Yasir Hameed : Yousuf's the Key for Pakistan in New Zealand

[Saj]

Speaking to PakPassion.net, Pakistan batsman Yasir Hameed feels that Mohammad Yousuf is the key for Pakistan if they are to win the test series in New Zealand.

"Yousuf is obviously the most experienced of the Pakistani batsmen currently in New Zealand and he will be the key wicket as far as the opposition is concerned. His experience and knowhow will be invaluable for the Pakistani team and the other less experienced batsman in the Pakistan lineup need to bat around Yousuf".

Yasir who is expected to return to the PIA lineup for their next Quaid E Azam Trophy fixture against Habib Bank on Saturday, after sustaining a hand injury in his previous match against WAPDA further added "the timing of the series potentially presents problems for Pakistan. In 2005 when I toured New Zealand, we played later in the summer when wickets were not so bowler friendly. The conditions will favour the bowlers this time around and I would expect the ball to seam around quite a lot. However if Pakistan's batsmen keep their discipline and above all their concentration, then Pakistan could win the series".

Yasir who has represented Pakistan on 79 occasions further added "Bond and Vettori are the matchwinners for New Zealand, as both are world class performers and the Pakistani batsmen will need to play both these bowlers with care and responsibility".

Hameed feels that if the Pakistani batsmen can put runs on the board, then Pakistan have enough matchwinners in their bowling lineup. "Aamer, Gul, Rauf and Asif will be a handful on the wickets in New Zealand and I would expect them to be able to dismiss New Zealand twice in the test matches. However the key in my opinion is whether Pakistan's batsmen can give their bowlers enough runs to defend".

Yasir further stated "I'd give Umar Akmal a chance. He's playing with a lot of confidence and I think both he and Fawad have been presented with a fantastic opportunity on this tour".

[Saj]

My sincere thanks to Yasir for his time today and my apologies for getting him out of bed

Always a pleasure speaking to Yasir.

[AZ]

hehe, you called him just now Saj? it's 1am in Pakistan

anyway, spot on analysis from Yasir, wish him all the best of luck in QeA.

[Knightrider]

ut oiih Yasir Hameed Zindabaad !!!
Saj Bhai, did u ask what bat weight he uses

[Osman]

with Younis Khan now absent and the inexperience of the youngsters in the team, besides no other big guns in the batting, Yousuf's responsibility and importance to the team is probably as is big as it has ever been in his career.

[akafen]

how salman butt or imran farhat could get selected ahead of yasir hameed is pretty mind bongling. Most gifted stroke player to come out of Pakistan since Mohammad Yousuf. Im not talking abt best player, but stroke player.

[iafzal]

I would have said the same things Yousuf is the key, Our bowlers will be handful and Akmal and Fawad may get a few tests so they need to make the best of it,


More revealing or earth shattering would be if Yasir had said that Butt will be the key to our batting, or this will be Malik's tour or the most shattering thing would have be if he had said that Bhanja will anchor Pakistani innings and everyone should bat around him.

[Gotham Cronie]

Is bond playing in the tests?

[Ryankhan]

i loved his batting style. he was awsome. great player to watch

[faisal khan]

bEST OF LUCK yASIR FOR QEA2009 .....WANA SEE U BACK IN PAK TEAM...

[Noman]

I miss Yasir Hameed..What a style he had Anyone remember the 2003 series against Indian.... He is a batsman I love to watch unlike Salman Butt, boring style and batting..

[saadjhussain]

yusuf isn't the key player for pakistan, he's always failed when it matters most.

[Lethal]

Originally Posted by saadjhussain yusuf isn't the key player for pakistan, he's always failed when it matters most.

OK!

[HuZi]

Originally Posted by saadjhussain yusuf isn't the key player for pakistan, he's always failed when it matters most.

Well he's one opf the best batsman Pakistan EVER had... Just leave him stop hating on this great guy. I met him personally in Blackburn-England-Mosque he was along with Junaid Jamshed and he's a nice guy and a good cricketer.

