Pakistan Squad Announced for VB Series

[Zainub]

BBC Sports reports here that Pakistan have recalled allrounder Azhar Mahmood, openers Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar, and pace bowled Rao Iftikhar Anjum for the triangular VB series, each of 'em is expected to arrive in Australia in time for our first warm up game against a strong Australia A side on January 12th. Inzamam is included in the 16 man squad, apparently because the "team management" has ensured his particupation, this means Danish Kaneria, Asim Kamal, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sami (who was asked to rest and given time to recover in time for the series against India) and Imran Farhat will all return home following the completion of the final ongoing final test in Sydney.

Pakistan squad: Inzamam-ul-Haq (Capt), Taufeeq Umar, Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Kamran Akmal (Wkt), Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Shoaib Malik, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Khalil, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Rao Iftikhar Anjum.

So, just when we were talking about Mohammad Hafeez he gets a recall, I must say I didn't expect his recall to the fold this early, although Taufeeq Umar's inclusion was widely anticipated. Last time Hafeez played for us, his off spin brought more success than his batting, hopefully the case will be different this time. He is one hell of fielder though, and it will be interesting seeing how we use him this time around. As good as Taufeeq Umar's record is at test level, he has never played any inning of note in limited overs cricket, so he must grab on to this opportunity of cementing his place in the side once and for all, and concentrate on just batting and not what people have to say about his technique or anything. I guess for starters he will still have to compete with Yasir Hameed for an opening slot alongside Salman Butt - it might come down to who does better in the 2 warm up games we are scheduled to play, a 50-overs-per-side contest against Aus A on 12 Jan at Adelaide, followed by a 20-overs-a-side game the next day on the same venue.


This might also be just the right series to bring some one like Azhar Mahmood back into the fold, we're scheduled to play 6 games , and 2/3 more if we qualify for the finals - enough time I would think to give most of the guys in the squad a bit of a go. Over all squad looks stronger batting wise, and some what thin on fast bowling resources - Shoaib and Rana are perhaps the only proven performers, the former too has only been able to get a run in the side because of injuries to Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar, well he's either hit or miss in one-days, Mohammad Khalil and Rao Iftikhar Anjum are both inexperienced and I'm not sure what to expect of them in their first tour away from home - over all there is a look of uncertainity about it...or may be its just that I'm being too skeptical...alas the after affects of hearing too much Mark Nicholas and Bob Willis are becoming all too evident...

[Maranello]

There was a fair bit of press comment in Pakistan that Hafeez and Taufeeq will be recalled; the former as a replacement for Malik. I don't see the point of recalling Taufeeq now; one more failure in a meaningless ODI, and back to the wilderness for him. This would be laughable selection policy.

Thankfully they have kept faith with Kamran Akmal and not recalled Moin.

Why is Inzamam in the squad? He is probably not a good influence from the sidelines, Youhana should have a free hand.

Why has Khalil been kept in, but Asif has not? Again a mystery.

[Zainub]

I'd be really dissapointed if Taufeeq fails again, some one of his potential really shouldn't have problems scoring runs at one-day level - we've used him absymally before that - recalling him at the wrong times and dropping him at the wrong times. For once I hope, even if it a gamble the selectors have taken, that it pays of.

Kamran will have to start making some runs, his first innings performance in this test match showed that he definately has a good variety of shots and can execute them pretty decently as well when he's playing well - in the one-days though his batting role will change slightly, he'd be expected to come and score runs at the death. Seems to me that he's a good improviser so ideally this form of the game should suit his batting more.

Inzi, and a bad influence? Hmm... I know he's a sort of lazy bugger in one sense, but I for once don't think he's as bad an influence on the team as you suggest here, he's one hell of batsmen Maranello, if can get him self fit and running, that would be a big boast for the team, and he'll be an inspiration in that sense for the rest of the team, leading from the front scoring runs as he has been ever since he's been apointed skipper. People keep forgetting that he's been in great form of late, and everything said and done about his attitude he's still our best batsmen by far, we could always do with someone like him in the side. Yes, his injuries off late have been frutrating, and he should have solved out these niggles before, but your criticism of him seems rather too harsh to me.

Khalil over Asif is arguable. I think they've preffered Khalil because he's a left armer - so may its because they wanna keep the option of some variety in the attack open.

[Paoli]

Hafeez called up...as i asked u Zainub

No Farhat??? I thought Farhat was a feisty opener capable of making quick runs

[Seamer]

I am curios about the recall of Mahmood? He seemed so talented yet his stats are certainly not flattering, Has he been in good form in Pakistan domestic cricket?

Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50
134 103 23 1435 67 17.93 76.53 - 3

http://aus.cricinfo.com/link_to_data...S_BAT_PAK.html

[Paoli]

And wont Big Inzy play Maranello??? I thought he'd recovered

He is integral to the side...

