Pakistan in South Africa, 2006-07

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Shahrukh Khan

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Shoaib left out for South Africa tour

Osman Samiuddin

December 29, 2006



Mohammad Asif: the main component of South Africa's five-man pace attack © Getty Images




Pakistan have left out Shoaib Akhtar from their 17-man squad for the upcoming series against South Africa, although the door remains open for the fast bowler to return for the ODI matches later in the tour. Mohammad Asif, who along with Shoaib only recently returned to full-time cricket following the overturning of a drugs ban, has been included in the squad.

Iqbal Qasim, a member of the selection committee, told Cricinfo, "Shoaib has been left out because we felt his full match fitness hasn't yet returned after the break he has had from the game." There had been considerable speculation in the run-up to today's announcement that Shoaib would miss out, selectors and team management apparently not happy with his fitness levels.

But Qasim said the door remains open for a call-up as the series progresses. "For longer matches, we think the fitness isn't ready yet. But there will be first-class matches in Pakistan that he can play in and work back towards maximum fitness and hopefully make it in time for the ODIs."

Shabbir Ahmed, who has only recently returned from an ICC-imposed ban for a suspect action, was also not selected. "He has only just returned to cricket and we have pace bowlers like Gul and Nazir who have done really well recently for us, so there wasn't really any place for him right now. He will play more first-class matches and we'll take it from there," said Qasim.

Mohammad Sami emerges as the winner from the travails of Shoaib and Shabbir, but it is the return of Asif that really gives the bowling its sting. Qasim said, "Even now, I think our bowling is stronger than India's pace attack and they have done really well in South Africa. So I think the bowlers we have selected should do well there."

The other selection of note is that of Zulqernain Haider, the 20-year-old from Lahore, as reserve wicketkeeper behind Kamran Akmal. Akmal's form behind the stumps and with the bat has been poor for much of the year and the idea of taking a reserve had been publicly mooted on several occasions, including once by Bob Woolmer.

"We've picked Zulqarnain as cover for Akmal," said Qasim. He is still our first-choice but just to ease a little pressure off of him and also in case he picks up an injury, we felt we should have some cover. This is an important season beginning now, with the World Cup, and we want to make sure our best players are available for that."



Asim Kamal: back in the Test side after a one-year lay-off © Getty Images



Haider was wicketkeeper in the Pakistan U-19 team that won the World Cup in Dhaka in 2004 and has appeared for the Pakistan 'A' and Academy sides a number of times since. He has been in the national squad before, picked for the 2004 home series against Sri Lanka, as understudy to Moin Khan. Incidentally, in the second Test of that series, Akmal was chosen ahead of Haider as replacement for Moin, since when he has established himself as the number one choice.

With Abdul Razzaq injured and Shahid Afridi out of form, the number six spot becomes the domain once again of a specialist batsman, as opposed to all-rounders. Faisal Iqbal will be in contention, but so too will Asim Kamal, the doughty left-hander, who is back, ready to tour the country against whom he made such an impressive Test debut in 2003. "As a left-hander, in the middle order, he provides us some variety as well as stability.

"Overall, I think this is the most balanced squad we could have picked. These guys, if they play to their potential, can do well in South Africa," Qasim said.

Squad for South Africa: Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Shoaib Malik, Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Asim Kamal, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal (wk), Zulqernain Haider (wk), Shahid Nazir, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan
Posted 30 Dec 2006

~Fragi~ says
MITE B KOI INJURY
Posted 20 Jan 2007

wafakadard says
acha khelaa INAZAMAM last time main aa kar bhi 92*

uder SA   ki tahraf say KALLIS 50*
Posted 21 Jan 2007

wafakadard says
AG Prince lbw b Danish Kaneria

Kaneria nay PRINCE ko 22 par out kar diyaaa

South Africa trail by 11 runs with 6 wickets remaining
Posted 21 Jan 2007

Pakistan 265 and 8 for 0 (Hafeez 8*, Farhat 0*) need 183 more runs to beat South Africa 124 and 331 (Kallis 91, Boucher 46)
Pakistan need 183 more to level the series

Mohammad Asif 38 16 76 5 2.00   
Posted 22 Jan 2007

~Fragi~ says
best wishes
Posted 22 Jan 2007

wafakadard says
PAKISTANI TEAM In TROUBLE

BY NTINI

yeh card kud dekh lain ap

Posted 22 Jan 2007

need 2 runssssssssss
Posted 22 Jan 2007

Pakistan 265 & 193/5 (57.3 ov)
Match over



younis-->67*
akmal--->57*


Posted 22 Jan 2007

wafakadard said:

