Pakistan v South Africa in the UAE

It would be a treat watching these two sides compete against each other in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Pakistan cricket board confirmed schedule for their upcoming homeseries against South Africa in the UAE. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are selected as the venues where the series is going to be played. This is the first time that a complete series would be played in the deserts of UAE including test series. The schedule of the series is as below!

Itinerary
Oct 27	Only Twenty20	Abu Dhabi
Oct 29	1st ODI	Abu Dhabi
Oct 31	2nd ODI	Abu Dhabi
Nov 2	3rd ODI	Dubai
Nov 5	4th ODI	Dubai
Nov 8	5th ODI	Dubai
Nov 12-16	1st Test	Dubai
Nov 20-24	2nd Test	Abu Dhabi

Why Younis Khan?

Another bouncer to Younis from PCB by not including him [for sure] for Pakistan's Asia Cup squad to be played in Sri Lanka!

The header says it, Why Younis Khan! He has played for the country and just for the sake of saving the team from more disturbance, he was gutsy enough to left captaincy and the team, else do we [Pakistan Cricket History] have such a role model in recent past who himself left the captaincy? Every captain that was changed in recent, was sacked, not resigned! Now Shahid Afridi has been appointed the skipper of Pakistan Team touring Sri Lanka for Asia Cup including the hosts, Sri Lanka, India and Bengal Tigers Bangladesh, and later Pakistan is going to play a tough tour in English Summer against Aussies and later against England, altogether 6 test matches with 2 against Aussies and 4 against England and it would be a testing tour for Pakistan and many of Pakistani players would be having there debut as test players in England including sensational Umar Akmal, Muhammad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal to name some, and in this scenario you [Pakistan Cricket Board a.k.a. P.C.B.] are constantly ignoring players like Younis Khan and Muhammad Yousuf, because everyone who'll read my this article will surely agree with me whether he's an Indian, Sri Lankan or a Bangladeshi, that experience counts, for playing in England else you'd be bulldozed, remember Aussies lose their last two consecutive Ashes in England!

So why PCB being so idiot, instead working on 2 Y's return to Pakistan test squad touring England for a "Home-series" against Aussies, they rather made themselves happy by inclusion of a termite named Shoaib Malik, after his inclusion what assurances do we have specially Shoaib Malik will never, ever plot such Star Plus drama again in the Pakistan team? I am quite sure that would happen in near future because the manager currently with Pakistani team is wholly responsible for what happened post-Australia tour, supporting group-making against Younis Khan, taking oath on Holy Quran [just think of it, how disgusting, for staging a plot taking support of a Holy Book, how shameful of these disgusting people], the plot was made by the manager and Malik capitalized on it, as he mentions Younis Khan responsible for taking off captaincy cap from him, according to the leaked video of the inquiry committee mentions [I have doubts on the stature of that inquiry committee too as it was based on the Board's members other than Wasim Akram being the outsider, who didn't participate because of his international assignments]. So how can you say that the inquiry committee findings were credible? Its simply looking like the case that Pakistan Cricket Board wanted to hide their ill-management and stupid-ness by blaming their faults to the players.

Instead of scrutinizing the players', why can't they scrutinize the management and helm of affairs of Pakistan Cricket Board, which has already been a laughing stock in International Cricket with no credibility, like it was once. People like Malik can only be "tamed" under strict management, unlike the current management where they are assured that they're not questionable and even if they found guilty, they'll [the PCB] lift it with the help of their own made appellate tribunal, which would not have its own credibility. If they were credible enough, they should have opted for Younis' and Yousuf's return, but they have adjourned Younis' appeal till 5th June, 2010 and team for Asia cup to be announced of 3rd so Younis is definitely going to miss the Asia Cup, does a sensible Cricket Board acts like that? [I want answers from Indians, Sri Lankans and Bangladeshis to have their view points on this issue too]

And as far as Younis's concern I'd back him to carry on this court hearing, heard PCB had tried bribing him that if he [Younis Khan] withdraw his cases, they'd lift his ban, completely bullshit, in my case I personally feel bribing in such a manner would be the last thing in my head, if PCB didn't help, than he should proceed to supreme court of justice, that's where PCB current management is going to have sweats on their foreheads for sure. Go Younis!

Credibility of this appellate tribunal

What is PCB doing? After tonight's episode, what credibility of Pakistan Cricket Board is in the International Arena?

I doubt this one person appellate tribunal hearing where the only person conducting these hearings is a relative to Mr. Ijaz Butt. Right now when I am writing this blog, in news headlines Ijaz Butt is clearly saying that it was he who did all this mess, what can you [the media personnel who asked this question] do, I've the authority to do each and everything.

What the hell is it? He has made Pakistani cricket a laughing stock! Already cricket in Pakistan is a mere dream and now just because of false credibility of our head of the board, such things are happening, no credibility of our cricket team internationally. Injecting the same players which were responsible for what happened in Australia tour! you must be kidding. If yes than Allah is the savior to Pakistani team, because team is not going to play as a team in presence of Malik specially, as he already been rated as termite and giving second chance to termite can be injurious.

Already he has proved how lethal he [Shoaib Malik] can be when it comes to create a Star Plus sorta situation in the team! We say country comes first, he say I come first- country goto hell, literally its what I felt especially the way he got out in Abu Dhabi against Kiwis, thanks to Aamer and Ajmal that they played a face-saving innings, than test series in New Zealand and Australia is no different. On the other hand, PCB's unconditional support to Shoaib Malik is without any clue! Even stats do not support him and his bowling in recent past has shown how good a bowler is he, isn't able to perform well with the bat as well. World T20 2009 in England and 128 against India at Centurion are only worth mentioning innings he played in recent past, two worth mentioning innings in 1.5 years time is not enough for what is wobbled as the finest all-rounder Pakistan ever had.

Even PCB while working so hard to get rid of ban from Malik if they had worked a little more, we could had Mohammad Yousuf [as a batsman] but instead our Cricket Board had emphasized more on Malik on expense of a master blaster Mohammad Yousuf [although I again admit I am not a fan of his captaincy], and players like Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan are born once in a while, and irony of fate, we first humiliate them and later defused them like toilet paper! Is that a way proud nations honour their heroes with inclusion of termites? A question to be answered by US [not Uncle Sam, but we the common people]

Wedding Gift with love from PCB

Shoaib Malik got wedding gift from PCB in shape of a ban lift from PCB's arranged appellate tribunal

Right now when I am writing this, 11.16 AM Pakistan Standard Time, its been a breaking news in news circuits in Pakistan that former skipper Pakistan Cricket Team Shoaib Malik, on whom PCB imposed ban due to misconduct and creating anarchy in the team, during the disastrous Aussie tour 2009-2010, have been uplifted by the PCB arranged 1 member appellate tribunal. Some saying its a wedding gift to Shoaib Malik from PCB, and this gift is worth mentioning compared to those which he got on his wedding day. I personally don't like him that much and those who call him as termite are quite justified as he was responsible for having a complete Star Plus show in Pakistan Cricket Team, resulting in disunity.

Even in the video, which was leaked earlier on a Private Sports Channel in Pakistan, show a member of the six-member committee using the word ‘termite’ for Malik after being told by some of the fellow cricketers and coaches Intikhab Alam and Aqib Javed that the former captain was the only person to be blamed for the lack of team spirit in the team.

