Pakistan test squad for South African tour

The 17 member test squad for the South African tour has been announced. The only real surprise being Shoaib Akhtar's exclusion. No other stand out selections. Salman Butt is still out, though he was included the 25 probables.

Keeping
Zulqarnain Haider has been included. If Akmal fails, perhaps Haider could get a game. Akmal was not impressive with the gloves this year, so I am definitely in favor of this move. .

From PCB.com.pk...

1. Imran Farhat
2. Mohammad Hafeez
3. Younis Khan (Vice Captain)
4. Mohammad Yousuf
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq (Captain)
6. Faisal Iqbal
7. Kamran Akmal (Wicketkeeper)
8. Danish Kaneria
9. Umar Gul
10. Mohammad Sami
11. Mohammad Asif
12. Shahid Nazir
13. Yasir Hameed
14. Asim Kamal
15. Naved-ul-Hasan
16. Shoaib Malik
17. Zulqarnain Haider (Wicketkeeper)

If Shoaib Akhtar would have been included, it would probably have been in Sami's place. All in all, I think its a great squad. The weak links are the openers, and the keeper. The number 6 spot will most probably go to Asmi Kamal or Faisal Iqbal, though depending on the pitch and the bowlers performance, Shoaib Malik might play in the 2nd test.

Pacemen
So which 3 bowlers would you play from Rana, Asif, Gul and Nazir? Interesting right? Gul and Asif are definitely going to play. The choice is between Nazir and Rana. To be honest, either one would work, though I would go for Nazir based on the past 12 months.

Openers
The selectors have decided to go for a bit of consistency with the opening slot. Farhat and Hafeez will most probably be opening again. Though I don't want Farhat to play. I'd like to see Yasir Hameed and Mohd. Hafeez open the batting.

Number 6
I would play Asim Kamal over Faisal in the first test. If our bowlers get 20 wickets, then I would stick with a batsman for that position. And if the bowlers need an extra hand (Hafeez can bowl too), I would probably select Shoaib Malik, though only if need be.

Not selecting Shoaib Akhtar is a mistake - though not too costly

The WADA appeal to reinstate the ban has been recently filed, and the dust is yet to settle on the doping scandal. The cricketing world isn't too happy with the let-off. I have made my opinion clear on this issue; both Shoaib and Asif shouldn't play till they are retested...

But since they are available for selection, and the ICC hasn't put its foot down, I feel the show much go on. I am as irritated as anyone, at the incompetence of the PCB in handling this case, but I realize that I need to look to the future now. The WADA appeal is ongoing and the ICC, rightly so, is not going to let this pass so easily. So instead of hating on the players, I will direct my frustration towards the PCB, who I feel made a mockery of the situation.

As far as the South African tour goes, not selecting Shoaib Akhtar is a bit of a folly. It's a bit strange that his fitness has been adjudged according to his performance in the domestic twenty20 tournament. I don't think playing well in 20 over cricket is an accurate measure of bowling form. Shoaib is a match-winner, he thrives in playing on the world stage. If he is going to get past this doping scandal, they might as well, bring him into action as early as possible. The bouncy, pacy South African wickets would be ideal for his style of bowling.

On the brighter side, the bowling is still pretty strong without him. Perhaps it will be advantageous for him to wait out the test matches and play the ODI's. After all, the next big tournament that Pakistan should be setting their eyes on is the World Cup.

Mushtaq back as 'Assistant Coach'

From TheNews.com.pk...

Less than three months after sacking him, Dr Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has reappointed Mushtaq Ahmed, the former Pakistan leg-spinner, as assistant coach for the tour to South Africa, set to begin from Tuesday (tomorrow).

Mushtaq had been removed from the post hours before the Pakistan team left for the Champions Trophy in October, one of Ashraf’s first moves upon taking over the chairmanship of the board.

At the time, he was deemed as “irrelevant staff” by Ashraf, though speculation centred around a combination of his close friendship with Inzamam-ul-Haq and his implication in Justice Qayyum’s report on match-fixing.

But at a press conference in Lahore, Ashraf said Mushtaq was capable of serving the team. “Mushtaq has impressed me a lot with his cricketing knowledge and I think he can be a better choice for the South African tour,” he said.

Mushtaq is expected to remain with the team through the whole tour, while Waqar Younis, the bowling coach, will return home after the Tests.

Nothing exceptionally newsworthy about this announcement except for the fact that it shows how disorganised and fickle the PCB really is. Mushtaq was fired from his position a few months ago, and now he's back again! What happened to him being hurt and angry? I don't know if the board has any real long term plans and strategies. It all seems a bit idiotic.

And what is the point of having a bowling coach for just the tests? According to reports, the PCB has made arrangements for Waqar to return after the test series is complete. What's the point? Are they getting cheaper airfares by having him take an earlier flight? The ODI format may be shorter, but I'm sure his presence can only help our squad. It can't possibly harm them can it? I doubt Waqar is not going to be too happy about this. Judging by how Pakistan usually operates, this is probably just a scheme to irk Waqar and remove him from the coaching staff. Naeem Ashraf, so far, is quite the instigator.

Personnel management at the PCB has always been atrocious. Cronies make their way to the top, and these guys pull up their nearest and dearest. It's about time that Pakistan had professionals in charge of their cricketing infrastructure rather than ex-cricketers, generals and Musharraf's poker buddies.