[Lethal]

Originally Posted by HuZi Well he's one opf the best batsman Pakistan EVER had... Just leave him stop hating on this great guy. I met him personally in Blackburn-England-Mosque he was along with Junaid Jamshed and he's a nice guy and a good cricketer.

Exactly. Totally agree with Yasir Hameed. InshaALLAH Yousuf scores heavily.

By the way Saj - thanks.

[Apnacricket]

i hope yousaf bhai scores a double century.

[Saj]

Once again my sincere thanks to PakPassion's good friend Yasir Hameed.

Yasir is someone who always has a joke or two waiting for me, whenever I ring him

[insaaniyat]

Yousef is the only batsman we have in our lineup. Of course he would be the key.

[mindless slogging]

I have a feeling our match-winners may well be our bowlers and the younger batsmen.

But Yousuf and co (experienced) would have to get us in a match-winning position. They didn't vs Sri Lanka. Let's hope they can here.

[insaaniyat]

Originally Posted by mindless slogging I have a feeling our match-winners may well be our bowlers and the younger batsmen. But Yousuf and co (experienced) would have to get us in a match-winning position. They didn't vs Sri Lanka. Let's hope they can here.

My only hope is Yousef and may be young Akmal. Rest of them are hit or miss. Salman will get out the same way he does. Imran will play but I feel Khurram Manzoor should open with Butt

[mindless slogging]

Originally Posted by insaaniyat My only hope is Yousef and may be young Akmal. Rest of them are hit or miss. Salman will get out the same way he does. Imran will play but I feel Khurram Manzoor should open with Butt

Openers scores are a plus. I was talking about the middle-order batsmen, that I think would be composed of Yousuf, Akmal, Fawad, Malik and Kamran.

[Saj]

I think Kamran Akmals batting down the order could be vital especially if the top order fails. Kami is the sort of batsman whose 40s and 50s could make all the difference.

[insaaniyat]

Originally Posted by mindless slogging Openers scores are a plus. I was talking about the middle-order batsmen, that I think would be composed of Yousuf, Akmal, Fawad, Malik and Kamran.

I doubt Malik will do anything. Kamran would have good days and bad. Fawad, I missed out. Yes he will be consistent together with Yousef and may be Umar. I say may be because he is still very new to int'l cricket.

[mindless slogging]

Saj, unfortunately we've been saying this for a long, long time. He has a test hundred vs England right? Also an ODI 100 vs Australia? Both away?

How on earth he doesn't do more I'll never be able to comprehend. He has shots that test match legends would be proud of, but the way he gets out is just so annoying.

[mindless slogging]

Originally Posted by insaaniyat I doubt Malik will do anything. Kamran would have good days and bad. Fawad, I missed out. Yes he will be consistent together with Yousef and may be Umar. I say may be because he is still very new to int'l cricket.

I'm not saying I expect them to do anything. All I'm saying is the experienced batsmen should do something (only really expect that to be Yousuf) to get us in a good position. Then I hope the youngsters can play a good knock here and there to get us home. But truly, I would only go as far as saying Yousuf, Umar and Fawad may well hold everything for the batting.

[insaaniyat]

Originally Posted by mindless slogging I'm not saying I expect them to do anything. All I'm saying is the experienced batsmen should do something (only really expect that to be Yousuf) to get us in a good position. Then I hope the youngsters can play a good knock here and there to get us home. But truly, I would only go as far as saying Yousuf, Umar and Fawad may well hold everything for the batting.

Agreed

[Saj]

Originally Posted by Saj I think Kamran Akmals batting down the order could be vital especially if the top order fails. Kami is the sort of batsman whose 40s and 50s could make all the difference.

I dont like to blow my own trumpet, but on this occasion I will

[AZ]

Saj, I think you should also discuss the Jamshed Ahmed issue with Hameed

[hur rizvi]

Yousuf was not looking good today but he survived he needs to play a captains knock tomorrow and it was great that he showed courage to come one down Misbah looked good but he has to get out of the block mode