[PICTURES] Training camp for Test series against Sri Lanka in progress in Lahore

[MenInG]

Pictures courtesy of PCB

 

[MenInG]

 

[another drop catch]

azhar ali should concentrate on his leg spin too

 

[Junaids]

Shan Masood has 1 century in 16 First Class innings since Anderson and Broad exposed his technique.

Haris Sohail last played a First Class match 3 years and 8 months ago.

Inzamam should be dismissed for this squad. It's comically absurd.

 

[AFM]

Pictures courtesy of PCB

Don't know if Remfy is a brand, but I first thought that was a signed thigh pad. Only reason I ask is because Faf wears the same pad. Did he give Azhar his or do they have the same supplier?

 

[the Great Khan]

Shan Masood has 1 century in 16 First Class innings since Anderson and Broad exposed his technique.

Haris Sohail last played a First Class match 3 years and 8 months ago.

Inzamam should be dismissed for this squad. It's comically absurd.

Haris Sohail is the second coming of Bradman. You should be banned for suggesting otherwise.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Haris Sohail is the second coming of Bradman. You should be banned for suggesting otherwise.

Harris the father of modern day ODI batting for Pakistan and thats a fact.

 

[the Great Khan]

Harris the father of modern day ODI batting for Pakistan and thats a fact.

I expect us to hammer Sri lanka with him in the side. A few quick fire centuries will be in the offing for the legend.

 

[Leo23]

Harris the father of modern day ODI batting for Pakistan and thats a fact.

lol what? )

haris is a good batsman but i cringed so hard at this )

 

[ammar_merry]

Reports on news channels that azhar ali is injured and only did light training today.
He along with yasir shah and abbas may have fitness test again.

 

[ammar_merry]

Don't know if Remfy is a brand, but I first thought that was a signed thigh pad. Only reason I ask is because Faf wears the same pad. Did he give Azhar his or do they have the same supplier?

remfry is brand

 

[ammar_merry]

Don't know if Remfy is a brand, but I first thought that was a signed thigh pad. Only reason I ask is because Faf wears the same pad. Did he give Azhar his or do they have the same supplier?

remfry
https://www.cricketcentre.com.au/product-group/10888-remfry-thigh-pad/product

 

[Junaids]

Haris Sohail is the second coming of Bradman. You should be banned for suggesting otherwise.

Haris Sohail has not scored a single run against a red ball since January 2014.

He hasn't played a First Class match for almost 4 years. Anyone who thinks his knee is up to a Test match - let alone series - needs to see him play a few First Class matches and see how he copes with 100+ overs in the field twice in the space of three days.

Plus he's never even played a Test. What kind of selector gives a debut to a guy who hasn't played anything more than a one day match for 3 years and 8 months?

It's an insult to the intelligence.

 

[sadida97]

Haris Sohail has not scored a single run against a red ball since January 2014.

He hasn't played a First Class match for almost 4 years. Anyone who thinks his knee is up to a Test match - let alone series - needs to see him play a few First Class matches and see how he copes with 100+ overs in the field twice in the space of three days.

Plus he's never even played a Test. What kind of selector gives a debut to a guy who hasn't played anything more than a one day match for 3 years and 8 months?

It's an insult to the intelligence.

I think he played grade 2 cricket

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Haris Sohail has not scored a single run against a red ball since January 2014.

He hasn't played a First Class match for almost 4 years. Anyone who thinks his knee is up to a Test match - let alone series - needs to see him play a few First Class matches and see how he copes with 100+ overs in the field twice in the space of three days.

Plus he's never even played a Test. What kind of selector gives a debut to a guy who hasn't played anything more than a one day match for 3 years and 8 months?

It's an insult to the intelligence.

He played grade 2 cricket for his team ZTBL (for which he always played) which recently got demoted to Grade 2 after Haris' injury. Scored 300 runs in 3 matches with average of 60 with 2 centuries and 1 fifty. A technical giant like Haris doesn't need to play seasons of first class cricket to prove his form.

To be honest you should really look at other players too apart from Salman Butt and Umar Akmal. I know you are genuine about your love for Pak cricket but we have other players too. All I hear from you are the few players from past who performed in Australia ~10 years ago.