After such background of a certain player, how can such player can have his ban uplifted? On a personal note I have reservations on the proceedings of this so called appellate tribunal hearing and doubt its hearing. Some channels even criticizing that Justice Irfan Qadir, who is taking their [banned players] hearings, is Samdhi to Mr. Ijaz Butt, clearly violating the basic rules of modern management.

The more justified ban uplift was of Younis Khan who's still having his hearing to be done. I personally feel he was the victim, flashing back to the time when Kiwis played ODI series against Pakistan in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, since than this whole Star Plus started. Even on the leaked video, one can easily understand that it was Shoaib Malik who blamed Younis Khan for captaincy take-over from him [Shoaib Malik], and disunity started from here, and like a termite plotted his plans, getting several players on his side, took oath on Holy Quran, against Younis Khan thanks to whole hearted support from our current team Manager Mr. Yawar Saeed, who himself has been a controversial character in Pakistan Cricket and has been a childhood friend to our beloved Mr. BUTT HEAD a.k.a. Ijaz Butt, another clear violation of modern management. I narrate my personal experience at a time when I was doing internship at another branch of the same bank my father works as internal auditor, and at that time my father had to visit my branch for auditing purposes, but he didn't came as I was in that branch, instead he being the Manager - Internal Audit, sent his colleagues to the branch. Ok. Should I give example from a cricketing point-of-view, in 2003 Mr. Tauqir Zia the former chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board just resigned because his own son had to play in the domestic and for Pakistan, even in his later interviews he clearly mentioned that he didn't wanted people to raise fingers that he utilized his power and seat to inject his son into the team.

Similarly, Shoaib Malik is also having some political and powerful support that's why after having violated the PCB's terms, he's still being injected into the team and being called as the need of the time when team is touring to a tough English summer series. Complete bull-shit, there are several other players, know not as much experience but it can be overcome by giving some chances.

Controversies surrounding the nomination of VP in the ICC

Mr. John Howard already in hot waters- being selected as the candidate for vacancy of vice-president.

Right now while having an injured right knee following a little accident just at the evening, I was reading that Aussie and Kiwi cricket boards have nominated former Aussie PM Mr. John Howard as the candidate for VP in place of Dave Morgan who just finished his tenure after World T20 2010 in the West Indies. His nomination is criticized by South Africa, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

Sri Lanka has a reason to object his [Mr. Howard] nomination, so I can't say that they are wrong, if anything similar was happened to Wasim Akram or Imran Khan, I'd had the same reaction, similarly the case with Zimbabwe Cricket Union, Zimbabwe Cricket has made no secret of its opposition to a man who was so critical of it when he was prime minister and is certain to vote against him if the matter reaches that point.

On the other hand, Cricket South Africa has taken up the matter in the strongest of manners, accusing David Morgan, the ICC president, of ignoring the sentiments of an "overwhelming number of ICC directors" who were opposed to Howard's candidature. Morgan has also been accused of making the matter a personal cause.

Already his approval is under hot waters as sentiments other than in Australasia is not suitable for him [Mr. John Howard] to attain his seat, and it will be better of him to leave his candidate-seat instead of getting insulted by rejected by getting one more vote in against.

Story is simple, just go for the dignity instead of attaining the seat, similar with BUTT HEAD heading our cricket board, he has lost all of his dignity and respect in the commoners in Pakistan. So with due respect I personally feel that if won't be good for a person of his caliber to get rejected, quitting is much better option.

Time to create some backup!

What is life for Pakistan Cricket after them? Are we working for a backup plan who'd replace them after they retire?

Although now clouds have been shed from the captaincy of upcoming series' in Sri Lanka and England, but have we thought of a backup plan, for life after Afridis, Younis', Yousufs, Maliks, Shoaib Akhtars etc?

Why we're wasting talent like Asim Kamal? Instead of trying in their later matches in New Zealand and Australia just after the World T20 triumph in England, they emphasized on a player who was instead of attending Pakistan's domestic matches which were on those days, went on to play a private league in Bangladesh, where according to stats mention, he was the high scorer! but did that thing helped Pakistan in New Zealand and Australia when it needed most? Afridi was also in Australia but he did played his part like the first ODI innings which he played and than the captaincy at the fifth and final ODI where Pakistan had almost won against Aussies. But did Misbah played his part? His inclusion in the team was just on the basis of his lucky year 2007 performance.

Like some analysts said, selecting players on reputation has paid the price in this World T20 played in West Indies, Pakistan also paid the price in this regards. If there was any other deserving player in place of Misbah it would have paid like the inclusion of Abdul Rehman following an injury to Yasir Arafat.

What I am saying instead of selecting team on players' past performance why not selecting them on the basis of their performances in domestic circuit? It might good to listen but we have to improve our domestic circuit standard, with comparison to Australian Shield. It has been a norm that a player emerges from our domestic taking handful wickets or scoring tons of scores but when the real arena for performance matters, they fail!

Asim Kamal had promise in his performance why isn't he be giving chances I don't know, but wanna know!

Skipper announced for Asia Cup and England Tour

Shahid Afridi has been announced as the skipper for Asia Cup and off-shore home-series in England against Aussies and England

Shahid Afridi has been announced as the skipper for upcoming Asia Cup to be played in Sri Lanka, featuring India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. After that they are gonna travel to England where they have to play against Aussies and later against England.

The importance of this series is that this is a full fledged home-series Pakistan has able to play against any opponent since the attack of Sri Lankan team convoy in Lahore on 3rd of March 2009. After that incident Pakistan played a ODI and one only T20 series against Aussies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi just before the 2009 edition of World T20 in England.

Another big news is that some of the seniors minus Mohammad Yousuf have been recalled in the 30 member probables, like Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik and Shoaib Akhtar to name some.

I personally feel the inclusion of Shoaib Akhtar would benefit Pakistani team as what I saw in the Pentangular ODI cup recently concluded just before the start of ICC World T20 2010, and he was impressive aswell. Shoaib last played an international for Pakistan in May 2009 and his last Test back in December 2007, but has this season turned out in domestic cricket in a bid to prove his fitness; he was particularly impressive in the Pentangular ODI cup in Karachi recently.

Again being personal, this time selectors did the right thing in dropping Misbah-ul-Haq, I've a great regards for him but his stay on the pitch isn't benefiting Pakistan as much as he's expected to. Plus he has been included in the team since Pakistan started their tour to New Zealand and than not to mention Aussie tour where he didn't perform up-to-the-mark, and even in the World T20 2010, he wasn't in his prime form like he was once in 2007 edition of World T20 in South Africa and later in tests in India, so I personally think it was time to give that space to someone more deserving.

Inclusion of Shahzaib Hassan is a good omen for the team, I personally think (maybe I am saying too much) that he's a similar sorta player compared to Sanath Jayasuria, the way he played in RBS Pentangular ODI cup, he deserved a place in playing national team squad.

Kamran Akmal has been named with another keeper on his back Zulqarnain Haider, so that now Kamran Akmal has performance pressure on his shoulder, as during the New Years Sydney Test 2010, he dropped Mike Hussey 4 times in second innings of almost won test match and than fluffing a easy run-out, this sorta performance needed some check and balance and selection committee did the right thing by pressurizing him by placing a second wicket-keeper with him in the squad, the only edge which Kamran Akmal has on Haider is of batting, he's a much better batsman than Zulqarnain Haider.

