Test XI with Shahid Afridi as Captain

[taqi]

with Afridi returning to 5 day format, it will be interesting to make playing XI with captain as leg break allrounder.

Assuming Afridi as Test captain and YK available for Eng my XI will look like

Salman Butt
Fawad Alam
Younus Khan
Umer Amin
Umer Akmal
Kamran Akmal
Shahid Afridi (C)
Muhammad Aamir
Umer Gul
Muhammad Asif/Shoaib Akhtar
Saeed Ajmal/Abdul Rehman

If Younus is not avaiable then we should include performing middle order from domestic circuit no misbah no hafeez please

[Xoib]

Originally Posted by taqi with Afridi returning to 5 day format, it will be interesting to make playing XI with captain as leg break allrounder. Assuming Afridi as Test captain and YK available for Eng my XI will look like Salman Butt Fawad Alam Younus Khan Umer Amin Umer Akmal Kamran Akmal Shahid Afridi (C) Muhammad Aamir Umer Gul Muhammad Asif/Shoaib Akhtar Saeed Ajmal/Abdul Rehman If Younus is not avaiable then we should include performing middle order from domestic circuit no misbah no hafeez please

this line up is too good to be true get Kaneria in for Ajmal and its perfect for a team that carries Afridi in Xi

[Prince of Pakistan]

I'd rather open with Akmal than Fawad, it's unfair to put someone who doesnt know anything about opening into the opening slot.

I really hope we get Younus back! he is very very crucial for us at three. A very good eleven you have there!

[Prince of Pakistan]

Originally Posted by Xoib this line up is too good to be true get Kaneria in for Ajmal and its perfect for a team that carries Afridi in Xi

LOL exactly what was on my mind: this line up is too good to be true !

[Ayyub]

our opening combination is going good i will love to use them again...i will love to see talha bowling under vicky bhai guidness .

1.Salman Butt
2.Imran Farhat
3.Umar Akmal
4.Fawad Alam
5.Umar Amin
6.Shahid Afridi
7.Kamran Akmal
8.Shoaib Akhtar / Mohammad Talha
9.Mohammad Aamir
10.Mohammad Asif
11.Danish Kaneria

[taqi]

Fawad last time opened in Srilanka and did well there.

We should have Kamran down to get us out of 20/4 situation.

[Inswinger]

Umar Amin has more experience opening the innings than Fawad Alam. I wouldn't force Afridi to play Tests matches and if the PCB keep begging him him to play his ego will inflate. I'd rather have.

Salman Butt, Azeem Ghumman, Younis Khan(c), Fawad Alam, Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Aamer, Asad Ali, Mohammad Asif, and Danish Kaneria.

I know there are a lot of unknown in this side but what do we have to lose? Having Misbah, Hafeez, Farhat, Iqbal, etc will lead to the same outcome so why not go in with fresh faces?

Asad Ali makes it in my team as the 3rd seamer because he's a thinking bowler and has had great success in domestic competitions. He isn't as hyped as Wahab, Talha, or Irfan but he's getting it done and he actually bowls with a plan.

[A.M.]

kamran also has to keep the whole match so he cant open

[Waseem]

My team would be:

Salman Butt
Umar Amin (Give him a chance, can't do worse than Farhat)
Kamran Akmal (need someone experienced up the order)
Umar Akmal
Hasan Raza
Fawad Alam
Shahid Afridi
Aamer
Gul
Asif
Raza Hasan/Danish

[Monsee]

Anyone thinking about maybe replacing Asif with Mr. UnFitness is out of his mind in my opinion...especially on English pitches where Asif in probability will be pretty unplayable!

YK is a must and it is time to open with Umar Amin and Butt/Farhat (like it or not, Damaad jee will be back), we might also see a new Middle Order batsman or Hassan Raza in the team. If Pakistan even draw one or both of the test series, it will be quite an achievement.

