Pakistan end Day 3 on 153/3, needing 228 to win the 3rd Test against South Africa

[SarfiBabarHaris]

I will be sad if Shani doesnt get his well deserved century in this series.

He has been the best batsman from both sides.

 

[Markhor]

For Time being its proven fact that we Suck in Test Cricket, we Lack in Every aspect but it isn't all doom and gloom and can turn it around with better team selection and vision and better domestic structure, but what you guys think we need tu change tu have a chance in WC??? [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION] [MENTION=134608]Hawkeye[/MENTION] [MENTION=129948]Bilal7[/MENTION] [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] @Saj

We are not winning the World Cup - it's not like the Champions Trophy where 3-4 good days wins the trophy.

You need consistency in this new format, which this mediocre bunch don't have.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

shot yar..
shaan is changed player ..
we should really show some courage and give some chance to other domestic performers

 

[Sunny_majoka]

The World Cup format does not suit this team.

agree.. i remember 2003 world cup..
that team was far better than current one

 

[Hasan123]

Good shot. Come on!!!!

 

[ExpressPacer]

A good thing about our current opening stand is also that they are mature educated individuals. I know education isn't given a lot of importance on this forum but grooming certainly helps sportsmen. This is why you don't see either of the two unneccasrily fishing outside the off stump like Hafeez or playing foolish hoicks in a Test match like Fakhar. It is also why they understand the importance of fitness and are supreme at running between the wickets.

Maybe not gems, but Pakistan need to persist with this solid, calm and mature opening combination. Perhaps the average PP'ers nightmare, apparently both are nepotistic selections.

Brilliant batting by the two lefties thus far.

 

[Markhor]

First fifty opening partnership for Pakistan in South Africa in a Test since 2002.

That was when Taufeeq Umar and Saleem Elahi opened.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Pakistani batsmen don't have the technique to play short bowling. We have bowling friendly wickets back home but they are green wickets, not bouncy. There are no bowlers who bowl fast or express either so where do you expect them go get the technique to play short pitched stuff?

Similarly, their batsmen are inept against spin because they don't have the technique to play spin owing to pacer firnedly wickets.

Which is exactly why they all should avoid short deliveries that are avoidable. I understand Shan playing it as he has mastered the shot, but that doesn't mean that others have to hook every short ball.

Need to find that balance between attack and defense otherwise you will always give SA a chance on a pretty good batting wicket.

 

[Pakpak]

Series lost, pressure off time for the failures to shine.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Shan is looking really good.

Imam will probably play in the ODIs because of this test lol.

Imam will play no matter what due to uncle be head selector.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Conditions pretty good for batting.

 

[Mueez]

SA will miss Keshav Maharaj

 

[ExpressPacer]

Imam will play no matter what due to uncle be head selector.

Or maybe because the lad nearly averages 60? At a strike rate of 82? At only 23 years old. Come on man. Cut the guy some slack.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Shan is looking really good.

Imam will probably play in the ODIs because of this test lol.

Shan needs a hundred here to secure his ODI debut.

 

[sindhiboy]

Never though I would ever say this, but imam has looked solid this match

 

[Hasan123]

Imam can be a good test player. But he is in the ODI team due to being Inzis nephew.

 

[Pete Rose]

Big over this. This is Rabada s final over in this spell probably.

 

[Hasan123]

Shan needs a hundred here to secure his ODI debut.

I would play Shan but Imam will play.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Or maybe because the lad nearly averages 60? At a strike rate of 82? At only 23 years old. Come on man. Cut the guy some slack.

Minnow basher you mean? Lets not prentend like hes anything otherwise.

 

[dravidthewall]

Lol pakistan winning it

 

[Mueez]

I would play Shan but Imam will play.

There is a possibility both will play as Haris is injured.

 

[MMHS]

Really good start, they have scored quickly and taken care of 15 new ball overs at least - no excuse now for Azhar & Asad at 3 & 4.

 

[Hasan123]

There is a possibility both will play as Haris is injured.

Babar at 3. Fakhar as 1 opener . Hafeez at 4. Malik at 5. Sarfraz at 6. How can both play ?

 

[Arsalan Pro]

This is the highest opening partnership for both teams in this series now. Well Played Shan and Imam!!!!

 

[Titan24]

There is a possibility both will play as Haris is injured.

