Pakistan recall Sami for India Tests

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Mohammad Sami has been recalled to Pakistan's 15-man Test squad against India following an impressive start to the domestic season, while Mohammad Asif's elbow injury has all but ruled him out of the Test series as well. More... Mohammad Sami has been recalled to Pakistan's 15-man Test squad against India following an impressive start to the domestic season, while Mohammad Asif's elbow injury has all but ruled him out of the Test series as well. Danish Kaneria and Faisal Iqbal will also be flying out to India, while Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam and Rao Iftikhar Anjum will head back following the conclusion of the ODI series. Sami was not included in Pakistan's last Test squad against South Africa, but has been impressive this season in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy for Karachi Whites. Coupled with Asif's unavailability, it makes him "the best option to partner Shoaib Akhtar," according to Salahuddin Ahmed, the chief selector. Sami played the last of his 30, largely unfulfilling Tests, in January against South Africa since when he drifted to the sidelines of Pakistan's Test attack. But he has picked up 21 wickets so far this season while captaining the Whites, and a career-best 8-39 last week that sealed his spot. "Sami is in outstanding form at the moment. We need to strengthen our pace attack and along with Shoaib and Umar Gul, he should form a potent attack," Salahuddin told Cricinfo. Kaneria, a certainty for the Test squad, has also been in good form in domestic cricket. Following a poor series against South Africa, he has picked up 27 wickets for Habib Bank, to be among the leading wicket-takers this season. Iqbal also retains his place in the side, having impressed selectors with his second innings 44 at Karachi, against South Africa. He didn't play in the following Test at Lahore, but that was only because the Pakistan board was eager to give Inzamam-ul-Haq a proper send-off. "Faisal has been playing well this season and he made runs for Pakistan A," said Salahuddin. "He only missed the second Test against South Africa because Inzamam was playing so it's only right that he remains the first choice for that position." Asif's absence will trouble Pakistan. He has been their lead strike bowler over the last 18 months, but a troublesome elbow has held back his progress in recent months. He is due to travel to Australia next week for another opinion on his injury, after two doctors offered conflicting advice: one suggested surgery, while the other said he needed proper rest and medication. Whatever is recommended by the specialists in Australia, it seems highly unlikely that Asif will recover in time for any of the Tests. The Tests begin in Delhi from November 22, while the last Test will be played in Bangalore, from December 8. Pakistan have already lost the ODI series. Squad: Shoaib Malik (capt), Younis Khan (vice-captain), Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal (wk), Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Sami, Abdur Rehman

[Mr. Wicket]

He's BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!

Mohammad Sami has been recalled to Pakistan's 15-man Test squad against India following an impressive start to the domestic season, while Mohammad Asif's elbow injury has all but ruled him out of the Test series as well. Danish Kaneria and Faisal Iqbal will also be flying out to India, while Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam and Rao Iftikhar Anjum will head back following the conclusion of the ODI series. Sami was not included in Pakistan's last Test squad against South Africa, but has been impressive this season in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy for Karachi Whites. Coupled with Asif's unavailability, it makes him "the best option to partner Shoaib Akhtar," according to Salahuddin Ahmed, the chief selector. Sami played the last of his 30, largely unfulfilling Tests, in January against South Africa since when he drifted to the sidelines of Pakistan's Test attack. But he has picked up 21 wickets so far this season while captaining the Whites, and a career-best 8-39 last week that sealed his spot. "Sami is in outstanding form at the moment. We need to strengthen our pace attack and along with Shoaib and Umar Gul, he should form a potent attack," Salahuddin told Cricinfo. Kaneria, a certainty for the Test squad, has also been in good form in domestic cricket. Following a poor series against South Africa, he has picked up 27 wickets for Habib Bank, to be among the leading wicket-takers this season. Iqbal also retains his place in the side, having impressed selectors with his second innings 44 at Karachi, against South Africa. He didn't play in the following Test at Lahore, but that was only because the Pakistan board was eager to give Inzamam-ul-Haq a proper send-off. "Faisal has been playing well this season and he made runs for Pakistan A," said Salahuddin. "He only missed the second Test against South Africa because Inzamam was playing so it's only right that he remains the first choice for that position." Asif's absence will trouble Pakistan. He has been their lead strike bowler over the last 18 months, but a troublesome elbow has held back his progress in recent months. He is due to travel to Australia next week for another opinion on his injury, after two doctors offered conflicting advice: one suggested surgery, while the other said he needed proper rest and medication. Whatever is recommended by the specialists in Australia, it seems highly unlikely that Asif will recover in time for any of the Tests. The Tests begin in Delhi from November 22, while the last Test will be played in Bangalore, from December 8. Pakistan have already lost the ODI series. Squad: Shoaib Malik (capt), Younis Khan (vice-captain), Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal (wk), Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Sami, Abdur Rehman © Cricinfo

Sami Sami Sami! Oi Oi Oi!

[King]

Eternal replacement "Sami" is back in the team. Look forward to the bowler that pretty much makes mockery of the good old book of coaching that says keep your head still in the run up by shaking his head from left to right through out the run up. Expect plenty of full tosses and wide balls.