[Ayyub]

Originally Posted by Waseem My team would be: Salman Butt Umar Amin (Give him a chance, can't do worse than Farhat) Kamran Akmal (need someone experienced up the order) Umar Akmal Hasan Raza Fawad Alam Shahid Afridi Aamer Gul Asif Raza Hasan/Danish

what worst have farhat has done in last 4 to 6 test matches ??? can u tell me .....salman butt and farhat has opened well so its better dont disturb their combination.

[Down2Earth]

batting looks so weak with Afridi in the middle order.

[PlanetPakistan]

Originally Posted by Waseem My team would be: Salman Butt Umar Amin (Give him a chance, can't do worse than Farhat) Kamran Akmal (need someone experienced up the order) Umar Akmal Hasan Raza Fawad Alam Shahid Afridi Aamer Gul Asif Raza Hasan/Danish

Farhat looks test class and his performance in NZ wasn't bad at all...

my team

1- Butt
2- Farhat
3- Manzoor
4- Akmal
5- K Akmal
6- Alam
7- Afridi
8- Aamer
9- Gul
10 Asif
11 Kaneria

[adidazz]

Originally Posted by Ayyub . 1.Salman Butt 2.Imran Farhat 3.Umar Amin/Khurram Manzoor 4.Umar Akmal 5.Fawad Alam 6.Shahid Afridi 7.Kamran Akmal 8.Mohammad Sami 9.Mohammad Aamir 10.Mohammad Asif 11.Danish Kaneria

This will be the team, though i don't agree with it. Other than the inclusion of Umar Amin im pretty sure that's the team.

[farhan1]

The Test captain and the team yet to be annonced and you guys started to makes the team! how quickly you are!

[Boi]

My team would be...

Salman Butt
Umar Amin
Younis Khan (If he isn't available, swap him with Umar Amin and make Azeem Ghumman open)
Umar Akmal
Fawad Alam
Kamran Akmal
Shahid Afridi
Mohammad Aamir
Umar Gul/Mohammad Talha
Mohammad Asif
Danish Kaneria

[farhan1]

Originally Posted by Boi My team would be... Salman Butt Umar Amin Younis Khan (If he isn't available, swap him with Umar Amin and make Azeem Ghumman open) Umar Akmal Fawad Alam Kamran Akmal Shahid Afridi Mohammad Aamir Umar Gul/Mohammad Talha Mohammad Asif Danish Kaneria

No Shoaib Akhtar! Intresting........................

[Ayyub]

Originally Posted by adidazz This will be the team, though i don't agree with it. Other than the inclusion of Umar Amin im pretty sure that's the team.

if akhtar is selected for asia cup and he perform better there then there is chance of him making it in playing 11 in place of sami

[Waseem]

Originally Posted by Ayyub what worst have farhat has done in last 4 to 6 test matches ??? can u tell me .....salman butt and farhat has opened well so its better dont disturb their combination.

Against Australia (our most recent test series)
3 6 0 148 53 24.66 325 45.53

148 runs at an average of 24.66 with highest score of 53.

[Inswinger]

Most likely we will see Butt, Farhat, Iqbal, Fawad, Umar, Afridi, Kamran, Aamer, Gul, Asif, and Kaneria.

[adidazz]

Originally Posted by Ayyub if akhtar is selected for asia cup and he perform better there then there is chance of him making it in playing 11 in place of sami

No chance mate, before every tourney we hear how Shoaib's gonna make a comeback. Then it all ends in tears. Especially with/if Afridi's captaining, he won't want Shoaib anywhere near the team considering their and Shoaib/ Asif's past.

As much as i would love Shoaib Akhtar back in the team (he's won us countless test matches, which have been a rarity nowadays ie we've won one test since January 2007) i just can't see it happening.

[sakss]

shocked to see some peopel have included farhat and shoaib akhtar....r we looking at the future or what?

[Ayyub]

Originally Posted by Waseem Against Australia (our most recent test series) 3 6 0 148 53 24.66 325 45.53 148 runs at an average of 24.66 with highest score of 53.

not bad yaar having average of 25 against australia pace attack is good

[Ayyub]

Originally Posted by sakss shocked to see some peopel have included farhat and shoaib akhtar....r we looking at the future or what?

future ko mar golli and present sahi karna hai

[Zaid23]

Salman Butt
Azhar ALi
Umar Amin
Umar Akmal
Asad Shafiq
Fawad Alam
Kamran Akmal
S Afridi
M Aamer
U Gul
M Asif

[sakss]

1 saal k present ka kya kerna ha bhai....shoaib is no good for test cricket...u blind cricket fans should admit that

[izi]

Where is bhanja?

[sakss]

Originally Posted by izi Where is bhanja?

bhanja is with his gal on honeymoon...

[Ryankhan]

My team would be this

1 Salman But/Khalid Latif
2 Yasir Hameed
3 Younis Khan
4 Naved Yasin/Umer Amin
5 Asim Kamaal
6 Kamran Akmal
7 Afridi
8 Amir
9 Asif
10 Kaneria/Rehman/Ajmal
11 M.Irfan/Gul/???

Why in not selecting Fawad,Umer Akmal,other youngsters becoz test matches are all about mental toughness and needs good temperament, now these youngsters are too much in 20-20 and odi cricket that they have forgoten how to play test matches. In test match your team wont benefit if you come out play 50 runs innings from 30-40 balls. at the end of the day its 4 innings and you gota play like a test player.

[Wazeeri]

We are bound to get injuries and players being sent back for hitting each other or some other reason. Therefore I have got a squad of 18 players who should be considered.

Following squad assumes that none of the banned players will be back,

Openers
Taufeeq Umar
Salman Butt
Aamer Sajjad

Taufeeq Umar is the best opener in Pakistan. He should be a must for every test tour.

Taufeeq and Butt should open with Aamer Sajjad as backup.
Azeem Ghuman is not ready.

Middle Order
Akmal
Alam
Mazoor
Saeed bin Nasir
Naved Yasin
Hasan Raza
Mohammad Wasim

Middle order is going to be very weak in the absence of the Y's and Malik.
Akmal and Alam look set to be given a full tour, they will have to be joined by some debutants.

I would suggest Saeed bin Nasir, Umar Amin, Naveed Yasin.

Khurram Manzoor deserves a chance just for his resilience, the man has the worst technique of the lot but he always tries hard and gets results.

Hasan Raza has done well recently and deserves a recall.

Mohammad Wasim has been performing well for two/three years now and deserves a look in.

Bowlers
Asif
Aamer
Gul
Talha
Irfan

Kaneria
Ajmal
Afridi

[iafzal]

My team would be this

1 Salman But
2 Yasir Hameed
3 Younis Khan
4 Umar Akmal
5 Fawad Alam
6 Kamran Akmal
7 Afridi
8 Amir
9 M.Irfan/Gul
10 Kaneria/Ajmal
11 Asif

[cric_crazy]

My team:
1 Salman Butt
2 Taufeeq Umer
3 Khurram manzoor
4 Umar Akmal
5 Fawad Alam
6 Shahid Afridi
7 Sarfaraz Ahmed (Kamran Akmal should be no where near the test team)
8 Amir
9 Akhter
10 Asif
11 Kaneria

[AZ]

Salman Butt
Imran Farhat
Umar Amin
Umar Akmal
Fawad Alam
Shahid Afridi (c)
Kamran Akmal (wk)
Umar Gul
Mohd. Aamer
Mohd. Asif
Danish Kaneria

3 names in bold are the ones that are 50-50.

[saeed-sohail]

Butt
Farhat
Faisal
Umar
Misbah
Afridi
Kami
Gul
Aamir
Asif
Dani

[Paradox]

Mohammad Wasim

Wazeeri we're not going to get anywhere if we try the old failures like Wasim, Taufeeq, etc.

[Afridi_Fan]

So, he makes every single eleven just by one announcement. Talk about power, eh?

Now I'll wait for Zaid65 and co to rip him off as they've been doing lately.

[AZ]

^ can't have the Captain on the bench, can you?

[Afridi_Fan]

Ah, so only if he announces that he is willing to play, he'll get the captaincy. Now that is some power, eh?

[Wazeeri]

Wazeeri we're not going to get anywhere if we try the old failures like Wasim, Taufeeq, etc.

