Watching the Pakistan-Afghanistan game exposes the lack of world class talent in Pakistan

[Savak]

It is generally felt the absence of a quality domestic structure, lack of international cricket in Pakistan is the main reason why our cricketers in general have fallen behind the rest of the world but how come a war ravaged Afghanistan for the last 40 years has bigger whole hearted batsmen and a world class spinner in their side.

For far too long the selectors and the team management has given a long rope, extended run to mediocre players who have displayed and exhibited zero returns and are not held accountable for the team's performances in large.

This now appears to be the 11th consecutive ODI defeat. Clearly something has got to change after this world cup

 

[waleed88]

Its depressing to see how they can time a run chase like this and we are usually sitting ducks these days. 80 of 19 overs should be a cake walk

 

[Destroyer88]

Its only a warmup game they say... lol i say that this pakistan team is not to be taken any serious. This bunch doesnt have the pride to play for pak

 

[KingKhanWC]

Over reaction to put it mildly.

Afghans only have 3 good players, all spinners. Its a warm up game, players such as Malik needed time in the middle.

We would beat Afghans 9/10 time in a competitive match.

 

[Destroyer88]

I am sure you need a win when you have just lost 10 games on the row
Do you think these players look chill during the game.

 

[Destroyer88]

Even the commies are stunned to see such bowling performance. And to be precise westindies and SL will be warming up agaisnt us during the worldcup

 

[shaz72]

It is generally felt the absence of a quality domestic structure, lack of international cricket in Pakistan is the main reason why our cricketers in general have fallen behind the rest of the world but how come a war ravaged Afghanistan for the last 40 years has bigger whole hearted batsmen and a world class spinner in their side.

For far too long the selectors and the team management has given a long rope, extended run to mediocre players who have displayed and exhibited zero returns and are not held accountable for the team's performances in large.

This now appears to be the 11th consecutive ODI defeat. Clearly something has got to change after this world cup

I've followed all televised domestic games, could not identify a single outstanding player , Pakistan cricket is finished just like other sports. I don't see team Pakistan can even think of competing with team like India, England, SA even WI. Just see they can't even win against AF.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Pakistan fans have no shame and no self-respect. No wonder the team also does not mind losing to a minnow like Afghanistan.

None with self respect will be fine with losing to a worn-torn minnow country even in a warm-match match.

 

[ARK Rafay]

I don't see Pakistan winning games in WC. Maybe 1 but just that.
Worst WC for Pakistan coming up

 

[MRSN]

We would beat Afghans 9/10 time in a competitive match.

Lol yeah if it helps you sleep well.

This team depends on two,three individuals Baber, Fakher and Imad to have any chance. Rest is mediocre as they come especially kaptaan showimg his ghareeb face

 

[MRSN]

Pakistan fans have no shame and no self-respect. No wonder the team also does not mind losing to a minnow like Afghanistan.

None with self respect will be fine with losing to a worn-torn minnow country even in a warm-match match.

These people take drubbibg against SA,Aus and Eng as a moral victories since we fought well even though we were whitewashed.

We need another series against Zim or SL to recover our image.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Afghanistan are a good LOI side. They almost won an ODI against India in the Asia Cup.

 

[Syed1]

I had a hunch we will be embarrassed at the WC but to this level never in my wildest dreams.



Thank you Inzi, Mickey and Sarfaraz. Special honour for Azhar Mahmood.

 

[shane]

In the past when Pakistan played badly people would always say things like "Oh but there is so much talent in Pakistan" and I would always think to myself "Where is it?" I dont think there is any.

 

[The_Odd_One]

In the past when Pakistan played badly people would always say things like "Oh but there is so much talent in Pakistan" and I would always think to myself "Where is it?" I dont think there is any.

Everyone not in the team automatically becomes world class. As soon as they become part of the team, they become the same mediocre bunch. Have been seeing this trend for number of years.

No top level team would have persisted with the likes of Sarfraz, Hafeez, Malik, Aamir, Hassan, Shadab, Fakhar, etc for this long.

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

Sarfaz’s captaincy is questionable

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Fakhar got 4 chances against Aghanistan and still got out in his teens.

That sums up Pakistan's performance.

