What's new

2nd 4-Day practice game between PCB Green & PCB White ends in a draw

Will hold off judgement on Sohail Khan till the 2nd innings. He's always bowled well in the 1st innings and run out of steam by the 2nd in the past.
 
Greens are probably the planned starting XI for first Test - have to say Sohail has put water into the burning idea.
 
Greens are probably the planned starting XI for first Test - have to say Sohail has put water into the burning idea.

Really? I don't think it would be a good idea to play Shadab and Yasir - pointless to have 2 leg spinners. I think Sohail could make it in place of Shadab based on his performance.
 
Really? I don't think it would be a good idea to play Shadab and Yasir - pointless to have 2 leg spinners. I think Sohail could make it in place of Shadab based on his performance.

Its highly unlikely Pak will go with Yasir or Sohail at no 7. One of Shadab, Iftikhar or Fawad will have to play.
 
Will hold off judgement on Sohail Khan till the 2nd innings. He's always bowled well in the 1st innings and run out of steam by the 2nd in the past.

If he can bowl this well or somewhere close to what he has shown than having a 5th option in bowling will help in second innings that is if he struggles. However, even when he was selected I mentioned how he is amongst pacers that bowled most number of overs in QAE 19. Not sure how he went with his second spells or second innings fitness but he bowled tons of overs.
 
Likely 678 will be Rizwan Sohail Yasir. You read it here first.

Yasir at 7 and Sohail at 8? I dont remember last team stepping up in a test match with such a long tail. :irfan
 
Last edited:
Faheem takes Rizwan. Unless this wicket is really difficult some bowlers from second string are creating some selection competition.
 
Sohail Khan was the most unforunate bowler

Should have picked him in his prime, could move the ball both ways . Dropping him after Karachi test 2009(dead pitch) was great injustice to him. We have never tried to develop a bowler since 2 Ws retirement

his pace and control would drop even in 2011 when he was dropped after zimbabwe series. If he couldnt rectify that at the age of 27 he certainly cant do that at 36.
In Aus and Eng, you need 5 bowlers most of the times, cause the matches usually last for 5 days and you need bowlers to share the workload.
 
92/7 Rizwan is now gone! Gone like the wind. This innings is not gonna last long. Pad up team white
 
Will reserve judgement on Sohail until the 2nd innings. I don't have much faith in him to be honest, but hoping he'll somehow pull it out.

In any case given Pakistan have to play an all rounder to shield our already long tail i don't see how he fits in tbh. At best Sohail is still probably just a replacement option for our main 3.
 
Oh my god if Sohail Khan gets selected...

If he is in the playing XI he will get injured believe me.
 
Really? I don't think it would be a good idea to play Shadab and Yasir - pointless to have 2 leg spinners. I think Sohail could make it in place of Shadab based on his performance.

Shadab wasted his first chance, still has second innings though. If he can score a hundred or big fifty, probably he will start. It’s a four day game therefore everyone will get two bites. I do think that was the plan but this batting display must have scared think tank - they might go with Fakhar now at six.

Didn’t like the idea of five batsmen and two “all-rounders” for PAK, but Haris didn’t help. All-rounder, for the sake of picking all-rounder doesn’t help much. But, I’ll take Shadab over Iftekhar- at least that to give an indication if Shadab has future in longer game or not.
 
his pace and control would drop even in 2011 when he was dropped after zimbabwe series. If he couldnt rectify that at the age of 27 he certainly cant do that at 36.
In Aus and Eng, you need 5 bowlers most of the times, cause the matches usually last for 5 days and you need bowlers to share the workload.

As if we had Malcom Marshall and Denis Lillee playing during that time. He knew how to take wickets(England tour is a good example), system needs to develop players and we have failed since 2003.

He is a wasted product, I have no hopes for him right now.
 
I may not agree with it but I think Misbah does. Let’s see

I think Misbah's thoughts were reflective in Green teams lineup as it was the potential lineup for the first test and he went with Shadab here. So I think at no 7 it will be someone who is an all rounder or a batsman who can bowl. Sohail Khan can only come in if they go with 4 pacers by dropping Yasir. I dont see him at no 7 or in place of any of the first string bowlers.

Lets see what team management thinks after this 4 day match.
 
Last edited:
Interesting that Rizwan was bowled by Faheem Ashraf. Hope his defense wasn’t that bad.