Taufeeq Umar is still the best opener we have had since Saeed Anwar and Afridi (believe it or not). He averages 40 opening for Pakistan with a brilliant average against the likes of Ntini and Pollock.

The man was brought back for one test in which he failed and he became history. Totally unfair.

For the past two years+ he has consistently performed as an opener scoring centuries in every first class tournament and averaging the highest among full time openers (ie ignoring Manzoor and Hafeez).

Mohammad Wasim I can agree with you on. He has not done anything brilliant throughout his international or domestic career bar an over or two against warne and an innings against Zimbabwe. However lately he has been scoring centuries or half centuries when his team has been in trouble. He has been averaging 50+ for nearly three years now.

I just feel he has turned a corner and he has hit a Misbah type of late form in the longer format of the game. If he can plug a spot in the middle order for a year or two while Umar Akmal takes over the role of the anchor we should use him.

PS: We don't have a line of Umar Akmals waiting on the bench. Naved Yasin...etc are average to decent batsmen. They have a promise of developing into good batsmen but Mohammad wasim is better then most of them right now.

[saeed-sohail]

I am starting to believe zaid65s reason for afridi opting out of tests for so long.He will comeback only if given captaincy guaranteeing him a place in the side.

[Foozee]

Butt
Farhat
Faisal Iqbal( coz Malik, YK, Moyo are banned or retired or something)
Umar Akmal
Fawad Alam
Afridi(c)
Kamran akmal
Abdul Razzaq
Kaneria
Mohammad Aamer
Mohammed Asif

[insaftak]

I wouldn't play Kamran Akmal, Afridi, and saed Ajmal in test matches

[AZ]

Originally Posted by saeed-sohail I am starting to believe zaid65s reason for afridi opting out of tests for so long.He will comeback only if given captaincy guaranteeing him a place in the side.

Not captaincy perhaps, but definitely a starting spot in the side.

[Afridi_Fan]

Originally Posted by saeed-sohail I am starting to believe zaid65s reason for afridi opting out of tests for so long.He will comeback only if given captaincy guaranteeing him a place in the side.

Welcome to the club then mate.

[Rizwan25]

Don't wana see

Khuram Manzoor
Khalid Latif
Imran Fart
Rao

would luv to see

Butt
Umar Amin
Omer Akmal
Naved Yaseen
Shahreyar Ghani
Fawad Alam
Afridi
Kamran Akmal
Gul
Amir
Asif
Ajmal
Akhtar
Mohammad Irfan
Zulkarnan Haider(extra wicket keeper)

Perfect 15!!!!

[saeed-sohail]

Originally Posted by Afridi_Fan Welcome to the club then mate.

Already signed up.

[so123]

Butt
Fawad
Yunis
Malik
Umar Akmal
Afridi
Kamran
Razzaq
Amir
Gul
Asif

We need experience and batting depth for this tour plus razzaqs bowling will be useful in seaming conditions.

Pace bowlers will be the key. I'd give fawad a go at the top due to his temperament.

We wil rely heavily on Yunis.

Kaneria hasn't really impressed neither has ajmal. Use malik and afridi for spin.

[Boi]

Originally Posted by Wazeeri Taufeeq Umar is still the best opener we have had since Saeed Anwar and Afridi (believe it or not). He averages 40 opening for Pakistan with a brilliant average against the likes of Ntini and Pollock. The man was brought back for one test in which he failed and he became history. Totally unfair. For the past two years+ he has consistently performed as an opener scoring centuries in every first class tournament and averaging the highest among full time openers (ie ignoring Manzoor and Hafeez).

Agree with you Wazeeri.
I didn't understand why Taufeeq was totally dicarded after the 2006 England series. He had a bad time but he was definitely better than the likes of Farhat, Butt (at that time) and Hafeez.
After ICL shut down, he is probably the only one out of the lot I would have back into the test side.

