Pakistan Vs Srilanka

[Nikhil]

Looks like a cracker of an ODI is going on there. This is the present status of the match:

Sri Lanka 293/6 (50 ov)
Pakistan 190/2 (36.0 ov) 	
Pakistan require another 104 runs with 8 wickets and 14.0 overs remaining
Pakistan RR: 5.28
Required RR: 7.43

I must say Pakistan are still in the driving seat, since the asking run rate is not great and Inzi is there.

[Shaka]

Pakistan won by 6 wkts and they were never really in much danger of losing it. The openers put on 99 with the top 3 batsmen getting over 150 between them. That pretty much set it up for the rolls royce of Pakistan's batting line up, Inzimam and Youhanna to cruise home, the asking run rate of almost 8/over proving not much of a challenge at all.

Salman Butt got his maiden 50 and will probably be the long term replacement for Saeed Anwar. His offside play is so fluent that Sri lanka had seven players on that side of the wicket to try and stop him scoring. His timing was so sweet that he blocked a ball and it went racing for 4!

Shoaib Akhtar was a disgrace today, and for a senior player to show such a bad attitude reeks. The fielding from both sides was below standard too. One other point should be noted that Inzimam chose to bat first as he didn't want to bowl under the lights when the ball becomes wet because of the dew. SL had to change the ball 3 times in the Pakistan innings and D/N matches should not be considered for important matches like the final on Saturday. The discrepancy in the conditions between the two innings makes it like watching two different matches.

[fair_&_balance]

congrats to all Pakistano Supporters.
This outfit is coming out to be as one great ODI team. They have almost everythign what it takes to be a good ODI.

[Shaka]

If the opening batting slots can be consolidated then yes it's a very strong line up. There are 4 all rounders in the side, Naved Rana, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi who are all very capable of producing the goods with either bat or ball. When you have Shahid Afridi coming in at no 8 with Rana at 9 who is no mug with the bat, that's a lot of depth with the option of 6 bowlers too. When Shabbir Ahmed is fit, he could replace either Shoaib or Sami depending on who wants it more. Shabbir can get swing, seam and lift...while Shoaib and Sami are better at bowling at the death, he is definitely a better option with the new ball. With Umar Gul to come back (hopefully) in 2005 I would say it's up to Sami and Shoaib to fight for their spots in this team.

[Nikhil]

Yes. Umar Gul looked quite a good bowler. He should certainly play for Pakistan.

This side is coming good. The batsmen are settling in their positions. But I think Pakistan would like to find a more genuine number three batsman than Shoaib Malik in test matches. Hamid looks a better number three for tests and if they find a good opening pair, Pakistan will have a good batting line-up for tests. The winter series to Australia is going to be interesting. I think the key to Pakistan's success will be to keep the Aussie pacers out of the game. It will be interesting to see what batting combination do they play down-under.

[fair_&_balance]

Originally Posted by Nikhil

Yes. Umar Gul looked quite a good bowler. He should certainly play for Pakistan.

This side is coming good. The batsmen are settling in their positions. But I think Pakistan would like to find a more genuine number three batsman than Shoaib Malik in test matches. Hamid looks a better number three for tests and if they find a good opening pair, Pakistan will have a good batting line-up for tests. The winter series to Australia is going to be interesting. I think the key to Pakistan's success will be to keep the Aussie pacers out of the game. It will be interesting to see what batting combination do they play down-under.

Well Nikhil Shoib isnot going to play at NO. 3 in test matches. I am not sure if he will even play in test matches. My comment about pakistani being very good team was with respect to ODIs. I think they have a long way to go in Test matches. Batting is too fragile for a test team. Only Yoyo,Inzi & Akmal are the guy who can play good in test matches. Out of which Akmal is yet to play outside Pakistan.Other than these 3 rest are just waste of time. I thought Taufeeq was good but looks like after his last performance against India he is out of favour with Selectors.

[Maranello]

Yeh, excellent performance today by most of the team.. especially the batsmen...flat-track bullies, every single one of them!!!

I think the current mix of the ODI team is pretty good...and would say that we can probably aim for WI-2007 with a broadly similar side. The only changes that might happen by then are in the pace bowling dept, where Shoaib would be past his sell-by date, and Gul & Shabbir should be more accomplished.

Apart from that, I don't see need for major changes to the ODI set-up in the next 2-3 years... only a lot of fine-tuning and work on fitness and tactics etc... any comments?

[Shaka]

Originally Posted by Maranello

I think the current mix of the ODI team is pretty good...and would say that we can probably aim for WI-2007 with a broadly similar side. The only changes that might happen by then are in the pace bowling dept, where Shoaib would be past his sell-by date, and Gul & Shabbir should be more accomplished.

Apart from that, I don't see need for major changes to the ODI set-up in the next 2-3 years... only a lot of fine-tuning and work on fitness and tactics etc... any comments?

I still think the opening slots need to be consolidated. While Salman Butt looks like a million dollars he needs to prove he has the hunger and desire to make big scores and not just settle for cameo 20's and 30's. His fielding isn't the best so he has to make up for it with the bat. I think he will be competing for that 2nd opener spot with another left-hander, Imran Farhat.

[Zainub]

Good performance by Pakistan, particularly a delightful display of batting by Inzi. I hope we win Saturday's final as well , but I'm not sure why they have scheduled it one the First of Ramadan - I'm sure (almost 100%) that the crowds are going to stay away, even more so since it is a day and night match. I don't think we should play any cricket at all in Ramadan for that matter - it's just ridicolous.

[Occasional Fan]

Given the obligation of fasting during daylight, that really is strange scheduling.