The second squad released by the PCB selection committee was for the test format. The Pakistani team will be playing six test matches this summer, two against the Aussies and four against the English. The intricacies of a test match can never be undermined and the Pakistani men will have to step up their game to overcome two dominant test nations.

The squad has been selected and now it’s time to analyze the players who have been given an opportunity to showcase their talents on the biggest of stages for a test match player, the English tour. The exclusions have made more noise than the inclusions and these will be discussed as well in the following piece.

Test squad: Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Azhar Ali, Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Zulqarnain Haider, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif, Wahab Riaz, Tanvir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria, Saeed Ajmal.

 

The middle order will be interesting. The omission of Younus Khan and Fawad Alam were attention-grabbing as there is no depth now. The experience of the former skipper will be sorely missed and his fielding exploits as well. Fawad Alam’s exclusion is befuddling – the lad is talented and deserves a spot based on performances at the international level. The format does not ask for big hitting – thus his exclusion certainly is worth asking questions. Focusing on the actual selected players – the contenders for spots are Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, Shoaib Malik and to some extent Yasir Hameed. Yasir Hameed is a contender for this spot as well because he might be asked to come one down. The team is lacking a batsman for that spot and he might become the core anchor for the team.

Umar Akmal is a guaranteed selection and will most certainly be taking up the number 4/5 spot in the final XI. A player oozing with talent, he has proved his worth in the format – the question is will he be able to control his aggressive nature? Shoaib Malik is the most senior batsman and might sneak into the team purely on that basis. The former Pakistani captain has constantly disappointed in this format with an average of 36.11 after 29 tests. The final nominee is the youthful Umar Amin, a player who prefers pace bowling and might excel under an environment such as England. The team management will have to sit down and contemplate his role in the team and whether or not adding another youngster in the middle order will be appropriate.

PakPassion feels, Umar Akmal is in the team regardless of what anyone says. His talent speaks for itself – there is no hesitancy in his approach, the stroke play might be bombastic in nature but its mighty effective. He will be a treat to watch this summer and will be on the offensive as always. Shoaib Malik should make the team, the final XI is lacking experience and he will be required. It is perhaps not an ideal situation when players such as Younus Khan/Fawad Alam are on the outside looking in, but it is the way it is right now. The number three slot will go to Yasir Hameed, if not selected as opener. He will be chosen purely due to previous international cricket experience. Umar Amin will not be risked, at least not in the first match. The team management will go in with experience and that might be the appropriate decision now with the current squad.

PakPassion’s choice: Yasir Hameed, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik

 

The lower order will be consisting of two batsmen and a bowler who can hold the bat. They select themselves due to the lack of replacements/options. The options that are there do not compare to the ones going to be selected in terms of experience, the basis of most selection decisions - unfortunately. Shahid Afridi is a certainty as he is the captain. The most talked about topic is Afridi’s average in the format of 37.40, a point brought up by his fans. An average of that sort was never expected of from Afridi, but will he continue his decent record in test match cricket or will it decline? The answer to that question might well be the answer to Pakistan’s hopes in the test matches.

Kamran Akmal will occupy the next spot as the team’s wicketkeeper batsman. The team’s catching skills are always ridiculed and rightly so, the keeping is also on the lines of mediocre, the hopes are Akmal will improve. Zulqarnain Haider will be there keeping Akmal in check and that competition within the ranks might assist the senior Akmal. Mohammad Aamer takes up the final lower order position – some would say this will make the tail longer but Aamer has shown poise with the bat and should not be downplayed by the opposition’s bowlers.

In our opinion, Shahid Afridi is a batsman that can turn the match on its head. A harder feat it might be to turn a match on its head in the test format, but anything is possible with a rapid fire batting display. The onus will be on the man to showcase his powers and lead from the front. His form has been promising in the Asia cup and it points to greater things up ahead. Kamran Akmal has been questionable with his keeping lately, the drops are becoming consistent and bowlers are getting increasingly frustrated. The batting talent is there for Akmal, but the lack of talent with the gloves is disappointing for most fans. He will most certainly keep for the first test match and one can only hope that he catches most of what comes at him. If the problem becomes relentless, Zulqarnain Haider will hurriedly be selected for the next tests. Mohammad Aamer is acknowledged for his pace bowling, but will be required to lend a hand with the bat. The team is lacking a second all rounder for this spot and Aamer will be asked to fill up this spot. A top order collapse might lead this lower order to complete implosion. The signs are upsetting.

PakPassion’s Choice: Shahid Afridi [C]. Kamran Akmal [WK] & Mohammad Aamer

 

The bowlers are an asset for the team. They will be expected to win tests for Pakistan in the upcoming tour as the batsmen most likely won’t be wreaking havoc. This is one of the bright spots in the squad and the choices are solid and worthy of praise. Mohammad Asif is a walk-in, one of the finer test bowlers going around. Questionable talent in the limited overs game but once the real matches (tests) commence, there is no one superior in the team. He will be responsible for picking up wickets regularly on pitches that are likely to assist his type of bowling. Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz and Tanvir Ahmed will be fighting for the last bowling spot. Umar Gul will be the favourite for the spot in the beginning as he is capable of producing quality spells and is the most experienced from the lot. Gul is a hard working bowler – and can always be expected to churn out back-breaking spells again and again. A captain’s delight.

The final spot in the XI will be given to a spinner. Danish Kaneria or Saeed Ajmal, these will be the names on the lips of the team management. Danish Kaneria, the highest wicket taking bowler in Pakistan right now for tests with 254 (34.27) will be the one selected. Saeed Ajmal has been a normal feature in the limited overs format but has not delighted fans or teammates yet in the few tests he has played. Danish Kaneria has been continuously playing county cricket in England and that will assist him when it comes to selection. Experience in these conditions is a vital asset to have for any player as they are completely different to Asian conditions.

We feel Mohammad Asif will be the leader of this pack. A bowler with the knack of picking up big wickets and has become known to have Pieterson’s number in all formats. The lanky pacer will be expected to have English batsman in confusion with his persistent accuracy and movement. Umar Gul should be the final pacer alongside Asif and Aamer. Reverse swing is an art that Umar Gul has perfected and bowling with the old ball will be the way to go with him. The spinner that should be chosen is Danish Kaneria. Saeed Ajmal is a respectable off spinner and one of the finer ones in the other formats. The problem lies with the time given to batsman in tests. Ajmal is tough to hit when bowlers want to hit out – unless of course their name is Mike Hussey, then it really does not matter. Kaneria’s experience in England from both county cricket and the tour of 2006 will do him well.

Pakpassion’s Choice: Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul and Danish Kaneria

PakPassion's Final XI: Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi [C], Kamran Akmal [WK], Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif