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