If you watched Indian batsmen battle against South African fast bowlers - you will know that even the Pakistani's were watch that series and now when it's their turn - they are doing much much better than what arch-rivals did some 10 days ago..
Pakistan have Imaran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez and Yasir coming at no.1, 2 and 3. And all these three young batsmen have shown much better technique to counter genuine fast bowling. South African commentators (the people you hear if you are watching this Pak v SA series on ESPN) are regularly discussing about complusive hookers Pakistan's batsmen are. 3 of them got out in the first innings, and looked like short pitch bowling will bring a ... .. Read complete article
48 for 1, and then 50 for 2 - Imran Farhat and Mohammad Hafeez showed good skills to start Pakistan vs South Africa Castle test series 2007 but then allowed Ntini to strike back..
Then another partnership of 133 between Yasir Hameed and Younis Khan - Pakistan 180 for 2 in 60 overs at Lunch and looking good for plenty more. The pitch wasn't offering too much to Sout African bowlers and they looked tired as Younis and Yasir started to hit boundaries..
On a flat Centurian deck, the need of the hour was to bowl maiden and work hard. South African bowlers were in same sitoation a week before India and thus - lacked the fire-power. And ... .. Read complete article
Forget what happened to the test series. West Indies were on a high in one day cricket and they must have backed themselves to win this December 5 ODI series in Pakistan.
1st ODI was washed out and West Indies got bowled out off the second last ball of this 2nd ODI at Faisalabad. They made 151.
And never looked in the hunt when the bowling started underlight. Mohammad Hafeez got out at 1, Farhat at 40, KamranAkmal at 50 and then Younis Khan at 80.
It took 11 matches and 19 innings for sir Vivian Richards to make 1710 runs in one calender year. Way back in 1976.
30 years later, Mohammad Yousuf - who says change in relegion is the reason behind his great test match form in 2006, has come within 148 runs to breaking the record for most test match runs in one year.
It started with first test against India at Lahore from 13th January when Yousuf made 179 and then 65 and 126 in the 2nd test against indiat at Faisalabad.
Although Mohammad Yousuf was the batsmen Irfan Pathan bowled to take second hat-trick for India, he came back in the 2nd innings of that Karachi ... .. Read complete article
After being asked to Captain West Indies team, Brain Lara led victory on India in ODI series, beat Australia and India in Malaysia and then went on to beat the same two team and South Africa in the Champions trophy.
They knew within themselves that a test series victory in Pakistan will put them right at the nose of best International cricket teams. Sadly, this didn't happen. After losing the 1st test match at Lahore, West Indies needed a victory at Multan but they only got a draw.
The pitch was as flat as it can be and West Indian young fast bowlers failed to find an answer to record breaking Mohammad Yousuf. They did well to ... .. Read complete article
How much does the verdict of commentator's on "how the pitch will play" matters to you.
To me, it matters quite a bit. Thus I have to say that commentators - RamizRaja and company failed to evaluate Lahore pitch for 1st test between Pakistan and West Indies.
They had predicted the Lahore pitch was rough and will break as the match progressed. In simple words - they saw it as "tailor made" for Danish Kaneria as Pakistan had lost their two main seamers.
The pitch turned out to be typical flat Pakistani wicket which got slower and slower. West Indies ... .. Read complete article
West Indies have won just 2 test matches out of last 14 they have played. Pakistan has lost Shoaib and Asif.
How Inzamam marshalls his young bowlers to bowl out Chris Gayle, or Brain Charls will find glory in his last visit as captain to the soil where he made his debut 16 years ago...??
I hope some of my following articles will help you enjoy this very close battle, a little more.
There has been three 2 test matches series', seven 3 test matches series', one 4 test match series and two 5 test series between Pakistan and West Indies over a period of 51 years..
But as I tell you about the records made between these two very distinct teams, one series will be common - and that's the first one ever played in 1957.
6 series have been played in Pakistan, 6 in West Indies and one in UAE (sharjah as you may know it). and the scoreline reads - 13 wins for Pakistan, 14 wins for West Indies in 41 test matches with 14 draws.
West Indies are at a high that they haven't been for over 2 decades, whereas Pakistan is their usual "controversial self" as West Indies land on Pakistani soil after almost 9 years.
This time, West Indies has 3 test matches and then 5 ODI's in their schedule and according to their captain Brain Lara - ""I think there is no reason to hide the fact that their absence (of Akhtar and Asif) would definitely give us the advantage,".
Well to me, this Pakistan vs West Indies series is going to be very competitive because a lot of reasons, but it's speciality will be watching Pakistan pull out another ... .. Read complete article
West Indies refused to tour Pakistan at a time when 9/11 happened. Thus that 2001 West Indies tour of Pakistan was played at a neutral ground - Sharjah. Which means that West Indies will be playing this 2006 tour on Pakistani soil after a gap of 9 years.
West Indies last played in Pakistan in November - December 1997.
The Schedule or time table or caribbean team in Pakistan this time is as following :