[izi]

Originally Posted by Ryankhan My team would be this 1 Salman But/Khalid Latif 2 Yasir Hameed 3 Younis Khan 4 Naved Yasin/Umer Amin 5 Asim Kamaal 6 Kamran Akmal 7 Afridi 8 Amir 9 Asif 10 Kaneria/Rehman/Ajmal 11 M.Irfan/Gul/??? Why in not selecting Fawad,Umer Akmal,other youngsters becoz test matches are all about mental toughness and needs good temperament, now these youngsters are too much in 20-20 and odi cricket that they have forgoten how to play test matches. In test match your team wont benefit if you come out play 50 runs innings from 30-40 balls. at the end of the day its 4 innings and you gota play like a test player.

naa qabil-e-comment

[whitelightning]

This would be such a great team if it wasn't for all the infighting and other problems.

1.Salman Butt
2.Fawad Alam
3.Younis Khan
4.Mohammad Yousuf
5.Umar Akmal
6.Shoaib Malik/Umar Gul/Another seamer
7.Kamran Akmal (WK)
8.Shahid Afridi (C)
9.Mohammed Aamer
10.Mohammad Asif
11.Saeed Ajmal

[PB]

1.Taufeeq Umar
2.Salman Butt
3.Younis Khan
4.Fawad Alam
5.Umar Akmal
6.Shahid Afridi (c)
7.Kamran Akmal (wk)
8.Any Fast Bowling All Rounder
9.Mohammad Aamer
10.Mohammad Asif
11.Danish Kaneria

12.Raza Hasan
13.Umar Gul
14.Umar Amin
15.Naved Yasin

[ads101]

1. Salman Butt
2. Imran Farhat
3. Younis Khan
4. Umer Akmal
5. Umer Amin
6. Fawad Alam
7. Shahid Afridi (c)
8. Kamran Akmal (w)
9. Mohammed Aamer
10. Mohammed Asif
11. Danish Kaneria


This is what the team realistically should and will be (I'm not sure Umar Amin will be given a shot to play though). Selectors aren't going to mess up an opening partnership that's worked so far, and Farhat did have a very good NZ tour recently (he was admittedly a bit lucky, but he put a lot of runs on the board). This batting line up looks stronger, able to bat to and including no.8. Kaneria has quite a lot of experience in england county cricket, so I imagine will bowl well on English pitches.

Maybe another fast bowler might be good but I don't think we have any really impressive ones waiting in the wing (Mohammed Irfan doesn't look that great to be honest). Perhaps Gul should be included, but in his recent form, and the fact he's never really looked much of a threat in tests, I didn't include him.

Again however the outcome will largely depend on whether Asif performs or not. Aamer is still not fully adapted to tests, and our spin options in tests are pretty average (though I don't know how well afridi will perform, we'll just have to wait and see).

[insaaniyat]

Originally Posted by saeed-sohail I am starting to believe zaid65s reason for afridi opting out of tests for so long.He will comeback only if given captaincy guaranteeing him a place in the side.

What took you so long to understand that. Zaid65 does make sense most of the time. I would be happy once Afridi is named captain for the test cricket too. This way he will be exposed completely and will leave the team for ever after England tour.

[IAJ]

Originally Posted by Down2Earth batting looks so weak with Afridi in the middle order.

You wana strengthen it with ?

[Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by Wazeeri We are bound to get injuries and players being sent back for hitting each other or some other reason. Therefore I have got a squad of 18 players who should be considered. Following squad assumes that none of the banned players will be back, Openers Taufeeq Umar Salman Butt Aamer Sajjad Taufeeq Umar is the best opener in Pakistan. He should be a must for every test tour. Taufeeq and Butt should open with Aamer Sajjad as backup. Azeem Ghuman is not ready. Middle Order Akmal Alam Mazoor Saeed bin Nasir Naved Yasin Hasan Raza Mohammad Wasim Middle order is going to be very weak in the absence of the Y's and Malik. Akmal and Alam look set to be given a full tour, they will have to be joined by some debutants. I would suggest Saeed bin Nasir, Umar Amin, Naveed Yasin. Khurram Manzoor deserves a chance just for his resilience, the man has the worst technique of the lot but he always tries hard and gets results. Hasan Raza has done well recently and deserves a recall. Mohammad Wasim has been performing well for two/three years now and deserves a look in. Bowlers Asif Aamer Gul Talha Irfan Kaneria Ajmal Afridi

Wazeeri have you been reading my posts?

