Pakistan and 2011

Pakistan unexpectedly had an awesome 2011

Pakistan's Record in 2011

Test Series'	Result
against New Zealand	Won 1-0 (2)
against West Indies	drawn (2)
against Zimbabwe	Won 1-0 (1)
against Sri Lanka	Won 1-0 (3)
against Bangladesh	Won 2-0 (2)

Overall Test Matches Figures for Pakistan
Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	W/L	Ave	RPO	HS	LS
Pakistan	10	6	1	0	3	6.00	41.59	2.88	594	160

One Day International Series'	Result
against New Zealand	Won 3-2 (6)
ICC Cricket World Cup 2011	Semi Finalist 2
against West Indies	Won 3-2 (5)
against Ireland	Won 2-0 (2)
against Zimbabwe	Won 3-0 (3)
against Sri Lanka	Won 4-1 (5)
against Bangladesh	Won 3-0 (3)

Overall One Day International Matches Figures for Pakistan
Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	W/L	Ave	RPO	HS	LS
Pakistan	32	24	7	0	1	3.42	31.56	4.86	317	124

Twenty20 International Series'	Result
against West Indies	Loss 1-0 (1)
against Zimbabwe	Won 2-0 (2)
against Sri Lanka	Won 1-0 (1)
against Bangladesh	Won 1-0 (1)

Overall Twenty20 International Matches Figures for Pakistan
Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	W/L	Ave	RPO	HS	LS
Pakistan	5	4	1	0	0	4.00	23.71	7.62	198	-

Aggregate of All Formats International Matches for Pakistan during the Year 2011
Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	NR	W/L	Ave	RPO	HS	LS
Pakistan	47	34	9	0	3	1	3.77	34.29	3.85	594	124

Not being a Pakistani but a cricket fan, I feel these stats speak for itself, as Pakistan is the only team currently who is not having its own home ground and currently playing all of its home games at Neutral Venues, still performing that much is exceptional. This is how 2011 went for Pakistan in all three formats of the game. Although I personally felt that Pakistan should had played against the Indians, although some might say it would had made Pakistan's stats look bad but still we could had witnessed an iconic series between the two sides. How can we forget the 2006 Karachi test, which was a sea-saw kinda test match.

Looking forward to Pakistan India Clashes in 2012, whoever wins we would definitely gonna witness an awesome fight between two arch-rivals...

Pakistan v England, keeping the media eyes closed and conscious eyes open

This England v Pakistan series is having some surprises for everyone

By the time I am starting to write my blog 1.50 pm in afternoon Pakistan time on boxing day, where severe battle going on between Aussies and the Indians, where initially Indians dominated the earlier hours by taking six wickets inside a nominal score of 250, but than Haddin was retaliating when I got up and started with my work, now when I checked the scores, Aussies are still on 6 wicket loss for the score of 277, and the Aussie debutant Ed Cowen, like other Aussie Debutants in past, starting to show his colours, after ZAK and Umesh Yadav throttled Aussie lineup and rung danger bells just after the jingle bells. I, being a cricket fan, just wish k May the Best Team wins, because both teams which are on the ground playing for the win.

Another two exciting test teams, although one is on the top of the ranking tables whereas another is on the fifth position, but still Pakistan has the chance to play well and raise both, their moral and their rankings, as in comparison to Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, this is the tough opponent Pakistan is about to start their new years with. Everyone is saying that Pakistan has the upper hand to make Poms lay down on the knees, but I think the other way.

WHY I AM SAYING THIS?

I am saying this because last time, when England toured UAE to play 2 T20 internationals just before the World T20 2010 event in the Caribbean, everyone rated that Pakistan might beat England easily, but English players proved that they are capable of playing outside their English conditions. I am referring to their last venture in the deserts, although many of my fellow colleagues are referring me to their 2005 tour to Pakistan, where Mercurial Shoaib Akhtar took the game away from them, but in my personal opinion, useless to compare that English team with today as today's English team is far more better than that team where their bench strength is a matter of concern for opposition team, this was not the case with Englishmen that time, players like Trescothick, Vaughan, Flintoff are out of the team and are replaced with new blood who are winning them the trophies, and I fear that next 50 over Cricket World Cup might also belong to them as what I am feeling, there are still alot of things in the bag for the English Camp, which they are gonna expose in Australia 2015.