 

[Chokli]

We beat Bangladesh and England in the 2015 World Cup warm up matches.

 

[Abdullah]

Guys chill it's a practice game. Off course we didn't want go lose
Malik got time in the middle and we got amir wahab and shadab back bowling.
Look how wahab reversed the ball, in a proper game he ain't seeing that reverse and giving the ball to shadab in the 49th

 

[BD-fan]

I am compelled to type in caps:

"IT IS A WARMUP GAME. THIS DOESN'T COUNT TOWARDS ANYTHING."

BD won the tri-series. Yes? They lost to Ireland A before they started the series in a WARMUP match. Keep your chin up!!

 

[KingKhanWC]

Lol yeah if it helps you sleep well.

This team depends on two,three individuals Baber, Fakher and Imad to have any chance. Rest is mediocre as they come especially kaptaan showimg his ghareeb face

When did Afghanistan win a competitive match against Pakistan? Dream?

 

[waleed88]

I think it's an embarrassment that we lost even a warm up game against Afghanistan. Considering we barely won against them in the Asia cup. Shows only one team has improved during this time.

 

[The_Odd_One]

I think it's an embarrassment that we lost even a warm up game against Afghanistan. Considering we barely won against them in the Asia cup. Shows only one team has improved during this time.

These are just lame excuses and nothing else. Pakistani team which had Imam, Fakhar, Babar lost to Afghanistan. You will never see India losing to Afghanistan with Sharma, Dhawan, Kohli, and remaining 8 players even if taken from their street cricket. The icing on top is that Pakistan has just played a full 5-match series with England so they are better accustomed to the conditions.

 

[Hasan123]

Lol there was a poster in the match thread who said we would get 400 )

 

[MRSN]

Sarfaz’s captaincy is questionable

His place in the team is questionable.

 

[MRSN]

When did Afghanistan win a competitive match against Pakistan? Dream?

Embracing your failures is first step towards recovery. Never live in denial brother. It does not end well.

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

His place in the team is questionable.

Malik or Amir should be captaining. Pakistan are known to have bowlers as captains, when Afghans were bashing he should be brought in Imad in the 3rd over, he continued with Afridi

 

[PakLFC]

It is embarrassing to see us struggle against Afghanistan. Perhaps we were not taking the match seriously enough nonetheless should have scored at least 300 today.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Embracing your failures is first step towards recovery. Never live in denial brother. It does not end well.

Put the pipe down and explain in sober terms what you mean?

Aghanistan have never beaten Pakistan in a competitive match because they are an average to poor team.

 

[Waqar's inswinging yorker]

Embracing your failures is first step towards recovery. Never live in denial brother. It does not end well.

Let's see come the proper game i.e. one with meaning

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Put the pipe down and explain in sober terms what you mean?

Aghanistan have never beaten Pakistan in a competitive match because they are an average to poor team.

Does that mean Pakistan can get away with a shameless performance in a practice game?

 

[szundercover]

Pakistan fans have no shame and no self-respect. No wonder the team also does not mind losing to a minnow like Afghanistan.

None with self respect will be fine with losing to a worn-torn minnow country even in a warm-match match.

India also tied the match with your afghai brothers in an offical odi status match during asia cup.

 

[mosh101]

Frankly that was pretty embarrassing to watch.

I cant believe some people here think its acceptable for Pak to be on a massive losing streak and miraculously smash all other sides when the WC kicks off.

 

[JattMaula]

India also tied the match with your afghai brothers in an offical odi status match during asia cup.

And at least 3 players lost their place from team due to that underperformance.

But as others have said before me. THIS WAS A PRACTICE MATCH. KEEP CALM.

 

[The_Odd_One]

India also tied the match with your afghai brothers in an offical odi status match during asia cup.

India without Sharma, Dhawan, Kohli, Bumrah, Shaami, and Bhuvi still did not lose to Afghanistan. Had Pakistan gone into this game without Imam, Fakhar, Babar, and Aamir, the margin of the defeat would have been bigger.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Does that mean Pakistan can get away with a shameless performance in a practice game?

It went down to the last over, not sure how it was shameful? Please explain

 

[Dr_Bassim]

It went down to the last over, not sure how it was shameful? Please explain

Not sure how a team planning to win the WC is losing practice games to an associate nation.