The only drawback in this squad I feel is of absence of Mohammad Yousuf whom Shahid Afridi told the media that he [Shahid Afridi] insisted Yousuf to withdraw his retirement decision but Afridi said Yousuf was unwilling to change his mind. He was the successful run-scorer for Pakistan in their last trip to England against the looks of Steve Harmisons, James Andersons etc and now in this trip Mohammad Yousuf's absence would be greatly felt as I personally feel their isn't any player of MoYo's caliber in this currently announced squad.

Probables for Pakistani team:

Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Khurram Manzoor, Shahzaib Hassan, Azhar Ali, Azeem Ghumman, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Faisal Iqbal, Fawad Alam, Hasan Raza, Asad Shafiq, Umar Amin, Aamer Sajjad, Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi (capt), Abdul Razzaq, Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Sami, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan, Tanvir Ahmed, Aizaz Cheema, Danish Kaneria, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Kamran Akmal (wk), Zulqarnain Haider (wk)

Hit me hard!

Yesterday after listening to Younis Khan's allegations that he was banned without giving him a chance to clarify his position on his indefinite ban imposed by the PCB claiming he was one of the responsible person for creating anarchy in the team during the disastrous tour of down-under 2009-2010.

I am curious to know that after the ODI leg of concluded test series in New Zealand, which was played in Dubai, Younis Khan had resigned as the leader of the team and in place of him, Muhammad Yousuf was made the skipper of the side for New Zealand and Australia tour, and he (Younis Khan) was only available for the 5 ODI series against the Aussies, so how can he be responsible when things were starting to topsy turvy just at the eve of test series played in New Zealand where he was not available neither as captain nor as a player.

It was the responsibility of team management to prevent this situation as soon as possible, and because it was the failure of management more than the players, PCB instead of punishing and fining heavily to the players (they should have punished the players) they should have emphasized more on managerial disturbance during the tour.

But Irony of Fate, the manager of that team who created all this controversy was one of the seated members of the inquiry committee headed by Wasim Bari, C.O.O. of Pakistan Cricket Board a.k.a. Paindoo Cricket Board.

Younis Khan also mentioned that Shoaib Malik created all the drama, as Malik thought that Khan created such results to dump him (Malik) as a captain, and that's where differences emerged, and he tried to convey the message to PCB but in return he was gifted with an indefinite ban.

In the end our parliamentarians should have acted sensibly and people like Jamshed Dasti who have been criticizing Khan of match fixing allegations, I personally ask him, is he saying all these crap on the basis of solid reasons, proves or justifications or these allegations are also like his fake BA degree in Islamic Studies? It has literally ruined Younis Khan's crystal clear career. Although Khan would be having attitude problem but it doesn't matter the most when he plays for the team and scores for the team, at the end of the day this is what really matters.

Shahid Afridi confirms himself for tests

Yesterday Shahid Afridi confirmed himself for the upcoming test series against Australia and than England in England. He last played a 5 day international test match against England in England in 2006.

Although couple of days ago from unconfirmed sources it was being said that he might go for a test retirement but yesterday all those rumors got vanished when he confirmed that he'll be available for playing tests for Pakistan in England against Australia and England.

If we go through tests stats for Shahid Afridi, it shows positive results, his last home test was against the Indian, where he had shown his class and told the world that he can play test cricket aswell and labeling him to ODI and T20 limited cricketer only is unfair to him. He had his self exile from test cricket as since 2006 he was not selected for test matches although according to stats he's more successful in tests compared to ODIs and T20s.

[reference]http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/42639.html?class=1;template=results;type=allround[/reference]

Career batting and bowling averages
	Span	Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5	Ct	St
overall	1998-2006	26	1683	156	37.40	5	47	5/52	34.89	1	10	0
home	1998-2006	13	841	156	38.22	2	22	5/52	34.22	1	7	0
away	1999-2006	11	714	141	35.70	2	22	3/13	36.04	0	2	0
neutral	1999-2002	2	128	107	42.66	1	3	2/31	31.33	0	1	0

Still having such healthy record in tests, I am sure quite better than some of established test players in Pakistani team, he was being ignored, he hasn't played a home and away test since 2006 and on neutral venue since 2002. What a waste of a good player.

We should thank him that although he was abruptly ignored but still he's willing to crack his self exile from tests.

Wishing his inclusion in the team may brings something good.

Ameen

Blame me not!

This is an old game played with Pakistan cricket with renovated ideas. Flashing back to the time when Sarfraz Nawaz, Javed Miandad, Asif Iqbal etc used to play, even than such things used to happen i.e. politics in the team, resulting in some of the worst results Pakistan cricket had.

But what being happening right now with Pakistani cricket can be called as the job done by insider and outsider both. Creating an anarchy situation in the team is disturbing the team’s moral, resulting in worst results produced recently. ICC’s website says so, if you flashback to previous years’ rankings of Pakistani Cricket Team, there have been a certain decline in the team performance because early 2006 Pakistani team was ranked 3^rd but after the disastrous 50 over CWC in the Caribbean, being the last Cricket World Cup for both Inzamam-ul-Haq and Great Late Bob Woolmer, died just after unexpected Irish win against Pakistan (May almighty rest his soul in peace, always), after that Pakistani team had (so called) over-hauling and Shoaib Malik was made the skipper of the National Cricket side, and since a turmoil sorta situation was deliberately created, Malik was made the skipper of the side keeping in mind the same reason which South Africa took while making Graeme Smith the skipper of their national side, overshadowing the nature of Pakistani people who can’t bear a junior over them leading the way (we must admit that).

On the other hand, Mr. Shoaib Malik was himself involved with certain other scandals at that time in India, like when searching for a Deccan girl he was hit with an auntie named Ayesha Siddiqui whom he had Phone Engagement/Nikah. How ridiculous! Than having foggy scandal with Indian new-come girl Syali Bhagat. All these things affected Pakistan team’s performance and reputation both, than there comes a government change and similarly transition of Pakistani Cricket Board’s chief from Naseem Ashraf to Ejaz Butt (the BUTT HEAD), and on the first complete tour in their tenure that was Sri Lanka’s tour to Pakistan in two parts, first one-day series than Sri Lanka would return to their own country to play against India, as Sri Lanka was compensating the canceled tour of India’s tour to Pakistan post 26/11. but must admit that Pakistani Cricket Board wasn’t able to safeguard their visitors during the test tour and were busy with competing with Salim Altaf and Javed Miandad on which who brought the greater profits in Lahore and Karachi matches (both ODI and tests) respectively.

After the disastrous ODI series where Sri Lanka won the Series 2-1, Younis Khan was appointed the skipper of the team, and under his captaincy, team played well in Karachi and were looking under some plans, include Younis Khan’s 300+ score too, but in Lahore everything got topsy turvy when at the time of elections in Punjab, PCB was idiot enough to stage a test match in Lahore when all security agencies including FC, Police and Rangers were involve with the security of political personnel in Punjab and later whatever happened blame must goto the PCB management as tour planning and scheduling is home board’s responsibility and it should have been under plan that under the situation, would it be safe enough to stage a test match in Lahore when Police or Rangers support wouldn’t be guaranteed? Had it been staged in Karachi (we had an example when South Africa’s previous tour to Pakistan, Karachi ODI was shifted to Lahore due to security situation, during the tour) we could had mentioned that security is not as bad as it is, but who tell these butt heads, we also saw India shifted its IPL 2 to South Africa as they were also engaged with elections and were not able to secure foreign players during that time, although one must admit, security conditions in India not ideal aswell, but they show the world that they are capable to handling so.

