Pakistan v Sri Lanka PakTel cup match 1

[Nikhil]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

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

That used to be the case for me, when I was younger. Things change with age. Now I can sleep well before matches and do not get equally as excited and/or worried, when my team is losing. But, following the games will never change. Infact, now I follow cricket more than I ever before did. It's just the perspective that has changed.

[Zainub]

Its interesting you say that Nikhil, I'd like to hope the intensity with which I follow cricket doesn't change with age. For me it's grown over the years. When I was a preteen I only watched Pakistan matches, and sometime when we were losing I didn't watch the whole game. But as I grew up I now enjoy watching cricket more than anything else I can think of.

Usually when we win, I'm preety excited, and when we win against India it is that time of year when you can ask me for anything and more often than not you'll get it or call me by any name and I'd just laugh it off. When we lose, I'm disapointed to say the least. I usually do a lot of things but most significantly I have this spot (I call it the kick spot) near our living room door - I give it real hard kick in true Rooney style.

[Nikhil]

Looks like you have been truly fascinated by Wayne Rooney. Would you like him, if he was scoring goals for Everton and not Man U ?

Anyway, yeah. My cricket has so far followed Tendulkar's path, since I have grown up watching him become (IMO) the best batsman in the world after the Don. During his years of effervecense, I was in my teens. It was fascinating and exciting. Now he's mallowed and matured, so have I.

The excitement now has shifted from pre-match to post-match. Analysing the match is more fun now. Watching a match live is still the best thing, but here in the USA, we are usually deprived of it. It really sucks. I tried to follow baseball with the NY Yankees in order to compensate for the loss of cricket, but found it too be too boring and un-orthodox for my taste.

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

when we win against India it is that time of year when you can ask me for anything and more often than not you'll get it or call me by any name and I'd just laugh it off.

Hmm.. I will remember that .

[Zainub]

I've been a fan of Rooney ever since he scored that last minute goal against Arsenal - probably not this fanatical as I am these days but I've always been a real admirer of his skills. Since EURO '04 I've got more mad about him than ever before. I get my madness syndromes - I use to be mad about Prince William at one stage beleive it or not, but then it completely faded away - ususally my madness syndromes "matured" into loyal fans-woman-ship (so what if that's not a word), examples of that include Inzi, Tom Cruise, Beckham, Hewitt, JJ and many many others. Madness is the initial period where I get pretty fanatic, but as time passes by the fanaticism wears out and loyality emerges. Gash that sounds so much more dramatic than it is in real life....

I enherited my cricket passion from my mom. It actually runs in the genes of most people here so I'm not an exception anyway. Last summer I went to the States for holiday, I watched a base ball match, went to Ranger's Home Ground, can't remember what it is called, but it was good fun, obviously there was no comparision with cricket, but it wasn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. I guess you are one of those few who remain loyal to cricket, and still follow it closely despite living abroad in a county with no direct access to cricket, all my uncles and aunts living there have switched over to basket ball.

Speaking of my good mood after we win against India, a lot of my friends always use that to their advantage - I can't think of a time they've not made me take them out for lunch/dinner every time the opportunity has arrived, so I've got used to it.

[SSA.]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

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

I am popularly known as a sleepy head but when there is a cricket match I don't need an alarm clock - I was up early every morning throughout the India - Pak Series and I hope tomorrow morning I will be up at 4 AM so I can catch the start before its time to start work.

How are you doing Zainub, long time no speak.

[Shaka]

SL are batting and off to a decent start, 48-1. Batting conditions look excellent, a little early movement with the new ball but otherwise a fantastic looking pitch and good crowd in.

[Shaka]

Sloppy work by Pakistan in the field today. Jayasuriya dropped by both Inzi and Younis (w/k) Afridi being the unlucky bowler both times. Come back Moin!

[fair_&_balance]

what is the deal with this Dude Navedul hasan?why is He still here?
He doesnt really has it what it takes to be a regular bowler for long time.Why not persist with somerone likme Iftekhar Rao or Give chance to Irshad.


whats your take?

[Shaka]

f&b,

He got some away swing this morning and he bowled a match-winning spell against India in the ICC trophy. add the fact he is a useful bat and that none of the new bowlers look very penetrative either and I guess that's why he holds down a spot for the moment. More bowlers will be given a run in coming games but it's up to them to claim a permanent position by showing that they as specialist bowlers have more to offer than allrounders like Naved or Azhar. Rao hasn't done that yet, have yet to see Irshad.

[fair_&_balance]

I agree that he had some success but then many times getting wicket in Onedayers
is not really good Indicator of bowler's capability. Remeber Srikant got 5 wickets many time in ODIs( I am not comapring
just making a point).
Whatever little I have seen of him ,I found he is a bowler of very limited Capabilities and I dont see him being there for a
long time.If I were incharge of situation I would rather give chance to some specialist bowler and try to find out long term
solution. Talking about his batting ability, I think pakistan already has got 2 good all rounders and with Younis Keeping it has batmen till no 10. Too many bits are piece players arenot very good either.Team needs some speicalist.
I find Naved just another bit and piece player.

Jus myt 2 cents.