Thank you.

I agree he is not a Test level player. But I would rather see him open than see him bat in the middle order in Tests. Letting him bat in the middle order is like giving too much respect to his limited calibre. It is for players like Younis and Yousuf.

But I agree with you that a specialist opener with decent temperament should be tried instead. I will not go with Ahmed Shahzad because he seems too keen to hit the ball in the air. Khurram Manzoor is good and maybe Nasir Jamshed, who is good at clearing the fielders when he hits.

And yes it’s definitely a joke to make him an opener just so that he can form part of the playing XI. This is like getting a player in by hook or crook, otherwise known as favouritism.

Karachi: Six months after being dumped as Pakistan captain, senior all-rounder Shoaib Malik is struggling to keep his place in Pakistan’s Test line-up.

According to sources, Pakistan team management is finding it increasingly difficult to offer Malik a place in the playing line-up as a genuine all-rounder and might play him as an opener in the first Test against Sri Lanka starting in Galle from July 4.

The return of senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf in the middle-order has also caused more problems for Malik. Yousuf was recalled in the Test squad after he broke ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) earlier this summer.

Interestingly, it was after Malik’s ascent as Pakistan captain after the 2007 World Cup that Yousuf was ‘forced’ to leave national duty.

Yousuf defected to the ICL and later blamed Malik for treating senior players shabbily. Yousuf had claimed that it was because of Malik’s behaviour that he was forced to switch allegiance to the ICL.

Sources said that the Pakistan team management will offer Malik to open the innings with Salman Butt. Malik has opened the innings in the past and has a good track record playing up the order in Sri Lanka.

On the 2006 tour of Sri Lanka, Malik played a match-saving knock of 148 - his career-best as Pakistan won the Test series.

Pakistan seems all set to give Test caps to rookie pacer Mohammad Aamer and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal. The duo performed well in the ICC World Twenty20 in England where Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the final.

Pakistan made to toil in tour opener

Cricinfo staff

June 29, 2009

Pakistan began their tour of Sri Lanka the hard way as a defiant Sri Lanka Cricket XI ended at 278 for 3 on the first day of their three-day practice match. Lahiru Thirimanne and Chamara Kapugedera put on 170 for the third wicket on a rain-interrupted day at the Colts Cricket Club ground in Colombo.

SLC XI, who chose to bat, lost opener Tharanga Paranavitana with the score on 27. That brought in Thrimanne, who along with Upul Tharanga – who hit a half-century – added 78 for the second wicket.

Tharanga was dismissed by legspinner Danish Kaneria, and Paranavitana was joined by Kapudegera. The two feasted off an attack that included Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Aamer and Kaneria. Though Pakistan captain Younis Khan employed seven bowlers, they had little effect on the rampaging batsmen and at stumps the day’s honours went to the home side.

On blogs and chat sites it is not obligatory to use your real name, that is why people call it a nick name or a screen name. So, don’t get too upset because it is not a new or a unique thing. khansahab has explained this before on this blog and even on PakSpin why he uses this name? His Dad calls him by this name, any problem? Aur naam may kya rukkha hai?

To any reader who read your comments, it seems like you are venting frustration and it is your first nature. There are some people who are once bitten twice shy aur kuch aisay hotay hain jinko ishq nay nikkama ker diya and they cannot bear the rejection and they try to label everyone with their biases and prejudice. You get my drift?

Munir asked you if you have a Bangladeshi Boss? I might ask you a different question. Kya kisi Bangladeshi larki nay reject ker diya? And now you are lapay-toe-ing even Pakistanis, then I will ask you the same question again? Never mind, hota hai yae apki Jawani ki Hawa hai. But, you will come to terms with life soon.

I agree with you that, Patel was really stupid and he was the mastermind behind everything, including FREE INDIA MOVEMENT and in bringing Gandhi from SA and also for using Nehru. Hence, that is your kismet and your destiny and it is your frustration since 1947 that you have to live with it for the rest of your lives and for generations to come.

Abdul Qadir Khan had the brains to build a NB for Pakistan never mind how he got the raw material whereas, the Indian government and their scientists borrowed the whole plant from Canada by telling lies to Canadian government that they shall be using it for producing electricity and for other peaceful purposes. The then Prime Minister of Canada knew about their intentions because the third plant that was borrowed from Canada was for the enrichment of uranium and for making nuclear fuel that is used for making bombs.

If you don’t know the history then read it. Or, at least watch the three part (3 hours long) documentary that is available on CBC television in which Canada for the first time has apologized to its countrymen for getting involved in this nuclear race in the Indian sub-continent because of its Prime Minister.

If you think Pakistan is a waste of nation because Dr A. Q. Khan ko dekh ker Mata Hari sharma gayee aur chup kay say taangay utha dee now, you decide which nation is wasted? All Pakistanis not only feel but, they openly say that Pakistan is still surviving because they are a nuclear power otherwise Patel’s disciples would have gone beyond Kashmir and may not have even burped. My dear Galzie Sahab, Pakistan will never use it as an aggressor, it is only a deterrent for Mata Hari.

I don’t want strangers to know my first name. What is wrong with that? My surname is “Khan” or “Khan Yousufzai”, if that helps.

Actually I am not “non-English speaking”. I have grown up in an environment where I was speaking English at school and at home. So English has always been like my first language. And I am not proud of it personally, but it is an indicator of personal, social and economic development. Someone who can speak English well knows more than someone who can’t, everything else being equal. So if Pakistan is the 9th largest English speaking country in the world, it is an indicator that it is not a failed state (amongst other things). If you look at the African countries you have compared Pakistan with, you will find enormous differences between them and Pakistan.

Being a nuclear power is not a pathway to salvation. However, it does make others fear you or at least acknowledge your ability to inflict considerable damage upon them in a time of conflict. Again, that is perhaps not an attitude one would have against a “failed state”.

Although in yesterday’s match Dhoni scored big yet India lost but, he did not play selfishly he had enough time to score a century but he got out on 95 as he wanted to cross that psychological 200 mark. Anyways, in Pakistan we have Malik who plays for himself but, he is not Tendulkar. May be we can call him Onedulkar Malik?

firstly, wadda hell is ur real name? R U one of the pre-independence Nawabs who cannot bear to get sahab off their name? Grow up , Sahab !!

U say Pakistan
1) Is the world’s 9th largest English speaking country
2) Has the world’s 7th largest pool of scientists and engineers
3) Is the 7th nuclear power of the world
4) Has the 7th largest Armed Forces in the world

U R the only non English speaking person who is proud to be English speaking. Angrez chale gaye lekin Angrezi nahi chooti, LOL.

And U R the 7th Nuclear Power because of Chest thumping Neanderthal Generals & a meandering AQ Khan who will put Mata Hari to shame . U think this is the pathway to salvation , what a waste of a nation.

Patel was stupid , he should have gone beyond Kashmir.

is it me , or is it the first time you have accepted Tendulkar’s mastery??