What's new

[PICTURES] Punjab beat Sindh by 5 wickets and qualify for the final of Pakistan Cup

Fielding has not been all that bad in the tournament , there have been a few misfields and dropped catches but overall satisfactory.
 
I don't know what Inzi 'll do, but I would have taken Shaan to UK, for Test & if he does well, might keep at the end of Series for ODIs as well.

PAK must play 1 left-handed opener in ODI - it should be either Butt or Shaan in ODI while Sharjeel can slog around in T20. In Test, Shaan & Azhar should open & Asad should bat at 3.
 
So, Sarfu 'll bowl out Aamir & Sohail to save the tournament. At least, he has the awareness.
 
I don't know what Inzi 'll do, but I would have taken Shaan to UK, for Test & if he does well, might keep at the end of Series for ODIs as well.

PAK must play 1 left-handed opener in ODI - it should be either Butt or Shaan in ODI while Sharjeel can slog around in T20. In Test, Shaan & Azhar should open & Asad should bat at 3.
That partnership was outstanding, wasn't it?

Shan Masood and Salman Butt were in total control in spite of the high quality of bowling and the pressure of the match situation.

For the England Tests I'd have four openers in the squad - them plus Shehzad and Hafeez, and I'd give Shehzad and Masood the opportunity to open on the A tour too.

I'd add six middle order batsmen - Azhar, Younis, Shafiq, Misbah, Umar Akmal and Babar Azam.

Two keepers - Sarfraz and Rizwan.

One spinner only - Yasir Shah.

Six quicks - Amir, Wahab, Ehsan Adil, Rahat, Asif and Junaid.

My A team would be those twenty minus Butt, Hafeez, Younis, Misbah, Sarfraz, Amir and Asif.
 
So Pakistan A in England before the Tests:

1. Ahmed Shehzad
2. Shan Masood
3. Azhar Ali
4. Babar Azam
5. Umar Akmal
6. Asad Shafiq
7. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
8. Amad Butt
9. Ehsan Adil
10. Yasir Shah
11. Junaid Khan

Sorry, had overlooked Amad Butt and on balance Wahab doesn't need the A tour.
 
So Pakistan A in England before the Tests:

1. Ahmed Shehzad
2. Shan Masood
3. Azhar Ali
4. Babar Azam
5. Umar Akmal
6. Asad Shafiq
7. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
8. Amad Butt
9. Ehsan Adil
10. Yasir Shah
11. Junaid Khan

Sorry, had overlooked Amad Butt and on balance Wahab doesn't need the A tour.

But how Are we going to test the younger guns if the team is full of seniors?
 
But how Are we going to test the younger guns if the team is full of seniors?

Realistically, your only Test vacancies in the next five years are:

2 openers - and Shehzad and Masood need exposure outside Asia
2 middle order bats to replace Misbah and Younis - and Babar Azam and Umar Akmal are your most talented youngsters
1 all-rounder who bowls quick - obviously Amad Butt.
1 right-arm quick - obviously Ehsan Adil.

Why pick other random youngsters for whom there is no vacancy? You need the Pakistan A tour of England to groom people for likely openings in this year's Tests in England, NZ and Australia.
 
That partnership was outstanding, wasn't it?

Shan Masood and Salman Butt were in total control in spite of the high quality of bowling and the pressure of the match situation.

For the England Tests I'd have four openers in the squad - them plus Shehzad and Hafeez, and I'd give Shehzad and Masood the opportunity to open on the A tour too.

I'd add six middle order batsmen - Azhar, Younis, Shafiq, Misbah, Umar Akmal and Babar Azam.

Two keepers - Sarfraz and Rizwan.

One spinner only - Yasir Shah.

Six quicks - Amir, Wahab, Ehsan Adil, Rahat, Asif and Junaid.

My A team would be those twenty minus Butt, Hafeez, Younis, Misbah, Sarfraz, Amir and Asif.



Not Junaid Khan - he has regressed considerably & I think he 'll be called this time. PAK already is struggling with image in UK, shouldn't take any risk. I'll pick Hasan Ali for JK. Adil bowled really well today, but still needs to be more consistent - besides, PAK tour is in later part of the Series; may be a 2nd spinner 'll be required - I'll pick Asghar & one of Adil/Hasan in the Test squad. Shehzad shouldn't be picked for different reason - I'll pick Amin/Haris (depending on fitness) for the middle order slot. PAK can't go to UK with a line-up of top 9 right handers & allow Jimmy, Berbi & Finn to settle down on 9" out side off line for whole day - must pick a couple of Lefti in top 7.

Azhar, Shan
Asad, YK, Misbah, Amin/Haris, Sarf
Yasir, Wahab, Aamir, Asif

Ideally, I would have dropped Misbah & taken MoHa at No. 5; but they'll drop Amin/Haris for MoHa.

Lots depending on how PAK catches & Asif bowls (if he is picked that is). At full potential, ENG-PAK 'll be much, much closer Test Series than most expecting.