Just because of these Butt Heads, cricket diverted from Pakistan and we had to stage our home-series’ off-shores, cricket world cup 2011 in which Pakistan was SUPPOSED to be the fourth partner, that privilege was also taken and now we’re gonna play in the world cup as a visitor team in Sri Lanka. Irony of fate, the skipper who took everything on himself during the world T20 2009 just to safeguard his team from hostile British and Indian media and later who led the team to a fantastic win, controversies were created thanks to board’s internal people like manager, who made the players unite against Younis Khan, had closed door individual meetings with each player, taking oath on Holy Quran, and in all these things, Shoaib Malik was the main culprit, as he was responsible for disunity in the team by being one person on one side and something else on the other side, later this thing lead to change of moods of players during New Zealand tour when some players showed fake injury after seeing a green top. Can’t they think that how much have been invested on them? Can’t they think of the emblem stitched on their expensive kits they wear and the green flag wave on the cricket ground where they play cricket? The way some players played specially the Sydney test, had their links being linked from the time-line I mentioned, just need someone hawk’s eye.

Action justified clearly

Pakistan Cricket Board should take strict but sensible decisions on management as-well

Some might say Intikhab Alam have been rough and rude to current Pakistani players, but I think it clearly justifies when you can't perform on the field and off the field aswell, everyone was looking in a hurry and wanted to show himself superior on the tour.

That's not only me saying but everyone who closely followed Pakistan's tour of Australia, even in a TV clip I heard Mohammad Yousuf saying that Ricky Ponting said to him that his troops are not marshaling along him. On the other hand, Shoaib Malik was heard saying that it was not because of him that Pakistan lost but it was because of the defensive approach MoYo adopted, which resulted in disastrous tour down-under. I just want to ask one question, that ok MoYo was defensive, and one must admit that, but that wasn't ONLY the reason behind such performance? Dropping of catches, mis-fielding, bowling not upto the mark, is skipper literally responsible for such individual acts of other players, I don't think so!

Although I am not a great fan of MoYo's captaincy capabilities but one must agree with it too that boys played their own parts in accomplishment of such results, and it would be unfair to singly point out MoYo for the result. We should also be ashamed that they used Holy Quran, just to take oath that they'll not allow Younus Khan to captain them along post ODI series in Dubai and Abu Dhabi against Kiwis, (after that tour we had to tour down-under to New Zealand).

I agree somewhat with what Aamir Sohail mentioned just at the time current PCB management were thinking of changing Shoaib Malik with Younus Khan, he clearly mentioned that if such exercise would be implemented it would send clear message to the players that do whatever you want, and it could have disastrous results in return, but this suggestion wasn't listen and now when Australia have 4 skippers replaced in 20 odd years, we had 3 skippers in span of 12 months. So like I was saying earlier that Intikhab Alam was right in his words, I think what I have drawn light on clearly justifies that although there was problem with players too, no one is denying this but this is also a fact that effective management was needed and the responsibility of effective manager is that of a preventer, (the person who prevents worst things to happen), players' problem I admit prevails in Pakistan cricket but it could have been prevented, instead of being now wobbling for.

Asian teams can learn alot from England!

Victorious Team England with ICC World T20 2010 Trophy

Dileep Premachandran writes in the Guardian that the Asian sides in general and India in particular can learn a lot from the selection calls England made for their successful World Twenty20 campaign.

England's last World Cup campaign in the Caribbean is best remembered for pre-dawn pedalos and Battle of the Bottle headlines. This time, the Red Stripes and the El Dorados went hand-in-hand with terrific team spirit. With 2011 looming, the first thing to do is follow Andy Flower's example and be ruthless in squad selection. Yesterday's six-hitters are of no use tomorrow.

Picking players on reputation is always tempting, but it seldom works. Misbah-ul-Haq, for example, got Pakistan to within a big hit of winning the 2007 World Twenty20 final. But what has been his output over the past 12 months? Is it worth persisting with him when an exciting talent such as Hammad Azam waits backstage?

For India, the decisions to be made are harder still. Yuvraj Singh is hardly in the same age bracket as Misbah or Jayasuriya, yet the feeling persists that we may already have seen the best of him. His waistline and lethargic movement in the field tell you exactly why Gary Kirsten felt compelled to have a rant and now is perhaps the best time for him to address the injuries that have plagued him in recent seasons.

While English cricket taps its feet to Bruce Springsteen's Better Days and looks forward with optimism to an Ashes series and a 50-over World Cup, nearly half of the India squad that returned from the Caribbean with no tickertape parades to welcome them must contemplate show-cause notices for their part in a pub fracas.

For more than a decade, we've heard how English cricket could learn by looking east, to wristy strokeplay, wily spin and mastery of reverse swing. Times have changed. India and Pakistan, and maybe even Sri Lanka, could look at this English Twenty20 side to realise where they have gone wrong

Between them, the subcontinent's cricket powers won only seven of 17 matches in the West Indies. All three were hammered by Australia, though Pakistan came within an over of exacting revenge at the second time of asking. On no account could it be called a successful tournament, with the same old frailties popping up to haunt each side.

With the World Cup only nine months away, which way will each of the teams go? Pakistan have not reached the latter stages since 1999, while India did not survive the first round in 2007, leaving Sri Lanka to fly the Asian flag all the way to the final.

Pakistan have done something right by getting rid of some of the egos, including the "termite" called Shoaib Malik.

England's last World Cup campaign in the Caribbean is best remembered for pre-dawn pedalos and Battle of the Bottle headlines. This time, the Red Stripes and the El Dorados went hand-in-hand with terrific team spirit. With 2011 looming, the first thing to do is follow Andy Flower's example and be ruthless in squad selection. Yesterday's six-hitters are of no use tomorrow.

Picking players on reputation is always tempting, but it seldom works. Misbah-ul-Haq, for example, got Pakistan to within a big hit of winning the 2007 World Twenty20 final. But what has been his output over the past 12 months? Is it worth persisting with him when an exciting talent such as Hammad Azam waits backstage?

Isn't it time Sri Lankan cricket drew a line under the Sanath Jayasuriya era? The man's 40 and now has a political career to think of as well. He's still capable of the odd cameo, but when was his last innings of substance? Thank him for yeoman service and send him on his way.

For India, the decisions to be made are harder still. Yuvraj Singh is hardly in the same age bracket as Misbah or Jayasuriya, yet the feeling persists that we may already have seen the best of him. His waistline and lethargic movement in the field tell you exactly why Gary Kirsten felt compelled to have a rant and now is perhaps the best time for him to address the injuries that have plagued him in recent seasons.

England's Twenty20 campaign was notable for the manner in which they kept faith with what they saw as a winning combination. Paul Collingwood and Luke Wright bowled an over each, but, otherwise, there was implicit trust in the five men chosen to do the job.

