ICC CT 2017 | 1st semi-final: England vs Pakistan | 14th June, 2017 | Cardiff | Pre-Match Thread

[Sultan Baba]

Azhar Ali is better then Nikkama Hafeez

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Any chance of Haris ?

 

[BleedGreen]

Haris and Shadab in for Hafeez and Imad

 

[nads_rocks]

Pakistan have a knack to cause huge upsets and beat teams that are undefeated in icc tournaments. Australia. South Africa so why not England? England are a formidable team much improved and are well balanced in terms of batting and bowling but when Pakistan click especially their bowlers then no team is safe. I remember once in the World T20 Nasser Hussain on commentary said which Pakistan team has turned up today. Then from ball 1 he said oh its the dangerous one and we went on to win the World T20 in England! English pitches have been good for us. We just need to back the team to show fight to play with spirit and to play for the nation and its fans! I am backing Pakistan to win and a win it will be whether we bowl first and end up chasing 320-350 or whether we bat first and barely cross the 290-300 mark. We often surprise opponents when they least expect us to turn up and Safraz has got this team fired up. Whether we have hafeez or azhar in the team or both passengers, one of them is due a good score and against the short pitched bowling we need somebody like Azhar to see the bowlers out. We are weak at batting but there is some hope with Fakhar at the top and Fahim at the bottom and with some batting from Amir which he is capable of 20-30 runs would be very helpful if it gets to that. Batting order needs to be shuffled according to match situation.

All the best Team Pakistan

 

[Hamza_]

Any chance of Haris ?

What will he do?

 

[JayJay]

Haris and Shadab in for Hafeez and Imad

Bro, I understand Haris in for Hafeez, but man, Imad is so important to our team I would've thought. He is such an integral part of Pakistan cricket. In my opinion, Imad is the best all-rounder we have and will only get better. He surely must play in this game.

 

[Sarfarazian92]

This might sound stupid, but I want Roman Reigns to debut tomorrow.

Seems a very smart and level-headed bowler who doesn't crack when attacked.

 

[JaDed]

Hopefully an interesting match,how is the weather?

 

[Belawal2014]

Don't know if I should stay up after sehri or have sehri and go to sleep and wake up a little later. Decisions..

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Don't know if I should stay up after sehri or have sehri and go to sleep and wake up a little later. Decisions..

It's a semi final. Stay up

 

[imteaz]

Don't know if I should stay up after sehri or have sehri and go to sleep and wake up a little later. Decisions..

I usually go to sleep around 12 and wake up 7:30, so i miss first 15 to 20 overs but able to watch rest of the match

 

[Rayyman]

Don't know if I should stay up after sehri or have sehri and go to sleep and wake up a little later. Decisions..

Im'a sleep a few hours, then wake up at sehri and stay up for the whole match.

 

[Belawal2014]

It's a semi final. Stay up

I usually stay up with the help of an Iced-cap but knock out as soon as the first innings ends.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

I usually stay up with the help of an Iced-cap but knock out as soon as the first innings ends.

I can't sleep if Pakistan are doing well

 

[Belawal2014]

I usually go to sleep around 12 and wake up 7:30, so i miss first 15 to 20 overs but able to watch rest of the match

This seems like the wisest thing to do, but knowing me, I probably wont.

 

[Abdullah719]

This seems like the wisest thing to do, but knowing me, I probably wont.

Missing the first 20 overs isn't wise, the match might be over by then.

 

[cricfan967]

Word is that the surface is dry, hence Shadab will play in place of Faheem. Unconfirmed, but almost certain.

 

[Mag101]

Final prediction: England wins handsomely. I think it's going to be a demolition job.

 

[QalandarFan]

Final prediction: England wins handsomely. I think it's going to be a demolition job.

Well aren't you in for a rude awakening. Like many other you feel Pakistan is going to get demolished and England is this other level team. Well let me remind you cricket is won on the field and not by looking back at past performances.

Pakistan team knows this becuase they are a generous team who don't like to thrash the opponents in group stages to much. When it comes to the Semi's you will see a different Pakistan team step up to plate and dominate like no other.

And NO the English batting is not unstoppable, but the Pakistani bowling line-up is and the whole world is going to see this in just over 5 hours!

Let me remind PakPassion what the forecast is calling for at Cardiff in just a few hours now.



#GREENSTORM

 

[Saeed]

England is going to win. Pakistan was lucky that both SA and SL scored low. Pakistan will be out of luck if England scores above 250 or has to chase whatever target Pakistan sets.

 

[Square Drive]

Im'a sleep a few hours, then wake up at sehri and stay up for the whole match.

^^^

Best move.

