Pakistan vs Hong Kong | 2nd Match | Asia Cup | Dubai | September 16, 2018 | Pre-Match Thread

[hadi123]

Not as excited for this tournament anymore as I won't be able to watch it as no one is showing it here in UK but nonetheless I am excited. Although, maybe not as much for this match. Let's hope we don't get beaten by Hong Kong. Surely not.

My team would be this

1) Fakhar Zaman
2) Imam-ul-Haq
3) Babar Azam
4) Shoaib Malik
5) Sarfaraz Ahmed (C) (WK)
6) Asif Ali
7) Faheem Ashraf
8) Shadab Khan
9) Mohammad Amir
10) Hasan Ali
11) Usman Shinwari

I guess the only question is which pacers will play as we have quite a few in our squad but the rest of the team picks itself.

 

[topspin]

Fakhar Zaman
Haris Sohail
Babar
Shoaib Malik
Shadab
Asif Ali
Faheem
Sarfraz (c,wk) - He's a rubbish batsman now and only warrants a place in the side as captain and keeper
Hasan Ali
Amir
Shaheen

 

[troodon]

Not as excited for this tournament anymore as I won't be able to watch it as no one is showing it here in UK but nonetheless I am excited. Although, maybe not as much for this match. Let's hope we don't get beaten by Hong Kong. Surely not.

My team would be this

1) Fakhar Zaman
2) Imam-ul-Haq
3) Babar Azam
4) Shoaib Malik
5) Sarfaraz Ahmed (C) (WK)
6) Asif Ali
7) Faheem Ashraf
8) Shadab Khan
9) Mohammad Amir
10) Hasan Ali
11) Usman Shinwari

I guess the only question is which pacers will play as we have quite a few in our squad but the rest of the team picks itself.

Bowling looks class. Especially the Pace bowling options. Batting looks a bit weak. Outside of Fakhar and may be Babar, nobody really stands out in that team.

Pak will choke all opponents including India with tight bowling. Then their batting have to chase mediocre targets which they can do comfortably. The team to beat I say.

 

[Pete Rose]

another century for fakhar and imam unless we bowl first

 

[Hasan123]

I would go with OPs 11 too and like him I also disappointed that UK has no broadcasting rights . Because of this I will be unable to watch the tournament and will have to relay on highlights.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Going in with one spinner will be risky later on

I’d swap Faheem for Nawaz

Or to give him a reality check, swap Amir for Nawaz

 

[Minnowbasher]

Should absolutely trash them. I won't be satisfied unless we win by 200+ runs or atleast 8 wickets (if chasing)

 

[PakLFC]

Big question is what the Hong Kong side will be!! Really, such teams like Hong Kong should not be in the competition instead the top sides should play each other twice. The two finishing the highest after the round robin should go to the final.

 

[Kohli The King of Chase]

Bit off topic, Hong Kong team has 8 Muslims and 1 Hindu (not being racist) in playing 11, yes playing 11, not just squad. How can cricket develop in those countries when only the immigrants from India and Pakistan are playing?

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Play Imam and Shan and watch both getting a century.

Meanwhile if Fakhar plays; could be another chance to get a double hundred or even a triple if he plays exceptionally well.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Rest Amir and play Shaheen for this game.

Let Amir come in fresh for the India game.

 

[CricVet]

Play full strength team team for match practice before the main event.
Also, I hope Pak take the game seriously.

 

[hussain.r97]

We should use this game to somewhat test our bench strength:

1.)Fakhar Zaman
2.)Shan Masood
3.)Babar Azam
4.)Sarfraz Ahmed+*
5.)Haris Sohail
6.)Asif Ali
7.)Shadab Khan
8.)Mohammad Nawaz
9.)Usman Khan
10.)Junaid Khan
11.)Shaheen Shah Afridi

For the India game:

1.)Fakhar Zaman
2.)Shan Masood (if he does well vs HK)/Babar Azam
3.)Babar Azam/Haris Sohail (if Babar opens in place of Shan)
4.)Sarfraz Ahmed+*
5.)Shoaib Malik
6.)Asif Ali
7.)Shadab Khan
8.)Mohammad Nawaz
9.)Hasan Ali
10.)Mohammad Amir
11.)Shaheen Shah Afridi/Usman Khan

 

[hadi123]

We should use this game to somewhat test our bench strength:

1.)Fakhar Zaman
2.)Shan Masood
3.)Babar Azam
4.)Sarfraz Ahmed+*
5.)Haris Sohail
6.)Asif Ali
7.)Shadab Khan
8.)Mohammad Nawaz
9.)Usman Khan
10.)Junaid Khan
11.)Shaheen Shah Afridi

For the India game:

1.)Fakhar Zaman
2.)Shan Masood (if he does well vs HK)/Babar Azam
3.)Babar Azam/Haris Sohail (if Babar opens in place of Shan)
4.)Sarfraz Ahmed+*
5.)Shoaib Malik
6.)Asif Ali
7.)Shadab Khan
8.)Mohammad Nawaz
9.)Hasan Ali
10.)Mohammad Amir
11.)Shaheen Shah Afridi/Usman Khan

Why not Imam-ul-Haq? Not impressed with his performance against Zimbabwe?

 

[hussain.r97]

Why not Imam-ul-Haq? Not impressed with his performance against Zimbabwe?

I personally wasn't impressed by the way he paced and built his innings, but I don't mind if they give him a chance over Shan Masood. I just think that Shan is in good form, and if he clicks for us during the Asia Cup, it could be very rewarding to play him.

 

[aloo paratha]

Bit off topic, Hong Kong team has 8 Muslims and 1 Hindu (not being racist) in playing 11, yes playing 11, not just squad. How can cricket develop in those countries when only the immigrants from India and Pakistan are playing?