Pakistan operated on similar lines, though their weak links, such as Mohammad Hafeez, were too easily targeted by eagle-eyed batsmen.

For India, the problem lies in finding five wicket-taking bowlers. You know there is a problem when an opening bowler, Praveen Kumar, bowls at a pace that's slower-ball speed for such as Dirk Nannes and Stuart Broad. Praveen is a clever swing bowler who knows Indian conditions well, but he'll never be better than first or second change.

If this tournament showed anything, it was the value of pacy new-ball operators. Where are India's? And who do Sri Lanka have, apart from Lasith Malinga? How do India's selectors explain their scattergun policy to pace selection? Dhawal Kulkarni was part of the squad that toured New Zealand last year. Dropped without playing a game. Abhimanyu Mithun, who enjoyed a wonderful Ranji Trophy season, was chosen for the home series against South Africa. Dropped after one game. So much for nurture.

On the batting side, the theme is misplaced expectation and a lack of patience. In some ways, Sachin Tendulkar was the worst thing to happen to Indian cricket. These days, every 17-year-old with a little talent is expected to emulate him. It nearly destroyed Ambati Rayudu's career. Only now, at the age of 24, is he finding his way again. Indian cricket should just accept there will never be another Tendulkar.

Had Ian Bell been Indian, he would have been on the scrap heap instead of playing an Ashes-winning innings at The Oval last summer. That a player takes time to find his feet has been forgotten. Suresh Raina still has issues against the short ball, but he's only 23. The way people talk about him and Rohit Sharma, you'd think they were Misbah's age and beyond redemption.

Rahul Dravid spent four seasons in domestic cricket before breaking into the national side. It took him another five years to establish himself as a world-class batsman. Now, we expect batsman of that quality to emerge in the time it takes to make a Pot Noodle.

England won the World Twenty20 because they were brave – they picked Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter ahead of more recognized names such as Matt Prior, and gave Eoin Morgan licence to express himself.

India could have backed the exuberant strokeplay of Manish Pandey or the uber-confidence of Virat Kohli. Instead, they went with the same options that had fallen so short in England a year earlier.

Most of all though, Collingwood's team showed there's just no substitute for sprightliness in the field. Broad may have dropped David Hussey in the final, but the catches he and Collingwood took epitomised a team at the top of their fielding game. India were similarly brilliant in 2007 and questions must be asked as to why so many of the same players have become such laggards in the field now.

Nothing, though, would have been as galling as the sight of Graeme Swann teasing and tormenting Australia's batsmen in the final.

Till that final-over meltdown in the semi-final, Saeed Ajmal bowled beautifully for Pakistan. Suraj Randiv showed glimpses of promise for a Murali-less Sri Lanka, while Harbhajan Singh was tidy [and wicketless] for India. But Swann was a class apart, flighting the ball, turning his quicker one and generally befuddling every batsman he came across.

For decades, a blond Australian apart, the subcontinent had a monopoly on spin talent. No longer. Asian batsmen will thrive on home surfaces, but unless the bowlers improve and are backed up by fielding that's not Laurel-and-Hardy quality, the 2011 World Cup could be a rerun of the 2006 Champions Trophy, when all three sides watched the foreign mob battle for glory.

A termite indeed

PCB must look options other than Shoaib Malik himself

As some analysts clearly mentioned Shoaib Malik, that he's a termite and is responsible for disunity in the team, I don't know why he's persist with, we all know he already had confessed on the National TV (PTV) that he had fixed a domestic match playing for Sialkot region, still there have been support FOR him, I think people running Pakistan Cricket Board are nuts.

When he could fix a Pakistan's domestic tournament match, so how can you be so sure that he would not do the same in the broader arena? If he's a team-man so why he opted to sit out on a green top against Kiwis, pre-Aussie tour- no answer!

He also knows that he's invincible and no backup program or plan is underway that's why he's using his powers, else like some analysts said in a newspaper article regarding his family background and history and than his expenditures in his Valima, I don't wanna go that far because that's his own life but yeah wanna raise this issue that at the time of his birth, his father had to take loan for further expenditures, so how was he able to generate so much amount that even by born billionaires can't even think of! Plus he has been more pro-Indian (I am not biased), like he's always willing to goto India or play in India, I know it's a big market but country comes first, he was the first person to show disappointment when Pakistani Government didn't allow any of the Pakistani players to participate in IPL2 which was later staged in South Africa in 2009.

The only reason to tackle such things is that we should make a system and backup plans so that if one player is created, 3 players are behind him and while 3 are behind further 3 should be under process at NCA where instead of utilizing it for cricketing activities is being used for appellate tribunal hearings and fact findings for disastrous tour of Australia. Is that the purpose we built NCA?

As far as Mr. Malik is concern, PCB should show its power regarding his own place in the team, he might be an spectacular make-shift player but he's not above the law (read Andrew Symonds), he was a good player but was not above the game according to Cricket Australia and they punished him because he didn't attend the practice session when Bangladesh toured Australia but instead was found fishing although he was told by CA. Can't we take something similar like that! What PCB has taken decision regarding Malik, they should had to take that decision quite earlier when he refused to return when he was asked! Taking tough decisions after the concluded tour is nothing important but brings more disgrace.

Don't know but its my gutsy feeling that by the time they would leave the seats, the interest level of this game in Pakistan I believe would deteriorate for sure, the way everyone in the PCB is exploiting their own seats and status, without any check and balance.

Conclusion ICC World T20 2010

If you ask my opinion, it was not as happening and interesting tournament as it was in the England edition, not because it wasn't won by Pakistan but because the manner this tournament was played and the amount of crowd came into the stadiums to watch the matches, secondly being a cricket watcher I didn’t had that suspense element in any of this tournament matches like we had in England where there were many upsets (like Netherlands beating England etc), in this tournament the only nail biting match played was between Australia v Pakistan Semi Final 2 played on 14 May 2010 which was a nail biting one, you can also call New Zealand v Sri Lanka opening match played 30 April 2010, which you can say was filled with suspense and increased television ratings.

Secondly was the timing of the tournament, all the matches were played in West Indian day timings, which didn’t generate that much of interest as we’re accustomed to watch majority of T20 matches under artificial lightings, just look at the difference during the Semi Final played between England - Sri Lanka and Australia – Pakistan and followed by the female version of T20 Semi Finals which were played under artificial lights and resulted in more crowd in the evening games compared to the day games played.

Today too, while I am writing this Australia – England grand final game is being played at Kensington Oval Barbados, which ofcourse is a day game and on the other hand Kiwis – Australia Female T20 final is going to be played in the evenings, and which will generate more crowd to the stadiums compared to the day game played between Australian English men.

Compared to the last tournament, England – New Zealand Female T20 final was played earlier and Pakistan – Sri Lanka Male T20 final was played in prime time which increased the overall television ratings.

Apart from the timings issue, it was overall a good tournament compared to the last one in 50 over games played here, which was too much lengthy and stretched like a plasticine and it ended in one and the half months time, having too much traveling and too much gaps in between the matches and irony of fact, the expected Pakistan - India Match was played between Ireland and Bangladesh respectively, which decreased the interest in the crowds, plus mismanagement was seen during the final when it was concluded in darkness and led Australia being the winner and I remember it was the last CWC tournament which was played by Hayden, Gilchrist, McGrath, Langer etc for Australia and like many players wanted they end their career on high by winning another official ICC trophy to be decorated in Cricket Australia shelves, 3rd 50 over CWC trophy and 2nd consecutive i.e. winning 2003 and 2007 CWC.