 

[AFM]

remfry is brand

Thanks for the info

 

[Junaids]

He played grade 2 cricket for his team ZTBL (for which he always played) which recently got demoted to Grade 2 after Haris' injury. Scored 300 runs in 3 matches with average of 60 with 2 centuries and 1 fifty. A technical giant like Haris doesn't need to play seasons of first class cricket to prove his form.

To be honest you should really look at other players too apart from Salman Butt and Umar Akmal. I know you are genuine about your love for Pak cricket but we have other players too. All I hear from you are the few players from past who performed in Australia ~10 years ago.

TBH, I think any new batsman should be in the 20-22 age band.

 

[mmkextreme_1]

TBH, I think any new batsman should be in the 20-22 age band.

According to this logic then Misbah would have never made a comeback.

Hussey would have never debuted for Australia.

 

[Junaids]

According to this logic then Misbah would have never made a comeback.

Hussey would have never debuted for Australia.

Firstly, in my opinion Misbah never should have made a comeback - he was largely the cause of unnecessary series losses in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Secondly, you can afford to induct an older batsman if - like Australia now - your team only has one player beyond his thirtieth Birthday.

But Pakistan have too many players the wrong side of thirty already: Azhar, Shafiq, Sarfraz, Yasir and Wahab.

Any more would be suicide.

 

[mak36]

TBH, I think any new batsman should be in the 20-22 age band.

Talk about shifting the goalposts. Please stop spreading misinformation.

 

[Junaids]

Talk about shifting the goalposts. Please stop spreading misinformation.

Misinformation?

I have clearly explained over and over my thoughts about the continual regeneration of all sports teams, so that you avoid decline when too many ageing players decline and depart together.

You ensure that you have no more than 2 players in the 30-32 age band, and that they have different roles (eg batsman and bowler, or striker and defender).

As members of the team age, you replace the oldest player (when he reaches 33) with a person in the age band 20-22, who can himself hopefully play for 10 years.

So you never endure a transition period. Ever.

Look at the current football teams of Belgium, France and Germany, who all do this. And compare them with Italy and England and Holland who do not. And Spain, who carried round ageing legends and got knocked out in the First Round when they were defending World Cup holders. Chile - who eliminated them - are also almost out of the World Cup due to failure to replace ageing players.

Australia was struggling a year ago. Suddenly they brought in kids like Renshaw and now they will win The Ashes 5-0.

 

[mak36]

Misinformation?

I have clearly explained over and over my thoughts about the continual regeneration of all sports teams, so that you avoid decline when too many ageing players decline and depart together.

You ensure that you have no more than 2 players in the 30-32 age band, and that they have different roles (eg batsman and bowler, or striker and defender).

As members of the team age, you replace the oldest player (when he reaches 33) with a person in the age band 20-22, who can himself hopefully play for 10 years.

So you never endure a transition period. Ever.

Look at the current football teams of Belgium, France and Germany, who all do this. And compare them with Italy and England and Holland who do not. And Spain, who carried round ageing legends and got knocked out in the First Round when they were defending World Cup holders. Chile - who eliminated them - are also almost out of the World Cup due to failure to replace ageing players.

Australia was struggling a year ago. Suddenly they brought in kids like Renshaw and now they will win The Ashes 5-0.

You made the false claim "Haris Sohail has not scored a single run against a red ball since January 2014" and even went so far as to say "it's an insult to the intelligence."

Now you been called out on this, you shift the goalposts to your classic age argument even though Haris Sohail is 28. He is hardly an "ageing player."

Depending on the context, the age argument does have some merit and I am a big fan of investing in younger players (particularly in LOIs) but unlike you I take into account the wider context. Your problem is you apply the age rule as a hard and fast rule. By the way, have you started calling for Anderson to retire yet?

 

[mmkextreme_1]

Firstly, in my opinion Misbah never should have made a comeback - he was largely the cause of unnecessary series losses in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Secondly, you can afford to induct an older batsman if - like Australia now - your team only has one player beyond his thirtieth Birthday.

But Pakistan have too many players the wrong side of thirty already: Azhar, Shafiq, Sarfraz, Yasir and Wahab.

Any more would be suicide.

