enkidu_
Local Club Captain
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2014
- Runs
- 2,206
We've had many combined Asian XIs in different formats, but considering the role one ethnic group has played in two countries - in Pakistan quite early because of Lahore and its facilities, in India esp. since the 2000s - I was wondering why not try to make a squad out of its players ?
I have only chosen those born in Punjab or ethnic Punjabis born elsewhere (in India, one of course thinks of Delhi, which has 1/3 of children born to migrants from West Punjab), and when I was dead sure of (heard about Saeed Anwar, but nothing conclusive, whereas Sehwag's Haryana was part of Punjab, but some might take issue with it, so I took him out as well).
1. Gambhir
2. Dhawan
3. Kohli
4. Zaheer Abbas
5. Inzimam-ul-Haq
6. Kapil Dev (c)
7. Razzaq/Hafeez
8. Kamran Akmal (wk)
9. Wasim Akram
10. Waqar Younis
11. Saqlain Mushtaq
I think it's a quite strong squad, deep batting up to Wasim somehow, and quite the bowling unit as well, with the double Ws plus Saqi - best pace/spin ODI combo from Asia surely -, and Kapil Dev as well, considered the best Indian ODI bowler. He was also one of the flashiest batsman, and would be the captain of the squad.
Also let's say that the Akmal here is his early incarnation, and with the bat he's still the best out of the options available.
As for the Razzaq/Hafeez issue, it will depend whether the conditions suit fast-bowling/spin more. Don't like Hafeez nowadays but can play some decent cameos down the order.
Many have potentially missed out, for different reasons, but can make a case : Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammed Yousuf, Yuvraj Singh, etc
I have only chosen those born in Punjab or ethnic Punjabis born elsewhere (in India, one of course thinks of Delhi, which has 1/3 of children born to migrants from West Punjab), and when I was dead sure of (heard about Saeed Anwar, but nothing conclusive, whereas Sehwag's Haryana was part of Punjab, but some might take issue with it, so I took him out as well).
1. Gambhir
2. Dhawan
3. Kohli
4. Zaheer Abbas
5. Inzimam-ul-Haq
6. Kapil Dev (c)
7. Razzaq/Hafeez
8. Kamran Akmal (wk)
9. Wasim Akram
10. Waqar Younis
11. Saqlain Mushtaq
I think it's a quite strong squad, deep batting up to Wasim somehow, and quite the bowling unit as well, with the double Ws plus Saqi - best pace/spin ODI combo from Asia surely -, and Kapil Dev as well, considered the best Indian ODI bowler. He was also one of the flashiest batsman, and would be the captain of the squad.
Also let's say that the Akmal here is his early incarnation, and with the bat he's still the best out of the options available.
As for the Razzaq/Hafeez issue, it will depend whether the conditions suit fast-bowling/spin more. Don't like Hafeez nowadays but can play some decent cameos down the order.
Many have potentially missed out, for different reasons, but can make a case : Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammed Yousuf, Yuvraj Singh, etc
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