By the way, when Salman went out i honestly thought for the first time this series that he is your best player/most vital.

Would anyone care to agree with me on this?

[Seamer]

He averages 50 in one day cricket from his short career

[Maranello]

Paoli69, if Inzamam is fit and plays, he is worth any two other batsmen in the squad - definitely vital.

Agree about Salman, he is the man in form, and the only batsman who has consistently scored runs this winter, so yes, maybe the most valuable player at the moment.

Paoli, Hameed is in the ODI squad, Farhat is not though, repeated failures and all that.

ZR, Inzi is a fine guy and all that, but I am not sure about his influence from the sidelines. When Youhana is the captain, and Inzamam is not playing (due to injury), then having Inzamam in the dressing room is probably unnerving for Youhana. So we have one captain in the field, and another in the dressing room, and its probably the latter who makes the crucial decisions. Inzamam is tactically inept as a skipper, Youhana had done better prior to these series (the Test vs. SA, and a few ODIs here n there), but has done abysmally in this Test, almost as bad as Inzamam would have. My only explanation for that is this: Youhana is either {a} influenced by Inzi and has to follow his methods, or {b} Inzi's inspiring field placings and tactical acumen (!) has rubbed off on Yoyo and they are both now as bad as each other.

I am only talking about tactics, strategy etc, not the players' value to the team. Inzamam's tactics always leave a lot to be desired but he has been the best we have.

In any case, a ship cannot be led by two captains, and nor can a cricket team - this can only lead to chaos. If one guy is injured and not playing, he should be on the hospital bed, not still calling the shots from the background, however well-intentioned he may be.

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Seamer

I am curios about the recall of Mahmood? He seemed so talented yet his stats are certainly not flattering, Has he been in good form in Pakistan domestic cricket?

Here's a summary of Azhar Mahmood's performance in the domestic 4 day competetion Quaid-e-Azam Trophy - this season he played in only 2 games

BATTING

PHP Code:

  
  Name                Mat    I  NO  Runs   HS     Ave 100  50   Ct St Team 
  
  Azhar Mahmood         2    3   0    61   44   20.33   -   -    4  - Rawalpindi 


BOWLING

PHP Code:

  
  Name                Mat    O      M     R   W    Ave  Best   5 10    SR  Econ Team
  
  Azhar Mahmood         2   59.3   17   200  11  18.18  4-71   -  -  32.4  3.36 Rawalpindi 


[Zainub]

Youhanna definately has not had a good time as stand in skipper this time around M...but does suddenly me we should conclude he's as bad as a skipper as Inzi..when its arguable how bad Inzi's captaincy is in its own self...

Things are not always as they seem to be...I don't know for sure how much of say a non-playing skipper has on team tactics - he obviously does not and in fact cannot influence setting of fields and other on-field decesions (simply because he's not on field!).

I guess at most Inzi would have had a say in things like wheather they should take the new ball or not and who to bowl up front on day 3...(decision you don't have to take in one-day cricket). Ever in test cricket I would presume these sort of things are normally discussed within the team think tank, captain, coach and vice captain normally as well, so nothing dramatically new here...don't you think we're jumping to conclusions here a bit too quickly...?

Yes, I have been critical of Youhanna's tactics today my self too because they seemed to lack intent and purpose - I stand by that still - but two fast bowlers with 3 caps b/w them, an indifferent Shoaib and a virtually useless Afridi, he only had Kaneria too fall back on, and he too was going for runs, it's not difficult to see why he seem confused about what he should do, with that attack and the way Gilchrist was playing ...arguable how many skippers could have done anything to prevent the onslaught or done better even with that same attack - really, arguable.

I aslo tend to think Inzi is not as bad a tactian as he is sometimes potrayed to be, he's been playing for so long so he knows the game and understands it well, he tends to have his own way of interpreting situations, his own unqiue way of attacking and so on, but I'd be wary of criticising a guy who has played international cricket for so long.

I'm not sure I'd say he's "tactically inept". "Inept" sounds the wrong word to me, I rather would say he's just a bit laid back, often he seems to have the right tactic but the implementation is either not correct or too late..he definately is not as sponantaneous and reactive as he should be, but he definately does understand the game alright ...there are too many skeptics out there in the comentary box to consider all there opinions about all players and their abilities seriously.

Yes, a ship cannot be led by two captains, and nor can a cricket team, but I do seriously think we will only be "lead" by whgoever is actually leading the side on field - Inzi I'm sure will understand and curb him self a little bit if he feels Youhanna is not comfortable with his influence while he's standing in when he doesn't play him self...and in any case, I'm expecting Inzi to play, he wouldn't be selected had he not been expected to get fit in time, so perhaps all of our discussion is bit unnecesary anyway.