BUT

Still test of how much they can they tackle to hold the pressure of maintaining the same performance of which they won the Male version of World T20 as this is the first ICC Trophy that they have won, so there would be immense pressure over them too while playing against Pakistan.

There are concerns more for Pakistan

WHAT ABOUT PAKISTAN?

Pakistan no doubt on the driving seat, but Pakistan shouldn't get over-confident as this is a genetic problem with them, they should remember one thing that Mushtaq Ahmed is when them, and remember that their last test venture in South Asia was a series win, so useless to get over confident.

Batting woes:

This is the one thing, English camp would surely be eying on, because in the tests, if minus Misbah and YK, Pakistan batting is as bleak as bowling for India, although optimistic personnel might say that we have Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali etc, but I say they are still new to the arena, they surely need some senior support in order to build their innings, like in their last tour to Pakistan, Inzamam, MoYo and YK were targeted openly by their bowlers like Harmison, this time they are surely gonna cash on by taking wickets of four main batting pillars of Pakistani lineup i.e. Hafeez, Taufiq Umar, YK and Misbah himself.

Past experience:

Two of the young players in Pakistani team, i.e. Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, would still be haunted by their last tour to England, where both made their debut, those memories might still hamper their performance, and I am damn sure, Poms' media would surely gonna exploit that factor as well.

Camouflage:

English media is claiming that the series between England and Pakistan would be only a spinner versus spinner. I totally disagree with that.

• Both teams are more blessed with faster bowlers in comparison to spinners.
• Comparison useless, as Pakistan has two frontline spinners in the team in Ajmal and A. Rehman whereas England have Swann and Panesar, the kinda spin bowlers both team possess is of no comparison
• As Mushtaq Ahmed is with their bowlers, he would definitely guide their bowlers how to bowl on those wickets, secondly in comparison to Pakistan, England would be on more high as their last successful test venture was against the formidable batting lineup team...
• It'd be more of a mind game that which team's think-tank went for the best planning for game.

Continuous cricket for Pakistan - Fatigue problem:

One should also remember that from the tour of Zimbabwe, Pakistan has been continuously playing cricket, against the tough conditions of Emirates, than to moist and colder place of Bangladesh, than again to Emirates for Series against England, which could hamper their fitness level for sure, and team management should look into this matter as well as in the past too, Pakistani players got injured in the nick of the time, PCB did the right thing to void their contracts with Dhaka Cricket League, in order to avoid this thing, but they should also give chance to the bench strength guys as well so that we could also know when to utilize their capabilities, as what I feel they are not sure of when to utilize their own BS on the right spot.

More matter of concern for Pakistan than England, as England is coming from a rest period.

POST SCRIPT

Being a Pakistani, I'd love to have my team win but I can't avoid these factors which could hamper team's performance.

What Pakistan lost from whole saga?

I don't want to enhance my circle to international media but on the Pakistani media, there has been some confusion prevailing whether they are guilty or sympathizing with them. Lets be honest, any person who defames the country due to his act should be penalized and penalized hard so that next time no one shouldn't dare to do such acts, I might be using bookish language but it takes decades to create trust unlike destroying it which only takes moments or days to do so.

Same happened with Salman, Asif and Amir, who literally thought that they are above the game and they are the kings so have the privilege to do whatever they want, without knowing how much this cricket loving nation expects from them. Asif, who was already convicted of carrying drugged item with him when he last toured Dubai upon returning from the first edition of DLF IPL 2007 via New Delhi. 19 days in Dubai jail and than upon action from Pakistan government, they allowed him to be deported to Pakistan on single condition that he'll never ever allowed to come to Dubai in whatsoever conditions.

I feel pity for Mohammad Amir, who had such a shining career right from the word go, and he self detonated himself by involving into such crap. Although the kinda family background he comes from, benefit of doubt must be given to him because he never knew how sports politics goes on, but still he should had gone to listen to his internal instincts, because I am damn sure there are black sheeps everywhere, but I only and ONLY differ from the court's decision which only penalized that bastard Majeed, whom his brother called him as a religious person, complete bullshit, because if he was a religious person, he shouldn't had involved into this crap.

What about management?