Well the interest has to start somewhere. Historically, cricket was spread by immigrants. One can only hope that the natives catch on.

 

[ARK Rafay]

Here I've watched some matches that were telecast on YouTube by PTV's Official channel. If PTV broadcast this tournament. You can easily watch it on YouTube. If not available, you can use a VPN.

 

[MenInG]

Do not discuss or ask for illegal streams anywhere on PP

 

[Hermoine Green]

I would go with OPs 11 too and like him I also disappointed that UK has no broadcasting rights . Because of this I will be unable to watch the tournament and will have to relay on highlights.

You can watch live streaming on YT.

 

[Justcrazy]

Pakistan will miss a second specialist spinner. Mark my words.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Pakistan will miss a second specialist spinner. Mark my words.

Pakistan won’t miss anyone against Hong Kong.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

How's the weather and the forecast in UAE for Asian cup?

Also I've waited so long for this. Why do we have such an imbalanced schedule?

 

[Slim]

I hope Junaid Khan plays. We need to make sure we choose players based on performance and not just on their names.

 

[the_outsider]

Pakistan really should have gone with 2 spinners.

Every other team will have at least 2 front line spinners in their XI.

And the batting is a bit light otherwise they have a good LOI team.

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

shaheen should debut in this match. He should play ahead of usman.Nawaz has to be there in place of faheem.Zafar would have been great though instead of mediocre nawaz.

 

[Rayyman]

This would be my XI:
1. Imam ul-Haq
2. Fakhar Zaman
3. Babar Azam
4. Shoaib Malik
5. Sarfraz Ahmed
6. Asif Ali
7. Shadab Khan
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Mohammad Nawaz
10. Hasan Ali
11. Mohammad Amir

 

[PakSarZameen]

1) Fakhar Zaman
2) Imam-ul-Haq
3) Babar Azam
4) Shoaib Malik
5) Sarfaraz Ahmed (C) (WK)
6) Asif Ali
7) Muhammad Nawaz
8) Shadab Khan
9) Junaid Khan
10) Shaheen Shah Afridi
11) Usman Shinwari

The best pacer gets to play against India alongside Amir

 

[Syed1]

Anything less than a 200 run defeat would be a disgrace.

 

[DeadBall]

How's the weather and the forecast in UAE for Asian cup?

Also I've waited so long for this. Why do we have such an imbalanced schedule?

it will be around 38-44 (Realfeel can even go upto 46-47)degrees with around 70 to 80 percent humidity. Basically will be like playing in hell on earth. Was very dumb to play in the UAE in mid September. Hopefully players don't get injured or just plain and simple fall down due to exhaustion given the hectic schedule of playing on alternative days with India even playing on consecutive days. Players should be rotated and rested, especially against the weaker teams.

 

[AFM]

Hope we bat first and break the 500 barrier

 

[MenInG]

Looking at training pics of Pak players, you can tell that the humidity is really high.

 

[asadee]

Looking at training pics of Pak players, you can tell that the humidity is really high.

Yes it is I live in Dubai

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

it will be around 38-44 (Realfeel can even go upto 46-47)degrees with around 70 to 80 percent humidity. Basically will be like playing in hell on earth. Was very dumb to play in the UAE in mid September. Hopefully players don't get injured or just plain and simple fall down due to exhaustion given the hectic schedule of playing on alternative days with India even playing on consecutive days. Players should be rotated and rested, especially against the weaker teams.

Man looking out of the window and seeing 18 C this feels extra hot.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

So I heard Malik is our vice captain till world cup on insistence of Mickey. Kia bat hai aik bnda jiski team mai jaga bank bnti usay vice captain bna dia.. First he said Haris will be in our playing x1 and then dropped him and now this..
Karachi Kings Mai bhi aisi he chawal maari hai isne

 

[coy0607]

9 of the playing 11 are pretty much locked in (Fakhar, Imam, Babar, Sarfaraz, Malik, Shadab, Faheem, Amir, Hassan)

it will be between Asif Ali, Nawaz, Shaheen and Usman for the last 2 spots. I think one of the fast bowlers will likely get picked (probably Usman), but the last spot is the really tough one.

I like Asif Ali a lot, but I would be strongly inclined to pick Nawaz and have an extra bowling option. Particularly against the strong teams.

HK match should be used a practice match to experiment

 

[kuskash]

Big question is what the Hong Kong side will be!! Really, such teams like Hong Kong should not be in the competition instead the top sides should play each other twice. The two finishing the highest after the round robin should go to the final.

HK should be given 100 overs and Pak should be 25 overs, still no competition

 

[Shafi]

Hope we had Sharjeel ahead of Imam.
Our batting is a real concern!!!!

 

[nextover666666]

My uncle had a dream that hong kong won......i hope this does not come true lol

 

[MachoKhan]

Third peacer should be faheem that way nawaz can play also so more batting and two spinners shadab and nawaz

 

[Justcrazy]

Pakistan need to fit in two spinners in the XI.

Malik , fakhar can be part timer . Imam should be dropped and faheem Ashraf should open , that will fit in Nawaz.

 

[TeymurBlake]

I think its only one position where Pakistan are currently debating and that's whether to add a pacer or add another spinner. I personally think it will depend of the pitch. It's basically between Usman Khan or Mohammad Nawaz. Personally would another out and out spinner in the team such as Zafar Gohar.

 

[BDfanforever]

The second match should been India vs Pakistan.

 

[TeamPak95]

Bold prediction: Pakistan will win in the same fashion as they did vs Canada in 2011 WC.

 

[CadPakFan]

Bold prediction: Pakistan will win in the same fashion as they did vs Canada in 2011 WC.

I am putting my money on your prediction.

 

[Pete Rose]

We should open the batting with aamir and shaheen afridi