Asia Cup '08

[flamy]

Don't forget Kamran is not playing. That mean Indian batmen likely to be exposed, and won't be given chance again cause in India, poor wicket keeping of Kamran has broken the confident of Gul who would have taken the wickets of Ganguly, Gambhir and Tendulkar, Had Kamran caught em. Sadly, poor wicket keeping has cost the match. I am sure Sarfarz Ahmed will be brilliant in wicket keeping, if not batting. As soon as Asif returns, Gul along with Tanvir are likely to rock as usual. Abdur Rauf is another decent prospect i have seen. There are more fast bowlers to come especially from U 19. Pakistan bowling attack of future is not threatened at all, that's good sign

riiiiiite, the TAG attack. I'd heard great things abt the mythological AAg attack. Mythological, in every sense of the word. :cantstop:

[flamy]

A 30 year-old, uncapped off-spinner is better than a 27 year old, 50 test veteran leg-spinner? Danish Kaneria must be kicking himself.

He should just convert. Amen. :winky:

[flamy]

A rare tournament win and a rarer tournament at home means Pakistan go into their opening game of the ninth Asia Cup in what can, for once, be called buoyant mood. More... Asia Cup 2008 Uncertainty still surrounds buoyant Pakistan Osman Samiuddin in Karachi June 22, 2008 [... snip...] "We are professionals and the pressure in all games is high," Shoaib Malik, Pakistan's captain, told reporters. "Our morale is high after our win in Bangladesh and we will again be aiming to do our best here." [... snip...] Malik has the unconcern of a captain who has won more than he has lost recently. "That shouldn't affect us at all. We are professionals and we have to perform in hot or cold conditions. In Bangladesh recently it was hotter than this anyway so it doesn't matter."

:hatsoff: :cantstop::cantstop: :--D

[MalikBrother]

riiiiiite, the TAG attack. I'd heard great things abt the mythological AAg attack. Mythological, in every sense of the word. :cantstop:

India batmen still struggle decent attack without AAG attack. That means playing against AAG attack, will be wiped out. :--D . It's true AAG will remains mythological, but i am happy about that knowing that AAG will prove better. I hate Akhtar, and perhaps that's why i don't support AAG. With the likes of Tanvir, Gul, Asif, Rauf and there are more to come.... By the way, GTA sounds better than TAG. Pakistan is meant to produce traditional fast bowlers :--D P.S I was fast bowler too. Would have been hitting 90 MPH by now if i hadn't stopped playing cricket. :winky:

[MalikBrother]

A 30 year-old, uncapped off-spinner is better than a 27 year old, 50 test veteran leg-spinner? Danish Kaneria must be kicking himself.

I feel sad for this lad, but Mansoor, Rehman and Fawad are decent with their bat as well. Perhaps, that's reason for including them in squad. Kamran is the reason Danish confident went down most of times. I hear he is doing well in Country T20. :--D

[flamy]

India batmen still struggle decent attack without AAG attack. That means playing against AAG attack' date=' will be wiped out. :--D . It's true AAG will remains mythological, but i am happy about that knowing that AAG will prove better. I hate Akhtar, and perhaps that's why i don't support AAG. With the likes of Tanvir, Gul, Asif, Rauf and there are more to come.... By the way, GTA sounds better than TAG. [b']Pakistan is meant to produce traditional fast bowlers :--D P.S I was fast bowler too. Would have been hitting 90 MPH by now if i hadn't stopped playing cricket. :winky:

Sorry. No can do. The mine is empty. No more diamonds after Actor. :giggle:

[f.b.m]

Is it anyone else or is it just me who's stopped giving a damn about ODI cricket anymore? Sounds very depressing.

[MalikBrother]

Sorry. No can do. The mine is empty. No more diamonds after Actor. :giggle:

Had enough with diamond, but now, will produce OIL (better than Akhtar) :--D Pakistan will produce another fast bowlers no doubt. Just give it time. :--D

[MalikBrother]

Is it anyone else or is it just me who's stopped giving a damn about ODI cricket anymore? Sounds very depressing.

It indeed is. But prefer this format over T20 any day. :--D

[flamy]

Had enough with diamond, but now, will produce OIL (better than Akhtar) :--D Pakistan will produce another fast bowlers no doubt. Just give it time. :--D

Sure, produce your phhaaaaasht bowlers. They will be dispatched faast to the boundary. :two_thumbs_up:

[flamy]

It indeed is. But prefer this format over T20 any day. :--D

I prefer T20, IDI, Test any day. Add Galli too. :yay:

[MalikBrother]

Sure' date=' produce your phhaaaaasht bowlers. They will be dispatched faast to the boundary. :two_thumbs_up:[/quote'] Only if Indian batmen are brave enough to show courage.

I prefer T20' date=' IDI, Test any day. Add Galli too. :yay:[/quote'] Supporting T20 is the reason producing many dramas nowadays :nervous:

[Dirty_South]

Only if Indian batmen are brave enough to show courage.

True colors comin out...slowly...silently....

[MalikBrother]

True colors comin out...slowly...silently....