Was thinking the same but Babar is gonna be 1 down so 2 down for Shan is bit lower

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

There is a possibility both will play as Haris is injured.

They will fit in Hafeez

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

A good thing about our current opening stand is also that they are mature educated individuals. I know education isn't given a lot of importance on this forum but grooming certainly helps sportsmen. This is why you don't see either of the two unneccasrily fishing outside the off stump like Hafeez or playing foolish hoicks in a Test match like Fakhar. It is also why they understand the importance of fitness and are supreme at running between the wickets.

Maybe not gems, but Pakistan need to persist with this solid, calm and mature opening combination. Perhaps the average PP'ers nightmare, apparently both are nepotistic selections.

Brilliant batting by the two lefties thus far.

Both average in 20s though.
Lets make such claims if they end their careers as 43+ average batsmen.

Sachin arguably the best batsman of all time failed 10th grade 3 times.
Younis, Imzamam, Yousuf 3 of our best batsmen of last 20 years arent 12th pass too.

Plus I dont think Shan should be shown as an example to budding Pakistani cricketers just because he is educated from a foreign university. I dont think more than 5% of Pakistanis can afford higher education from abroad. That will give a bad message that if you are graduated from abroad you will be treated specially and given higher privileges.


More than education skills, talent, interest, passion and handwork matter.

 

[Rayyman]

Where is spinner?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Good positive intent being shown by PAK here .

 

[Mueez]

Babar at 3. Fakhar as 1 opener . Hafeez at 4. Malik at 5. Sarfraz at 6. How can both play ?

Lol totally forgot Hafeez is in the ODI squad.

Then, if Hafeez doesn’t play...

 

[JibranAnsari]

Any part time spinner in SA team?

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Was thinking the same but Babar is gonna be 1 down so 2 down for Shan is bit lower

Unless Shan scores a hundred here only a few ODI losses could get him in instead of either Imam or Hafeez

 

[Titan24]

Really good start, they have scored quickly and taken care of 15 new ball overs at least - no excuse now for Azhar & Asad at 3 & 4.

There was no excuse for them even in capetown when Pak was in lead and 100 odd /1, they both couldnt handle the pressure as something was at stake there.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Why doesn't Dean Elgar bowl himself?

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Babar at 3. Fakhar as 1 opener . Hafeez at 4. Malik at 5. Sarfraz at 6. How can both play ?

If M Hafeez plays as a 5th bowler, which is unlikely.

 

[Rayyman]

Lol totally forgot Hafeez is in the ODI squad.

Then, if Hafeez doesn’t play...

I hope Hafeez fails the whole series and so then Haris can slot in against Aus.

Fakhar and Babar have #s 2 & 3 spots on lock so Imam and Shan have to fight for it.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Is the pitch going to be easy from now on?

 

[Titan24]

Unless Shan scores a hundred here only a few ODI losses could get him in instead of either Imam or Hafeez

Yes the lineup for the first pretty much going to be

Fakhar
Imam
Babar
Hafeez
Malik
Sarfaraz

 

[Hasan123]

New ball seen off. So called experience should at least get decent scores from here.

 

[Hasan123]

If M Hafeez plays as a 5th bowler, which is unlikely.

Hafeez has no business playing as a 5th bowler.

 

[Ahmed216]

Mike haysman on air - 'pak batsmen ducking and diving a bit on a pitch thats playing pretty true..'

Hes been disgraceful. Deserves to be removed

 

[Titan24]

Any part time spinner in SA team?

Elgar, Markram

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Yes the lineup for the first pretty much going to be

Fakhar
Imam
Babar
Hafeez
Malik
Sarfaraz

It would be stupid actually to not include someone who has been thrashing Steyn, Rabada etc.

Would be a massive blunder.

 

[Mueez]

I hope Hafeez fails the whole series and so then Haris can slot in against Aus.

Fakhar and Babar have #s 2 & 3 spots on lock so Imam and Shan have to fight for it.

Is Steyn selected for the ODI squad?

Otherwise Rabada would do well to get Hafeez dropped )

 

[Hasan123]

Lol totally forgot Hafeez is in the ODI squad.

Then, if Hafeez doesn’t play...

He will play. They don't have the guts to drop him. Inzi selecting UAE squad for WC in England and a series in South Africa.

