Pak vs. India : Cricket series

[The Wisdom Tree]

You mean only when India loses matches aren't fixed?

No, that's just you with your oversmartness.

 

[Goodperson]

No use of watching India - Pakistan match when there is no intensity, Pakistan should also show there killer instinct, its matter of time. Hope situation back home is not affecting their morale.

 

[su-47]

I agree with Jana but from a different angle Cricket seems as fixed as WWF.

The series almost always plays out 3-2 with the outcome going to the final match.

The theory is, they plan it out so that the matches go 2-2 and then they play for real in the final game.

Its not easy to fix matches. after the Hansie Cronje scandal, all cricket players, especially captains, would be closely monitored for any suspicious activities.

Also, its just not worth it for players to fix matches. they are already rich enough, and if they are caught, especially in the subcontinent, the consequences are terrible. they might een get killed by fanatic fans

 

[Moin91]

Surprises in store when Pakistan Test squad is named


Pakistan may spring a few surprises when they announce a squad for the three-match Test series against India,

According to well-placed sources, Pakistan may opt to go into the Test series starting with the opening match in Delhi with two specialist spinners — Danish Kaneria and Abdul Rehman.

In addition, there are indications that Pakistan may also retain rookie all-rounder Fawad Alam in the Test squad as sources say that Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson is very impressed with the skills and talents of the youngster and believes that he has a bright future in international cricket. Fawad, who made his international debut in the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa last month, is a part of Pakistan’s ODI squad for the series against India starting in Guwahati from today (Monday).

Sources say that Pakistan will name their Test squad by November 15 when their team will be playing in the third game of the one-day series against India in Gwalior. The biggest suspense ahead of the Test series hovers over the availability of Mohammad Asif.

The lanky medium pacer, who has established himself as the main wicket-taker in the bowling attack in recent times, stayed back home after it was revealed that he needs more time to recover from an elbow problem that dogged him in the home series against South Africa last month.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has ruled Asif out of at least the first three games of the ODI series though there are fears that the players might not be able to play any role in remaining two one-dayers and more importantly in the Test series starting from November 22.

National selectors insist that they will continue to wait and see whether Asif will get fit in time to feature in the Test series. The selectors say that they will only think about naming a replacement for Asif if it is confirmed that the pacer will not make it for the Test series against the Indians.

In case Asif is ruled out of the Test series, Test discard Mohammad Sami may make his international return. Sami is bowling impressively in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and some experts believe he can contribute to Pakistan’s pace battery in India that includes fiery fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Rao Iftihkar Anjum and Sohail Tanvir.

Rookie medium pacer Sohail will be recalled after the ODI series and would be replaced by leg-spinner Kaneria for the Tests. Sources say that Pakistan are seriously thinking about the option of retaining Rehman for the Test series.

Rehman was among the leading wicket-takers for Pakistan in the home Test series against South Africa which the hosts lost 0-1. Pakistan were criticised heavily for their reliance on spinners but the team’s think-tank believes the same strategy could be repeated in the Tests in India where wickets generally favour spinners.

A PCB official told this correspondent that the final decision on the playing line-up for the opening Test would be taken after the team management surveys the conditions in Delhi after the final one-dayer in Jaipur.

 

[Moin91]

Fast and bouncy pitch for second ODI

Having taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match one-day series against arch rivals Pakistan, the Indians will now have to counter a "fast and bouncy" track at the PCA stadium when they go into the second one-dayer here on Thursday.

The Mohali track has generally been bouncier than other pitches in the country and it would be no different this time around with curator Daljit Singh predicting a sporting Track which will have something for both the batsmen and the bowlers. "It is a typical Mohali track. It will have good pace and bounce. The batsmen will need to be a little careful in the first 15 overs when there will be some movement, after that it will be easy for strokepplay," said Daljit. "The batsmen will have to settle down first. Since the ball will come on to the bat, it should be good for playing strokes," he explained.

Daljit, however, said the spinners may find it difficult to grip the ball in the second session because of the dew factor. "In case there is heavy dew fall on the day of the match, the spinners may find it difficult to grip the ball," he said. The organisers will try to minimise the affects of dew by spraying ASPA-AT chemical on the turf, like they had done when the last day-night game was played at the Mohali stadium. The chemical will be sprayed at the ground at 11 am on the day of the match to minimise the dew factor.