In ODI, it 'll be 5-0 if Azhar is carried as Captain & if it doesn't rain for 5 hours.
 
Not Junaid Khan - he has regressed considerably & I think he 'll be called this time. PAK already is struggling with image in UK, shouldn't take any risk. I'll pick Hasan Ali for JK. Adil bowled really well today, but still needs to be more consistent - besides, PAK tour is in later part of the Series; may be a 2nd spinner 'll be required - I'll pick Asghar & one of Adil/Hasan in the Test squad. Shehzad shouldn't be picked for different reason - I'll pick Amin/Haris (depending on fitness) for the middle order slot. PAK can't go to UK with a line-up of top 9 right handers & allow Jimmy, Berbi & Finn to settle down on 9" out side off line for whole day - must pick a couple of Lefti in top 7.

Azhar, Shan
Asad, YK, Misbah, Amin/Haris, Sarf
Yasir, Wahab, Aamir, Asif

Ideally, I would have dropped Misbah & taken MoHa at No. 5; but they'll drop Amin/Haris for MoHa.

Lots depending on how PAK catches & Asif bowls (if he is picked that is). At full potential, ENG-PAK 'll be much, much closer Test Series than most expecting.

In ODI, it 'll be 5-0 if Azhar is carried as Captain & if it doesn't rain for 5 hours.
Excellent points.

As an Englishman, I am relieved that Pakistan have let Hafeez, Younis and Misbah go on too long so that we can wipe them out in trickier conditions.

Pakistan would probably have beaten us in Tests this summer with a line-up of:

1. Ahmed Shehzad
2. Shan Masood
3. Azhar Ali
4. Babar Azam
5. Salman Butt
6. Asad Shafiq
7. Sarfraz Ahmed
8. Mohammad Amir
9. Wahab Riaz
10. Yasir Shah
11. Mohammad Asif

Our batting has hugely gone backwards since 2010 and the loss of Swann and decline of Anderson impairs us too.

But I remember Younis Khan's Trott-like ordeal outside off-stump in Sharjah, and Misbah's immediate exit to every second new ball, and I think we will bowl Pakistan out for less than 200 in pretty much every innings with them in the side!
 
Asad Shafiq dismissed courtesy of a brilliant catch by Hassan Khan off Amir's bowling. 130/3 (25)
 
Shan dismissed off a Sohail Khan short ball as Amir grabs a superb catch diving in from mid-on. CCRP 132/4 (25.3)
 
Excellent points.

As an Englishman, I am relieved that Pakistan have let Hafeez, Younis and Misbah go on too long so that we can wipe them out in trickier conditions.

Pakistan would probably have beaten us in Tests this summer with a line-up of:

1. Ahmed Shehzad
2. Shan Masood
3. Azhar Ali
4. Babar Azam
5. Salman Butt
6. Asad Shafiq
7. Sarfraz Ahmed
8. Mohammad Amir
9. Wahab Riaz
10. Yasir Shah
11. Mohammad Asif

Our batting has hugely gone backwards since 2010 and the loss of Swann and decline of Anderson impairs us too.

But I remember Younis Khan's Trott-like ordeal outside off-stump in Sharjah, and Misbah's immediate exit to every second new ball, and I think we will bowl Pakistan out for less than 200 in pretty much every innings with them in the side!

Tough in any case, and for that Aamir/Asif has to be similar to 2010 - but I am not sure how Misbah 'll bat. Also, one of the main reason for PAK's dominance (Test) in UAE was Sarfraz's batting from No. 7 - he might struggle to match half of his heroics in UK.

Somewhere PCB has to take bold decisions - this is the best chance as this UK tour is relatively LONGER, in contemporary standard. If kids developed in PAK domestic system needs to play Test within a week of landing in UK, AUS, NZ & SAF - it'll be embarrassment awaiting. However, I missed one player - I'll pick Aamad Butt in Test team, may be even for experience only - PCB can afford the cost of carrying 1 more player.
 
Aamir is turning into a Champion fighter - must play in 2017 & 2018 County season (for FC matches) - that'll help him to develop physically & improve his batting. In fact, he should skip this winters Domestic Style considering the International work load - UK, WI, AUS, NZ, WI .... almost non stop from July for 10 months. No point in wasting energy for cricket that'll deteriorate his skills.
 
CCRP beat IS by 5 wickets with 132 balls to spare and will take on BBBGKPK in the final.
 
PCB's adjudication is matching every level, every where.

How on earth, today Shaan wins the MoM over Edil? Knocked 2 openers who had carried Sindh in their 2 wins in 1st 2 overs, then broke the crucial 8th wicket partnership & bowled 10-1-24-3 figures on a belter. Then someone wins MoM for 59 (77) effort...............................
 
Pictures from today's match

32.JPG

33.JPG

34.JPG

35.JPG

36.JPG

37.JPG
 
Last edited:
Back
Top