Butt to miss out if Pak opts for two openers against India

[Mohsin]

KARACHI, October 25: Pakistan vice captain Salman Butt may miss out on making the squad for the five One-dayers against India as the selectors are toying with the idea of sending just two specialist openers for the series.

"We will be announcing the 15-member squad for the One-dayers tomorrow and we are still debating on the necessity of having three openers in the side given the fact that we have makeshift options in Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal," sources close to the selection committee said. Pakistan has kept four specialist openers -- Butt, Imran Nazir, Yasir Hameed and rookie Khalid Latif -- in its 15-member squad for the ongoing home One-day series against South Africa.

Latif replaced Mohammad Hafeez after he failed in the first two matches against the visitors. "Afridi has started to open again and he is a very experienced player in Indian conditions. Yasir and Nazir are specialist One-day players, so there is a debate among the selectors on whether to have Butt in the touring squad for the One-dayers in India," sources said.
Ironically Butt, despite being the vice-captain, has not been fielded in the first three matches against South Africa and when asked, captain Shoaib Malik said the idea was to select the best 11.

"This is not an issue that a vice-captain or captain is dropped or selected. The best team has to play," Malik said. The source, however, said that if Butt was dropped for the One-dayers, he would be sent for the three Tests against India -- scheduled in New Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore in the second half of November. "For the time being, the debate is to send two specialist openers and one extra bowler to India," he said.

Sources said fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar had also been inked down in the touring squad after impressing the selectors with his fitness and focus during a domestic first class match this week. The fast bowler is set to complete a 13-match ban after the fourth One-dayer against South Africa tomorrow and will also be considered to play in the final match in Lahore on Monday. A national selector, who watched Shoaib in the match, said the pacer looked in his strides and rhythm while bowling. "He looked a bit rusty as he has not bowled at all for over eight weeks, which is understandable. But he was keen on his workout which is good for Pakistan," he said.

Shoaib, due to fitness and disciplinary problems, has played just one Test and four One-dayers since February 2006 and was banned earlier this month and fined Rs 3.4 million by the Pakistan Cricket Board. He was also put on a two-year probation on four charges of misconduct, including his brawl with Mohammad Asif in South Africa before the Twenty20 World Cup.

Sources said the following players were being considered for the tour of India: Yasir Hameed, Salman Butt or Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Shoaib Akhtar, Rao Iftikhar, Sohail Tanvir, Abdul Rehman.

Source: http://news.google.co.uk/news/url?sa...cid=1122656386

[Uzzy]

No mention of Danish Kaneria?

[The Chaudrey]

Originally Posted by Uzzy No mention of Danish Kaneria?

I thought they were referring to the one day squad only (hence the mention of Nazir). Danish is only required for the Tests (although that should also be up for questioning.

[Mohsin]

Originally Posted by Uzzy No mention of Danish Kaneria?

Why is Faisal Iqbal being considered again?!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH
A yougster would be better then him, get someone from the U-19 squad, anything'll be better then Iqbal!
As for Danish, this is just the squad for the One-dayers. Wouldn't expect Danish...

[Boi]

Where is Fawad Alam whats happened to him now these soucers better not be true

[Mercenary]

I'd like to see the following 15...

Hameed
Khalid
Younis
MoYo
Malik
Misbah
Fawad
Akmal
Afridi
Rehman
Akhtar
Gul
Asif
Tanvir
Rao (extra pacer coz of the doubts over Akhtar and Asif's fitness)

[161]

fascinating .. butt gets dropped for ODIs but plays Tests and T20.....


hello .... to they remember that his strength is ODI cricket ?!??!

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by Mohsin_Pak786 Why is Faisal Iqbal being considered again?!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH A yougster would be better then him, get someone from the U-19 squad, anything'll be better then Iqbal! As for Danish, this is just the squad for the One-dayers. Wouldn't expect Danish...

Gothca, but then again one wouldn't expect Faisal for the ODI side.

[Lahoria]

Nice to see that they have presisted with Nazir, I think he can be an excellent option on flat Indian tracks.

[kablooee87]

By the way, whose bright idea was it to announce the squad on the day of the 4th ODI? At least wait till the series is over.

[Mercenary]

Originally Posted by kashif77 fascinating .. butt gets dropped for ODIs but plays Tests and T20..... hello .... to they remember that his strength is ODI cricket ?!??!

Not really, I always felt he was more suited to test cricket.

In ODIs he is only good vs India (averages 46 with 3 centuries), when you remove the games vs India his average drops from 31 to 25. We need openers who play well against everyone.

In tests however he averages 38 against both Australia and England and Test cricket also suits his style of play too.

I think Salman could be good in ODIs but if I had to choose a format for him then it would be Tests not ODIs

[161]

Originally Posted by Mercenary Not really, I always felt he was more suited to test cricket. In ODIs he is only good vs India (averages 46 with 3 centuries), when you remove the games vs India his average drops from 31 to 25. We need openers who play well against everyone. In tests however he averages 38 against both Australia and England and Test cricket also suits his style of play too. I think Salman could be good in ODIs but if I had to choose a format for him then it would be Tests not ODIs

His ODI average is 30.1 and his test average is only 28.3.

[Hash]

I agree with that squad but....

I'd have Butt over Nazir ANY DAY

and I'd like to see Fawad instead of Faisal.

[the true passionist]

I would keep Butt in the ODI squad. He has not really got a real chance since his recall after the World Cup other than the SAF test series. It is established that he is not a T20 player, hence his selection should not be based on that.

He has played 3 ODIs in Dubai since his recall and have two decent scores of 74 and 34 in that series. I would still prefer him over Nazir.