Meanwhile, security arrangements have been tightened in and around the ground as well as the hotel where the teams have been put up. The stadium has already been barricaded two days before the match with vehicular traffic being diverted in the areas near the stadium. Apart from private security personnel, more than 900 personnel from Punjab Police will be deployed on the day of the match to avoid any untoward incidents.

With the match being played on the eve of Diwali, spectators have been advised not to carry firecrackers to the stadium, besides the usual regulations. A capacity crowd is expected for the day-night contest between the traditional rivals with all tickets being sold out.

 

[Moin91]

Shoaib Akhtar versus Sachin Tendulkar

One of the most intriguing, awaited and interesting battles all would be looking forward to in the forthcoming series between India and Pakistan is to how Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar and Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar would perform against each other.

Akhtar's duels with Sachin have caught the fancy of fans on both sides of the border ever since his first-ball dismissal of the master batsman in a Test match in Kolkata in 1999.

Their duel was the talking point during the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. Sachin won that battle with a bold 98 off 75 balls to set up his team's victory at Centurion.

Sachin later described the innings as one of the highlights of his record-breaking one-day career.

Sachin has often dominated the Pakistani attack with rich strokeplay, having scored 2,122 runs in 61 one-dayers with five centuries and 918 runs in 16 Tests with two hundreds.

Sachin may not be as explosive a batsman as he was a decade ago, but he still has the shots to test any attack. He also has an uncanny knack of finding gaps where none appears to exist.

The Indian is the world's leading scorer in one-dayers with 15,703 runs in 402 matches and a record 41 centuries.

He holds important batting records such as the leading Test century scorer, leading ODI century and half-century scorer, one of only three batsmen to surpass 11,000 runs in Test cricket as well as being the first Indian to do so and the most career ODI runs and most overall career run tally.

India have found talented youngsters in Robin Uthappa, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, but still depend on Sachin for setting or successfully chasing a stiff target.

And if Akhtar hopes to redeem his image on the current Indian tour, he will first have to conquer Sachin.

Chucking allegations, a drug-ban, indiscipline and injuries have dogged the mercurial pacer ever since his international debut in 1997. But when he is battle-ready, he can make life miserable for batsmen.

Akhtar has not always been a punch bag for the Indians.

His 34 wickets in 23 one-dayers against the archrivals means he remains a constant threat. He has also grabbed 19 wickets in seven Tests against India.

Akhtar is known as much for his mood swings as for hurling down thunderbolts and they have often proved his undoing in a career spanning nearly a decade.

He recently served a 13-match ban, primarily for striking teammate Mohammad Asif with a bat ahead of the inaugural Twenty20 world championships in South Africa in September.

Akhtar has been placed on probation for two years, meaning he could be suspended for life if he again breaches the players' code of conduct.

Akhtar returned to international cricket in the decisive fifth and final one-dayer against South Africa at home last month, only to prove he could be a batsmen's nightmare when on song.

Akhtar’s four-wicket burst nearly set up his team's win before the batsmen messed it up chasing a 234-run target at Lahore. Pakistan lost the series 3-2, but Akhtar won many a heart on his comeback.

Akhtar needs to keep Sachin silent first if he wants to make this tour a memorable one for him.

It promises to be an engrossing contest when one of the best batsmen in the world will face-off with one of the fastest bowlers in the world.

 

[Moin91]

PAKISTAN WON BY 4 WICKETS........
Good perfomence by Younis khan,Misbah & Afridi

 

[Moin91]

Man of the match goes to YOUNIS KHAN.

 

[Introvert]

After looking at India's score I thought we lost this one again, but man I was wrong. Good job Pak

 

[Keysersoze]

Everyone in the Pakistani batting order was overusing the paddle shot....they lost at least 3 wickets because of it.

 

[Goodperson]

Great effort by Yosouf it was typical Indo-Pak match with all elements of thrill, In such matches there is little difference between winning and losing.

 

[amunhotep]

heart-attack !!!

any doctors in this forum??

 

[HAIDER]

Banggggg.......Afridi in action....

 

[Always Neutral]

I hope no one is going to say it was fixed. Excellant match. Both the teams nearly lost it but Pakistan finally won it. Well done.

 

[EagleEyes]

Pakistan can still do better. They need more improvement..nonetheless great courage and work by the Pakistan team.. excellent comeback.