So hope the better team wins, and as far as Pakistan concern 2012 T20 World Cup which is to be played in Sri Lanka I suppose, Pakistan is again in a tough group with South Africa and an associate nation is lined up with them in group D (if seeding system is followed), lets hope by that time Pakistan team plays some good cricket as by the time I am writing this, more action is seen in appellate tribunal courts compared to action on cricket grounds. Just keeping my fingers crossed and hope for the best for 2012 ICC World T20 and yeah, who can forget the ICC CWC 2011.

What is next!

After a fight shown against the Aussies in 2nd semi final of World T20 2010 edition, Pakistan cemented their position in 2012 edition of ICC World T20, being the leader of group D, if seeding system is taken underway.

Pakistan's group D would consist of Pakistan, South Africa and an associate nation. Don't wanna say that we lost because of the following reasons, but some of them are really logical enough to be overlooked!

Pakistan's team combination!
Pakistan's team comnination was in complete disarray, and induction of players was continuous and it wasn't allowed to be settled, unlike the last time when Younis Khan and co. were glued and had a combination which later fired in favour of Pakistan. This time it wasn't the similar case.

Undertainity aspects!
There were many undertainity aspects in the team, like announcement of the team before announcement of skipper, just imgine, you are announcing the team without the person who'll be leading them in the tournament to get understanding in the team.

Ill Management
Ill management was observed, just like the traditional days management we're still following the same old management standards where one man is responsible for all the chores of the team, including the media side, which is an important one and which wasn't the domain of the person assigned manager, still he was given that job too, and he did the job so well that 12 hours before any Pakistani match, Pakistani team was allowed to be announced in front of media personnel.

Injuries and No Backup plans
Injuries in current cricket is nothing new, and every player whether he's a batsmen, bowler or just a fielder or an all-rounder, he's affected with it, but literally injuries and players have close relations with it each other, so in order to tackle with it, backup is created so that burden is not only on the particular player but even if he (the main player) gets injured, the reserve player is almost the equivalent to the player whom he's replacing, but nothing of such thing was seen when Umar Gul and Yasir Arafat were replaced with Muhammad Sami and Abdul Rehman from out of the gray. We're lucky, Abdul Rehman did justify his inclusion but not the similar case with Muhammad Sami.

Now Pakistan is supposed to play the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in June and later off-shore home series against the Aussies and then against England in England, which should be a tough series and most probably Pakistan is going to be the second team in the series instead of being 1st (means not very optimistic with Pakistan) as Pakistan would be without their backbones, i.e. Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan, although hearing Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul may/can return, so bowling dept. would be looking powerful but batting looks on the grayer side.

Lets hope for the best but not very optimistic.

Peace!

Praises to Salman Butt

Yesterday Salman Butt played innings of his life and I'd call it bad luck for Pakistan and good luck for New Zealand that at the crucial moment Salman Butt had to change the ends and Rookie Abdul Rehman had to face the music from Ian Butler, which in resulted in 7th wicket on the last ball of the 20th over.

I was reading some of the blogs, where there were criticism on Butt regarding "useless long stay at the pitch", I say just like the test cricket and ODIs, this cricket requires to stay on the pitch aswell, similarly the game Javed Miandad and Asif Iqbal used to play during their time, i.e. keeping the score board tickling and hitting odd boundary or a sixer on a particular delivery, the only difference is that in test match we have 90 overs a day, in an ODI we have 300 legal deliveries and compared to T20 module, we have 120 balls to have major score!

Those who're criticizing him, should remember that he wasn't responsible for any run outs unlike previous occasions, wickets were falling around him still he kept his cools and took the match to the last delivery, so whatever the pitfalls of Butt, but we should acknowledge what he did for the country and almost from the winning position to runners up in a match after a brave fighting isn't to be criticize that much!

Peace!

Atlast! Last nail on the Coffin

I am writing this blog just after an hour and 30 minutes after Pakistan lost to Kiwis by just 1 runs. Yes you read that right, 1 run. Don't wanna say similar sorta things just like a passionate Pakistani Cricket Fan might say (sorry fellows but don't wanna hurt you guys but I am somewhat straight forward and fluent in my statements so no offense if my comments really hurts any one of you) but those who've been on my Facebook Profile, were arguing with me, just before the tournament started (between the dates 25 – 29 of April, 2010) that Pakistan will certainly defend their title etc, whereas I was always replaying in negative, (although I am also a patriotic Pakistani like others are, and it hurts me too when Pakistani team looses the match) but even though behind my negative answer were several logics behind, result of which I was not that much hopeful with Pakistan’s result, but my this thing was most of the time taken in un-patriotic manner(this also shows the intensity of passion and interest of Cricket in Pakistan in commoners) so I don’t mind them at all, because I know how much I am patriotic and I need not to explain it.

For me, being patriotic and being emotional are two different things and like two different sides of the same magnet bar, so that both sides can’t meet each other and I don’t believe in patriotism with blind emotions, but that’s the problem with us! In patriotism we forget the norms of logics, understanding, current actions and its consequences etcetera, that’s why we majority of times get spanked because of it.

This being a cricket blog, I must write about cricket, Indians will remember this because it was against Pakistan at Durban 2007 ICC World T20, bowl-out which India won. At post match presentation that time Pakistani skipper Shoaib Malik clearly stated on record that he didn’t know there was anything like that, on the other hand Indian skipper MS Dhoni mentioned that they were tuned-up for anything like that. We lack in long-term planning and want the result of long-term planning in short-term period.

Similarly the case was today, the team’s composition (whatever the team it is) is created in matter of atleast in months to get tuned-up with other team members and this current Pakistani team had a rather new team with new composition of players in it. Take example of Mohammad Hafeez, although on his last World T20 outing in South Africa, he was one the successful players in Pakistani team, but before entering the tournament he was constantly in and was following the team continuously, whereas this time when he was selected in the Pakistani T20 squad, he was out the team and his inclusion was thanks to ban on some of the players that’s why team composition was already in dismay, than Mohammad Sami, similar the case like Muhammad Hafeez, he made his T20I debut against Bangladesh in this 2010 edition of World T20, and he was also out of Pakistani team since long. If I started calculating +s and –s than this blog will stretch longer.

In short it was a clear case of mismanagement because mismanagement paves the way for players to have say and at times their irrelevant wishes too, every player started to think he’s the boss and no one plays better cricket than him, at that time if the management had act accordingly, this thing might not have happened, or if even it had happened, it’d be on a limited scale (I do not live in utopia to say that if management would have done strict actions at the right time, this MIGHT NOT HAVE HAPPENED AT ALL) and not as devastating as its now associated with Pakistani Cricket.Right now, Pakistani team is out of 2010 edition of world T20.

Similarly being a die hard Pakistani Cricket Fan, I wish Pakistan do well in the upcoming Pakistan's home series in England against Australia and later England but I didn’t have hopes of Pakistan doing well in England as when they couldn’t play at somewhat Pakistan similar pitches (slow and batting friendly) in the West Indies, so how can they tackle the swinging deliveries of Brett Lee, Doug Bollinger, Stuart Clark, Dirk Nannes, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Ryan Sidebottom, Luke Wright, James Anderson, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad in England’s summer where it swings in matter of not centimeters, not even inches but in measurements of feets.