 

[Syed1]

Awkward moment when Pak finally figured out how to bat in the last innings of the series

 

[Titan24]

It would be stupid actually to not include someone who has been thrashing Steyn, Rabada etc.

Would be a massive blunder.

Agreed. But we are all used to these kind of blunders from Sarfraz and Mickey

 

[Titan24]

Awkward moment when Pak finally figured out how to bat in the last innings of the series

Imam and Shan have been playing decently throughout, its the seniors in the form of Azhar and Asad still struggling to know how to bat.

Shan is actually 3rd highest scorer i guess in the series

 

[Ahmed216]

Awkward moment when Pak finally figured out how to bat in the last innings of the series

Wait for azhar and asad to arrive

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Hafeez has no business playing as a 5th bowler.

He played in the last match as one.

 

[Rayyman]

There was no excuse for them even in capetown when Pak was in lead and 100 odd /1, they both couldnt handle the pressure as something was at stake there.

Azhar needs to stick one end and then Asad/Babar/Sarfraz can score the runs.

 

[Hasan123]

Dropped short anyway.

 

[MMHS]

agree.. i remember 2003 world cup..
that team was far better than current one

No, I think this format suits PAK team much better. Because players groomed in a flawed system on poor quality wickets can only be better in a longer tournament. 2003 WC was different for different reasons and the format was even more complex - one loss & you are out, when 3 of 4 to make the cut. No point winning against ZIM, NETH - PAK lost first 2 games against AUS & ENG. Particularly the ENG game, because other 2 teams from same group made the finals.

Even in this series, 2nd innings batting has been much better, and I am sure we'll see better bating in ODI series after a month in SAF.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Imam dropped?

 

[Hasan123]

He played in the last match as one.

That tactic in ODIs will not get you anywhere.

 

[Mueez]

Oh damn!

Imam gets another chance!

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Is Steyn selected for the ODI squad?

Otherwise Rabada would do well to get Hafeez dropped )

Yes, Steyn is present in the ODI squad.

 

[Markhor]

Imam nearly giving it away.

 

[Titan24]

Azhar needs to stick one end and then Asad/Babar/Sarfraz can score the runs.

This would be a strategy but I dont think “Strategy” word is there in the dictionary of the current management.

 

[Ahmed216]

Imam dropped?

It fell short

 

[Rayyman]

He played in the last match as one.

That tactic in ODIs will not get you anywhere.

That was just a temporary move for one game (Mickey said).

It would be wrong not to play a full fledged bowling attack. Bowling is Pakistan's strength and Hafeez shouldn't be 5th bowler especially outside Asia.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Imam needs to cash in on that chance.

 

[Syed1]

Imam nearly giving it away.

So par for course

 

[PakPremi]

It seems Pak have finally learnt to leave balls, let's see others have also learnt

 

[Syed1]

It seems Pak have finally learnt to leave balls, let's see others have also learnt

We have tailender Azhar in next

 

[JibranAnsari]

No extras so far.

 

[PakPremi]

We have tailender Azhar in next

Unfortunately

 

[Hasan123]

Need to see off Rabada.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Mohammad Abbas next, anyone? He is pretty good as a nightwatchmen.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Sarfraz should come in next , in the next over.

 

[Abdullah]

All I pray is that they DONT GIVE THEIR WICKETS AWAY!!

 

[Titan24]

We have tailender Azhar in next

And a glorified tailender aka Tendulkar next

 

[Syed1]

Mohammad Abbas next, anyone? He is pretty good as a nightwatchmen.

Has batted better than Azhar all series. I think Azhar should be the night watchman for other bats. Can't waste Abbas's wicket

 

[ILcricket]

Excellent start . Hosts will regret not having played Keshav here .

 

[Something]

How's it looking gents?

Chase on?

 

[Syed1]

And a glorified tailender aka Tendulkar next

At least Asad has 1 innings of some substance in the series. Azhar has batted worse than Amir or Hasan while supposedly being best bat in side

 

[Titan24]

Excellent start . Hosts will regret not having played Keshav here .

Nah man, they are far from regrets atm. But if Pak goes anywhere close to the total then regrets are gonna come in

 

[Mirpur express]

If the openers score 250+ then we have a chance... long way to go though anything over 100 needed with 3 down us curtains

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Easy conditions. Cash in while it lasts.

 

[Hasan123]

Good ball. Tomorrow won't be easy for batting.