Perhaps you also believe its start of a new dawn.

 

[Energy]

If a mediocre player is your skipper then there's little hope for world class talent to thrive. It is like Bangladesh under Khaled Mahmud.

 

[JattMaula]

Not sure how a team planning to win the WC is losing practice games to an associate nation.

Perhaps you also believe its start of a new dawn.

Afghanistan are NOT an associate nation.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Not sure how a team planning to win the WC is losing practice games to an associate nation.

Perhaps you also believe its start of a new dawn.

Werent they given full member status?

It;s a pratice game, save your wrists for the competition.

 

[Kroll]

Regardless of the fact it's a warm up, shouldn't be losing to Afghanistan with WC about to start. But it's not wholly unexpected is it? The team's in sharp decline and it's going to take a massive recovery to get anywhere in this WC.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Over reaction to put it mildly.

Afghans only have 3 good players, all spinners. Its a warm up game, players such as Malik needed time in the middle.

We would beat Afghans 9/10 time in a competitive match.

Afghans exposed how bad we are during asia cup and have done same today. Given Afghans credit they are a decent side.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Werent they given full member status?

It;s a pratice game, save your wrists for the competition.

Still minnows.

Anyways, you will even clap if they fail to win a single game as you have been for 02 years.

So it hardly matters.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Still minnows.

Anyways, you will even clap if they fail to win a single game as you have been for 02 years.

So it hardly matters.

I cant really take you seriously Doc if you are clueless of their status. Please learn who Afghanistan is, the way practice matches are played and stop worrying, it's not the end of the world!

 

[KingKhanWC]

Afghans exposed how bad we are during asia cup and have done same today. Given Afghans credit they are a decent side.

You were saying the same thing after the CT opening match, we have been exposed blah blah. You should be aware after spending years watching Paksitan, the team can find form at any moment. Afghan are a decent side because of their 3 spinners, I agree.

 

[AFM]

Our bowling should have been able to defend 260 against Afghanistan even on the flattest of pitches. Their batting line up is extremely weak.

Our bowling is seriously overrated by the pundits. Their just isn't any discipline. After 25 overs, only 9% of the deliveries were going to hit the stumps. That is a truly shocking stat.

I don't but this was just a warm up excuse. We needed a win under our belt going in.

 

[Amjid Javed]

You were saying the same thing after the CT opening match, we have been exposed blah blah. You should be aware after spending years watching Paksitan, the team can find form at any moment. Afghan are a decent side because of their 3 spinners, I agree.

The CT was a short competition in which we rode our luck early on. Can you realistically see pakistan winning 5 out of 9 matches to make the semi finals?

This current ODI is one of weakest ive seen in 30 years of watching cricket. Im not deluded to live off a CT win, even the W.I and N.Z have won the CT due to its short natured format, this world cup will be dominated by teams showing consistancy over a long period.

If we win a world cup with a poor middle order like malik, hafeez and sirfraz il hsppily retire from here if proven wrong by these hasbeen losers.

 

[Savak]

Our bowling should have been able to defend 260 against Afghanistan even on the flattest of pitches. Their batting line up is extremely weak.

Our bowling is seriously overrated by the pundits. Their just isn't any discipline. After 25 overs, only 9% of the deliveries were going to hit the stumps. That is a truly shocking stat.

I don't but this was just a warm up excuse. We needed a win under our belt going in.

There is absolutely zero skill on display, no swing, no seam, no reverse swing, no art of setting a batsman up, bowling to a plan, bowling to the field. Azhar Mahood has a lot to answer for.

 

[Syed1]

Our bowling should have been able to defend 260 against Afghanistan even on the flattest of pitches. Their batting line up is extremely weak.

Our bowling is seriously overrated by the pundits. Their just isn't any discipline. After 25 overs, only 9% of the deliveries were going to hit the stumps. That is a truly shocking stat.

I don't but this was just a warm up excuse. We needed a win under our belt going in.

What you expect when our bowling lineup comprises of two toddlers Shaheen and Hasnain who have no business playing international cricket. Then spray gun Wahab was spraying all over the place, its only in his last two overs did he bowl with some venom maybe by then the bowl had started reversing.