Why management of the Touring Pakistani Cricket Team spared? On what grounds? How Majeed was able to intrude into players' hotel suites during the curfew duration? I must admit and confess, Pakistani players in comparison are very outgoing and forget their limits in such circumstances, but management who are supposed to be competent enough to handle them, misfired, like the person who has gaseous explosion going on in his stomach ;), the fault lies with them, they were first to be trialed in the courts of the UK instead of the players who played the part of exploiting their mismanagement...

Secondly, at the time when such crises raises its head, internal team management are preferred to take ample action, void of it, than the governing body takes action, if touring management in such circumstances take right action on the right time, than ICC won't bother to punish and penalize them as penalizing the one accused twice on the same is null&void according to the global laws.

So I personally think, there are some missing parts still being blacked to us, which we should find out so that the mist from the case clears.

What Pakistan cost from this trial of its players?

Dignity and Integrity, I personally think Pakistan lost from the trial of its players. The name which Pakistanis created globally with their cricketing skills got muddy, the records, landmarks Pakistanis created across the globe, now all in vein, because of these stupid bums.

1. Highest win/loss ratio in Home Tests

Pakistan’s home venues have become no-go zone for international teams due to security reasons but surprisingly Pakistan has the best home record in Test Cricket. Pakistan’s Win/Loss Ratio of 2.54 is the best among all nations. Pakistan has played 151 Tests at home; 56 won, 22 lost and 73 drawn, that gives ratio of 2.54 to Pakistan. Australia with 2.26 is second whereas Sri Lanka with 1.86 is third.

2. Most “Sixes” in ODIs and International Cricket

“367” is the number of Sixes Shahid Afridi has hit in international cricket (including Tests, ODIs and T20 Int.), the most number of sixes by any batsman in International Cricket. In ODIs alone, he has hit 289 Sixes which is another world record.

3. Most runs by batsman in a calendar year of Test Cricket

In 2006, Mohammad Yousuf scored 1788 runs in 11 Tests at average of 99.33. He broke the previous record of 1710 runs in 11 Tests by Viv Richards. Yousuf’s innings were against India, Sri Lanka, England and West Indies. He was in sublime form throughout the year even on hostile batting wickets of England, he scored in bulk; 631 runs in 4 Tests including a double-century and 2 centuries. During course of 1788, Yousuf also scored 665 runs in a 3 Test series against West Indies –most runs by Pakistan batsman in 3 Test series – and he hit 5 centuries in consecutive matches.

4. Nine centuries in a calendar year of Test Cricket

2006 didn’t end for Yousuf by giving him most runs in a year but it also ended up giving him 9 centuries; another world record. At end of the year, in series against West Indies, Yousuf hit 4 centuries in 3 Matches which made his tally to 9 centuries in a year. Arvinda de Silva, Ricky Ponting, Viv Richards and Sachin Tendulkar have hit 7 centuries in a calendar year.

5. Most five-wicket hauls in ODI Cricket

Waqar Younis has taken 13 five-wicket hauls in 262 ODIs; a record of most-wicket hauls by any bowler in ODIs, not only this, he also has record for taking most 4+ wickets in ODIs; 27 times he has taken 4+ wickets in ODI Cricket.

6. Fastest to reach 100, 150, 200 and 250 ODI wickets

All the tallies belong to one man. Perhaps the best spinner ODI Cricket has ever seen. Saqlain Mushtaq, the off-spinner of Pakistan, has record for being the fastest to reach 100, 150, 200 and 250 ODI wickets. He also has two hat-tricks in ODIs; joint record with Wasim Akram, Chaminda Vass and Lasith Malinga.

7. Seven players of batting line-up’s top-order scoring 50+ in a Test innings

In Pakistan’s famous Test victory against India in Karachi 2006, seven Pakistan batsman scored 50+ runs in second innings. In first innings Pakistan were bowled out on 245 but in second innings Pakistan scored 599-7 (declared) with all 7 batsmen who were out scoring 50+ runs. Salmam Butt (53), Imran Farhat (57), Younis Khan (77), Mohammad Yousuf (97), Faisal Iqbal (139), Shahid Afridi (60) and Abdul Razzaq (90) were part of this record.

8. Nine consecutive fifties in ODI Cricket

Between March and October of 1987, Javed Miandad scored 9 fifties in consecutive ODIs. Javed’s innings were 78 , 78*, 74*, 60, 52*, 113, 71*, 68 and 103. He is the only batsman to go that far as second best is 6 consecutive fifties by Gordon Greenidge.

