same time, I also posted that I am not saying that he is as good a batsman as Inzi is...

[Officer Barbrady]

yip that's fine

[Easa]

He does look a bit composed, doesn't he? A very patient batsmen who accumalates runs, keepings not too bad, and will only get better with time and practice

[kas]

Originally Posted by Easatheman He does look a bit composed, doesn't he? A very patient batsmen who accumalates runs, keepings not too bad, and will only get better with time and practice

and your the expert arent u?

[Monsee]

Originally Posted by kas and your the expert arent u?

HaHa, challo ghussa thook do Kas Mian

[Raz]

Humayun! Humayun! Humayun! Humayun!

[kas]

Originally Posted by Raz Humayun! Humayun! Humayun! Humayun!

that shows how much brains u have got. every1 says ZONI but u have to be different. were u dropped on your head as a child?

[Raz]

Originally Posted by kas that shows how much brains u have got. every1 says ZONI but u have to be different. were u dropped on your head as a child?

Everyone knows why DM and myself support the likes of Humayun, Afridi and other big hitters! And by the way just because everyone says Zoni doesnt mean i have to! The point of a forum is discussion and that means presenting different points of view! If a discussion forum was just based on conformity then it wouldnt be a discussion forum!

[kas]

Originally Posted by Raz Everyone knows why DM and myself support the likes of Humayun, Afridi and other big hitters! And by the way just because everyone says Zoni doesnt mean i have to! The point of a forum is discussion and that means presenting different points of view! If a discussion forum was just based on conformity then it wouldnt be a discussion forum!

oh its ok for u to have a different opinion but not for others. when ppl said sami is crap u couldnt handle it so u had to write an article explaining how sami the "bechara" was so unlucky. mayb u should do the same for humayun

[Raz]

Originally Posted by kas oh its ok for u to have a different opinion but not for others. when ppl said sami is crap u couldnt handle it so u had to write an article explaining how sami the "bechara" was so unlucky. mayb u should do the same for humayun

Since when have i said that you or anyone else for that matter were not allowed to have an anti Sami opinion? The article was merely was an attempt at answering the question marks that some people had about Sami and where to go from now.

[kas]

Originally Posted by Raz Since when have i said that you or anyone else for that matter were not allowed to have an anti Sami opinion? The article was merely was an attempt at answering the question marks that some people had about Sami and where to go from now.

u thought that once everyone read the article, ppl wud be convinced that sami actually is unlucky and not just brainless. cos wen i said an anti sami comment u sed oh u obviously havent read my article have u?

[Raz]

Originally Posted by kas u thought that once everyone read the article, ppl wud be convinced that sami actually is unlucky and not just brainless. cos wen i said an anti sami comment u sed oh u obviously havent read my article have u?

I thought that when people read that article they would understand Sami as a fast bowler and that he is unlike any other fast bowler one may find today. If you are telling me that even after reading it your opinions about him didnt change one bit, you are either incredibly stubborn or is the one who is actually brainless.

[kas]

Originally Posted by Raz I thought that when people read that article they would understand Sami as a fast bowler and that he is unlike any other fast bowler one may find today. If you are telling me that even after reading it your opinions about him didnt change one bit, you are either incredibly stubborn or is the one who is actually brainless.

no one doubts sami is talented cos he has pace! but its time to deliver. no more escuses. if he gets injured then that isnt an escuse cos when akhtar gets injured its like he has commited a crime.

im giving sami one more chance against england. id rather he performs and u can say to me i told u so. at the end of day we want pAK TO WIN. if sami can do that then im happy, your happy

[DM]

Originally Posted by Raz Humayun! Humayun! Humayun! Humayun!

I very much second that.

Originally Posted by kas that shows how much brains u have got. every1 says ZONI but u have to be different. were u dropped on your head as a child?

Kas, just because someone's view or perspective is different or is not the popular one, it doesn't mean you any less intelligent. Do you think Afridi was popular 2 years ago? Or Younis Khan a couple of months ago? Know who the president of the United States is? etc

[Mercenary]

U've missed out Mohammad Salman.

He's a very good batsman and a more than capable keeper. I'd rate his chances too but he doesnt seem to be anywhere near the fringes

[Raz]

Originally Posted by kas id rather he performs and u can say to me i told u so. at the end of day we want pAK TO WIN. if sami can do that then im happy, your happy

Well said

[Abdul Qadir 236]

I have never heard anyone talk about Khalild Mahmood but he seems to have done quite well in domestic and has a lot of experience about him.

I am one of the most ardent Kammy fans - best young cricketer in the world for me - Moin in my view was a liability - a specialist bat averaging sub 30 - Latif every time.
Akmal's batting can definitely be as good as Latif if not better.

The interesting comparison is that Akmal is a small man and Zoni is well over 6ft. Zoni has said to me his height does not bother him - can you think of any top class keepers who were/are especially tall?

[Officer Barbrady]

I think Bari wasn't too short (not sure).

[Monsee]

Originally Posted by AmitMishra bowls wrongun I have never heard anyone talk about Khalild Mahmood but he seems to have done quite well in domestic and has a lot of experience about him. I am one of the most ardent Kammy fans - best young cricketer in the world for me - Moin in my view was a liability - a specialist bat averaging sub 30 - Latif every time. Akmal's batting can definitely be as good as Latif if not better. The interesting comparison is that Akmal is a small man and Zoni is well over 6ft. Zoni has said to me his height does not bother him - can you think of any top class keepers who were/are especially tall?

I believe Allan Knott was quite tall

[Abdul Qadir 236]

Alan Knott - greatest of them all!

Going back to Zoni - when I saw him live he dropped many catches. Had just come here and was unsettled - was very reluctant at first to talk to me. Would like to see him in another game where he can give a better account of himself.

One thing I remember he said was:

Mishra: Do you see yourself as a batsman first or a keeper first?

Zoni: Both

great attitude from the guy and I wish him all the best - despite being a big Kammy fan.

[Hash]

how good is his English Gary?

[Abdul Qadir 236]

It is ok. He was very shy as he was literally thrown over here since Taimur had no visa yet. Pretty basic but he could hold a conversation well enough. I think had he been more settled and confident he would have been more open with me though he did start to open up as we got talking more. Still talk on MSN.

[AT1]

Originally Posted by Raz Humayun! Humayun! Humayun! Humayun!

i third that

[Abdul Qadir 236]

what is his glovework like?

[AT1]

Originally Posted by AmitMishra bowls wrongun what is his glovework like?

who cares

[Muddaser]

Originally Posted by pants and trousers who cares

We do.

Did you watch todays game between Sri Lanka and India?

[AT1]

i saw very little, inidia batting only, 1-18 overs maybe, thats it

[Abdul Qadir 236]

Mo Zaman is liked by Amjad - any word of how he is coming on?
Ijaz jnr rates him.

[Muddaser]

Originally Posted by pants and trousers i saw very little, inidia batting only, 1-18 overs maybe, thats it

Dhoni and Sangakarra both dropped sitters.

[Abdul Qadir 236]

u always take a chance with the keeper if he aint up to scratch.
doesnt matter how well he bats - if u drop a key player on a low score you more times than not pay dearly

[Muddaser]

Originally Posted by AmitMishra bowls wrongun u always take a chance with the keeper if he aint up to scratch. doesnt matter how well he bats - if u drop a key player on a low score you more times than not pay dearly

Exactly!

[Raz]

Originally Posted by AmitMishra bowls wrongun u always take a chance with the keeper if he aint up to scratch. doesnt matter how well he bats - if u drop a key player on a low score you more times than not pay dearly

For me id have Humayun for his explosive batting first then his keeping, but thats just me.

[Abdul Qadir 236]

well easy to sit here and say that but when iron gloves puts down Dravid who goes on to turn the game u will all be crying!

Pakistan have good bowlers - reward them by taking the chances they create.

[Amjid Javed]

Originally Posted by Raz For me id have Humayun for his explosive batting first then his keeping, but thats just me.

humayan is a useless slogger. you could give imran nazir some wicket keeping gloves and ud get a mirror image performance!

[Raz]

Originally Posted by Amjid Javed humayan is a useless slogger. you could give imran nazir some wicket keeping gloves and ud get a mirror image performance!

A slogger nontheless

[Abdul Qadir 236]

with the probable amount of runs he would get, even Bari would be more productive!

[Officer Barbrady]

According to Woolmer Hamayun doesn't have much of a chance.

[Raz]

Originally Posted by Marooned According to Woolmer Hamayun doesn't have much of a chance.

[Daoud]

Originally Posted by Marooned According to Woolmer Hamayun doesn't have much of a chance.

Thank God that Woolmer still his sanity

What do you look for in a keeper

a) Keeping ability
b) Batting ability
c) Potential for an explosive innings

Anyone who goes for c has some serious issues
Yeah, lets get a keeper who might score 40 off 32 balls in a test every 3 innings, get a single digit score 4 times out of 5 and gets a rare score past 50 once out of 10. Meanwhile he drops a couple of catches and conceeds byes throughout. What a brilliant idea

[Abdul Qadir 236]

Kamran Akmal is a real fighter, explosive batsman down the order and a brilliant gloveman. He is not Rashid Latif but come on - the best young cricketer in the world IMO and a real diamond to have.

[Daoud]

Originally Posted by AmitMishra bowls wrongun Kamran Akmal is a real fighter, explosive batsman down the order and a brilliant gloveman. He is not Rashid Latif but come on - the best young cricketer in the world IMO and a real diamond to have.

Exactly Gary. Why would anyone want someone who would probably average the same as him (except do it quicker) yet be less than half the keeper he is. Baffling.
Its not like hes been terrible with the bat either - OK averaging 19 is pretty poor, but hes improved over the last year, and if it werent for him, the India series would have been lost. And in ODIs his batting ability - especially hitting is underated.
If Ian Chappel says hes the best gloveman in the world, then it would be absurd to replace him with a vastly inferior keeper. My judgment is still open on Zoni, but I'm totally against Humayun

[Waqar's inswinging yorker]

Originally Posted by AmitMishra bowls wrongun Mo Zaman is liked by Amjad - any word of how he is coming on? Ijaz jnr rates him.

he had a bad year last year by his standards which is a real shame as he could have pushed kamran akmal really hard - he is a v v attacking batsman!!! Before last year he was pushing really hard for inclusion - i hope first of all he can get back into faisalabad's side ahead of mohammad salman and then get his confidence back up and show us what he can do - i see some like humayun farhat for his aggressive approach - well mohammad zaman is v much attacking!

[Abdul Qadir 236]

Yeah Salman was brought in for ABL as a replacement for Latif so he must be highly rated to step into those shoes.

I know PPers were impressed with Peshawar's Rafatullah Mohammad in the 20/20 game but I think Pesh should try to help national side more. Yasir Hameed should keep as he could be a useful back up to have.

Akmal is a much better batsman than is made out. He is not a rabbit in FC cricket and is ever improving. It is easier to teach a keeper how to bat than a batsman how to keep.

[zaf1986]

can you think of any top class keepers who were/are especially tall?

Gilchrist is over 6ft.