The bolded part I would partially agree with, but then again he was integral to our series win in the WI.

Talking about the players you named are on the wrong side of thirty, there should be a definite mix of youth and experienced players in the side. Barring Wahab the others deserve their spot in the playing XI.

Just can't kick players out because they're too "old." With fitness level nowadays, players play the game until they are 40 and in some cases 40+.

A player should be selected in a team regardless of their age, picking and choosing because of age equates to discrimination. If they are performing they are allowed a space in the final XI.

 

[the Great Khan]

Haris Sohail has not scored a single run against a red ball since January 2014.

He hasn't played a First Class match for almost 4 years. Anyone who thinks his knee is up to a Test match - let alone series - needs to see him play a few First Class matches and see how he copes with 100+ overs in the field twice in the space of three days.

Plus he's never even played a Test. What kind of selector gives a debut to a guy who hasn't played anything more than a one day match for 3 years and 8 months?

It's an insult to the intelligence.

Your guess is as a good as mine. Haris sahib would start huffing and puffing after a 40 odd in a ODI game. How can he bat when the team may need him to see out two sessions? or even a session? I just dont get what the fuss is about. He seems like an ok player but nothing special. When we have someone like fawad alam who is tailor made for the long game twiddling his thumbs I'm surprised they have gone for haris.

 

[another drop catch]

inzimam is the only selector who is giving chance to youngster and you want him to be dismissed. . . . . wow

 

[sshakir411]

Your guess is as a good as mine. Haris sahib would start huffing and puffing after a 40 odd in a ODI game. How can he bat when the team may need him to see out two sessions? or even a session? I just dont get what the fuss is about. He seems like an ok player but nothing special. When we have someone like fawad alam who is tailor made for the long game twiddling his thumbs I'm surprised they have gone for haris.

Do you remember the WC15 game against UAE where Harris could barley up the scoring rate even when he was on 60 odd? He couldn't hit boundaries and missed out on a 100 against an associate nation. That's enough to judge his capabilities. Yes he looks better than Fawad while batting but that's all he has going for him.

 

[the Great Khan]

Do you remember the WC15 game against UAE where Harris could barley up the scoring rate even when he was on 60 odd? He couldn't hit boundaries and missed out on a 100 against an associate nation. That's enough to judge his capabilities. Yes he looks better than Fawad while batting but that's all he has going for him.

true. I just dont think he is test match material. Lack of fitness and I'm yet to see any real mental strength. Seems pretty mediocre for now.

 

[Leo23]

Do you remember the WC15 game against UAE where Harris could barley up the scoring rate even when he was on 60 odd? He couldn't hit boundaries and missed out on a 100 against an associate nation. That's enough to judge his capabilities. Yes he looks better than Fawad while batting but that's all he has going for him.

true. I just dont think he is test match material. Lack of fitness and I'm yet to see any real mental strength. Seems pretty mediocre for now.

both of you will end up eating your words

haris will average 45+ in test cricket and you will see that he is an improvement on shafiq

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Don't know if Remfy is a brand, but I first thought that was a signed thigh pad. Only reason I ask is because Faf wears the same pad. Did he give Azhar his or do they have the same supplier?

It's a brand, custom made to each client

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Azhar and Yasir have never been able to get rid of their pot bellies. Even the countless training sessions and exercises they keep doing does not do anything or to transform that into muscle.

 

[hadi123]

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Azhar and Yasir have never been able to get rid of their pot bellies. Even the countless training sessions and exercises they keep doing does not do anything or to transform that into muscle.

Azhar apparently has a knee injury may be a doubt for the first test.

That could be a blessing in disguise, I dont want him at 3, hopefully the middle order does well so he can stay as an opener


Yasir though is unfit, according to reports he failed the YoYo test and some outlets are saying he may be dropped altogether

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Azhar apparently has a knee injury may be a doubt for the first test.

That could be a blessing in disguise, I dont want him at 3, hopefully the middle order does well so he can stay as an opener


Yasir though is unfit, according to reports he failed the YoYo test and some outlets are saying he may be dropped altogether

They've had pot bellies for years and haven't been able to get ride of them being injured or not does not make a difference.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

They've had pot bellies for years and haven't been able to get ride of them being injured or not does not make a difference.

true but Azhar has been fairly fit in his career and Yasir has also been quite mobile in the field

Perhaps it's just the way they are?