9. Best bowling figures in Twenty20 Internationals

Umar Gul’s 5-wicket haul against New  Zealand in ICC World T20 2009 stands as finest spell bowled in Twenty20 Internationals. He took 5 wickets for 6 runs in his 3 overs, these are best figures by a bowler in Twenty20 Internationals.

10. Best bowling figures in Twenty20 Cricket

In first edition of Indian Premier League in 2008, Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Sohail Tanvir took 6 wickets for 14 runs in a match against Chennai Super Kings while playing for Rajhastan Royals. To date, 4-0-14-6 remains the best bowling figure by any bowler in Twenty20 Cricket.

11. Youngest player to score double-century in Test Cricket

At age of 19 years 140 days, Javed Miandad became the youngest batsman to score a double-century in Test Cricket. In October 1976, Miandad scored 206 runs against New Zealand in Karachi.

12. Only triple-century in second innings of the team

There have been many triple-centuries scored in Test Cricket but, to date, Hanif Mohammad’s 337 against West Indies in Bridgetown 1958 remains the only incident of a batsman scoring triple-century in second innings of the team. In his marathon innings, Hanif Mohammad batted for 970 minutes which is another World Record of longest Test innings played with-respect-to Minutes.
In same match, Pakistan were bowled out on 106 in first innings. In follow-on innings, Pakistan scored 657-8 (declared). The difference of 551 between two innings is the largest difference between a team’s first and second innings; a world record itself.

13. Longest innings of the cricket history

Few major innings since the war have provoked such contradictory critical appraisal as that played by Pakistan's captain in the Lord's Test of 1967. It began at 4.40 p.m. on Friday, July 27, and ended only when he ran out of partners at 3.24 p.m. the following Monday scoring 187 not out.

Press comment along the way embraced the full spectrum of colourful opinion: from the outraged puce of those writers who regard themselves as the guardians of sporting entertainment to the purplest prose that could be mustered by others who acclaimed it one of the batting masterpieces of their time.

14. Maintaining average of 50 throughout batting career

Javed Miandad, along with Herbert Sutcliffe, is the only batsman in Test Cricket whose batting average never fell below 50. Miandad ended his career with batting average of 52.57, scoring 8832 runs in 124 Tests.

15. Five batsmen scoring centuries in a Test Innings

In August 2003 at National Stadium Karachi against Bangladesh, Five batsmen of Pakistan’s batting line-up scored centuries, making it only second instant; first Australia’s five batsmen scored centuries in an innings. Saeed Anwar (101), Tafueer Umar (104), Inzamam-ul-Haq (105), Mohammad Yousuf (102*) and Abdul Razzak (110*) were part of this record.

Now

because of them, the world has got chance to point fingers on our credibility, and past performances, and they have the right to do so because we gave them such chances. We in Pakistan don't feel but I am thinking about the overseas Pakistan scattered globally, how much they'd be humiliated because of their home country cricketers disgraced the Flag and the Nation because of their selfish acts. اللہ ان کو عقل اور ہوش کے ناخن سونگھوائے آمین

Sad day for cricket

http://thinker-thinkingoutofthebox.blogspot.com/2011/11/sad-day-for-cricket.html

It is Really the Tip of the Iceberg This Time

It is Really the Tip of the Iceberg This Time

Old Horses

Old Stallions did the job for Sialkot, but even though they are the sixth time winner, Rawalpindi Rams do require standing ovation for showing signs of improvements.

Even though, Sialkot Stallions won Faysal Bank T20 2011 held at National Stadium, Karachi, but sorry to say, Sialkot do not deserve to be applauded for this achievement, because most of their players have international experience, and like I say, are old-horses and they're of no with the young boys of Rawalpindi Rams. International experience matters alot, no one can't deny that fact, so a team which had 6 players in the final-lineup which was playing against the Rams, who are also part of Pakistan National Cricket side or were part of or were engaged with Australian Big Bash down-under. So was the competition on equality?

Kudos to Rams for showing a continuous and consistent performance from Faisalabad down to Karachi. Rams were the team whose average age in the team was under 30 years in comparison to a team whose main guns were either in their booming 30s or passed.

