Pakistan v South Africa l 1st Test| Abu Dhabi | 14/10/13 | Day 1

[ImranFarhatFan]

Wait, is Shafiq in or Umar Amin?

 

[Square Drive]

So no Rehman. Gotta feel bad for the guy. However, Babar certainly deserved it. As did Irfan.

Good luck boys!

 

[iHammad]

Misbah not happy with the pitch: Basit Ali

 

[Asif321]

Pak XI : Khurram , Shaan Masood, Azhar , Younus, Misbah , Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Ajmal, Junaid, Irfan

 

[Red Devil]

Damn I was hoping we bat first so we could bowl in the last innings

 

[Square Drive]

Sore back for Rehman?

 

[Kianig89]

Shafiq playing good move

 

[ImranFarhatFan]

First goal is to make sure that Amla and AB NEVER get to bat together

 

[Red Devil]

So no Amin

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

Good morning brothers , excited about this match, let's see how Smith fares against his worst nemesis

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

Zulfiqar Babar will cause more problems for the Saffers than Ajmal, as batsmen will try to get rid of Ajmal quickly they won't know what hit them. He has an outstanding first class record and making a debut at 34?
Shan Masood has played well in the practice and dealt with Steyn before, so it won't be a problem, this is a strong Pakistan team, with Hafeez gone the deadweight has been lifted.

Junaid Khan vs Smith will be fun to watch. I always enjoyed Smith vs MJ. MJ won most of the time. I have a feeling Junaid will get Smith and Kallis.

 

[taqi]

Need to draw early blood get them 3 down on lunch

 

[Kianig89]

i hope we dont have to chase the leather too long Come on boys

 

[ImranFarhatFan]

Here's hoping for a start like we had against England on day 1 of the first test

 

[hur rizvi]

Why is babar playing ahead of Rehman???

Irfan ahead of Rahat is also questionable and so is Shan ahead of Shehzad...

Not really happy with final XI

 

[iHammad]

Damn, wanted to see Umar Amin instead of Shafiq

 

[Kianig89]

Again the Rohit interview

 

[MRSN]

our tail starts at 7..

 

[iHammad]

Misbah says Rehman has a sore back, Basit Ali says no he's been dropped

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

Saeed Ajmal has turned 36 today, this is sad, happy birthday

 

[Kianig89]

OUr batting on paper looks good only seems a weak link

 

[ImranFarhatFan]

South Africa playing 3 seamers, I'm expecting atleast 2 100s by us. I'll predict one by Azhar and one by Younis

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Actually Pak bowling attack looks solid. As long as Irfan's fitness is good, all is well. If he tires though Saffers will target him ruthlessly.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Amin should have played ahead of Shafiq.

 

[Bullet Drive]

We need as many lefties as possible to counter Steyn + Amin is way better then Shafiq.

 

[Kianig89]

there must be some moisture remember last time the thunderbolt Sharapova nvir got 3 wickets in first hour

 

[MRSN]

Zulfiqar Babar will cause more problems for the Saffers than Ajmal, as batsmen will try to get rid of Ajmal quickly they won't know what hit them. He has an outstanding first class record and making a debut at 34?
Shan Masood has played well in the practice and dealt with Steyn before, so it won't be a problem, this is a strong Pakistan team, with Hafeez gone the deadweight has been lifted.

Junaid Khan vs Smith will be fun to watch. I always enjoyed Smith vs MJ. MJ won most of the time. I have a feeling Junaid will get Smith and Kallis.

true..I hope they have done their work against Baber..he can cause problems on any pitch..

 

[Aman]

So YK is vice captain?

What was the point naming Amin VC if he wasn't even going to play?..

 

[Kianig89]

We need as many lefties as possible to counter Steyn + Amin is way better then Shafiq.

yes an avg. of 12 is better than 36

 

[ImranFarhatFan]

Their 5th bowler is a decent option in Duminy, our's is Younis lol

 

[hur rizvi]

Misbah says Rehman has a sore back, Basit Ali says no he's been dropped

I think sore back is a lame excuse i dont beleive in that and dropping Rehman is a pathetic decision....

If Rehman was injured there must have been some news in media, there has been none...

 

[Bullet Drive]

We will certainly miss Hafeez with his off-spin

 

[X-factor]

our tail starts at 7..

Sorry to say, with the exception of younis n misbah, the whole team is tail..

 

[Bullet Drive]

So YK is vice captain?

What was the point naming Amin VC if he wasn't even going to play?..

Amin is not our vc.

He is our A team captain. Big difference.

 

[hur rizvi]

Their 5th bowler is a decent option in Duminy, our's is Younis lol

Younis and Azhar are as good as Duminy as bowlers

 

[Kianig89]

start the game please too much talk shawk already

 

[Paradox]

Poor lineup. Shehzad needed for aggression and the track/pace suits him, he's missing. Umar Amin needed because he's a classy player in general, he's not there. Manzoor with his terrible technique, playing.