 

[msb314]

Don't know if Remfy is a brand, but I first thought that was a signed thigh pad. Only reason I ask is because Faf wears the same pad. Did he give Azhar his or do they have the same supplier?

He looks overweight to me.
[MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION]

 

[Deewana Mastana]

true but Azhar has been fairly fit in his career and Yasir has also been quite mobile in the field

Perhaps it's just the way they are?

True they've always been this way so it could be anything as in pictures and on TV they will look to have a belly.

 

[another drop catch]

mohd abbas has very clean and smooth action only height is a factor

 

[mmkextreme_1]

mohd abbas has very clean and smooth action only height is a factor

Why would height be a factor for him? His height is decent, I think he's 6 ft plus.

 

[sshakir411]

both of you will end up eating your words

haris will average 45+ in test cricket and you will see that he is an improvement on shafiq

Genuinely want to know how you ended up with that assessment? Based on what? Quantify that average for me.

 

[Leo23]

Genuinely want to know how you ended up with that assessment? Based on what? Quantify that average for me.

based on the fact that he averages 52 in first class cricket. history tells us that over 90% of batsmen are able to more or less replicate their first class averages in test cricket over a large sample size

in haris's case he has actually bettered his list a average in odi cricket which shows that he is capable of making the step from domestic cricket to international cricket

 

[sshakir411]

based on the fact that he averages 52 in first class cricket. history tells us that over 90% of batsmen are able to more or less replicate their first class averages in test cricket over a large sample size

in haris's case he has actually bettered his list a average in odi cricket which shows that he is capable of making the step from domestic cricket to international cricket

Great. I hope he does. He could be a good test player but does he make it to the odi team? He plays with a similar style as all our batsmen. Definitely can't bat at 6 in the current team composition..he really did suffer with his injury because he had done enough to get a decent run in the team.

 

[mak36]

Do you remember the WC15 game against UAE where Harris could barley up the scoring rate even when he was on 60 odd? He couldn't hit boundaries and missed out on a 100 against an associate nation. That's enough to judge his capabilities. Yes he looks better than Fawad while batting but that's all he has going for him.

Are you for real? Your reason for bashing him is an innings where he scored 70 (83) at a S/R of 84. Thanks for the laugh. )

How about his match-winning 85* against New Zealand? Pakistan were chasing 246, and he came in at 40-3 in the 13th over. Pakistan collapsed to 86-5 and Haris batted right through until the 50th over where he hit the winnings runs. Pakistan finished on 250/7.

How about his 41 against Australia in WC15? I suggest you look at his shots against the likes of Hazelwood and Starc and then try bashing him.

Haris averages 43 in ODIs at a S/R of 82.86, in an era most Pakistani batsmen were struggling to average 75.

It's funny you should mention Fawad Alam. Haris not only looks better than him, he is better than him. Fawad's last ODI series was against Bangladesh and Haris also played in that series. Let's take a look at how they did:

Haris Sohail

Innings: 3
Total Runs: 147 (51,44 and 52)
Highest Score: 52
Average: 49.00
Strike rate: 80.32
4s: 6
6s: 4

Fawad Alam:

Innings: 3
Total Runs: 18 (that is not a typo- he genuinely scored 18 runs in three innings against Bangladesh).
Highest Score: 14 (i'll leave you to work out how many runs he scored in his two other innings).
Average: 6.00
Strike rate: 52.94
4s: 1
6s: 0
Ducks: 1

 

[Leo23]

Great. I hope he does. He could be a good test player but does he make it to the odi team? He plays with a similar style as all our batsmen. Definitely can't bat at 6 in the current team composition..he really did suffer with his injury because he had done enough to get a decent run in the team.

he is more deserving of selection in odis than azhar and shehzad. given how comfortable he was against the new ball i'd say he can open in odis or may be bat at 3 with babar opening

however azhar and shehzad are not going any where so unfortunately haris's odi future looks bleak at the moment

 

[sshakir411]

Are you for real? Your reason for bashing him is an innings where he scored 70 (83) at a S/R of 84. Thanks for the laugh. )

How about his match-winning 85* against New Zealand? Pakistan were chasing 246, and he came in at 40-3 in the 13th over. Pakistan collapsed to 86-5 and Haris batted right through until the 50th over where he hit the winnings runs. Pakistan finished on 250/7.