Look at here, a team whose half of the team is based internationally, on the contrary Rams were the team who had Sohail Tanvir, Umer Amin and Hammad Azam as their internationally played assets, still they were the last time Super8 winners at Faisalabad and finalists in Karachi. I thought such tournaments were for grooming youngsters, instead of giving lifeline to the older ones.

If guys at PCB go that way, than I fear there won't be motivation left for the youngsters to perform. Just look at the other side of the border at east of Pakistan, they've been utilizing the talents they are getting from IPL and CLT20, and got players like Virat Kohli and Amit Mishra to name some, and they've been acting professionally by strengthening their bench-strength, they hired international coaches for the domestic circuits, unlike us who hire international coaches for National Team instead of hiring them at the grass root level.

Like the way we act at the time of floods in Sindh, with no planning although even a common man like me knew such catastrophe might happen but the guys who were to be responsible about it never act on time, similar is the case with Cricket, this current tournament at Karachi was great one, it was a crowd and sponsor puller as well, but still PCB has been taking this tournament as a formality, not more than that, instead of taking it an opportunity to groom youngsters and upgrade ground facilities on regular, which they aren't.

When are we gonna plan on long-term scale! A question, which answer is kinda gloomy to find way out.

ICC, PCB and PTT Recommendations

Not every recommendations but some of them are worth applying, don't know why they're taking time for it!

I know it is going to be a boring conversation but is an important aspect is availability of Cricketing Infrastructure spanned into different parts of the country instead of 3 4 test centers where all around the year, cricket is played. When International Cricket used to organize in Pakistan, Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, were a must for visiting teams to play there, ignoring smaller test centers, like Sheikhupura, Multan (although their newly built stadium is quite big), Faisalabad, Peshawar, Hyderabad Sindh, Mirpurkhas, Sialkot, etc investing in infrastructures in these cities is beneficiary for Pakistan Cricket, as most of the team which plays for Pakistan, hails from these divisions and smaller remote areas, so it's time for investing in infrastructures instead of wasting money on ICC meetings, where things are preplanned and such meeting are just a formality.

I just wanna know, what improvement did they bought into existing infrastructures? Nothing! I pass everyday from National Stadium Bridge off to Karsaz Road, its shades are all getting rusted, paint and blocks are getting down. When getting free time, when international games aren't organized on your grounds than why don't spending some bucks on them, to make them ready when international cricket returns to Pakistan! Are they thinking so far??? I don't think... They're in mood to fill the pockets but not of the cricket board's but of their own selves, that's why they willing to resume cricketing ties with India but not utilizing one percent of it into their already built ones.

Why am I saying like that?

Talent Hunt Campaigns

Currently talent hunt programs are happening in Lahore, but not in the remote areas of Pakistan where majority of the talent for Pakistan comes from, so they are wasting this money at wrong place! I'd had preferred such camp to be held at Sialkot, Nowshehra, Peshawar, Swat, Multan, or Hyderabad Sindh, plus such talent hunting schemes are useless when it's happening once at a time, like ECB conducts its county games according to divisions i.e. North, South etc, the same way they should had conducted this talent hunt thing. In this way vacant placed cricket grounds were fully utilized instead of concentrating in one city for whole over Pakistan.

Vacant placed cricketing facilities

Since no international cricket is being played in Pakistan, than its better to let it be upgrade, look at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, the work on its pavilion is still unfinished, National Stadium in Karachi, its short of capacity for a city vastly spanned, maybe it was suitable for the city till 1996 but now city has spanned alot but still its seating arrangements are not upto the mark, big-screen is also ill-placed on the ground level, a major-overhaul is required specially at NSK, but apart from that, new cricketing venues are also required, and refurbishment of existing ones specially at Hyderabad Sindh is required, else it'd be used as marriage halls or/and helipads.

Winning the trust

Winning the trust of Pakistani investors is a big thing, and that could only be done while completing the projects on time plus making this domestic tournaments as a successful package! Already this current domestic Faysal Bank T20 Super 8 2011 tournament was a big success as every team had its own sponsor, therefore sponsors are willing but on the same time, they're reluctant because of the ill-management and corruption in the cricket board, such thing should be stopped! When domestic tournaments would be a successful package, they (the PCB) will get reserves for upgrading their existing infrastructures.

Why am I still sarcastic?