Very similar to the team I posted a while back. I'd have the same openers but with Azhar Ali ahead of Aamer Sajjad.

Middle order would be Akmal, Alam, Yasin and Hasan Raza assuming YK and Moyo are banned. Still not convinced it's Umar Amin's time to shine. Hasan Raza would probably bat at 3 in my team.

Who's your wicketkeeper by the way? Sarfraz would be my pick. I'd have Wahab Riaz as the 4th seam option along with the usual suspects of Asif, Aamer and Gul.

Same spinners.

[Wazeeri]

Aamer Sajjad has been the best batsman overall in the last two first class tournaments in PK. It would be wrong to not consider him.

Not too sure about Wahab Riaz, he doesn't really have anything special about him. Mohammad Talha has taken the lead place easily in the last few seasons. Irfan to be included because he is different, there is no one like him on the international scene.

Wicket keeper would have to unfortunately be Akmal, Sarfraz and Zulqarnain are not that much better then him with the gloves. Sarfraz should be taken along just in case Akmal messes up royally and breaks the camels back with his millionth drop or missed run out.

[humzy]

Salman Butt
Imran Farhat
Younis Khan
Umar Akmal
Fawad Alam
Kamran Akmal
Shahid Afridi
Mohammed Amer
Shoaib Akhtar
Mohammed Asif
Danish Kaneria


perfect 11

[proud_pakistani]

Afridi has no spot in test cricket...v shudnt be choosing a captain just to fill a spot in the side..will Afridi add value to a test team?...I highly doubt it...and under English conditions he will definitely struggle as bastman...I dont think there is a real need for a spin all-rounder in this format...Pakistan needs to go for the specialists for tests...That means none of the Afridis or Razzaqs..

My team would be
Salman Butt(c)
Azeem Ghumman/Azhar Ali/Asad Shafiq
Umar Amin
Umar Akmal
Asim Kamal
Fawad Alam
Kamran Akmal
Shoaib Akhtar/Mohd Talha/Mohd Irfan/Umar Gul
Mohd Asif
Mohd Aamer
Danish Kaneria

I know a lot of people would question why I have Asim Kamal there but in the absence of Younis and MoYo he can add value and be invaluable in terms of spending time on the crease..He averages abt 38 in tests and I feel he shud get an extended run in tests...

[haroon]

The fact that all of u guys have gone with Kamran Akmal with the gloves.. means u guys are already calling for the diseaster..

sarfaraz or any other wicket keeper should be there.. kamran could be played as a regular batsman.. i think he is good enough to be tried as an opener..

[sharaf katawazi]

what ever team is made but younas khan is must at 3

[Foozee]

I wanna see Mohammad Irfan the 7 foot monster bowl

[Xoib]

Aamer Sajjad looks like a poor man Misbah from what I have seen.Asad Shafiq on the other hand loks very good at the crease.

[Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by Wazeeri Aamer Sajjad has been the best batsman overall in the last two first class tournaments in PK. It would be wrong to not consider him. Not too sure about Wahab Riaz, he doesn't really have anything special about him. Mohammad Talha has taken the lead place easily in the last few seasons. Irfan to be included because he is different, there is no one like him on the international scene. Wicket keeper would have to unfortunately be Akmal, Sarfraz and Zulqarnain are not that much better then him with the gloves. Sarfraz should be taken along just in case Akmal messes up royally and breaks the camels back with his millionth drop or missed run out.

Mohammad Talha still doesn't know what action he should bowl with.

Wahab Riaz may not have had a good domestic season but IIRC his performances against Australia and Sri Lanka's A teams were pretty impressive.

[annusraza]

Salman Butt
Khurram Manzoor
Umar Amin / Younis Khan (if available)
Umar Akmal
Fawad Alam
Kamran Akmal (wk)
Shahid Afridi (c)
Mohammad Aamer
Umar Gul
Danish Kaneria
Muhammad Asif

[sannah12]

If shoaib maliks ban is lifted i think he is a must for the england tour. His average on south african pitches is amazing. He can also open the batting if needed.