 

[Couch Cricketer]

I would take Ahmed Shehzad for Azhar instead of Haris as well if an opener is required to remove Azhar as in the last few matches Shehzad was interested in taking singles and rotating strike at least unlike Azhar plus he is a better fielder as well. Would be interesting to see how we go when we have 2 openers willing to rotate the strike instead 1 or both just trying to block.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

I would take Ahmed Shehzad for Azhar instead of Haris as well if an opener is required to remove Azhar as in the last few matches Shehzad was interested in taking singles and rotating strike at least unlike Azhar plus he is a better fielder as well. Would be interesting to see how we go when we have 2 openers willing to rotate the strike instead 1 or both just trying to block.

Shehzad and azhar are both awful. Need Haris

 

[Coconut]

Pakistan were extremely lucky in both of their do or die group matches. They won the toss on both occasions.

Today Pak will have to do something similar. They must win the toss and bowl first if they want to compete against England. If England win the toss and bowl first it'll be all over for Pakistan.

 

[Yatoo]

England 351-4

Pakistan 189 all out

 

[todfod 11]

have they announced the team yet??

 

[Anchorman]

How sure are we that England are dropping Roy for Bairstow?

 

[Madplayer]

How sure are we that England are dropping Roy for Bairstow?

Pretty

 

[Anchorman]

Pretty

Thanks. Genuinely think he may prove to be the difference-maker here.

Based on your experience, what are the chances of Haris playing? Not asking whether you'd like him to play, but whether you think he'll be selected. Any reports?

 

[Yatoo]

Pretty

England playing their best 11
Pakistan just happy to help the "seniors" and "solid defense" batsmen.


No wonder Pakistan is a boring team to watch these days.

 

[Madplayer]

Thanks. Genuinely think he may prove to be the difference-maker here.

Based on your experience, what are the chances of Haris playing? Not asking whether you'd like him to play, but whether you think he'll be selected. Any reports?

Based on what we have seen so far, chances of haris playing are zero. Reports suggest that only shadab will come in for faheem. But they are just reports.

Having said this, you never know for sure. Mickey said certain things in contradiction to what hafeez said in the press conference, so that gives me hope of some good changes.

 

[Madplayer]

England playing their best 11
Pakistan just happy to help the "seniors" and "solid defense" batsmen.


No wonder Pakistan is a boring team to watch these days.

I think there is pressure on mickey to play these guys. The way he speaks, he doesnt sound like a dumb person who would put up with these shambolic performances just because the players are seniors. Sarfaraz seems like a yes man too.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Bairstow is a better overall batsman than Roy but I'd prefer him playing today's game over Roy

 

[Madplayer]

Bairstow is a better overall batsman than Roy but I'd prefer him playing today's game over Roy

?? You would obviously want the better overall batsman to play.

 

[raza hassan]

In 2015 WC, Sarfraz was on bench despite failure of Nasir Jamshed. Once Sarfraz was picked, the team looked different.
Now Harris Sohail is on bench to give way for incompetent Azhar and Hafeez, but Sarfraz is not ready to play him.

 

[Yatoo]

I think there is pressure on mickey to play these guys. The way he speaks, he doesnt sound like a dumb person who would put up with these shambolic performances just because the players are seniors. Sarfaraz seems like a yes man too.

As long as PCB is run by politicians with certain political agendas, cricket will not be the priority. And players like Azhar and Hafeez will continue to be in team. Also Umar Akmal was selected because of political agendas as said by Saj.

 

[Macho Mann]

In 2015 WC, Sarfraz was on bench despite failure of Nasir Jamshed. Once Sarfraz was picked, the team looked different.
Now Harris Sohail is on bench to give way for incompetent Azhar and Hafeez, but Sarfraz is not ready to play him.

even at that time, coach waqar yunus was criticized for not selecting him not captain

 

[marlonbrowndo]

?? You would obviously want the better overall batsman to play.

Not necessarily

 

[raza hassan]

He has 43 average with more than 80 strike rate. Most of his matches were against NewZeland, Australia and India. What he can do? Google Harris Sohail innings against NewZeland, Australia and India, he bosses quality fast bowling with ease.

 

[Madplayer]

Not necessarily

Hmm i get it. Horses for courses.

 

[Rafay Shafiq]

In 2015 WC, Sarfraz was on bench despite failure of Nasir Jamshed. Once Sarfraz was picked, the team looked different.
Now Harris Sohail is on bench to give way for incompetent Azhar and Hafeez, but Sarfraz is not ready to play him.

Actually it was bookies lobby who force nasir selection later in squad and then playing eleven...connect the dots

 

[Jabo]

Need to bat first and put 260 at least

Cant see that new batsman getting lucky against England

 

[cricket.mad]

Any team news ?

Is shadab Khan back?
Any brainy management will bring him back against spin allergic English

 

[asadee]

Pakistan were extremely lucky in both of their do or die group matches. They won the toss on both occasions.

Today Pak will have to do something similar. They must win the toss and bowl first if they want to compete against England. If England win the toss and bowl first it'll be all over for Pakistan.

Pakistan lost the toss against SAF