[Gambit]

Afridi has been dropped. Yet another failure and thrashing at the hands of India that has caused the selectors to drop this brainless slogger. :hysterical:

[apocalypse]

Pakistan recall Sami for India Tests Pakistan have recalled paceman Mohammad Sami to partner Shoaib Akhtar in the three-Test series against India starting next week but omitted all-rounder Shahid Afridi, selectors announced. "Sami has been in good form and since fast bowling is our strength, we think Sami partnering Akhtar would strengthen Pakistan's attack in the Tests," chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed told AFP. The first Test opens in New Delhi on November 22. The other two Tests are scheduled for Calcutta from November 30 to December 4, and Bangalore from December 4-8. Batsman Faisal Iqbal and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria will join the 15-man Test squad. Afridi, all-rounder Fawad Alam, opener Imran Nazir and paceman Rao Iftikhar will return home after the ongoing one-day series. India clinched that series with a clinical six-wicket win at Gwalior on Thursday for an unassailable 3-1 lead, leaving the fifth and last match at Jaipur on Sunday inconsequential. The 26-year-old Sami played the last of his 30 Tests against South Africa at Cape Town earlier this year. He has taken 77 Test wickets -- a tally which many believe belies his huge potential. Sami took a career-best 8-39 for Karachi against Sialkot in the domestic tournament last week, which was instrumental in his recall. "We have followed Sami's progress in the season and hope that he plays his part in the series," Ahmed said of Sami, who was also part of Pakistan's team on their last tour of India in 2005. All-rounder Afridi, 27, was a surprise omission. He had opted to rest in Pakistan's last Test series against South Africa at home last month. Pakistan will miss another paceman, Mohammad Asif, who was not considered while recovering from an elbow injury. Asif is due to travel to Australia for an assessment of his injury later this week and hopes he can still play a part in the Test series. Test squad: Shoaib Malik (capt), Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanveer, Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria. No Afridi :finger: http://www.cricbuzz.com/component/latest_cricket_news/Story/2010/pakistan-recall-sami-for-india-tests/

[Dravid]

petition worked!! :two_thumbs_up::haha:

[coffee_rules]

Thanks to Kabira...

[Predator_05]

Picking Faisal Iqbal is a good move. I don't know why Pakistanis keep slaughtering him on their boards. He is an attacking batsman who can use his feet superbly against the spinners - playing him in the middle order would allow PAK to counter Harbhajan and Kumble.

[Anakin]

Great news :haha:

[Mandrake]

Afridi has been dropped. Yet another failure and thrashing at the hands of India that has caused the selectors to drop this brainless slogger. :hysterical:

Dropped? I thought he had taken semi retirement from test cricket....or wait did he reverse that decision?...Must be kicking himself now...jo thodi bahut izzat bachi thi wo bhi gayi...the Real Pathan:hysterical::hysterical:

[Guest dada_rocks]

Afridi must hate Irfan ... his career got sabotaged by real pathan's bowling yet again

[Ram]

Sami is one of the few bowlers whose last ball of the day will be as quick as the first one. I would always be wary of such characters. Cant believe we dont have Sehwag for a Pakistan series that has Akhtar, Sami in it..

[sm332]

agreed it is a travesty that Sehwag has been dropped from the test team for his poor ODI form .... only in India can such stupid decisions be made ... why we are swayed by the different formats is beyond me.

[ali0786]

As if things couldnt get any worse..enters Mohammad Sami!

[King Tendulkar]

Sami:hysterical: Is this an act of friendship from the paks? Will we return the favour and give a late recall for the bombay duck?

[DesiChap]

Time for Afretard to re announce his retirement from Test cricket

[Predator_05]

agreed it is a travesty that Sehwag has been dropped from the test team for his poor ODI form .... only in India can such stupid decisions be made ... why we are swayed by the different formats is beyond me.

His Test form was sh*t too. In his last season of Test cricket, he had two massive knocks - 254 vs PAK and that 180 vs WI, but in all the other matches he was barely making double figures. Here are his scores from the PAK series onwards; 254, 31, 5, 4, 2, 0, 11, 76*, 6, 0, 36, 41, 180, 31, 65, 0, 4, 4, 33, 0, 8, 40, 4. I am not a numbers man and if he was scoring runs in ODIs, i wouldn't mind seeing him play Test cricket (the confidence can carry over) but the problem is he isn't doing that either. Sehwag has been mediocre in every form of the game. His morale is obviously low and he needs to play some FC cricket to regain it. No point in picking him just because he scored runs against them 4 years ago, he was a different player back then.

[sm332]

numbers are only part of the picture ... and i dont think KKD will provide any of the spunk that a sehwag does .... i think this is a big mistake which will blow up in our face

[MundaPakistani]

Very surprised that they left Afridi out. He has a very good record against IND and was one of the main reasons for the win in Chennai and Bangalore. Afridi's record against India

[FONT=MONOSPACE,COURIER NEW,COURIER]filtered               8   709 156   47.26   3   3  14  3/13   33.07  0   2  0[/FONT]

[sm332]

yeah ... i mean Kaneria is going to be meat and drink ... no spinner does well against India (tests) .. period. Kaneria will deliver a 5-135 in one match or the other. But it wont be enough to do anything. In indian batting conditions, especially if a patta comes up somewhere Afridi may have been a useful player down the order.