Because I am not seeing a plan, vision and/or guidelines on which they are working/moving/crawling, they just know how to cry on spilled milk, but are not willing to work out on the reasons! Things are really creepy in the jungle of PCB (as they are running the organization as the rule of the jungle). Atleast when they're about to leave the seats, they should do something good for the country, for goodness sakes! Before they came into power, Pakistan had some say in cricketing world, Pakistan ranked in between 3 - 4 before 2008, both in tests and ODIs, apart from World T20 Event, no other ICC labeled trophy is shelved for Pakistan., during the same period India has one T20 event in 2007 and one 50 over Cricket World Cup under their name. Plus I personally feel, next year's World T20 event is again gonna go under the name of India as Sri Lanka is familiar for Indians, as they already had last year's Asia Cup played at Dambulla under their belts, whereas no planning whatsoever from Pakistan's end can be seen, as last time when these two teams met, Dhoni was captaining the side both at Sri Lanka and Mohali but this time when Pakistan's gonna play in Sri Lanka, it'd be Misbah's turn to wear the cap of Skipper, no stability whatsover, 3 players already in court rooms (the famous trio), the fourth one (Kaneria) going to do the same. I feel they are in spot of bother when it comes to planning for future, they just want to complete their time, already they're showing their grievances when ICC showed them some recommendations to apply. Some of them I felt were logical, but still for it they're willing to take dictations, than what can I say!

Peace!

Blunders... Nothing more than blunders

Kapil Dev

Batting and fielding averages Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 6s Ct St Tests 131 184 15 5248 163 31.05 8 27 61 64 0 ODIs 225 198 39 3783 175* 23.79 3979 95.07 1 14 71 0 First-class 275 384 39 11356 193 32.91 18 56 192 0 List A 310 270 47 5481 175* 24.57 2 23 99 0 Bowling averages Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10 Tests 131 227 27740 12867 434 9/83 11/146 29.64 2.78 63.9 17 23 2 ODIs 225 221 11202 6945 253 5/43 5/43 27.45 3.71 44.2 3 1 0 First-class 275 48853 22626 835 9/83 27.09 2.77 58.5 39 3 List A 310 14947 9161 335 5/43 5/43 27.34 3.67 44.6 3 2 0

Imran Khan

Batting and fielding averages Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 6s Ct St Tests 88 126 25 3807 136 37.69 6 18 55 28 0 ODIs 175 151 40 3709 102* 33.41 5105 72.65 1 19 36 0 First-class 382 582 99 17771 170 36.79 30 93 117 0 List A 425 384 80 10100 114* 33.22 5 66 84 0 Bowling averages Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10 Tests 88 142 19458 8258 362 8/58 14/116 22.81 2.54 53.7 17 23 6 ODIs 175 153 7461 4844 182 6/14 6/14 26.61 3.89 40.9 3 1 0 First-class 382 65224 28726 1287 8/34 22.32 2.64 50.6 70 13 List A 425 19122 11312 507 6/14 6/14 22.31 3.54 37.7 12 6 0

I am not here to degrade Indian legend by showing such stats but I feel being a sports loving person, it'd be on equality. Honestly if these stats were vice versa i.e. Kapil Dev having stats of Imran Khan and Imran Khan having stats of Kapil Dev, I'd had taken it as this is what sports is all about, means showing sportsmen spirit. But right now when ICC (should I call it International Cricket Council or Indian Cricket Council????), announced the list of all time eleven on the eve of the 2000th test match of international cricket, they made some great blunders, like one I just mentioned above. No doubt Dev has been a great skipper and led his team to famous victory at the 1983 Cricket World Cup, but ignoring these criteria's while announcing an all time 11 that too when international/global cricket is celebrating 2000th test, ignoring not only Imran Khan but also Gary Sobers, Vivian Richards, Richard Headley etc, than personally I think there's some mistake in it, ok the team must have to be limited to 11 players but you can't ignore players like I mentioned up above and also Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose! Plus how can we ignore Great Hanif Muhammad, who was given the title of little master by the Queen Elizabeth herself, plus Javed Miandad (know many will crack jokes on him), but the kind of ton innings he played in tough situations, were all match winning scores. So I must say ICC showed biased ness.

Why am I saying like that?

Economically I must admit Kapil Dev is way too much better than Imran Khan in any format of the game, but apart from Economy rate, Strike rates and Averages are also given importance. Mind you both of them were bowling all-rounders means their major was bowling, rest the readers are quite capable of understanding who's better!

Peace!