Pakistan v Sri Lanka PakTel cup match 1

[Shaka]

First real test for Pakistan's top order batsmen tomorrow; Sri Lanka have 3-4 very good fast-medium bowlers who caused problems last time round to our batsmen early on. Vaaz, Zoysa and Fernando will test Yaasir and opening partner with the new ball, although if we can get a good start I think we will win. Our batting in the middle order is strong and we have the bowlers to defend a decent total. I expect a very good match between two strong sides though and am looking forward to it!

My side would be:

Salman/Farhat
Yaasir
Malik
Youhanna
Inzi
Younis (w/k)
Razzaq
Afridi
Naved Rana
Sami
Shoaib

That's 6 bowlers and batting down to no 9. Younis did well enough to earn another shot at wicketkeeping, but Moin might return at the expense of Salman. I don't know who would open in that case, probably Afridi.

[Zainub]

I agree that it would be our first "real" test tomorrow. Sri Lanka are a good side as you say, and they have beaten us previously on home soil. Karachi wicket traditionally is very batsmen friendly - last ODI here vs India produced a record 700 odd runs. I expect another flat wicket this time around , though probably not as many runs. There has been some rain around here in the last few days so it is unlikely the wicket will be just as much a belter as it was last time against India.

Also it is a day and night match so side batting first would probably be at a slight advantage. After Maghrib it has gotten preety chilly over the last couple of days and then one can always expect some laterval movement under artificial lights. We haven't chased all that badly in recent times (winning against India and alsmost winning against Aus twice) so we can sit nice and optimistic even if we lose the toss, and Atapatu and his men bat first. Although as you say, getting off to a good start will be imperitive.

I'd have the same side as well - Moin has still not recovered from flu, so I think it is unlikely he will play, and Younus did nothing wrong with the gloves on Saturday so Woolmer and Inzi will give him another go, and rightly so. Imran Farhat cannot be picked (he's not in the squad) so I think its going to be between Bazid Khan and Salmat Butt, and I've personally go in with Salman because I just fell in love with 3 cracking off side fours he hit against Zimbabwe in his 30 of as many balls.

[Shaka]

Yeah i hear ya about Salman's 4's they were exquisite! I didn't know it was a D/N game though...damn. Now I know we'll struggle if we have to bat under lights!

Well I'm sure it'll be a good game in front of the fantastic Karachi crowd which I think is the best in Pakistan. Hopefully we'll be discussing a fine win here tomorrow and a debut 50 for Salman.

[Zainub]

Hopefully. Speaking of the fantastic Karachi crowd, I'm just disgusted I can't be one of them. I couldn't get enough ticket in the right area - there were about 25 of us who wanted to go together; in the RS 500 region we could get no more than 3 seats together, all the rest were very nearly sold out. There was this one block near the pavillion having about 20 seats coming at RS 2500 each - (would collectively cost us RS 50000) that was way (way, way) out of our buget so now we're left to watch the match at home. Sigh!!! I'm just hoping the electricity doesn't betray us - there is nothing worse than having to sit helpless without power not knowing what's going on in the match only hoping against hope that power resumes soon. Its the worst feeling ever.

I went to see that India match earlier in the year, and it was the first time I'd been to an international match, I'd never forget that day.

[Shaka]

Well I am in UK and have been to see a few games Zainub and it's always a great occasion. Speaking of being in England it's quite a trial to have to look at Wayne Rooney's ugly picture every time you post but I guess his beauty lies in his football skills :-p

Where did you see the India game? Karachi? The atmosphere was amazing I'm not surprised you didn't forget it. It was great to even watch on TV. Even though I was watching abroad I was very proud of the way the supporters gave India such a great welcome. I don't think our guys in England would have been so big-hearted.

[Zainub]

Ofcoarse his real beauty lies in the footy skills but he's kind of cute as well - he's a little on the plump side, and I always feel the chubbier opnes are always more cute, having said that I've not found a single person on the message board who shares my, well let's called it fan-iscism (so what if that's not a word!) of Roon.

The atmosphere in that entire series was unbeleivable - and it generally has been in the last couple of seasons here in Pakistan. After that long drought where we didn't have many international matches (Aus and West Indies opted to play on neutral venues on account of alleged security fears) the Pakistani public have learnt there lesson. I thought the atmosphere in Peshawar for the Zimbabwe game was special as well - the reception they give for home grown players is absolutely amazing. The one for Afridi on Saturday for instance was memorable, it was almost as if they knew from before hand that Afridi would hit a six to finish of the match. All the while the crowd applauded good cricket, there were plenty of cheers for Taylor and Ebrahim, even Taibu towards the end. It was great to watch. And then I remember how they cheered every run Yasir Hameed made during his 90 odd against India in that same series - and when he got out they almost went into pin drop silence before they all started clapping again for Hameed and the incoming batsman.

Just a shame we don't get enough crowds in for the test matches, I don't know why people are so reluctant to watch the five day version of cricket.

[Nikhil]

Alright. I think if there is something in the pitches, SL should win. They have good bowlers who have good control. If the pitches are flat, Pakistan batting should take the game away from SL.

I think from the point of fire-power, SL can not match Razzaq-Afridi et. al. But, it should be a good contest never the less. I think SL should be the slight favourites based on recent history.

[Zainub]

Shakka - I've just rechecked it out - it is probably not a day and night game. I guess the person who told me it was a day and night game was pretty dumb (grrr) anyway I'm shocked crick info hasn't come up with a match preview - they usually come up with a preview for almost every game but at the moment that can't seem to think about anything other than the Aus-Ind series.

[Shaka]

I just came here to say the exact same thing. Just as well I found out otherwise I'd have missed half the game. Dammit...looks like another early alarm call.

Thanks anyway.

[Zainub]

Alarm calls rarely work for me - I usually don't sleep at all when we play in Aus or NZ which start at round about 3 AM PST