Which team is going to win if it is going to have two kids and a spray gun forming the bulk of their bowling attack

 

[Kroll]

You were saying the same thing after the CT opening match, we have been exposed blah blah. You should be aware after spending years watching Paksitan, the team can find form at any moment. Afghan are a decent side because of their 3 spinners, I agree.

And he was right, it was only after we booted out Ahmed Shehzad and Wahab, that our fortunes changed.

 

[Zhasan]

Once again this game has more than anything else exposed our pathetic 80's style batting.

Those defending the par 350 scores in England series as something that has never been done before were at best were disingenuous, while their 80's retro-stars, i.e. Imam, Babar, Haris and Malik have just graduated to run a ball batting leading to 300+ plus scores, the rest of the world has moved onto batting at 130+ SR in ODI's.

 

[AFM]

There is absolutely zero skill on display, no swing, no seam, no reverse swing, no art of setting a batsman up, bowling to a plan, bowling to the field. Azhar Mahood has a lot to answer for.

I agree. I was willing to give Azhar some benefit of the doubt because of our CT performance and that against England we were against the best batting line up in the world.

This performance is inexcusable.

 

[Hasan123]

This is the main reason I don’t see us winning the World Cup. You need a few world class players to win the World Cup. Babar is potentially the only world class player, and even that is debatable. I don’t trust this team to win 7 out of 11 games to win a World Cup. Yes I understand this is a Pakistani forum so there maybe some bias. But I think you are extremely deluded and extremely biased if you are predicting a Pakistan win for the tournament.

 

[AFM]

What you expect when our bowling lineup comprises of two toddlers Shaheen and Hasnain who have no business playing international cricket. Then spray gun Wahab was spraying all over the place, its only in his last two overs did he bowl with some venom maybe by then the bowl had started reversing.

Which team is going to win if it is going to have two kids and a spray gun forming the bulk of their bowling attack

We can only afford to play one out of those 3 and rotate them around. Which means Amir and Hassan will have to bowl in every match and risk serious fatigue and injury. And it's not like they are world beaters either.

It baffles me why Inzi did not select another spinner in the squad. The choice to persist with Yasir and Faheem in the series against Australia and England has come back to slap us in the face.

But no worries. Boyz played well

 

[shaz619]

Over reaction to put it mildly.

Afghans only have 3 good players, all spinners. Its a warm up game, players such as Malik needed time in the middle.

We would beat Afghans 9/10 time in a competitive match.

Am not sure bro, our form has been horrid, I can't recall a time when it was this bad heading into a WC and us doing well despite it. I think we have a solid group who have shown some potential but we lack a plan with our approach. If you look at England and their strategy has been clearly defined, Mo to bring the big one back to Spark-Hill

 

[sshakir411]

Our bowling looking very weak

 

[KingKhanWC]

The CT was a short competition in which we rode our luck early on. Can you realistically see pakistan winning 5 out of 9 matches to make the semi finals?

This current ODI is one of weakest ive seen in 30 years of watching cricket. Im not deluded to live off a CT win, even the W.I and N.Z have won the CT due to its short natured format, this world cup will be dominated by teams showing consistancy over a long period.

If we win a world cup with a poor middle order like malik, hafeez and sirfraz il hsppily retire from here if proven wrong by these hasbeen losers.

Dude you are always slitting your wrists every time Pakistan lose a match. I dont understand why you bother watching?

This team is not the weakest in 30 years lol.

Here is the team from the 2013 CT.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...a-5th-match-group-b-icc-champions-trophy-2013

I was at this game and the team was pathetic to say the least. Please explain how todays teams is weaker?

Pakistan are not fav to win the Cup. If they do it will be a great acheivement but again this team proved you wronga in the CT, so at least let the tournment start before pulling out the rope and chair.

 

[IAJ]

Don’t Worry. A win against Bangladesh on Sunday, and we will be World class again.

