Pakistan vs India, Feb-March 2005, Preseries Build Up Thread

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Bevo

but back on rana , do you recon the selectores will go with him

He'll definately get a go in the test squad, for a place in the final XI he'll be fighting with Sami, who yesterday took a couple of wickets in 20 odd overs bowled in the Patron's Trophy, the report I read said Sami was "bowling with good rythym". It might come down to who does better in warm up matches, which I'm presuming we will have, hopefully.

[Paoli]

Akhtar to miss, Harbhajan cleared. www.cricinfo.com follow the links

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Inzi

It's a terrible blow for us because it's difficult to go on a tough tour like India without your premier bowler. But I think Shoaib is at a stage in his career where he is the best judge of his fitness. I hope he makes speedy recovery and makes himself available soon.

Exactly my sentiments.

[Shaka]

Shoaib's loss is a blow but at least he has been responsible enough to rule himself out rather than risk breaking down mid-series. Pakistan will definitely miss his strike capability. We can only hope that fitness, discipline and unity can make up for his absence.

[Maranello]

Pakistan have announced their 16 man squad:

Taufeeq Umar, Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan (vc), Asim Kamal, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wk), Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Sami, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Arshad Khan, Mohammad Khalil.

Captaincy: In a positive move, Younis Khan has been made the vice-captain. Inzamam was confirmed as captain for the whole duration of this season many months ago and it would have been disruptive to change him half-way through the season. Hopefully, Younis will do well enough with the bat in the India and West Indies tours to cement his place, and can then take over as captain from Inzi after the Windies tour.

In the pace bowling department, Shabbir Ahmed and Shoaib Akhtar do not make it as both are still "injured". Shahid Nazir and Rao Iftikhar do not make the cut, despite the former's superlative domestic form; Nazir gets the ball to swing both ways, something not many of our bowlers do, and even Woolmer has admitted being impressed. A shame he couldn't make the cut. Abdul Razzaq has been persisted with, not sure if he will just be a 'bench-warmer' though. Along with him, we have four pace-bowling options: Sami, Khalil and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. My impression is that both Sami and Rana will be automatic selections for the first Test at Mohali, and hence the third seamer will be one of Razzy or Khalil. The faith showed in Khalil by the selectors is admirable; let's hope he proves deserving of it.

All the key batsmen have been selected, including Taufeeq Umar. At least we have not made the alarming mistake we made for the Australian tour! Asim Kamal and Shoaib Malik are automatic selections. We have rightly persisted with Yasir Hameed, but Imran Farhat's poor form leads to him being axed, not a surprise really. Hasan Raza still continues to remain in the wilderness; Woolmer has admitted this admiration for this excellent middle-order bat, and has said that even Steve Waugh came up up him during the Australian and expressed his surprise at Hasan Raza's continued exclusion. My hope is that he is next in line for a middle-order berth.

In the slow-bowling area, we have done the right thing by selecting both Kaneria and Arshad Khan. Afridi has been able to make it as well, which is excellent news. Now, if only Malik could be cleared to bowl too!

All in all, some sensible selections here, and this squad is good enough for both the Tests and the ODI series. Now, what about that final XI for the 4th of March? Let's see some nominations here....


PS: for some bizarre reason, cricinfo describes the 16 selected as a "15-man squad". Maybe just a typographical error; but I would not be surprised if one of these 16 is eventually dropped from the final touring party!

[Maranello]

Of course, the final XI depends on how the candidates perform in the lone warm-up game, a 3-day contest against an opposition yet to be determined, at a venue yet to be confirmed (Feb 27 - Mar 1). However, at this stage, there are only a few question marks, most of the key berths, to my mind at least, are automatic:

1. Salman Butt
2. Taufiq Umar or Yasir Hameed
3. Younis Khan
4. Inzamam
5. Youhana
6. Asim Kamal or Shoaib Malik or Shahid Afridi
7. M. Khalil or Abdul Razzaq
8. Kamran Akmal (w/k)
9. Rana Naved-ul-Hasan
10. M. Sami
11. Danish Kaneria


I don't think Arshad Khan will be considered if the first Test is at Mohali, a relatively seam friendly wicket in any case.
My personal preferences (at this stage) for the question mark berths are in blue above.

This will mean that we will bat down to number 8 (Akmal), with Rana and Sami at 9 and 10, both very decent tail-end bats.

Bowling-wise, we will have a four-man attack comprising Sami, Rana, Abdul Razzaq and Kaneria - a lot will depend on each of them performing to the best of their abilities since there will be little room for error! Including Afridi at 6 would give us an additional bowler, and a decent batsmen... but Asim Kamal's role at no.6 is invaluable. From the batsmen, Salman Butt (SLA) and Younis Khan (leg-break) can turn their arms over if need be.

[workkey]

TEAM ANNOUNCED

Squad Taufeeq Umar, Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Asim Kamal, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wk), Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Sami, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Arshad Khan, Mohammad Khalil


with younis as vice captain

[workkey]

and i am also happy that the team i selected for the tests is all over there

[Occasional Fan]

The tour has been delayed by four days. The Ahmedabad test match has been moved to Kolkata, and in return for this Pakistan has agreed to play an extra ODI. The full tour therefore comprises three tests and six ODIs.

BBC report here, and full revised itinerary here.

[Paoli]

What did Youhana do wrong to lose the vice-captaincy. He captained very well in Melbourne, and although Sydney wasn't great, he should still be there in my opinion.