Will we see new faces in the squad vs England?

[Mercenary]

Woolmer will be in Pakistan working with the academies between now and October, hopefully during this time he will see a lot of promising cricketers and earmark them for special training. But is it likely that he will see some that will be drafted in for the England series or will he continue with his policy of sticking by cricketers already in the squad?

Although I would like to see Irshaad, Arafat or Najaf in the squad I think it's more likely we will stick with Rana or draft in Shahid Nazir.

Whatever happens the England series will be a real test of Woolmer's test and ODI squads.

He now has 10 tests behind him as coach and this series will be played at home, hopefully with the return of a fully fit Sami, Akhtar and Gul so no more excuses for Bob and Inzi. It's time to deliver against an Ashes hardened English team.

In ODI's we will be severely tested by England but we really should win the ODI series considering we came close to beating the Aussies in Australia and this will be against a team weaker than the Aussies and we'll be playing at home.

The England series will be a real test of the Pakistan team and I certainly hope we prove that we are ready to take the next step and compete with the top 3 teams!

[Daoud]

Yeah, the ODIs is a must win

And while England are a top Test team, we should be looking for a win as hopefully we'll have a full strength team playing at home. With a bit of luck, Harmison will be felling home sick, but if he isnt, our batsmen will have a lot of work to do

[Asim2Good]

at one side u r saying it will b real test for BW and otherwise u wanna have experiment with new faces ? ?
we need fully fit bowling attack with Shoaib, Sami (if shabbir is not clear of action), Gul and Dani
in ODI we will b facing big task as well, if we have destructive players then Eng also have Pieterson,Flintoff as well who can change game in matter of overs,

[Jahangir Khan]

You can't really afford to have new faces in such an important tour unless they have something very special and could prove to be a surprise package against England. We took Asif and Khalil to Australia and they were simply nothing special and it was hard to understand why they got the nod ahead of others. A genuine fast bowler might be worth the gamble if Shoaib/Sami are not fit but otherwise we need to stick with the tried and tested players.

[sy]

If we have a fully fit squad when we play England, I dont see the need to call up the likes of Najaf Shah and Yasir Arafat.

[Amjid Javed]

possible new faces - mansoor amjad,yasir arafat, ashar zaidi and najaf shah...!

these are possible inclusions for me...

zaidi shud be given ago instead of darpoke malik..

[Jahangir Khan]

AJ, back off Malik. He isn't an opener but didn't do too badly when he opened in the 2nd test. He is a proven performer in odi's especially in the subcontinent. If Zaidi is to get into the side, I think his only chance is as an opener who bowls in the odi's.

With Kaneria doing well at Test level and Afridi providing good back up in both forms of the game, I can't really see Mansoor Amjad getting a game. Najaf might get a chance for the variety that he would bring with his left armers because he's been performing well for the A team and domestically. Yasir Arafat's only chance would be if Razzaq got injured and was likely to be out for a while, otherwise he isn't good enough.

[Fessal]

We definitley need some new faces and give some youngsters a decent chance. I hope those that make there debut aren't messed about and dropped, picked and dropped again like Salman Butt.

Anyway too many new faces at once obviously wont be good so we need to bring them in slowly.

[Amjid Javed]

Originally Posted by Jahangir Khan AJ, back off Malik. He isn't an opener but didn't do too badly when he opened in the 2nd test. He is a proven performer in odi's especially in the subcontinent. If Zaidi is to get into the side, I think his only chance is as an opener who bowls in the odi's. With Kaneria doing well at Test level and Afridi providing good back up in both forms of the game, I can't really see Mansoor Amjad getting a game. Najaf might get a chance for the variety that he would bring with his left armers because he's been performing well for the A team and domestically. Yasir Arafat's only chance would be if Razzaq got injured and was likely to be out for a while, otherwise he isn't good enough.

am sick of these dosti/chamca selections... malik is not an opener... nor can i see him sucseeding against top quality bowlers or outside of asia as opener...

inzi/bob are just accomadating him for the sake of it... what happened to

Bob - asim/yoyo/s malik have 2 compete for 2 spots?

am sorry but malik shud have 2 wait his turn now like asim kamal did...

is malik just another short-term fix as an opener????

[Mercenary]

I mean new faces if Shoaib isnt selected and Sami still isnt fit. Also Shabbir might not play, Gul needs to be cleared by his doctors as he is still limited to bowling 4 overs and Youhana is undergoing an operation.

If all the above are fit then there is no need for new faces but if not then we will need someone special to give us a real chance.

[Jahangir Khan]

I don't think Malik will open again in tests but if he did, in the subcontinent he wouldn't do too badly against England. Asim Kamal looked good early on but to me he is now starting to look a bit shaky and is playing far too many shots for my liking. AJ, If Yoyo is available, he plays regardless of who else is in the squad.