How about his 41 against Australia in WC15? I suggest you look at his shots against the likes of Hazelwood and Starc and then try bashing him.

Haris averages 43 in ODIs at a S/R of 82.86, in an era most Pakistani batsmen were struggling to average 75.

It's funny you should mention Fawad Alam. Haris not only looks better than him, he is better than him. Fawad's last ODI series was against Bangladesh and Haris also played in that series. Let's take a look at how they did:

Haris Sohail

Innings: 3
Total Runs: 147 (51,44 and 52)
Highest Score: 52
Average: 49.00
Strike rate: 80.32
4s: 6
6s: 4

Fawad Alam:

Innings: 3
Total Runs: 18 (that is not a typo- he genuinely scored 18 runs in three innings against Bangladesh).
Highest Score: 14 (i'll leave you to work out how many runs he scored in his two other innings).
Average: 6.00
Strike rate: 52.94
4s: 1
6s: 0
Ducks: 1

Wow it's easy to get under your skin.

I don't care if he scored 73 of 83 balls, he was playing against UAE and clearly struggled to get going..he had a 100 on the cards and he threw it away because he got tired. You should watch that innings again and re-evaluate how good it was. It is laughable that you are exaggerating his performance against a pathetic bowling attack, he had the worst SR in that game after Jamshed who got out on 3. You can hold that performance highly...I think it was below par for someone hailed as Pakistan's next big thing.


As for the 85 against New Zealand in UAE..yeah it was an okay innings..I saw it live. I think Fawad's 80 odd against Bangladesh in Asia cup was a fat better knock and so was Fawad's 63 in Australia.

I am not impressed by how well he can play shots. Junior plays terrific shots too. Haris has been unfit and has barley played any competitive cricket in since his debut and the World Cup.

I don't dislike Harris....I just think people are over-hyping to the point where it's detrimental for him. He's gotten a go and we'll all get to see how good he is/can be.

Funny you bring up the Bangladesh tour..it was a disaster for everyone on our team.. My only reason to compare him to Fawad was because Fawad deserves a go before Haris does.

I think it's hilarious that you get ticked off by others opinion so easily.

 

[aloo paratha]

Never knew why people think Haris Sohail is so unfit. Sure he may not be the fittest person on the team but he was a good fielder and for a guy who's score a double century in FC cricket, you can't expect him to be that unfit that he can't even play an ODI (as some people like to suggest)

Onto his batting, he is as good as Babar Azam in my opinion, he should definitely play the first test.

Sami
Azhar
Babar
Haris
Shafiq
Salahuddin

hope we see that, but most likely we'll see

Shehzad
Shan
Azhar
Babar
Shafiq
Salahuddin

 

[the Great Khan]

Wow it's easy to get under your skin.

I don't care if he scored 73 of 83 balls, he was playing against UAE and clearly struggled to get going..he had a 100 on the cards and he threw it away because he got tired. You should watch that innings again and re-evaluate how good it was. It is laughable that you are exaggerating his performance against a pathetic bowling attack, he had the worst SR in that game after Jamshed who got out on 3. You can hold that performance highly...I think it was below par for someone hailed as Pakistan's next big thing.


As for the 85 against New Zealand in UAE..yeah it was an okay innings..I saw it live. I think Fawad's 80 odd against Bangladesh in Asia cup was a fat better knock and so was Fawad's 63 in Australia.

I am not impressed by how well he can play shots. Junior plays terrific shots too. Haris has been unfit and has barley played any competitive cricket in since his debut and the World Cup.

I don't dislike Harris....I just think people are over-hyping to the point where it's detrimental for him. He's gotten a go and we'll all get to see how good he is/can be.

Funny you bring up the Bangladesh tour..it was a disaster for everyone on our team.. My only reason to compare him to Fawad was because Fawad deserves a go before Haris does.

