Sami is out of the one-day squad...Hurray!!!

[Zainub]

You guys went on created a separate thread discussing what might have happened to me, but not even a single mention anywhere of the greatest development to take place in Pakistan cricket since Sami's debut it self! The unthinkable has happened, the seemingly unshakable bonds of love and loyalty between Inzi, Bobby and Sami have finally been hydrolysed and Sami as a result is out of the one-day squad!!!! This follows his dropping from the last test against India, at Karachi, which we obviously won.

The catalytic enzyme for this great chain reaction is obviously Mohammad Asif, who is a fine, fine, prospect as most of you have also recognised. Locally he's grown into a bit of an overnight celebrity and people at my college can't talk enough about him. I'm expecting Sami's endorsement deal with DHL courier services might not last that long now!

Inzi and Malik are also back after missing the last test (Inzi through his back and Malik through personal reasons), and Faisal Iqbal and Umar Gul have been brought in too. Yasir Arafat has retained his place from the one-day squads we picked against England, and there is no Yasir Hameed after he had to miss the series against India because of typhoid. Imran Farhat, who made a 50 in the Karachi test, is the other opener in the squad.

Also, there is no Danish Kaneria, which is just slightly surprising given he could be used a super-sub if wanted. But then, we do have Arshad Khan, who is a much more accomplished one-day bowler (not to forget a miles better fielder and batsman) so perhaps you can't argue with that too much either.

The first match of the series begins Monday in Peshawar, which is a wonderful though badly misunderstood city. It should be a very good game of cricket, as this is one of the best surfaces for cricket in Pakistan. Expect a close contest, a great game and a good series. And yeah, lots of Shahid Afridi fans, the frontier province is where Afridi has his roots, and so his fan club here is arguably more passionate and exuberant then anywhere else in the country.

I can't promise I'll be around much, I am busy like anything during weekdays, but watch out for me on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. And possibly this Tuesday as we have a break at my college because of Muharram, which is when I've finally also scheduled in an appointment with my hairdresser! Thank god, you wont believe it but I'm in a total mess right now and don't look much better then Sami him self. Now I only need my live saving washing machine to come back from the customer services place it has gone to for repairs on Monday, and my life will be slightly less abnormal as it use to be before.

Full Squad: Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Arshad Khan, Salman Butt, Rana Naved, Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Yasir Arafat.

[Uham]

Welcome back and. Now tell me this do you really think Mohammad Sami deserved to be on the team? I mean look at it like this Sami has attudite problems. He always STAIRS at the batsman which is not that cool but fun to watch. He gets hit to much I think eather Mohammad Asif or Yasir Arafat or Umar Gul deserve to be on team Pakistan these 3 players try very hard..

[Zainub]

I don't know if one can label his problems as bad attitude, because he did seem to try his level best, but off late, and pretty much for the majority of his career, his best wasn't good enough. Sometimes he tried too much.

Yet admittedly, he did develop a tendency to take his place in the side for granted, for which he has paid, a bit belatedly, but he nevertheless has. Asif did a wonderful job against England in his one-day debut and played a big role in the win against India, so he is certainly ahead of Gul at this stage. Gul too though, is bowling well, and has picked up a few wickets in the Patron's cup, so the fast bowling cupboard is as always looking pretty strong. Yasir Arafat, given Kaneria's absence will be a favorite for the super sub role.

[Doink]

Who needs Sami? I think Rana, Asif, Razzaq are more than enough for India! Then Arafat looks good too (I guess he and Dravid have played together for Scotland).

[Uham]

Wow DOINK nice words. Just what I wanted to say. WHO NEEDS SAMI. Thanks Doink I really wanted to hear that from someone else except me!! YES

[ahsan32]

Dropping sami from the ODI squad will only help Pakistan, i hope now he will try to look into his bowling, In the past he was an automatic choice.

[Doink]

Originally Posted by uham

Wow DOINK nice words. Just what I wanted to say. WHO NEEDS SAMI. Thanks Doink I really wanted to hear that from someone else except me!! YES

Any time dude! Sami should have been dropped long back. Anyways he's out and hope he uses the time to get back into top gear.

[Uham]

Originally Posted by Doink

Any time dude! Sami should have been dropped long back. Anyways he's out and hope he uses the time to get back into top gear.

AND GET A PROPER HAIR CUT.

[greg]

Now that Sami has been dropped he should not be allowed to return as he is not good enough to be a dangerous international bowler.I hope for Pakistan fans sake that he doesn't return but the cheeky side of me wants him picked for your tour to England as it is a waste of a space in the party.

[Mr Hutt]

Sami when he emerged as a player was a class act, the fact that he has not been able to perform recently is a result of having too less of a variety in his bowling, lets not castrate a guy who can bowl quite well given he gets his act togather, this is the problem with us pakis... we are always on the extreme why not give a guy a chance to ok, play in some matches and bowl alongside Asif, Shoiab and rana i think this four pronged pace attack could reduce any team to tatters!!!