It's important to explain how you feel. If you feel strongly about something, don't hesistate in putting your views across just because they might not prove to be true. I feel that too many posters sit on the fence and then swim with the tide.
This doesn't mean that you cannot change your opinion. Of course you can, so do I, but at any given moment, one should be clear with his/her thought-process.
Mamoon predicted that Junaid would be a better bowler than Amir. LMAO
No, what I said was that he looks as good as Amir, which was true in early 2013 but unfortunately, that Indian series proved to be a fluke. If you are gonna cite, do it properly.
However, we all remember what you said about Babar Azam.....
On a side note, here are some of my wrong, right and semi-right/wrong predictions so far in my illustrious PP career, apart from the one already misinterpreted above:
In 2013-14, when both Junaid and Shehzad were key players in all formats, I stated that within a couple of years, both will be fringe players, which proved to be true.
In 2014, there was a thread asking how many 5-fers Junaid will take in ODIs, and I said zero. Safe to say, it's true.
Also in 2014, when Junaid injured his knee and after knowing its severity, I predicted that he will miss the 2015 World Cup and he is not going to properly recover from this. Fairly true.
Controversially, I would say that I was
right about Yasir failing overseas. He did well in 2 Tests in England, but the conditions suited him. He was poor otherwise and in Australia, he was a complete disaster.
Before every ICC tournament, I predict that Amla will fail and it always happens.
Although I don't think it can be classified as a prediction, I have been calling Ajmal a chucker since 2012.
I have also always maintained that Kohli will iron out his problems in Tests and prove to be an ATG in Tests as well, which will soon prove to be true. In fact, he has already ironed out his mistakes and will deliver in England in 2018.
I also predicted that we will lose all 5 Tests in Australia and New Zealand.
I also predicted that Younis will fail overseas before the tours in 2016-17. He played a couple of big knocks (including one dead rubber innings), but he failed in every innings barring 2-3, so I was right.
I also predicted that Islamabad will win PSL 1, although that was primarily because I was supporting them back then.
I also predicted a QF exit for Pakistan in the World Cup, which to be honest, was the easiest prediction to make.
Prior to the World Cup, I said that Malik will make a successful comeback to international cricket after the World Cup with Misbah, Younis and Afridi out of the way. However, I also thought he might return as captain.
Prior to the England series in 2015, I was amongst the early few posters who proposed the idea that Malik should be selected as an all-rounder for the Test series because Hafeez wasn't eligible to bowl. He scored a double-hundred and outperformed Zulfiqar with the ball.
Now to the wrong ones:
I thought England would beat us 3-0 or 4-0, but yes I didn't expect that we will get 2 flat tracks and Stokes will only play 1 Test, while Anderson will hurt his shoulder before the first match.
I thought we will succumb to our mental block against Australia who will end our streak in the UAE, but we smashed them to all corners.
I was hopeful that Azhar might deliver as an ODI captain, and I did think he will be given time till the CT. Perhaps, had Waqar remained coach, he wouldn't have been sacked (the resignation was just for the media).
I was wrong about Maqsood and Shafiq (ODIs), while it still might happen, I thought Amin had the ingredients to excel in international cricket if he can work on his confidence and temperament. Not hopeful now though.
Although more out of hope, I had this hunch that Pakistan might beat India in the 2015 World Cup, because it would have made a beautiful story. The streak ending where it started, i.e. Australia, India's celebrated legendary captain Dhoni, widely hailed as the best ever ODI captain, having to live with the burden of surrendering the streak. On the other hand, Misbah, the much maligned and criticized ODI captain, managing to pull off what no other Pakistani captain has been able to do so, but alas.
Now time for some big predictions for the future:
Yasir will decline from here on and will be out of the Test side in a couple of years, he has peaked already and will only go downhill from here. People will recall the Australian series as the start of his downfall, and he will become yet another 'what if' player in Pakistan cricket, which could have been much more than what he had become.
Amir will never be able to become a top Test bowler again, but he will remain decent in LOIs. His fans of course, will not stop making excuses.
Babar Azam will overtake Saeed Anwar in terms of ODI centuries, and he will captain Pakistan across all formats by 2020-2021.
Kohli will become the first Indian captain to lose to Pakistan in a World Cup. This one isn't out of hope like the previous one, but I have my objective reasons for it.
England will win either the CT this year or the World Cup in 2019.
Haris Sohail will make a comeback but he will not live up to the expectations, will be dropped around 2018-19 and will be in and out of the team.
Pakistan's next mainstay in the middle-order in Tests along with Babar, will be someone who is not very hyped at this moment and not particularly renowned. He is also not playing in the PSL.
International cricket will return to Pakistan by 2025. Sri Lanka will be the first team to do a full tour, banishing the memories of 2009. England will be the first non-Asian side to tour Pakistan for a full tour again.
The next bilateral series between Pakistan and India will be in Pakistan.
That's all for now....