 

[Kroll]

But but but...we have Amir the best bowler in the world and Babar the best batsman in the world.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Am not sure bro, our form has been horrid, I can't recall a time when it was this bad heading into a WC and us doing well despite it. I think we have a solid group who have shown some potential but we lack a plan with our approach. If you look at England and their strategy has been clearly defined, Mo to bring the big one back to Spark-Hill

I would agree but we faced imo the two strongest teams in Aus and England. Malik was clearly getting time in the middle as where other batsmen, nobody takes a warm up game seriously apart from Afghans understanbly so.

 

[Kroll]

Don’t Worry. A win against Bangladesh on Sunday, and we will be World class again.

Hope so, I really don't want to see this!

 

[shaz619]

I would agree but we faced imo the two strongest teams in Aus and England. Malik was clearly getting time in the middle as where other batsmen, nobody takes a warm up game seriously apart from Afghans understanbly so.

What do you make of the bowling and leadership? These two need to fire in tandem on the pitch, strangely the bowling is a concern heading into the tournament

 

[Savak]

Our A and U-19 teams have been losing to the likes of Bangladesh and Afghanistan. It was a sign of things to come.

 

[Chokli]

Am not sure bro, our form has been horrid, I can't recall a time when it was this bad heading into a WC and us doing well despite it.

Before 92

 

[KingKhanWC]

What do you make of the bowling and leadership? These two need to fire in tandem on the pitch, strangely the bowling is a concern heading into the tournament

Never worry too much about Pakistan bowling as long we have bowlers with skill and we do. The summer has started hot, the pitches and outfields will be dry and the ball will reverse. Wahab, Hasan, Amir and Afridi will be handful. Imad and Shadab will hold up an end and get the odd wickets in the middle overs.

Yes the captaincy I do worry about but I dont think he can make any fatal errors which will cost the match. At worst the skipper will bring on the wrong bowler and the change it.

Lets not forget the support Pakistan will recieve this summer ,it will be unprecidented! This always helps the team like no other team.

Im not suggesting we should win the cup because there are some world class players from various teams in this tournament but I would advise all Pak fans to relax and enjoy the moment. Get your ticktes or organise to watch with friends having a bbq or party. Nothing better than a hot English summer and cricket to watch with a glass of lemonade.

Oh and im not too worried because if Pakistan get knocked out , we;re also English,


If Pakistan and England dont win it, I would still be happy to see NZ or SA win their first, great nations both of them.

If India win it will be a disaster but I cant see them winning, their middle order is weak and their bowling is vastly overrated.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

I cant really take you seriously Doc if you are clueless of their status. Please learn who Afghanistan is, the way practice matches are played and stop worrying, it's not the end of the world!

I dont lose my marbles over a practice match.

The problem is, had Pakistan scored 350 and thrashed the Afghan team, you would have been first to appreciate the performance and said it was expected result.

Now that Pakistan are found wanting at the other end of the stick, you are arguing Afghans have a good team and practice matches dont matter at all.

All I expect from posters is less bias and bit of consistency in their posts.

We have been horrible in last 01 year and have lost every big series.

The form is worrying.

If Pakistan manage to win a lot of matches in the World Cup, it will be despite their form and results.

At least you would do well to acknowledge that, instead of brushing it away as Pakistan not being serious in Practice Match.

 

[KingKhanWC]

I dont lose my marbles over a practice match.

The problem is, had Pakistan scored 350 and thrashed the Afghan team, you would have been first to appreciate the performance and said it was expected result.

Now that Pakistan are found wanting at the other end of the stick, you are arguing Afghans have a good team and practice matches dont matter at all.

All I expect from posters is less bias and bit of consistency in their posts.

We have been horrible in last 01 year and have lost every big series.

The form is worrying.

If Pakistan manage to win a lot of matches in the World Cup, it will be despite their form and results.

At least you would do well to acknowledge that, instead of brushing it away as Pakistan not being serious in Practice Match.

Im not arguing Afghans have a good team, I stated they only have 3 good spinners of which one is the arguably the best spinner in the world in LOI.

You're entitled to your views but all Im suggesting is wait for the tournament to start, let a couple of matches be played and then we can assess more fairly. Pakistan is a tournament team, the perfomrances improve with the motivation of the importance of the match.

I watched Malik bat, he was there for time in the middle and rightly so. No need for him to start taking risks in a warm up, these matches are for practice.

