Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI, Lahore, Jan 24

Series tied at 1-1

The infighting in the PAK camp has already started, SL have the momentum and are going to a place where they won the world cup in 1996

What a debacular match that was.

Pak is great at defying the odds and will bolt in

"Pak is great at defying the odds"

I was unaware of that.

Still, I'd back them to win this.

http://www.news.zeecric.com/fullstory.aspx?nid=16934

Pakistan all set to axe under-performing Shoaib Akhtar
Karachi, Jan 22: Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is all set to be dropped from the Pakistan squad after he flopped miserably in the first two One-dayers of the ongoing One-day series against Sri Lanka.

A source in the Pakistan camp said that the team management has decided to replace Shoaib with another bowler in the playing line-up for the series finale to be played in Lahore Jan 24. He is also unlikely to be considered for a two-Test series against Sri Lanka lined up for next month.

According to the source, the team management will decide whether to induct young pacer Sohail Khan or spinner Saeed Ajmal in the playing eleven after taking a look at the Gaddafi Stadium wicket in Lahore.

Shoaib, 33, failed to impress on his ODI comeback, finishing wicket less in the first match and then taking 1-45 in six overs. He appeared to be far from fit and his lack of form had raised questions over his selection in the Pakistan squad.

The pacer`s performance drew flak from Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik who accused him of showing lack of commitment on the field.

"If you look at his performances and record and matches he has won, there is no question over his effectiveness," he said. "But the question is over 100 percent fitness. Cricket has changed and if you aren`t 100 percent fit then it is difficult.”
"Everyone can see what is out there. The ability to bowl ten overs is there but the commitment in fielding that I want wasn`t there."

Shoaib, who has taken 178 Test wickets from 46 matches besides picking up 220 victims from 140 One-day Internationals, was selected in the elite A-category of the central contracts by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The team management was confident that he would return to form against Sri Lanka after giving a good showing in domestic matches in recent weeks. But now his future in the Pakistan team looks bleak.

Former Pakistan Test cricketers on Thursday came out with various suggestions for the Rawalpindi Express.

Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas said that Shoaib should know himself whether he has any future in international cricket.

"Shoaib knows better what his body is going through," said Zaheer, who was recently selected at the second place in the all-time ODI batsmen`s list issued by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"It`s true that he is slow on the field, everybody can see that. Shoaib will have to sit down and decide whether he wants to carry on. If he does, then he should get fit," he said.

Former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis advised Shoaib to give up his Test career to concentrate on One-dayers.

"Because of his fitness level it will be difficult for him to sustain pressure in a five-day match," Waqar said in an interview.

"Till a couple of years back he was really `fast and furious`. He has become a bit slimmer and wants to play at international level but my advice to him is to play only one-day cricket and take a break from Test cricket," opined Waqar.

No Oscar for that Akhtar.

So, you'd think that Shoaib's international career is over, but you never know with Pakistan. They'll probably roll him out in a wheelchair for the 2015 world cup.

Henry wrote:So, you'd think that Shoaib's international career is over, but you never know with Pakistan. They'll probably roll him out in a wheelchair for the 2015 world cup.

people thought his career was over in
1996(discipline issues )
1997( Zahid seemed like a better bowler and A Razzaq added extra with the bat so no room for Shoaib)
in 1999/00(chucking controversy)
then in summer of 2000(prolonged injury)
then in 2001(long injury)
then in 2004(inzi's false accusation)
then in 2004/05(another inzi accusation)
then in 2006(doping)
mid 2007(offered the most amount of money by ICL)
then in 2007(bat)
then in 2008(DNA ban/more ICL offers)


and now in 2009....

he will probably manage to get the last game and finish with 4 or 5 wickets....

He's 33 now, and the pace is starting to go. Even fully fit and focussed, he'll never get back to his blistering best.

Imo his best ever period was against England in late 2005. Kept running in and really looked world class for the entire 3 test series.

Henry wrote:He's 33 now, and the pace is starting to go. Even fully fit and focussed, he'll never get back to his blistering best.

Imo his best ever period was against England in late 2005. Kept running in and really looked world class for the entire 3 test series.

He was far better in 2002 and 2003. On some of the flattest pitches he picked numerous 4,5 and 6 wicket hauls all over the world.

Apart from Shoaib, who is the fastest bowler in Pakistan at the moment, PP?

Henry wrote:Apart from Shoaib, who is the fastest bowler in Pakistan at the moment, PP?

Its quite sad because compare to the likes of Shoaib,zahid and Waqar the upcomign pacers are VERY slow
There is no one who regularly bowls at 150+ in fact the top speeds are under 150 as well but M Talha has the potential to get there if he fixes his run up.