Would love to see. I wish BCCI hasn't forced ICC to restrict bouncers delivery and made it sound like one bouncer is only allowed per over :(

[printex]

Malik promises to play Asia Cup as allrounder Monday, June 23, 2008 By our correspondent KARACHI: Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik intends to fully return to his role as an allrounder in the Asia Cup. Under fire for failing to bowl much in recent times, Malik said he would also perform his duties as an off-spinner in the six-nation spectacle getting underway from tomorrow. His critics believe that Malik, who has had a serious elbow problem in the past, cannot earn a place in the team as a specialist batsman alone. They believe Malik should also bowl enough overs to justify his place in the playing lineup. But Malik has not been bowling sufficient overs in recent seasons, raising questions whether he has lost confidence in his bowling abilities. Malik, however, plans to answer those questions by putting up an allround show in the Asia Cup. “I will bowl (in the Asia Cup),” Malik told reporters when asked whether the inclusion of uncapped off-spinner Saeed Ajmal means he (Malik) does not plan to bowl in the tournament. “I will be playing as an allrounder,” he added. Malik indicated that in the absence of Kamran Akmal, who has been dropped from the Asia Cup, he might open with Salman Butt. But he was quick to add that the final decision over the batting order will be taken after a team meeting on Monday (today). Malik also announced that experienced allrounder Shahid Afridi was hundred percent fit and will be playing in the Asia Cup. Afridi left a training session the other day because of a painful wrist. Malik’s Pakistan will begin the tournament as hot favourites for the title after having beaten India in the final of a tri-series in Bangladesh earlier this month. They also have the home advantage. But Malik played down the home turf factor. “We will have a slight edge as we will be playing at home but I don’t believe it would be a big advantage because conditions are almost the same everywhere in the sub-continent,” he pointed out. Malik agreed that the expectations of the home fans are high following the tri-series triumph. “Yes, the people are expecting us to win (the title). That will pose some extra pressure but we are professionals and know how to handle it.” The Pakistan captain does not believe that the hot and humid conditions here would affect his team. “The conditions here are much better that what we experienced in Bangladesh,” he said. http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=119991

[Feed]

Asia Cup Preview : Battle of regional supremacy starts tomorrow While Bangladesh will take on an unfancied United Arab Emirates in Lahore, Pakistan will lock horns with Hong Kong in Karachi on the opening day. More... Battle of regional supremacy starts tomorrow Press Trust Of India Karachi, June 23, 2008 First Published: 12:19 IST(23/6/2008) Last Updated: 16:17 IST(23/6/2008) The battle for the Asia Cup resumes on Tuesday after a four-year hiatus with the best cricketers in the continent hoping to make their presence felt in a cricket tournament which has more to do with national pride than money. Bangladesh will take on unfancied United Arab Emirates in Lahore and hosts Pakistan will lock horns with Hong Kong in Karachi in the opening day. The six-nation tournament was last staged in Sri Lanka in 2004 and political problems between India and Pakistan have restricted the number of Asia Cup tournaments to just eight since its inception in 1983-84. On the sidelines of the tournament, Pakistan and India will also resume their traditional rivalry from the recent tri-series in Bangladesh where Pakistan clinched the title. The real battle would be between Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka while Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates would have the opportunity to learn a few tricks of the trade from the superior opponents. Bangladesh have always cut a sorry figure when they have rubbed shoulders with big teams barring a few exceptions, so they would be keen to shrug off that image and put up a spirited fight to create an upset. Having constantly faced questions from foreign teams over the wisdom of having international cricket events in the strife torn country, the Pakistan Cricket Board will also be keeping its fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly over the next two weeks. The PCB would also use the hosting of Asia Cup as a dress rehearsal for the Champions trophy, slated for September, to allay the security reservations of some teams. Led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India come to Pakistan after a gap of two and half years when they last toured in early 2006 for a Test series. Stung by the tri-series defeat in Bangladesh, India would be keen not only to take revenge but also assert themselves as the region's cricket powerhouse. After launching their campaign with a match against Hong Kong on Wednesday, the Indians take on arch-rivals Pakistan the following dau and no wonder the organisers have upped the prices of the tickets for this match. The tri-series win in Bangladesh makes Pakistan a confident side and with the home advantage, it would be tough for India and Sri Lanka to rein them easily. Sri Lanka, led by Mahela Jaywardene, have not played one-day cricket since losing series 0-2 against the West Indies in April. They would look to get back to winning ways. No wonder all teams have included specialist spinners in their line-ups with Pakistan opting for two tweakers in Saeed Ajmal and Mansoor Amjad and three spinning all-rounders in Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam and Shoaib Malik. India will definitely miss the services of their two most experienced bowlers in off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and pacer Sreesanth.

[Feed]

Pathan to miss Asia Cup opener Concern over Pathan's fitness India have a minor concern before their Asia Cup campaign takes off with reports that allrounder Irfan Pathan has picked up a knee injury after the Kitply Cup last week. "It is a minor injury and he might sit out for one-odd game," Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, told Cricinfo. . More... Asia Cup 2008 Concern over Pathan's fitness Cricinfo staff June 23, 2008 India have a minor concern before their Asia Cup campaign takes off with reports that allrounder Irfan Pathan has picked up a knee injury after the Kitply Cup last week. "It is a minor injury and he might sit out for one-odd game," Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, told Cricinfo. Pathan was set to visit the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai last Saturday to discuss his bowling with TA Sekar, the chief consultant. However, failed to turn up for the session. "He wanted to discuss certain aspects about his technique but later on, reported about some stiffness," Sekar said. It was also reported that Nitin Patel, the team physio, had noted that Pathan was 50% fit and will need rest to recover completely. India play their first game on June 25 against Hong Kong followed by the clash against Pakistan the next evening.

[gs]

I hope he sits out and his brother Yusuf does some additional bowling. Pathan bowled absolute tripe in the recent ODI series.

[flamy]

As much as I hate to admit it, I have to agree that Irfan's bowling has been crap ever since the two finals in CB. Hope he gets it sorted out soon, and I really think he should be opening the bowling with Praveen to maximize his bowling or come in 2nd change.

[msb1991]

It is a shame that he missed the appointment with Sekhar.