 

[Paradox]

Half the game lost/drawn already. SA couldn't bat first

 

[Aman]

SA have won the toss and have elected to bat first.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

PAK batting looks quite solid considering Hafeez is out. But Misbah's body language was so damn negative at the toss. Smith looked relatively happy though

 

[Bilal7]

So YK is vice captain?

What was the point naming Amin VC if he wasn't even going to play?..

To earmark him as a future captain.

 

[ImranFarhatFan]

Younis and Azhar are as good as Duminy as bowlers

that's very debatable

 

[Bullet Drive]

15 mins till start of play

 

[doctordamor]

once again, may I remind when SA last toured pak, under shoaib Malik we went with 2 seamers and 2 spinners, loss the toss and got phaintee by SA

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Younis and Azhar are as good as Duminy as bowlers

Younis and Azhar are better than that useless Duminy. Hardly turns the ball.

 

[Bullet Drive]

My team would be:

Shan, Shahzad, Azhar, YK, Misbah, Amin, Adnan, Babar, Ajmal, Junaid & Irfan

 

[Kianig89]

Spinners will have to do the majority of work and they can't afford an off day

 

[iHammad]

Masood
Manzoor
Azhar
YK
Misbah
Shafiq
Adnan

Ajmal
Babar
Junaid
Irfan

 

[speed]

Amin and rahat should have played,maybe even Ahmed ahead of manzooor.

 

[MRSN]

The pitch doesn't look like will produce the result but let's hope for better..

 

[iHammad]

Seems a long time since I've watched Pakistan play, hopefully our boys put up a good fight.

 

[hur rizvi]

My team would be:

Shan, Shahzad, Azhar, YK, Misbah, Amin, Adnan, Babar, Ajmal, Junaid & Irfan

On what basis do you drop a bowler like Rehman, who averages 28 in test cricket??

Rehman has a great record against SA also

 

[Asif321]

fawad's century is being shown again and again today

 

[KB-24]

Thaki huyi batting line barring YK (Misbah loves players of tuk tuk mold) and Saffers are batting first on flat wicket ... faarigh !!

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Spinners will have to do the majority of work and they can't afford an off day

Don't think pitch is gonna help spinners much. Junaid and Irfan have to bowl qaggressively and get wickets.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Misbah seemed unhappy with the pitch.

 

[HASHAM2]

Why will be Pakistani 5th Bowler
Younis khan

 

[iHammad]

Lot of things wrong with this series, would've been so much better had it been 3 tests. But we've got to work with 2 tests, let's enjoy it and hopefully we have a good first day.

 

[Kianig89]

's knock on Ten

 

[Kianig89]

fawad's century is being shown again and again today

rula diya ye dikha ke

 

[Bullet Drive]

On what basis do you drop a bowler like Rehman, who averages 28 in test cricket??

Rehman has a great record against SA also

He hasn't done anything wrong but Babar is better and the best players should play.

He's more aggressive and is more of a threatening bowler in my view. Rehman is good too but Babar is better.

Also, Babar is unknown to SA. They will be worried facing him.

 

[Kianig89]

Tony's voice sigh R.I.P

 

[Kianig89]

yaar another mundane voice commie Brain i wish n were there

 

[Bullet Drive]

Pitch is rock solid, very firm and dry.

 

[SmugP]

anyone got a link?

 

[Bullet Drive]

Who the hell is this Brian guy? Commies will be annoying I sense. Especially Kepler.

 

[Saeed]

Start the match already.

 

[Kianig89]

Again a pitch report

 

[saeedhk]

Good playing team for Pakistan.

 

[Bilal7]

On what basis do you drop a bowler like Rehman, who averages 28 in test cricket??

Rehman has a great record against SA also

Sore back.

 

[Saeed]

Again a pitch report

They thought conditions might change after 20 minutes.

 

[Kianig89]

So far we knew its Brain Hayse Kepler n Waqar only Waqar is good

 

[Kianig89]

They thought conditions might change after 20 minutes.

) and now toss again but same result

 

[hur rizvi]

He hasn't done anything wrong but Babar is better and the best players should play.

He's more aggressive and is more of a threatening bowler in my view. Rehman is good too but Babar is better.

Also, Babar is unknown to SA. They will be worried facing him.

How's babar better than Rehman, Rehman has performed at test level as well as Ajmal....

It's very unfair to drop Rehman...

 

[Saeed]

Raja isn't commenting?

 

[saiyan0312]

Pitch looks dry and batting track... We need some collapses over here... Shan masood and babar makes it . Feel bad for rehman as he has bowled very well. Good thing we didnt lose variety.

 

[GujjarSher]

Guys Rehman is out because of injury, sore back. Misbah said it in interview after toss.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Dropped catches here will be the worst. We have to be on top of our game.

 

[hur rizvi]

Sore back.

Lame excuse, If there was any such thing news would have been all-over media

 

[Kianig89]

so far kaachra commies i hope the cricket is not kachra :kami