Although i did not follow much of the ODI Series much but i am looking forward to this T-20 and in the wake of the on-going groupism and politics within the team it would be interesting to see if Afridi can drop Malik n Misbah for once and all.

I do not understand for what reason Misbah blindly follows Malik maybe there is a khandani dosti if this is what he had to do then what is the use of him being the most qualified Pakistani Cricketer as of now with an MBA degree?
Somehow still i am unsure about Misbah’s role in all this Dil hai ki Manta ta nahi.. but as far as Malik is concerned i never really liked him since the beginning i think he should consider himself lucky to reach so far as he has done in his career and since it’s still not late there is still time for him to leave aside petty politics and just concentrate on his batting and bowling. As a senior player he should be looking to consolidating the No.3 or 4 position in the Test Team by correcting his flaws and perfecting his techniques I am sure he also would know that only in this way people will remember him once his career is over and not by forming groups and play selfishly. He should remember that a Cricketer’s playing career is a very short one and one has his whole life after Cricket and whatever reputation you build- up in your playing career you take it with you to your grave so there is still time …MALAK Sambhaljha!!

Yes, T20 is always very exciting and Pakistan is a good T20 side, but not in the initial stages and this is just a one off game, so nothing can be said unless there is a T20 series like five ODI matches, there must be 5 T20 matches too and then one can predict that Pakistan’s chances of winning are more. Here its just like a toss, 50-50 chance.

Anyways, about your point on Malik and Misbah, it is good to see that it is obvious to so many people now that they both conspire and lose matches deliberately. Yes, there is a chance that in the middle order they can slow down the game or get out cheaply, its more likely they slow down the game. Because, there is depth in the batting and their plan could backfire, hence by getting out cheaply they will not be helping much to their own cause. But, by slowing down the run rate they can give the opposition a chance to score or to win.

Nasir Jamshed has not impressed me because of his irrationality and lack of consistency. Yet, its not a bad suggestion from you to include him in the team especially, if Malik has something up his sleeve to dent Afridi’s captaincy career starting with a defeat in his first international match as a captain. And, I don’t doubt Malik’s intention hence the caption of this thread REVENGE AS MOTIVE FOR SUCCESS is especially for him, i.e., keeping in view of his past record and his sinister actions.

1. Imran Nazir
2. Kamran Akmal†
3. Shahid Afridi*
4. Umer Akmal
5. Fawad Alam
6. Shoaib Malik
7. Misbah ul Haq
8. Abdul Razzaq
9. Rana Naveed
10. Mohammad Aamer
11. Saeed Ajmal

I have assumed that Younus Khan will not play because he has announced his retirement from T20 by saying, he is too old for this format and Shahid Afridi has been appointed as Captain of the T20 team. Therefore, there is no point in Younus Khan playing only as a player.

Mohammad Yousuf was never considered for T20 and even in this ODI series he failed to score, so with all due respect to Maulana, he is not in the team.

Since there is no other replacement (Nasir Jamshed is not worth considering) for Malik and Misbah, they will play for sure.

The only way they can axe Fawad Alam is by replacing him with Rao Iftikhar. And, they might do that.

That will be a big injustice if they exclude Fawad Alam and include Rao Iftikhar, since Shahid Afridi will captain the first ever T20 game, he will be under pressure and I dunno how much he would be able to oppose Anti Alam and Yawar Sweety’s resistance and keep Fawad Alam in the team.

Without Rao ifti, there are 3 fast bowlers, Aamir, Rana and Razzaq. Two regular spinners Afridi and Ajmal plus the option of Malik and Fawad Alam. So, there is no need for Rao. But, they will try to justify his inclusion after he took 5 wickets in the previous ODI.

If that is the team, the batting line up would be till number 9. Actually to have a batting line up till number 9 is not a justifiable proposition in T20, because of the fewer number of overs. If the top and middle order collapse, the tail seldom performs. It is OK to have such depth in batting in ODI and test but, not in T20. Yet, I would like to keep that team in that batting order.

Younis eyes Champions Trophy

LAHORE: The disastrous tour of Sri Lanka and rumours of discord in the team notwithstanding, Pakistan captain Younis Khan is confident that his mercurial side will either win the Champions Trophy next month or the 2011 World Cup.

http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=192471

It’s always a good reaching a ‘century’, you know

they both got what they deserved and that man should not have even bothered to ask them for autograph. I would rather kick their ass if they come to me to talk.

Today I was reading a comment made a passionate fan. He said when he visited the entire Pakistan team in the UK in 2006, everyone was nice to him except Asaf and Akhtar.

He was heartbroken because he loves fast bowlers and he was keenest to meet this duo of Asif and Akhtar. He said that he asked Akhtar 3 times for an autograph but Akhtar kept looking away and then walked away from him. He said Akhtar was very arrogant and acting like a bigshot.

When he approached Mohammad Asif, Asif pushed him away and at that time Asif was busy talking to a woman who was standing with him.

This fan made a complaint to the team manager following this incident.

Iqbal Qasim is famous for chewing the cud or, eating beetle leaves (Paan leaves) he used to keep his cheek full while bowling. And I think he must have had an over dose of Baba Zarda or, Manik Chand or, paan parag whatever! How can he blab out such an irresponsible words in front of the media?

Shoaib Akhtar by no means can play international cricket, in fact even during the domestic matches, the youngsters play against him with so much ease and hit him for sixes and fours. Including him in the Champions Trophy Team would be killing the future of a young fast bowler. Shoaib Akhtar must be ashamed of himself for ONCE and retire. He must retire before someone actually grab him, shave his hair, paint his face black and force him sit on a donkey and send him on the street with a few kids behind him.

When I saw the World Cup in South Africa when Sehwag and Tendulkar were hitting him for sixes and fours, I told my friends that his career is over by now. But, some how for name sake the idiot selectors kept bringing him back into the team. Against Sri Lanka in Karachi Shaoib Akhtar gave 43 runs in 3 overs only Sohail Tanvir is behind him with 41 runs in 3 overs.

IQBAL QASIM get out of your PANWARI WORLD and get into your senses and stop blabbing. If you can’t then step down and let someone else who is more sensible, competent and capable handle the job. Salahuddin was not a bad guy, in fact he was the best so far, get him in your place. But, don’t say again that Shoaib can come back, you better SHUT UP.