 

[Artaxerxes]

The domestic system in Pakistan needs to be changed.A regional system consisting of six or eight teams will improve the standard.Australian shield cricket is of higher standard than our national team. There is too much nepotism in PCB.There are lots of free loading officials in PCB who have no interesting in cricket.They are just milking the board.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Afghanistan are a good LOI side. They almost won an ODI against India in the Asia Cup.

That team did not have Rohit, Dhawan, Kohli, Bumrah, Chahal, Bhuvi. Dhoni was doing the captaincy.

 

[Sami92]

I would say reduce the number of domestic games and add a new competition instead in the remaining time. At first play the existing reduced domestic games and then pick the best performing guys in the new competition of 6 teams. Finally, pick the international players from there as the new competition will be more strong.

 

[topspin]

Im not arguing Afghans have a good team, I stated they only have 3 good spinners of which one is the arguably the best spinner in the world in LOI.

You're entitled to your views but all Im suggesting is wait for the tournament to start, let a couple of matches be played and then we can assess more fairly. Pakistan is a tournament team, the perfomrances improve with the motivation of the importance of the match.

I watched Malik bat, he was there for time in the middle and rightly so. No need for him to start taking risks in a warm up, these matches are for practice.

Lol so biased as usual, but as expected from another member of the chest thumping green tinted hype brigade.

Afghanistan actually have at least 5 good players - their openers are fantastic as well.

On a side note you must be real fun at parties with your glass of lemonade

 

[Mamoon]

Getting out of PCB’s shadow and playing under BCCI has been the best thing that has happened to Afghanistan cricket.

They have access to world class coaching, facilities and infrastructure, and their brightest young talents get tremendous exposure in the IPL.

 

[Savak]

Getting out of PCB’s shadow and playing under BCCI has been the best thing that has happened to Afghanistan cricket.

They have access to world class coaching, facilities and infrastructure, and their brightest young talents get tremendous exposure in the IPL.

If our players consistently played in the IPL from 2009 to today, do you feel it would have made a difference to our players and quality of cricket?

 

[KingKhanWC]

Lol so biased as usual, but as expected from another member of the chest thumping green tinted hype brigade.

Afghanistan actually have at least 5 good players - their openers are fantastic as well.

On a side note you must be real fun at parties with your glass of lemonade

I support my team, not a plastic fan who comes to rant due to their own miserable life.

Shezhad wouldnt pass the fitness test in an old peoples home, he's a rubbish keeper and a hack. The other opener is ok nothing special.

Glass a lemonade is usually at the village cricket team which I sometimes go to watch. A beautiful little ground with rolling hills in the background and the sun shining, its lovely. Try it get out of the house for once ,its relaxing.

 

[Mamoon]

If our players consistently played in the IPL from 2009 to today, do you feel it would have made a difference to our players and quality of cricket?

It may not necessarily have improved them because ultimately it comes down to talent and hard work, and some of the players would have eventually lost their contracts as well if they wouldn’t have performed, but playing in the IPL would have done them no harm.

World class teammates, opposition, high scoring pitches, high pressure matched and intense crowds etc. it is an ideal platform for any hungry and committed cricketer.

I also think it could have prevented someone like Amir from doing spot-fixing. He was a hot shot in 2009-2010, and playing in the 2010 IPL could have prevented him from going down the route of bowling no balls for payment.

 

[Savak]

It may not necessarily have improved them because ultimately it comes down to talent and hard work, and some of the players would have eventually lost their contracts as well if they wouldn’t have performed, but playing in the IPL would have done them no harm.

World class teammates, opposition, high scoring pitches, high pressure matched and intense crowds etc. it is an ideal platform for any hungry and committed cricketer.

I also think it could have prevented someone like Amir from doing spot-fixing. He was a hot shot in 2009-2010, and playing in the 2010 IPL could have prevented him from going down the route of bowling no balls for payment.

Lol, Malik and Misbah were benched by their IPL franchises in 2008. Heck some Pakistani players have been benched in the BPL as well, Misbah was so offended by being benched by Sakib ul Hasan that he swore never to play in the BPL again

Amir in 2010 had the world at his feet, lack of money was not an excuse for him, he was even offered a lucrative financial contract by an English County. Unfortunately he succumbed to greed, the feeling he was doing something trivial for a quick decent buck i.e. just spot fixing with no intention of actually losing the match for your country.