But but but ,,,,,, glorious and adrenaline-surging as sheer pace may be, I'm not sure sheer pace is the thing.

If you haven't got the accuracy to go with the speed (> Wasim, Waqar, etc..), surely you might as well try to follow in Pidge's footprints, and destroy them through the corridor of uncertainty?

PeterCS wrote:But but but ,,,,,, glorious and adrenaline-surging as sheer pace may be, I'm not sure sheer pace is the thing.

If you haven't got the accuracy to go with the speed (> Wasim, Waqar, etc..), surely you might as well try to follow in Pidge's footprints, and destroy them through the corridor of uncertainty?

Asif is an excellent "corridor" bowler
Gul is a bit of both

...now PAK need an all out fast bowler like Shoaib who is not just fast but can also swing the ball

will asif ever play for pakistan again? what a wasted talent. i seriously thought he would be the world's best when i saw him in 2006

Akhtar positive despite Malik questioning his commitment

Shahid Hashmi
Thursday, January 22, 2009 805 PM

Karachi: Struggling Pakistani paceman Shoaib Akhtar is positive that he will stage a strong comeback despite captain Shoaib Malik questioning his fitness and commitment, following Pakistanâ€s defeat to Sri Lanka, on Wednesday.

Sources close to the paceman said Akhtar was not at all negative about Malik's remarks. "He (Akhtar) took the criticism and questions on his fitness as positive and rather being negative, will take his axing from the final match (on Saturday in Lahore) in the right way," said sources close to Akhtar.

Malik said although Akhtar had the ability to bowl ten overs he could not bowl consistently with the same speed and his commitment in the field was not hundred percent.

"Although the question on his commitment did not go down well with him he has nothing to say as his performance left a lot to be desired. If he is not included in the team he will take that as a challenge as he has taken before," the source added.

"It was Akhtar himself who went to the management after the second ODI against the West Indies in November, himself saying that he should not be included as he did not want the winning combination to be disturbed."

"Akhtar is ready to play first class games and if selected in the three-day match, so to get his place back for the two match Test series in February," said the source.

Link: http://www.cricketnirvana.com/news/...090122-462.html

The One wrote:will asif ever play for pakistan again? what a wasted talent. i seriously thought he would be the world's best when i saw him in 2006

he certainly has wasted a lot of talent and time...

hasn't played a serious match since 2007 and hope he stays out for at least another year.

Shoaib Akhtar though back in the fold of central contract, but failed to impress in the field. Â ******
Pakistani pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar is unlikely to be in the final eleven against Sri Lanka on Saturday, highly placed sources close to the team management said. According to the team sources, his place in the final eleven for the Lahore ODI will be taken by 25-year-old Sohail Khan.

In fact, the decision to skip the final ODI has been taken by 34-year-old Shoaib Akhtar himself, who is struggling with the form and fitness. And this has made the task easy for Captain Shoaib Malik and Coach Intikhab Alam of choosing the final eleven.

Shoaib Aktar who bowled six fruitless and expensive overs during the second ODI against Sri Lanka, and was struggling in the field even in the first ODI in Karachi delivered seven pricey overs too.

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik during the post match conference accused fast bowler for poor fielding and questioned regarding his fitness, subsequently after the side's 129-run loss to Sri Lanka in their second one-day international and expressed his cautions over Akhtar's future inclusion in the squad.

"Shoaib Akhtar is not keen to play the last ODI and this was conveyed by him to the assistant coach Aaqib Javed", the source said. "The coach conveyed Shoaib's unwillingness to play the 3rd ODI in the selection committee meeting which was held yesterday after the match", the source further added.

"Shoaib Akhtar showed some good form in the domestic matches but still lacks fitness and was unable to bowl at his full strength in both the matches".

It is also to be noted that the final eleven for the home series is now being chosen by the team management and the selectors have no say in this. Till now the rights were with the selectors but the new PCB chairman Ejaz Butt has given wider powers to the captain (and coach).

The selectors have retained the same 15 for the Lahore match. Sohail Khan was a member of the team but did not figure in the final eleven in first two ODI'.

watch out for K Sangakarra in this game, he looked in fine form in the last ODI

SL 5/309
Pak 6/23


What's going on????????????????

Bwahahahahahahahahaha. And Chuck and Mendis haven't bowled yet.

Pretty poor stuff from Pak.

We are a shambles, we only have two international class players (YK, Gul), unless it's a flat deck this batting lineup won't score many runs.

Pak recovering ... 6-50.