Second bowling innings will decide between Sohail and Faheem. Currently Sohail has the leg up.
 
We dont know how is the wicket as well, maybe its really helpful for pacers. Things will be more evident after the second innings.
 
Throw these two garbage out if they don't perform in this series

They have not been able to fill the gap left by MissYO simply because they are not as good as them no way near actually. Their averages say it all.
 
Azhar was pretty good before his decline. He was our second best batsman after YK. Runs in all conditions.

The trouble with our players is that they don't know when to call it quits. Azhar should have been out of the team a year ago, especially after the Aus series.

They both are doing a decent job with MissYO still around but have not been able to make the step up and become real seniors.
 
Sohail Khan with 15 overs out of total of 42, thats some workload in the first half of the day itself but probably understandable considering how Green has only two wickets left.
 
They have not been able to fill the gap left by MissYO simply because they are not as good as them no way near actually. Their averages say it all.

They have regressed since MissYo retirement. They can't continue if they don't perform.
 
They both are doing a decent job with MissYO still around but have not been able to make the step up and become real seniors.

Some players are more comfortable playing the support role and second fiddle. I think Azhar and Asad got comfortable in that role and when responsibility came in they werent upto the mark. Thats the difference between top batsmen averaging 45+ and others who maybe considered good but not really greats. Azhar actually was averaging 47 odd in the middle of his career but couldnt maintain the fitness and consistancy at the level and especially struggled post MisYou.
 
Shadab wasted his first chance, still has second innings though. If he can score a hundred or big fifty, probably he will start. It’s a four day game therefore everyone will get two bites. I do think that was the plan but this batting display must have scared think tank - they might go with Fakhar now at six.

Didn’t like the idea of five batsmen and two “all-rounders” for PAK, but Haris didn’t help. All-rounder, for the sake of picking all-rounder doesn’t help much. But, I’ll take Shadab over Iftekhar- at least that to give an indication if Shadab has future in longer game or not.

I don't see why you need 2 leggies, it's pretty pointless
 
Wow!!!! if they cannot face Pace King Sohail khan and Sir Lord Faheem Ashraf, what are Jimmy, Sam, Broad, Archer and Woaks are gonna do?
 
Interesting that Rizwan was bowled by Faheem Ashraf. Hope his defense wasn’t that bad.

Second bowling innings will decide between Sohail and Faheem. Currently Sohail has the leg up.

I would go 4 man attack and play a batesman
 
Interesting that Rizwan was bowled by Faheem Ashraf. Hope his defense wasn’t that bad.

Second bowling innings will decide between Sohail and Faheem. Currently Sohail has the leg up.

I would go 4 man attack and play a batesman
 
Sohail has been incisive, and he can bat.

Another factor is that Shaheen, Naseem and Abbas are three Number 11s.

You could shorten the tail by selecting:

6 Rizwan
7 Shadab
8 Faheem
9 Sohail
10 Shaheen
11 Naseem
 
Interesting that Rizwan was bowled by Faheem Ashraf. Hope his defense wasn’t that bad.

Second bowling innings will decide between Sohail and Faheem. Currently Sohail has the leg up.

Based on stats alone, not sure how Sohail and Faheem are even close. Sohail has his second 5-er of the tour, and been in really good form. Faheem has done virtually nothing with either bat or bowl before the 2 wickets today
 
Sohail has been incisive, and he can bat.

Another factor is that Shaheen, Naseem and Abbas are three Number 11s.

You could shorten the tail by selecting:

6 Rizwan
7 Shadab
8 Faheem
9 Sohail
10 Shaheen
11 Naseem

No chance abbas will be dropped unless u no something else
 
Sohail has been incisive, and he can bat.

Another factor is that Shaheen, Naseem and Abbas are three Number 11s.

You could shorten the tail by selecting:

6 Rizwan
7 Shadab
8 Faheem
9 Sohail
10 Shaheen
11 Naseem

Sohail is spoiling the plans especially after getting our top/main batting line-up out like this but I dont see them dropping Abbas who is our most experienced pacer... They only way Sohail can fit is if one of Abbas, Shaheen, Naseem have a niggle, or Shadab has outstanding game and the some how drop Yasir for Sohaib (+ Shadab at 7). with Yasir/Sohail the batting is extremely weak (as it is blown away by our second string bowling, imagine against Eng).
 