It seems that Pakistan will not be playing two regular openers in ODIs because in the absence of Hafeez we will have to play 5 bowlers, and the fifth bowler will come in for an opener, with Akmal/Afrdi opening. This means that Latif will also be neglected and would disappear without getting a game, just like Najaf and Fawad.

[161]

Originally Posted by the true passionist I would keep Butt in the ODI squad. He has not really got a real chance since his recall after the World Cup other than the SAF test series. It is established that he is not a T20 player, hence his selection should not be based on that. He has played 3 ODIs in Dubai since his recall and have two decent scores of 74 and 34 in that series. I would still prefer him over Nazir. It seems that Pakistan will not be playing two regular openers in ODIs because in the absence of Hafeez we will have to play 5 bowlers, and the fifth bowler will come in for an opener, with Akmal/Afrdi opening. This means that Latif will also be neglected and would disappear without getting a game, just like Najaf and Fawad.

right looks like we will be going with one real opener - hameed or butt

and one make shift opener - afridi/akmal

for the real opener - i'd much rather have butt then hameed in ODIs.

hameed is just way to slow off the mark.

however i do think hameed has more potentiol to get the big scores .. so i would prefer him in tests.

[Boi]

Originally Posted by kashif77 right looks like we will be going with one real opener - hameed or butt and one make shift opener - afridi/akmal for the real opener - i'd much rather have butt then hameed in ODIs. hameed is just way to slow off the mark. however i do think hameed has more potentiol to get the big scores .. so i would prefer him in tests.

yeh i agree with u there cos hameed is a sort of player that likes to have a lot of time batting out there so he can get himselft in but butt can tick the scoring over at about strike rate of 80 so hell be better choice in odi

[Raz]

Imran Nazir over Salman Butt for me. On the what is likely to be docile pitches prepared, an impact player is needed at the top of the order. Attacking cricket will be the way to go in India and the selection of the squad should reflect that.

[Muddaser]

Originally Posted by Raz Imran Nazir over Salman Butt for me. On the what is likely to be docile pitches prepared, an impact player is needed at the top of the order. Attacking cricket will be the way to go in India and the selection of the squad should reflect that.

How often does he make an impact?

A positive one that is.

God help us when Yousuf, Younis have retired cause all we will be left with are these IMPACT players.

[Raz]

Originally Posted by Muddaser How often does he make an impact? A positive one that is. God help us when Yousuf, Younis have retired cause all we will be left with are these IMPACT players.

And since the 160 innings how many chances has he been given? 4 is it, one of which he was unluckily run out (when Afridi was his runner) and 1 game in which he was brilliantly caught after middling a ball. Its also the psychological hold that Nazir now has on the Indians after butchering them in the 20/20 final.

[TaZ]

Anyone is better than faisal iqbal. Play salman butt in the middle order if you have to but no faisal.

[PlanetPakistan]

Originally Posted by kashif77 right looks like we will be going with one real opener - hameed or butt and one make shift opener - afridi/akmal for the real opener - i'd much rather have butt then hameed in ODIs. hameed is just way to slow off the mark. however i do think hameed has more potentiol to get the big scores .. so i would prefer him in tests.

Well i would do the opposite- Y Hameed in ODIs and Salman in tests, i also like the idea of having Akmal as the test opener( as long as he is physically able to do it) and have Younis khan as the ODI opener.

[Saqlain_doosra]

Originally Posted by Raz And since the 160 innings how many chances has he been given? 4 is it, one of which he was unluckily run out (when Afridi was his runner) and 1 game in which he was brilliantly caught after middling a ball. Its also the psychological hold that Nazir now has on the Indians after butchering them in the 20/20 final.

You shouldn't be telling the facts. People will always say it was 3 months ago he hit 160 but never remember that he's only played 4 games since. I would personally have both Nazir and butt in odi. If I had to make a choice it would be Nazir over Butt ANY DAY

[PlanetPakistan]

Originally Posted by Saqlain_doosra You shouldn't be telling the facts. People will always say it was 3 months ago he hit 160 but never remember that he's only played 4 games since. I would personally have both Nazir and butt in odi. If I had to make a choice it would be Nazir over Butt ANY DAY

well then you will have to either drop Misbah or Younis khan.

[cricistan]

my team for india tour..

1. Salman butt
2. khalid latif
3. Shahid Afridi
4. mohammed yousaf
5. misbah-ul-haq
6. shoaib malik
7. kamran akmal/sarfraz ahmed next wiki in if akmal drops something again!!!
8. shoail tanvir
9. shoaib akhtar
10. umar gul
11. mohammed asif

12. abdur rehman
13. Sarfraz Ahmed
14. imran nazir
15. rao

younis only good for test no ODI..
cuz aganist india his ave is only 29..
his last 16 matches ave is pathetically less then 19!!!!!

[Saqlain_doosra]

Originally Posted by PlanetPakistan well then you will have to either drop Misbah or Younis khan.

As I said If I have to pick one then it is Nazir. I am sure Butt can still find place in sqaud. My opening paternship would be Nazir and Hameed, one would play watch full and the other can go after the bowlers.

[Amjid Javed]

Faisal iqbal, Imran nazir and salman butt should all be nowhere near the ODI Side!

[Inswinger]

Butt deservves a go at the injuns

[infamous9383]

as ttp mentioned, I hate to see players develop into the wilderness without getting a real chance. Fawad and Najaf got dead rubber games in which Najaf made some impact but Fawad got out for 0. Its time to give everyone an extended run. I don't want to see latif get just one game in which he scores about 20 odd and than he disappears

[Afridi_Fan]

Arey bhai log bara sawal ye hai agar Butt Sahib Drop hoye tu Vice Captain kon Ho ga?