 

[Mean&Green]

It’s a warm up so honestly they don’t count and yes I said it also coming to your thread you are right all this b s by our prime minister that Pakistan has the most talent in cricket is just ridiculous and I’ve always laughed at this statement of his. There might be some talent but it’s prolly hidden in the mountains of chitral in some tape ball player or some village of north Punjab where no one ever even goes to look for players having said that this was still a practice game and when we play them again I can guarantee you we will win though we might already be out of the tournament by than but still. I had already predicted way before the match started in the match thread that Pakistan was going to lose today. Warm ups are different teams honestly don’t care but sarafraz was the only one worried while not a single other player gave one if or but about the match including the afghans. Nothing to really take away from a warm up it’s called a warm up for a reason.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Getting out of PCB’s shadow and playing under BCCI has been the best thing that has happened to Afghanistan cricket.

They have access to world class coaching, facilities and infrastructure, and their brightest young talents get tremendous exposure in the IPL.

Completely agree. It was a brilliant move which ensured that Afghanistan will not end up like the UAE and other failed minnow teams.

 

[shaz619]

Before 92

It's a very popular myth that Pakistan were a weak team heading into the 1992 tournament but people couldn't be more wrong. Their journey for sure could have been more smooth during the tournament itself but had Pakistan obliterated their way to a World Cup triumph there would be no surprises. Pakistan was arguably the best team in the world at that time if not in the top 2 at the very least with Australia being the only team to better their W/L ratio over five years coming into the WC.

In the 1989 Nehru cup Pakistan beat the likes of India, England and then the West Indies in the final after Imran's heroics with the ball. Moreover they won 5 tournaments in Sharjah prior to the 92 WC and lost just 2 series at home over a 5 year period to England and the West Indies. It's funny how the 1992 performance almost always is used as a metric to give poor Pakistani teams a prayer, but the fact is that side was absolute quality and a well oiled machine despite their horrid start, it further cements their strength/depth that even after falling behind they were able to catch up.

The current team is not entering the 2019 WC as one of the best teams in the world unlike Imran's cornered tigers of 1992, in-fact they are one of the worst Pakistani sides to enter a World Cup based on form alone so I think people need to adjust their expectations which are not realistic and don't really help the team. But there is enough quality to work with for the future and we should enjoy this tournament regardless

 

[shaz619]

Never worry too much about Pakistan bowling as long we have bowlers with skill and we do. The summer has started hot, the pitches and outfields will be dry and the ball will reverse. Wahab, Hasan, Amir and Afridi will be handful. Imad and Shadab will hold up an end and get the odd wickets in the middle overs.

Yes the captaincy I do worry about but I dont think he can make any fatal errors which will cost the match. At worst the skipper will bring on the wrong bowler and the change it.

Lets not forget the support Pakistan will recieve this summer ,it will be unprecidented! This always helps the team like no other team.

Im not suggesting we should win the cup because there are some world class players from various teams in this tournament but I would advise all Pak fans to relax and enjoy the moment. Get your ticktes or organise to watch with friends having a bbq or party. Nothing better than a hot English summer and cricket to watch with a glass of lemonade.

Oh and im not too worried because if Pakistan get knocked out , we;re also English,


If Pakistan and England dont win it, I would still be happy to see NZ or SA win their first, great nations both of them.

If India win it will be a disaster but I cant see them winning, their middle order is weak and their bowling is vastly overrated.

Wickets should still be relatively fresh but am hoping they break up as the tournament progresses, this begs the question why we haven't invested heavily in our spin stocks beyond Shadab; but this has been an issue in other formats as well, we seem to be anti-spin. That is a really good point regarding the support, it really does lift the team and puts extra pressure on the opposition; it's going to be more important then ever and given the win in 2017 this time around I feel like the fans have gone all out, the demand has been ridiculous. It's true, always best to just enjoy the ride; I have three horses in the race my only disappointment is that I wanted to get a ticket to the World Cup final more then any other game but I didn't succeed.