[nitrous]

Originally Posted by sannah12 If shoaib maliks ban is lifted i think he is a must for the england tour. His average on south african pitches is amazing. He can also open the batting if needed.

You fans are funny... You want the weasel back in the team.. Give me a break

[Boi]

Originally Posted by sannah12 If shoaib maliks ban is lifted i think he is a must for the england tour. His average on south african pitches is amazing. He can also open the batting if needed.

Errr...what does the average in South Africa have todo with a series in England?

The pitches are not going to be imported from South Africa.

[PerfectionPersonified]

its Strange how Every body is choosing BUTT now............after just 2---3 good knocks

[Boi]

Originally Posted by PerfectionPersonified its Strange how Every body is choosing BUTT now............after just 2---3 good knocks

Dude, he was our best batsmen down under against Australia. Our highest scorer in the World T20. I doubt that only took him 'just 2-3 good knocks'

[Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by PerfectionPersonified its Strange how Every body is choosing BUTT now............after just 2---3 good knocks

Brother if you have any other alternatives please don't hesistate to mention them.

And what do you find so strange about rewarding a player who did reasonably well in New Zealand and Australia a continued place in the test team?

[LG]

I wonder how many catches will be dropped this time, particularly in the slips, with no Younis. I hope they play Fawad in all the tests and don't drop him after one match. And I wouldn't mind having Khurram Manzoor at 3. Despite his terrible footwork and technique, he seems to have the determination and mental toughness to last. I like his attitude.

[whitelightning]

How can you guys even think of playing players like Khurram Manzoor and Taufeeq Umar. There techniques are so bad, they will have no chance on English wickets. They are proven failures.

[sannah12]

Originally Posted by Boi Errr...what does the average in South Africa have todo with a series in England? The pitches are not going to be imported from South Africa.

similar grassy/seaming/bouncy pitches :akmal

[Wazeeri]

Mohammad Talha still doesn't know what action he should bowl with.

He seems to be going for Shabbir Ahmad without the throwing at the moment.

[Wazeeri]

How can you guys even think of playing players like Khurram Manzoor and Taufeeq Umar. There techniques are so bad, they will have no chance on English wickets. They are proven failures.

Taufeeq Umar has poor technique??

He is not easy on the eyes but he doesn't have anything obviously wrong with his technique. And a man who averages 40 is not a failure.

Khuram Manzoor has poor technique but he is not a proven failure (yet).

[Prince of Pakistan]

Originally Posted by Wazeeri Taufeeq Umar has poor technique?? He is not easy on the eyes but he doesn't have anything obviously wrong with his technique. And a man who averages 40 is not a failure. Khuram Manzoor has poor technique but he is not a proven failure (yet).

And that too after having scored against South Africa.

[iZeeshan]

All of you without Misbah-ul-Haq in their line-up are crazy.

There's no way he's going to be dropped.

[whitelightning]

Originally Posted by Wazeeri Taufeeq Umar has poor technique?? He is not easy on the eyes but he doesn't have anything obviously wrong with his technique. And a man who averages 40 is not a failure. Khuram Manzoor has poor technique but he is not a proven failure (yet).

All Taufeer Umar does is jab at the ball. He's had enough chances and scored some flukey runs. Plus he can't keep his trousers on...

[Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by whitelightning All Taufeer Umar does is jab at the ball. He's had enough chances and scored some flukey runs. Plus he can't keep his trousers on...

Scoring centuries against South Africa is always flukey.

[IMMY69]

Most here seem to be favouring only three seamers...

Sure we may get a hot summer, and the wickets may offer spin, but three seamers ithink if not the way to go.

If we are to have Afridi in the side then he has to be in as bowling allrounder and in whichcase he takes Kaneria's or Ajmals spot and the spinner ins the side. 4 seamers plus afridi as the spinner.

Frankly, I dont want us to go in with 3 pacers...Wrong, Wrong, Wrong...We did against the Aussies and its not the way we play our cricket!