How Imran K been playing ahead of Sohail K?
Faheem 2 wickets is worrying as they may select him as an all rouunder now but his batting is poor. I would prefer a batsman if Pak goes with 4 bowlers.
Sohail K could even replace Abbass if he does well in second inning and is fit, and Abbass has an average game again.
 
How Imran K been playing ahead of Sohail K?
Faheem 2 wickets is worrying as they may select him as an all rouunder now but his batting is poor. I would prefer a batsman if Pak goes with 4 bowlers.
Sohail K could even replace Abbass if he does well in second inning and is fit, and Abbass has an average game again.

Pakisgan need to play extra Bateman and go in with 4 man attack thier batting is so weak
 
Must a seaming wicket? Can't believe that Pak's main team is out for 130 odd.

Would have been interesting to see Sohail's progress on a flat wicket.
 
We tend to be too fixated on pace. Sohail is much more likely to be effective in English conditions than Naseem Shah. Can't judge him on the basis of results elsewhere. Take a look at Kemar Roach. Hardly took a wicket in a long time but he is looking quite dangerous in English conditions. Will never forget how Mudassar Nazar performed as a bowler in England.
 
When Faheem takes two and is also economical you know that the wicket is too good for seamers. Unless Pak plays 4 genuine pacers, playing Sohail remains a risk.
 
We tend to be too fixated on pace. Sohail is much more likely to be effective in English conditions than Naseem Shah. Can't judge him on the basis of results elsewhere. Take a look at Kemar Roach. Hardly took a wicket in a long time but he is looking quite dangerous in English conditions. Will never forget how Mudassar Nazar performed as a bowler in England.

Problem isn't Sohail's pace its his match fitness. He usually isn't able to bowl much in the 2nd innings. Considering Pak's brittle batting line up they could be bowling a lot this summer.

Also the wickets in the UK are getting flatter the reason guys like Archer, Gabriel have been important. You need at the least one 90 + mph bowler for plan B so Naseem remains a must unless you had a rejuvenated Wahab.
 
Last edited:
Is anybody going to talk about Sarfraz captaincy, I think he did a pretty good job...

Yes he rotated the bowlers but, other than that I am not sure what he did. I mean 9 out of 10 wickets were either bowled, lbws, caught and bowl and run out. So cant exactly judge or tell what kind of field settings were there as they never really came into play. Yes gave an extended spell to Sohail Khan though.
 
Wake up call for the main batting lineup before the first test. I hope it wakes them up...
 
Not an embarrassment of riches, simply an embarrassment.

Dread to think what'll happen in the Test series.
 
Sohail can bat a bit, probably at per with Faheem, he is putting a genuine case of being picked over Naseem or Abbas. Yasir & Shaheen will start for sure and I don’t think after this display PAK will (& should) go with five batsmen and Rizwan at six.

The playing XI was almost finalised, only open spot was No. 6; now Sohail is added into the mix. I think, based of performance so far playing XI was fixed (the Green team) unless there is something special in rest of this game. As of now, Sohail can force his way over Abbas/Naseem and Fakhar probably has already replaced Shadab.
 
Sohail can bat a bit, probably at per with Faheem, he is putting a genuine case of being picked over Naseem or Abbas. Yasir & Shaheen will start for sure and I don’t think after this display PAK will (& should) go with five batsmen and Rizwan at six.

The playing XI was almost finalised, only open spot was No. 6; now Sohail is added into the mix. I think, based of performance so far playing XI was fixed (the Green team) unless there is something special in rest of this game. As of now, Sohail can force his way over Abbas/Naseem and Fakhar probably has already replaced Shadab.

No way hes playing ahead of naseem only can challenge abbas
 
Fakhar even more so, following that 99

If he gets a 50 here, and Abid is a bust in the 2nd innings. I think Fakhar is in

It would be very surprising if there are any changes to the batting lineup. Unless something drastic happens, the top 5 will be Shan, Abid, Azhar, Babar, Asad for the first Test.
 
It would be injustice if Sohail is not picked. I believe he bowled 16 overs today including 9 in a spell. Seems pretty fit to me. Also he can bat a bit whereas you have three number 11's with the other pacers. I know Naseem is pretty exciting but actually he is the one who is more' likely to break down physically. Cannot expect long spells from him. As for English wickets becoming easier to bat on, didn't see that in today's intrasquad match and certainly didn't see it in the West Indies innings in the second test. Actually Broad and Stokes were much more effective than Wood and Archer with the exception of a short spell by Archer.
 