I still think that Malik and Kamal are competing for one spot in tests but with the inclusion of Afridi lower down the order and his unwillingness to open we have a slight dilemma in that we may need to use a non specialist opener

This is the likely team against England in the Tests

Butt
Yasir
YK
Inzi
Yoyo
Asim
Razzaq
Akmal
Shoaib Akhtar
Sami
Kaneria

With YK, Inzi, Yoyo, Kamal, Razzaq, Akmal, Akhtar and Kaneria likely to play if they are fit, it only leaves 3 places in the side, 2 of which are for the openers and 1 for a fast bowler, maybe Sami or Gul.

[Saqib]

I don't think we will see some changes excpet some opening pairs going here and there, but the rest looks find to me. Remember the Australia A team will tour Pakistan this year, there might be some players who perform verry well against them, and we might see them in the realy form of the Game !

[Daoud]

No Yasir

I'd rather Afridi open then Yasir

[Jahangir Khan]

Daoud, BW said Yasir was struggling abit but they would show faith in him which probably means he is likely to play against England. At Test level, we have seen that Afridi struggles up the order so his only place can be down the order. You never know, he might say he doesn't want to open when asked to do so.

[Daoud]

Originally Posted by Jahangir Khan Daoud, BW said Yasir was struggling abit but they would show faith in him which probably means he is likely to play against England. At Test level, we have seen that Afridi struggles up the order so his only place can be down the order. You never know, he might say he doesn't want to open when asked to do so.

I dont think they should show faith in him anymore. Hes shown hes good for one thing and he must rank among the dumbest players in the team

[Amjid Javed]

JK, this is the list of pakistans next 3 test series.

1) England (home)
2) india (home)
3) sri lanka (away)

in these 3 series u cud open any player from farhat, umar, i nazir, s malik, afridi, elahi etc....

I can see most off these players scoring runs in these conditions... simply because there tecnhics will not be as severley exposed on slow low wickets...! mots of these players can slash, fish and play away from their bodies to there hearts content and they will get away with it...

What happens when we tour england and where playing at headingly or in new zealand?

Almost every single one of those batsmen named will be exposed due to technic or tempremant... if not both...!

pakistan cud open with s malik in next three series and score 6 tons in a row etc.... but what happens as soon as we leave asia?

its time for pakistan to stop thinking short-term fixes and start looking for an opening pair that can play home and away....!

i know that if someone like malik scores runs in these series people will start to say va va what a talent your wrong etc...

il state this know ---> i blv alot of are players can look like don bradman in asain condtions... but what happens when they face better bowlers and are playing out side of asia???

[zaf1986]

AJ,

I say bring back Taufeeq Umar, who scored 88 against a top class Aussie attack in Sharjah and 135 in Johannesberg vs Allan Donald and co. He has the technique and temperament to succeed outside Asia if persisted with.

My team for England Tests:
Taufeeq Umar
Salman Butt
Younis Khan
*Inzamam-ul-Haq
Yousuf Youhana
Asim Kamal
+Kamran Akmal
Mohammad Sami
Shoaib Akhtar
Shabbir Ahmed
Danish Kaneria

(assuming everyone is fit)

England ODIs:
Salman Butt
Shoaib Malik
Younis Khan
*Inzamam-ul-Haq
Yousuf Youhana
Abdul Razzaq
Shahid Afridi
+Kamran Akmal
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan
Shoaib Akhtar
Shabbir Ahmed

[Prince]

How anybody thinks Abdul Razzaq is a test player is beyond me!

My Test Team:
Butt
Afridi
YK
Inzamam
Youhana
Asim
Kamran Akmal
Tariq Mahmood
Shoaib Akhtar
Muhammad Irshad/Gul
Kaneria

This team would be fantastic against England. And while some may question Tariq's inclusion, you have to remember that Murali destroyed England before and England are notoriously bad players of spin - they just cant read the doosra. Also, Irshad's raw pace on dead pitches would result in a mouthwatering opening partnership with Shoaib. Sami really needs to go work on his bowling before he even attempts to break into this line-up.

[Ilyas]

Yes: We will see at least two new faces against England...Shahid Nazir is not a new face...These new faces will come from Pakistan "A" team...

[Nauman]

The rate at which we are chopping and changing I would not be surprised to see new faces besides I dont think we are going to see the likes of Irshad, Mansoor Amjad, Tariq Mahmood or Gul the only three new faces I can predict at this stage are Asher Zaidi, Hassan Raza and maybe Najaf Shah though I dont think either of them will get a game.

[DM]

Here is who i want to see in the squad:

Mohammad Irshad (consistently clocks over 90mph according to Aaqib)
Yasir Ali (an 85mph+ bolwer according to Aaqib)
Mohammad Talha ("Only 17 but already clocking in consistently at 85+ mph and getting faster all the time" according to Aaqib)
Yasir Arafat (Domestic legend of an all-rounder and is "an 88mph bowler" according to Aaqib).

And no i don't care that Talha's young. I strongly believe that (especially with good modern medical care), a player can become great if he has talent and is exposed to world class cricket early, like Wasim, Waqar, Tendulkar. See Alex Ferguson and his introduction of these spotty-faced youngsters Scholes, Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville, Butt etc - people thought he was committing suicide. It turned out to be the best investment he has ever made and was the foundation for today's United as a global entity.

[Monsee]

DM, Yasir is quicker than Irshad...I can bet on that and he is also a much better bowler too

[Somali Pirate]

Originally Posted by Mercenary Woolmer will be in Pakistan working with the academies between now and October, hopefully during this time he will see a lot of promising cricketers and earmark them for special training. But is it likely that he will see some that will be drafted in for the England series or will he continue with his policy of sticking by cricketers already in the squad? Although I would like to see Irshaad, Arafat or Najaf in the squad I think it's more likely we will stick with Rana or draft in Shahid Nazir. Whatever happens the England series will be a real test of Woolmer's test and ODI squads. He now has 10 tests behind him as coach and this series will be played at home, hopefully with the return of a fully fit Sami, Akhtar and Gul so no more excuses for Bob and Inzi. It's time to deliver against an Ashes hardened English team. In ODI's we will be severely tested by England but we really should win the ODI series considering we came close to beating the Aussies in Australia and this will be against a team weaker than the Aussies and we'll be playing at home. The England series will be a real test of the Pakistan team and I certainly hope we prove that we are ready to take the next step and compete with the top 3 teams!

No more chop and change.When the bowling attack are fit we will play with the experiemced players.The youngsters can play at a later stage.
My ideal bowling attack would be shoaib,gul,shabbir and kaneria.4 bowlers,6 batsmen and wicketkeeper. Play this same team for the next 5 series and then we can assess what needs to be done.

[Muddaser]

Only Hasan Raza and Najaf Shah should be looked at.

[DM]

Originally Posted by Monsee DM, Yasir is quicker than Irshad...I can bet on that and he is also a much better bowler too

yep, i've just remembered that you saw them in action. Even better then, i want to see this guy playing for us asap

[Jahangir Khan]

[quote="Prince"]How anybody thinks Abdul Razzaq is a test player is beyond me!

My Test Team:
Butt
Afridi
YK
Inzamam
Youhana
Asim
Kamran Akmal
Tariq Mahmood
Shoaib Akhtar
Muhammad Irshad/Gul
Kaneria

Prince, why do you insist on continuing to attack Razzaq as a test bowler when he has proved lately that he is worth his place in the side as a bowler. You don't think Razzaq is a test player but you have Afridi opening the innings against Harmison, Hoggard and co. in a test match. I can't see that happening in a hurry. You have also got Irshad, who is unproven at this level and Tariq Mahmood who is a chucker.

What you are forgetting is that England have 3 bowlers capable of bowling at 90 mph so it might be the case that we have to rely on spin to win the series. I would rather have Malik in the side than Tariq as he is alot more established at international level.

[AT1]

Originally Posted by Muddaser Only Hasan Raza and Najaf Shah should be looked at.

yup i agree

[Saj]

I think the bulk of the team will remain the same and would be surprised if there are too many changes.

Akhtar will be back I reckon in both forms of the game, together with Sami. I'd also like to see one of the up and coming pacemen being given a chance in test cricket.

[Waqar's inswinging yorker]

IRSHAAD/YASIR ALI - im with DM on this after hearing taimur khan speak on yasir ali - he rated him at low 90 mph's easily!

[whyhkk]

I have heard that foreign players from England and Australia usually get sick when they come to Pakistan and India. Hopefully that will happen and the youngsters can then be given a go

[Rana Banana]

i think imran nazir will make a comeback
he is the most talented opener wh have got and him working with bob will make him a great player

[Amir]

What type of question is "Will we see new faces in the squad?" Come on, it is Pakistani selectors we are talking about, of course there is always new faces!

Moreover, what new faces is a better question? I think either Irshad, Asif or Najaf may be given a go in one game. Seeing as they are going to the academy and all, and if they continue to perform in the matches, I think PCB may want to see their results.

Also, I think Shahid Nazir will finally be given a game. As of recent, many people including the media have noticed that he has become a specialist 12th man, and PCB selectors always crumble to media pressure so he is bound to get one game.

Hasan Raza may break the team, seeing as our middle order is brittle, it will take one collapse for eyebrows to raise. The minute it does, Raza can possibly be brought in the team if he continues his fantastic form against Australia and SA. That is where he will be really tested, against some good short pitch bowling. Though it is in Pakistan, regardless if one team is known how to expose a weakness it is Australia.

[Xanxicar]

why u guyz keep forgetting that on pak picthes most english quickies will not be able to swing teh bowl B) and i dont see why ashar zaidi should play ahead of malik. malik has a proven odi rec on subc pitches and should open in tests and odi's. although i still feel taht mailik is not good enough to open outside subc so we still need a genuine opener. Shoaib akhtar must also play if we r to challenge england in tests.


my 2 pennies.