I think it's hilarious that you get ticked off by others opinion so easily.

true. And I agree with the above. these bachay are hyping up another player. You cant compare him to Fawad until Haris has hit a century in test cricket. Then i'll start taking him seriously. At the moment he's a flash in the pan.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

true. And I agree with the above. these bachay are hyping up another player. You cant compare him to Fawad until Haris has hit a century in test cricket. Then i'll start taking him seriously. At the moment he's a flash in the pan.

Bachay hyped Sarfraz, Babar and Shadab and all are doing pretty well and more importantly are 'team' players. Haris will play a key role helping us win our first series in SA/Aus IA. Mark this post

 

[MenInG]

Pictures from practice game at the GSL, courtesy of the PCB

 

[wrongun]

I think the fitness regime under Mickey is working. These guys are looking like athletes now (most of them). They look like a professionally trained outfit- not always the case with past Pakistan teams. You can't let that slide these days, the 80s/90s are over. (I mean, you might always get a Warnie, but even he got fit in stages)

 

[the Great Khan]

Bachay hyped Sarfraz, Babar and Shadab and all are doing pretty well and more importantly are 'team' players. Haris will play a key role helping us win our first series in SA/Aus IA. Mark this post

lol..only a few "bachay"...the rest are still obsessed with Malik and umar akmal.

As for Haris, I sincerely hope he hits tons of runs for us but as of now I dont think he deserves the hype. I am happy to be proven wrong.

 

[mak36]

Great to see Sami Aslam back where he belongs. He needs to use this series to cement his position as opener.

 

[Slog]

Harris the father of modern day ODI batting for Pakistan and thats a fact.

I expect us to hammer Sri lanka with him in the side. A few quick fire centuries will be in the offing for the legend.

lol i love it how he says its a 'fact'

 

[mak36]

Wow it's easy to get under your skin.

I don't care if he scored 73 of 83 balls, he was playing against UAE and clearly struggled to get going..he had a 100 on the cards and he threw it away because he got tired. You should watch that innings again and re-evaluate how good it was. It is laughable that you are exaggerating his performance against a pathetic bowling attack, he had the worst SR in that game after Jamshed who got out on 3. You can hold that performance highly...I think it was below par for someone hailed as Pakistan's next big thing.


As for the 85 against New Zealand in UAE..yeah it was an okay innings..I saw it live. I think Fawad's 80 odd against Bangladesh in Asia cup was a fat better knock and so was Fawad's 63 in Australia.

I am not impressed by how well he can play shots. Junior plays terrific shots too. Haris has been unfit and has barley played any competitive cricket in since his debut and the World Cup.

I don't dislike Harris....I just think people are over-hyping to the point where it's detrimental for him. He's gotten a go and we'll all get to see how good he is/can be.

Funny you bring up the Bangladesh tour..it was a disaster for everyone on our team.. My only reason to compare him to Fawad was because Fawad deserves a go before Haris does.

I think it's hilarious that you get ticked off by others opinion so easily.

Didn't realise you found facts so offensive. Will bear that in mind for the future.

By the way, how did "unfit" and "over-hyped" Haris perform today?

)

ps. averaging 49 in a series at a S/R of 80 is not a "disaster." Haris performed well in that series- it's not his fault if the other batsmen (including Fawad) couldn't score a run in that series.

 

[another drop catch]

Didn't realise you found facts so offensive. Will bear that in mind for the future.

By the way, how did "unfit" and "over-hyped" Haris perform today?

)

ps. averaging 49 in a series at a S/R of 80 is not a "disaster." Haris performed well in that series- it's not his fault if the other batsmen (including Fawad) couldn't score a run in that series.

fawad and harris both should have been in playing XI

 

[sshakir411]

Didn't realise you found facts so offensive. Will bear that in mind for the future.

By the way, how did "unfit" and "over-hyped" Haris perform today?

)

ps. averaging 49 in a series at a S/R of 80 is not a "disaster." Haris performed well in that series- it's not his fault if the other batsmen (including Fawad) couldn't score a run in that series.

Good for Harris he did well. Looked better than Babar for sure. Surprised you waited to reply to this post, would you have chosen not to if he didn't do well?

Also, disaster was used for the entire team and NOT Haris.