Peace!

Lets accept it!

Lets accept it, Pakistan isn't deserve to be playing in the super 8s after such a disastrous performance in fielding department and right now when I writing this blog Pakistan has dropped two catches, thats why I am not watching this game and instead having a bed rest after having eye infection problem, and that too I think is a wise decision.

Unlike other Pakistanis I am not hopeful for Pakistan to commence to semis, final berth and winning a final is another thing, even if they win it, they doesn't deserve to be, after playing an overall episode of Star Plus dramas in the team, with their director Mr. Yawar Saeed directing the show, I don't think it is going to happen that Pakistan produces the same performance like it showed in England Edition.

Lets accept it Pakistanis that this year its not our turn to win this tournament. Like one of the Pakistani editor of a Cricket website, what about the punishers, players got their piece of punishments but why they punishers were spared?

A question to be asked!

By the way best of luck to all other teams in Super8 berth and let the best team wins, but sorry to say Pakistan didn't deserve to win this tournament. Not blaming coaches or support staff, its the responsibility of management where they've failed, not only failed, failed miserably, and I don't think the team with such performance should deserved to even defend their title.

Pakistan's first encounter in Super 8s

Yesterday after Australia winning the match against the Bangladeshis, Pakistan automatically qualified for Super 8 stages. Yesterday the group matches ended with expected results i.e. Australia beat Bangladesh and South Africa beat Afghanistan.

Now today 6th of May 2010, the first match being played is of defending champion Pakistan with England, two good and equivalent teams with combination of youth and experience with England have the upper edge as they have their players available else Pakistan is limited in players like Malik, Younis Khan etc.

Tonight's encounter would be a worth watching game as winner of tonight's match will confirm their seat for the semis, and especially the first match of any tournament, group or series has worth mentioning importance as they get psychological advantage in their later matches.

Pakistan has the tough group ahead, as its to play against England, New Zealand (Don't under estimate them, they are group leader from Group B beating last year's runner ups Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, so it'd be stupid assumption to take them for granted) and South Africa (can't even dream of taking them for granted as like last year the way Pakistan took their momentum in the later part of the tournament, similarly the case I'm seeing with South Africa and New Zealand this time)

Lets hope how Pakistan tackles with this group of death, Group F consisting of Australia A2, Sri Lanka B1, India C2, West Indies D1 is also a hard group and one can't predict who'd be the two teams qualify from this group to the Semis.

My prediction for Group E is Pakistan and South Africa (if there isn't any upset, like Kiwis beating Pakistan and England beating South Africa), and for Group F is Australia (don't underestimate Aussies, they are emerging as a tough team in T20 as well), and India (their batting is an example for others to adopt).

Duckworth and Lewis Method

[Taken from http://blogs.cricinfo.com/pakspin/archives/2010/05/lies_damned_lies_and_duckworth.php]

Was Paul Collingwood right to question the target set for West Indies by the Duckworth Lewis Method? I believe he was right, and it was disappointing that Frank Duckworth dismissed his concerns so readily. Statisticians, and I work with many, have their preferred methods but the best statisticians will always accept that each method has its flaws. Show me a statistician whose first answer to a statistical question is 'it depends . . .' and I'll show you a statistician with wisdom.

Here's why Collingwood has three arguments in his favour:

The alternative would be increase the weighting in favour of the side batting first in these circumstances.

1	The statistical argument: The higher number of data points available, the more reliable any statistical estimate. With only 14 balls bowled by England before the rain set in, the sample was too small to reliably estimate the trajectory of the West Indian innings. Duckworth's argument that the speed of scoring in those fourteen balls dictated the target exposes the unsuitability of the Duckworth Lewis Method when only a small proportion of an innings, around 10% in this case, has been completed. In this circumstance, there are insufficient data points (balls bowled) to reasonably predict the trajectory of an innings. A fairer approach would be to set a minimum number of overs before the runs already scored are taken into consideration. For example, if that minimum number of overs in T20 were 5 overs (i.e. 25% of the innings completed), what West Indies had scored in those 14 balls would be irrelevant. The target set would assume that no balls had been bowled. The West Indian target should then have been higher. After 5 overs, and only after 5 overs, the runs already scored and wickets already lost would be taken into account.
2	The spirit of cricket argument: Anybody who has played cricket at any level knows that it is much easier to score around ten runs an over for 6 overs than it is for 20 overs, especially when 10 wickets are available in both situations. It is wrong for Duckworth to suggest otherwise. When the target set by the Duckworth Lewis Method feels wrong and against the spirit of the game, then the numbers thrown up by a statistical analytic package are irrelevant.
3	The regulatory argument: The pressure for a resolution by the Duckworth Lewis Method is created by limits on playing times. In major T20 tournaments, often staged at facilities with floodlights, these regulations seem absurd. Half an hour's extra play is clearly insufficient. The option of an extra hour, at the very least, is essential. I'm confident most spectators would prefer to stay an extra hour or so to watch a proper contest than witness a farce that allows them to get home earlier.

I believe the ICC needs to act and reconsider the application of the Duckworth Lewis Method in T20 cricket. What happened to England earlier this week was unfair for several reasons. Collingwood had a point, Duckworth had a Vera moment.

Nervous times for Pakistan

Today is the all awaited encounter for Pakistani fans, its not a Pakistani team's match but its encounter between Bangladesh and Australia, this match will clear the dust from the points table of Group A which is still undecided whether who's going to be the leader of this group. Pakistan already have played its quota of two matches, one comprehensive win against Bangladeshis and one lost against Aussies against them, we lost miserably and the advantage we gained in win against Bangladeshis was all drained in next 24 hours when we lost against the Aussies in our second encounter and in return we lost the match and probably early exit in the tournament, because Pakistan's inclusion in the tournament is dependent on Australia Bangladesh's match.

If I were the skipper of this Pakistan side, like I said is one of reply's that this would have been my last option to depend on other team's result.

Even if we had lost the match but had reduced the defeat margin, and not bowled out completely than the scenario would be different and Australia had to play today's match with a pressure of surviving in this tournament, but we ourselves gave this advantage to Australia and now don't wanna be strict but Australia is playing today's match with its own terms and conditions, and we are dependent on them whether we can stay in this tournament or not!

Its just humiliating for me being a Pakistani to be so much dependent on others, for somewhat its ok but totally dependency is another thing and I discourage it being a Pakistani...

