Lefthanded
Tape Ball Star
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2016
- Runs
- 667
- Post of the Week
- 1
Threads about combined teams are inevitably and deeply partisan. I think neutrals and fans of all three teams are less likely to pick a 'home team' player over a superior player from another team.
That's why I'm curious about neutral PPers and desis who at least love both Ind/Pak teams. The latter is rarer, but there must be desis who don't carry national enmities into cricket. If you're either of those, please share your thoughts/squads.
Full disclosure: I'm Pakistani but I haven't lived in Pakistan for 15 years. Supporting Pakistan is in my blood, but ultimately I'm a cricket lover whose happiest cricket moments of some years were when Pak drew in Eng, Bang beat Aus/Eng, and India's recent Test win in SA.
So I'm picking on quality, experience and both cumulative/recent performances. Which means that I only have a total of 4 Pak-Bang players, & no SL players. One look at their recent squads and their respective cricinfo pages should make it clear.
#1-5: Azhar, Dhawan, Pujara, Kohli and Rahane.
Rahul, Rahane and Kohli pick themselves. Azhar, Vijay, Pujara and Rahane are contenders but slow. So picking 4 of them seems like a terrible idea. Vijay's recent form leaves him behind. While I'm not convinced Dhawan can score a lot of runs outside Asia, he only got 1 shot in SA and deserves one last chance. I thought about Tamim over Dhawan, but he's not in the same league.
#6-7: Shakib & Mushfiqur Rahim.
Best all-rounder in the world belongs in the team. Pushes past Pandya who is only 3 Tests old.
And as a gloveman Saha may be the best in the world, but Mushfiqur Rahim's recent form is too good to ignore. Sarfraz's performances speak for themselves. If there was a good WK/batsman in the wings and no other candidates for captain, Sarfraz would join the list of mediocre WK-batsmen we've always had.
#8-11: Bhuvi, Shami & two out of Yasir/Umesh/Ishant
With added pace and capability with the bat, Bhuvi is the only easy pick for me. Can't pick between Umesh/Ishant as both are good at best. And depending on conditions Yasir could be in or out of the mix.
My notable exclusions are Jadeja/Ashwin, and I like both of them, but with one offspinning AR already in the side, a leggie or a seamer would make more sense. Fiz & Amir haven't lived up to potential [yet at least]. Bumrah and Hasan Ali have played a combined 5 Tests, so they don't get into my XI.
Could this team beat Aus/NZ/Eng/SA away?
The pace attack would be the only weak link, but one can dream.
That's why I'm curious about neutral PPers and desis who at least love both Ind/Pak teams. The latter is rarer, but there must be desis who don't carry national enmities into cricket. If you're either of those, please share your thoughts/squads.
Full disclosure: I'm Pakistani but I haven't lived in Pakistan for 15 years. Supporting Pakistan is in my blood, but ultimately I'm a cricket lover whose happiest cricket moments of some years were when Pak drew in Eng, Bang beat Aus/Eng, and India's recent Test win in SA.
So I'm picking on quality, experience and both cumulative/recent performances. Which means that I only have a total of 4 Pak-Bang players, & no SL players. One look at their recent squads and their respective cricinfo pages should make it clear.
#1-5: Azhar, Dhawan, Pujara, Kohli and Rahane.
Rahul, Rahane and Kohli pick themselves. Azhar, Vijay, Pujara and Rahane are contenders but slow. So picking 4 of them seems like a terrible idea. Vijay's recent form leaves him behind. While I'm not convinced Dhawan can score a lot of runs outside Asia, he only got 1 shot in SA and deserves one last chance. I thought about Tamim over Dhawan, but he's not in the same league.
#6-7: Shakib & Mushfiqur Rahim.
Best all-rounder in the world belongs in the team. Pushes past Pandya who is only 3 Tests old.
And as a gloveman Saha may be the best in the world, but Mushfiqur Rahim's recent form is too good to ignore. Sarfraz's performances speak for themselves. If there was a good WK/batsman in the wings and no other candidates for captain, Sarfraz would join the list of mediocre WK-batsmen we've always had.
#8-11: Bhuvi, Shami & two out of Yasir/Umesh/Ishant
With added pace and capability with the bat, Bhuvi is the only easy pick for me. Can't pick between Umesh/Ishant as both are good at best. And depending on conditions Yasir could be in or out of the mix.
My notable exclusions are Jadeja/Ashwin, and I like both of them, but with one offspinning AR already in the side, a leggie or a seamer would make more sense. Fiz & Amir haven't lived up to potential [yet at least]. Bumrah and Hasan Ali have played a combined 5 Tests, so they don't get into my XI.
Could this team beat Aus/NZ/Eng/SA away?
The pace attack would be the only weak link, but one can dream.