Abysmal performance by the main batsmen.

Interesting times if the reserve batsmen do well.
 
Naseem will play no matter what. Only Abbass can be replaced depending on the pitch, and his performance in this match vs Sohail K including both innings.
 
Problem isn't Sohail's pace its his match fitness. He usually isn't able to bowl much in the 2nd innings. Considering Pak's brittle batting line up they could be bowling a lot this summer.

Also the wickets in the UK are getting flatter the reason guys like Archer, Gabriel have been important. You need at the least one 90 + mph bowler for plan B so Naseem remains a must unless you had a rejuvenated Wahab.
It would be injustice if Sohail is not picked. I believe he bowled 16 overs today including 9 in a spell. Seems pretty fit to me. Also he can bat a bit whereas you have three number 11's with the other pacers. I know Naseem is pretty exciting but actually he is the one who is more' likely to break down physically. Cannot expect long spells from him. As for English wickets becoming easier to bat on, didn't see that in today's intrasquad match and certainly didn't see it in the West Indies innings in the second test. Actually Broad and Stokes were much more effective than Wood and Archer with the exception of a short spell by Archer.
 
Seems like no place in the first choice XI for Fawad or Iftikhar which means that Pakistan are going with Shadab at #7 with the four bowlers to follow.

The only other possibility is that they might be thinking of playing Hafeez at #6.

Hafeez has retired from Test cricket. He is there for the ODis & T20s. Don't think he will make comeback in Test cricket Now.
 
It would be injustice if Sohail is not picked. I believe he bowled 16 overs today including 9 in a spell. Seems pretty fit to me. Also he can bat a bit whereas you have three number 11's with the other pacers. I know Naseem is pretty exciting but actually he is the one who is more' likely to break down physically. Cannot expect long spells from him. As for English wickets becoming easier to bat on, didn't see that in today's intrasquad match and certainly didn't see it in the West Indies innings in the second test. Actually Broad and Stokes were much more effective than Wood and Archer with the exception of a short spell by Archer.

Sohail can only replace abbas naseem has to play as he has the x factor.also its stil another 2 weeks to go and I belive they using the same pitch so it might become flat but at the moment thiers pace swing and abit of spin decent pitches in england at the moment
 
Lol @ people saying Fakhar ahead of Shadab or Abid. Dont you know Misbah? if he could drop U. Akmal for taking risks in the format then Fakhar is even worse especially at the top order.

There is no way that Fakhar is playing a test under Misbah. Mickey was adventurous and had a different psyche having coached SA, AUS so he didn't mind the risk.

Try to remain realistic.
 
It would be injustice if Sohail is not picked. I believe he bowled 16 overs today including 9 in a spell. Seems pretty fit to me. Also he can bat a bit whereas you have three number 11's with the other pacers. I know Naseem is pretty exciting but actually he is the one who is more' likely to break down physically. Cannot expect long spells from him. As for English wickets becoming easier to bat on, didn't see that in today's intrasquad match and certainly didn't see it in the West Indies innings in the second test. Actually Broad and Stokes were much more effective than Wood and Archer with the exception of a short spell by Archer.

The only way he gets in is if Pak picks a four-man pace attack with Shadab in the supporting role.

Shadab
Sohail
Naseem
Shaheen
Abbas

The last three are confirmed unless one of them gets injured.
 
Lol @ people saying Fakhar ahead of Shadab or Abid. Dont you know Misbah? if he could drop U. Akmal for taking risks in the format then Fakhar is even worse especially at the top order.

There is no way that Fakhar is playing a test under Misbah. Mickey was adventurous and had a different psyche having coached SA, AUS so he didn't mind the risk.

Try to remain realistic.

Fakhar only really played because of the lack of performances from the openers at the time. It was more of a desperate move than anything.

The reason why Shan and Abid will play is that they have done well as an opening pair in recent times and they can't be discarded on the basis of some warm-ups. The performances are worrying, yes, but it'd be harsh to drop either of them. Abid averages 100 in Test cricket, albeit not being tested a whole lot so far and Shan averages 45 since his comeback.
 
Back
Top