Bangladesh can take Pakistan's hope for qualifying for Super 8s on their encounter against Aussies

Matter taken from http://shortofalength.wordpress.com/2010/05/03/can-bangladesh-still-qualify-and-eliminate-pakistan-from-the-2010-icc-twenty20-world-cup/

It could happen… Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by the rather comfortable margin of 21 runs in their opening match, but ended up losing heavily to Australia, and that 34 run loss means that Bangladesh have a very realistic shot of upstaging the defending champions and giving them a humiliating first round exit. Here is the points table as it stands right now:

Group A
Teams	Matches	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Points	Net R/R	For	Against
Pakistan (01)	2	1	1	0	0	2	-0.325	329/40.0	342/40.0
Bangladesh (08)	1	0	1	0	0	0	-1.050	151/20.0	172/20.0
Australia (09)	1	1	0	0	0	2	+1.700	191/20.0	157/20.0

Simply put, all Bangladesh have to do is defeat Australia while maintaining that they score not less than 12 more runs than they have conceded in total. That gap is currently 21, so if they beat Australia by as low a margin as 9 runs they will end up with a better run rate than Pakistan. Lets take a look at all the possible scenarios:

1) Bangladesh Bat First: In this case they have to ensure that no matter what they score, Australia lose by a margin of at least 9 runs. Australia in this case would still qualify with a net run rate of 0.65. If however, they manage to defeat Australia by as high a margin as 48 runs, then Pakistan would qualify ahead of Australia on net run rate.

2) Bangladesh Bat Second: The first assumption is that Australia are either bowled out or bat their full 20 overs. The second assumption is that Bangladesh win by a margin of one run, i.e. they just get over Australia’s score rather than hit a six and win by six or five or less runs. In this case Bangladesh have to chase down whatever Australia score in 113-116 balls (18.5 to 19.2) depending on what Australia score (I’ve taken realistic ranges from Australia scoring 90 to 250), to get a higher net run rate than Pakistan. For these same ranges in scores, Bangladesh would have to achieve their target in roughly 7.3 to 11.2 overs (varying from 90 to 200) to push Australia’s nrr below Pakistan, which is much riskier for them and unlikely to happen.

So as you can see, if Bangladesh do win, they stand an excellent chance of qualifying ahead of Pakistan as long as they don’t win by a very small margin. Which is why it was crucial for the defending champions to score as close to Australia’s score as possible yesterday, so that Australia would not take the chance of losing to Bangladesh by a small margin themselves since that might have ended their aspirations. The match on the 11th of May assumes critical importance!

National Stadium in Karachi

This post is regarding to Pakistan's second largest Cricket playing stadium, National Stadium of Karachi (mind it, there is a National Stadium of Dhaka too). Some of the great innings have been played here and some of the cricketing greats emerged from here, Sachin Tendulkar also made his debut here at NSK.

It's outfield is one the best outfields in the country and since the inception of floodlights into this stadium interests have generated the most.

The reason of this blog is that I feel (I also fear that some might not agree with me) that the kind of renovation and up-to-date improvement work on this stadium has not been done, take example of MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground), the committee who were responsible for the purpose were aiming ahead for it, that's why they were ambitious in renovation and improvement of the stadium so that I think its the biggest of Cricket Stadiums where international cricket is being played. Even in the 1992 Benson and Hedges World Cup which Pakistan won, the capacity during those days were almost 86,000, so they had improvement work on it so that now in 2009 when Pakistan played at MCG, it had the seating capacity of over 100,000 people.

On the other hand, we didn't showed such ambitions, for a city like Karachi which is mini Pakistan and has a dense population of almost 18 million has an international cricket stadium of 36,000 people only and that renovation was too made for the 1996 Cricket World Cup of South Asia, since than there have not been any renovation work and not just seating capacity but overall structure is seeming to be stagnant. After seeing the stadiums of India during IPL3, the kind of improvement work they had on their stadiums, specially the Madras stadium where Saeed Anwar scored famous 194 against the home team, has been improved so much that its in race with the stadiums on Australia, South Africa and England.

Why can't we think for it too? Not just NSK but also Qaddafi Stadium Lahore needs improvement as these two stadiums are the cricketing landmarks and represents Pakistan in the cricketing world.

Peace!

A threat for early exit for the defending champions

Prior to last night's clash between Aussies and Pakistanis, Aussies no doubt outclassed Pakistanis in every department of the game, which was expected and which I was concerned for but other people didn't acknowledged it and were being optimistic with the result.

Don't wanna say anything regarding yesterday's match and performance of Pakistani team but now we're on the mercy of Australia v Bangladesh match, which I think is gonna happen that Aussies would want Pakistani kicked out of the world T20 by making Bangladeshis winning the next encounter against the Aussies because Pakistan no doubt can prove to be a tough opposition for Aussies. That's why teams have this option of depending on other team's results on their last priorities.

So I bet it would be Pakistan who would be returning home, because statistics of Group A are saying so, after playing two matches Pakistan got 2 points with Net Run Rate of -0.325, whereas Australia after winning their match yesterday are on +1.700, they still have to play their match against Bangladesh and Bangladesh on -1.050 and they still have to play another match in this group which is against the Aussies. So a person with limited mathematical knowledge can easily understand that if Bangladesh win their final match of the group against Aussies, they will definitely going to become the second seed team of this group with Australia replacing Pakistan as the First Seed team in Group A. All Pakistanis can hope for is that Aussies thrash Bangladesh out of this tournament!

Tough luck. We should start preparing for "grand welcome" for our team. And like I said, Aussies will definitely do the same to kick out Pakistan as they are a difficult opposition to tackle and to make their position concreted for the semis.

Today's the real challenge!

Yesterday Pakistan hold their nerves and win convincingly against the Bengals, although they do made the party somewhat sour with their gutsy batting and while their former skipper was on the crease, it looked as if another upset is going to happen.

Unlike other teams utilizing and capitalizing on their medium pacers and spin department, Pakistani pace battery fired with 5 off 7 wickets were bagged by Sami and Aamer with 3 and 2 wickets a piece! Pakistan was playing without Muhammad Asif who was rested for yesterday's match prior the important match against the Aussies on the same venue tonight.

Again I need to mention that I am not a great fan of statistics or past performance but the current form is what important. Pakistan off late have been trembling in T20s against Australia and barely squared the series against English at Dubai late March, but if I go through T20I records between Aussies and Pakistanis, Pakistanis have the edge with a handful margin, but one can't predict Pakistan's performance on a given day, one must keep notice of the fact that yesterday's and today's match would be played on the used pitch i.e. India v South Africa would be played on the same pitch earlier in the day.

So whether Pakistan wins the toss or loose it shouldn't be loosing heart and play with their whole heart out. Inshallah we'll lead this group of death as called by some of the foreign commentators.

Is IPL a standard for calculating T20 capabilities?

[reference]http://www.cricinfo.com/world-twenty20-2010/content/current/story/457962.html[/reference]

Is IPL is a standard for utilizing T20 capabilities? I don't think so, its a rubbish rushing madly for IPL contracts just for the sake of earning money! If they've contributed the same to Pakistan's domestic circuit, it would have flourished- but why am I saying so, sense of patriotism is diminished from us, else we should look at English players, how patriot they have been to their country that they didn't participated in IPL3 just for the sake of saving themselves for World T20 in the Caribbean, but here our players just waiting for the time when Pakistan Cricket Board will issue them NOC for playing in India and they'll rush madly to the next available flight to India.

I don't have objection playing in India being a Pakistani fan but country and its dignity comes first. Don't wanna mention some of the key players of Pakistani cricket who're willing to play in IPL even by hook or by crook, some even married to Indian girls to get easiness in having Indian visas frequently...

Shame on them, and even our Cricket Analysts (minus Javed Miandad and some other) do favour in playing IPL. پہلے اپنا قبلہ تو صحیح کرلیں اس کے بعد دوسروں کا گھر سنواریں