An enthralling match in Dhaka concluded with Pakistan successfully defending 191. Umar Akmal starred with 94 while Ajmal, Gul and Afridi produced outstanding spells to rescue their side from a precarious position.

India almost in semi final now. Sri Lanka qualifying chances are very high from the other group so all we need is Pakistan to qualify and we will have all 3 asian teams in Semi Final just like 2011.

Discuss

Once again a Pakistan vs Australia T20 has been a classic especially on the biggest stage.

Don't recall more memorable matches between two teams.

Discuss

Pakistan has been very harsh on captains who couldn't get team past initial rounds. We know what happened after WC 2003 when Waqar Younis got sacked.. Similarly, in WC 2007 Inzimam's career was cut short after 1st round exit.

If Pakistan fails to qualify in next round, would it mean curtains for Hafeez's captaincy?

Discuss

As we all must be aware, Cricketing era has basically changed with the recent retirements of greats like Dravid, Kallis and Sachin and the younger boys are making their turn to showcase their ultimate skill. There's debate whether these young cricketers today are of the quality of these greats of the 80s, 90s and early 00s but that's a debate for another time. 

I think today's young generation of cricketers are pretty exciting and seeing quality stuff from them but the question is who are the current top 10 youngsters that have impressed you and are performing at high class? 

Discuss

One of the biggest issue I have notice in Pakistani team is the negative mindset and wrong perception about their bowling lineup abilities. They still think that they have world best bowling line up the one that that can help them defend 150 targets on all occasions, but Mr Hafeez please excuse me, no we DO NOT have best bowling unit period. This was the problem in India's match and this will be the problem vs Australia match unless they change their thinking quite dramatically. 

#1 
In India's match we see from ball one. K Akmal, and A Shahzad blocking first 4-5 balls of Ashwin like he is bowling on 150+ pace. While all fielders were in inner circle it is a crime to block 4 balls in a row, and if you do and don't think you have ability to hit for single and doubles then you should not be the part of team. Seems like they were told to block first over, who said them is a real culprit (Hafeez or Moin) but must be investigated. 

#2 
A Shahzad were looking very nervous and panicky. He made K Akmal run out and almost 2 other batsmen in our team. (if you are scared or may be scared vs India, then team management should get him a expert / sr support)

#3 Unless you don't target 180 runs, you cannot win here in Bangla. In current T20, any team and even a minnow can beat you, no matter you have a world best bowling unit, which we really don't, so next matches we should go with this target in mind. This should give us some hope and chance

#4 U Gul, Junaid Khan, A Ajmal, and Afridi no longer a dependable bowlers, they should not be treated as not replaceable. Z Babar should be given chance on one of them place.

DISCUSS

I would like to point out the obvious - well the obvious to some but not others;

It should've been blatently obvious from watching the warm up matches that the best economy rates and highest wicket takers were spin bowlers. MS Dhoni figured this out and brought in amit Mishra to bowl alongside ashwin and jadeja. Darren Sammy figured this out a while ago and has been bowling a combination of badree, narine, and samuels. Chandimal figured this out and has been bowling a combination of senanayake, mendis, prasanna, and dilshan.


Unfortunately, Australia did not realise this prior to the tournament, or simply doesn't have the resources. England has dropped the ball and is playing a bunch of medium bowling cannon feeders. New Zealand too, only has 1 spinner. South Africa have figured it out and brought Imran tahir into the team, however they don't have a real second spin option, although duminy with tahir is better than what England, New Zealand, and Australia have.

The worst part of it all is that PAKISTAN have arguable the best spinners in the tournament, slightly better than west indies combination of narine and badree, yet they could not manage to get zulfiqar babar into the squad against india. This demonstrates a lack of analytics in the Pakistan dressing room and also a lack of intelligence on the part of Mohammad (the so called "professor") Hafeez. MS Dhoni simply out captained hafeez before the toss was even held, and india had the spin advantage over us in conditions that are clearly spin friendly. 

How could Pakistan make such a vital mistake and allow India to outthink us in our own game? How do the rest of the teams mentioned above such as England, New Zealand, and Australia not realise by now that spin dominates Bangladesh conditions? 

Sometimes I am at a total loss for words when I see teams bringing out bhatti, gul, and junaid, when the analytics department CLEARLY indicates the best economy rates and wicket takers are all spinners. Poor Zulfiqar babar, and poor Pakistan, can't figure out such an obvious thing - spinners dominate Bangladeshi conditions

If you don't believe any of the above, check out all the scorecards including warm up matches to date. Your comments appreciated. Thanks.

DISCUSS

so clearly lots of fellow Pakistanis are depressed right now


For me personally i have never let a result get me depressed or angry since Michael Hussey's assault on Ajmal. That was very tough for me, Pakistan had all but won the game and the person who stole it was one my favorite cricketers of all time, so i couldn't hate him for it which made the whole thing a lot worse . It was as if each 6 was a dagger in the heart, i was in complete shock, didn't even watch the post match presentation. 

I was in a sour mood for a week after that, was a jerk at uni. I looked back and I would think why the hell did i act like that. Before that the 1999 final even tough i was pretty young I remember being depressed for weeks


I still follow Pak cricket religiously ,I have seen pretty much every game in the past 5 years, but since the Hussey assault i dont let a result annoy me to any great deal. If we loose we loose, its part of the sport. At most I am annoyed for half an hour. ( i admit the loss to Zimbo really tested me). If i cant support the team when the loose whats the point of supporting them when they win. 


So I ask other PPers has there been THAT ONE GAME that changed the way you watch cricket or another sport for better or worse, and if so what was it ?

DISCUSS

I would like to point out the obvious - well the obvious to some but not others;

It should've been blatently obvious from watching the warm up matches that the best economy rates and highest wicket takers were spin bowlers. MS Dhoni figured this out and brought in amit Mishra to bowl alongside ashwin and jadeja. Darren Sammy figured this out a while ago and has been bowling a combination of badree, narine, and samuels. Chandimal figured this out and has been bowling a combination of senanayake, mendis, prasanna, and dilshan.


Unfortunately, Australia did not realise this prior to the tournament, or simply doesn't have the resources. England has dropped the ball and is playing a bunch of medium bowling cannon feeders. New Zealand too, only has 1 spinner. South Africa have figured it out and brought Imran tahir into the team, however they don't have a real second spin option, although duminy with tahir is better than what England, New Zealand, and Australia have.

The worst part of it all is that PAKISTAN have arguable the best spinners in the tournament, slightly better than west indies combination of narine and badree, yet they could not manage to get zulfiqar babar into the squad against india. This demonstrates a lack of analytics in the Pakistan dressing room and also a lack of intelligence on the part of Mohammad (the so called "professor") Hafeez. MS Dhoni simply out captained hafeez before the toss was even held, and india had the spin advantage over us in conditions that are clearly spin friendly. 

How could Pakistan make such a vital mistake and allow India to outthink us in our own game? How do the rest of the teams mentioned above such as England, New Zealand, and Australia not realise by now that spin dominates Bangladesh conditions? 

Sometimes I am at a total loss for words when I see teams bringing out bhatti, gul, and junaid, when the analytics department CLEARLY indicates the best economy rates and wicket takers are all spinners. Poor Zulfiqar babar, and poor Pakistan, can't figure out such an obvious thing - spinners dominate Bangladeshi conditions

If you don't believe any of the above, check out all the scorecards including warm up matches to date. Your comments appreciated. Thanks

DISCUSS