PAKISTANI TEAM In TROUBLE

BY NTINI

yeh card kud dekh lain ap



not anymoreeeeeeeeee
Posted 22 Jan 2007

Doctor Sam says
hum jeet gaye. . i couldnt c
Posted 22 Jan 2007

cutefriend says
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD

apun soch raha tha ke match tab khatam ho ga jab apun class main ho ga
per shuker hai ke 6:00 PM per hi khatam ho gaya
Posted 22 Jan 2007

wafakadard says
Yar phair batain

yeh INAZAM ko MAN OF THE MATCH kyon mila???????

YPUNI Sko milna cahye tha

us nay 45 + 67* banay hain


likun acha howa jeet gaaay

waysay SRK jab hum last time MSN par bat kar rahay thay
us wakat halat nhi lag rahay thay keh PAKISTAN jeeta gha
Posted 23 Jan 2007

wafakadard says
Shabbir Ahmed, the Pakistan fast bowler who served a 12-month ban for an illegal action, has been called up as a reinforcement for the side touring South Africa following injuries to Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul, both of whom are on their way home.



Posted 23 Jan 2007

~Fragi~ says
Great news .................
Posted 23 Jan 2007

wafakadard says
~Fragi~ said:

Great news .................



yes likun No Shoaib
Posted 24 Jan 2007

~Fragi~ says
yaar yeh match b tu wid out shoaib jeetey hain na
Posted 24 Jan 2007

wafakadard says
~Fragi~ said:

yaar yeh match b tu wid out shoaib jeetey hain na




       Ap Ko Kis Nay kahaa

Shoaib nay 1st 2 wickets li thi + 2 more 1st term main
jis ki waja say kafi HELP hoie thi
Posted 24 Jan 2007

wafakadard said:

Yar phair batain

yeh INAZAM ko MAN OF THE MATCH kyon mila???????

YPUNI Sko milna cahye tha

us nay 45 + 67* banay hain


likun acha howa jeet gaaay

waysay SRK jab hum last time MSN par bat kar rahay thay
us wakat halat nhi lag rahay thay keh PAKISTAN jeeta gha



haan trouble main tha,,,inzi ne pehli innings bachaye thie
Posted 25 Jan 2007

wafakadard says
Shabbir Ahmed not to go to South Africa
Posted 25 Jan 2007

wafakadard says
Shabbir Ahmed will not be going to South Africa ahead of the third Test at Cape Town as a replacement for injured fast bowlers Umar Gul and Shoaib Akhtar after failing to convince Pakistan selectors of his own fitness.
Posted 25 Jan 2007

possible-> shabbir ahmed case
Posted 25 Jan 2007

wafakadard says
Pakistan openers split early


Pakistan 27/2 (11.4 ov)

7.1      Ntini to Mohammad Hafeez, OUT
11.4      Ntini to Yasir Hameed



main nay aj new GOAL banaya hai

main BADAA hoo kar NTINI jaysa bowler banooo ghaa
Posted 26 Jan 2007

why is ASiM KAMAL not playing?
Posted 26 Jan 2007

wafakadard says
Pakistan 90/6 (30.4 ov)


arey mujh ko SHAOIB & RAZZAK ki hai ap ko ASIM ki
Posted 26 Jan 2007

~Fragi~ says
BURA HAAL HAI
Posted 26 Jan 2007

wafakadard said:

Pakistan 90/6 (30.4 ov)


arey mujh ko SHAOIB & RAZZAK ki hai ap ko ASIM ki



dono unfit hain...par asim kamal tu kheley na,,,razzaq ODI main ayega
Posted 26 Jan 2007

~Fragi~ says
pak team yeh kiya ho rahai
Posted 26 Jan 2007

~Fragi~ says
SAF v/s PAK, Test, 26-Jan-2007
(Day 1 - Play In Progress)

PAK: 155/8 in 41.4 overs       (Run Rate: 3.72)    


Batsmen: *M Yousuf - 81    D Kaneria - 0    

Bowler :   M Ntini
Posted 26 Jan 2007

pak 157 all out.

SA 49/2 .ASIF 8/2
Posted 26 Jan 2007

~Fragi~ says
Youisaf ko century karnee chaiyee thee na
Posted 26 Jan 2007

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