ICC Champions Trophy 2013 - England & Wales

[FabregasChelsea]

Many says ''Pakistan can not be beaten on Fridays''.

 

[Sami Kumar]

Well Misbah has lifted Pakistan.Now its up to The bowlers to Defend 170. Still anyone's game.

 

[Samuels]

170 is a good score to chase. We can do it quite easily if Gayle stays there for long but I would like to see other players stepping up and deliver. We can't rely on Gayle to win us every game. Someone like Darren Bravo or Samuels will need to play a mature innings to see us home.

 

[Ahmad94]

Many says ''Pakistan can not be beaten on Fridays''.

Well that is Bull****. What is so special on Friday?

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However on the positive side, I did stack a bit of money on West Indies. I though they would be good after winning the World Cup. Plus Pakistan are low on international games running up to this tournament.

 

[zeustrojanstark]

Gayle gone.Is there a twist now?But WI have scored well and Pakistan dont have much to defend.

 

[Ahmad94]

Sarwan gone too, I hope there is a twist in the tale. Not enough runs on the board might cost them.

 

[zeustrojanstark]

Sarwan gone too, I hope there is a twist in the tale. Not enough runs on the board might cost them.

Sarwan is like Akmal of Pakistan mate.Useless.

 

[vaibhavtewatia]

Sarwan is like Akmal of Pakistan mate.Useless.

Is he? He hasn't been performing for a couple of years now, true, but he isn't useless, probably he performed well to earn a shot back in the national team.

One of the 2/3 senior experienced members in the side, knows about the English conditions as good as anyone, and the ball which caught the edge of his bat was terrific.

One cannot simply ignore his contribution in the lowly Windies side (esp that time) friend. I'm really looking forward to see more of him in the tournament!

 

[Ahmad94]

Samuels has gone too, really hope Pakistan get a wicket or two now. And then is really in their hands. Bravo is in good form with the bat as well is Pollard.

 

[zeustrojanstark]

Is he? He hasn't been performing for a couple of years now, true, but he isn't useless, probably he performed well to earn a shot back in the national team.

One of the 2/3 senior experienced members in the side, knows about the English conditions as good as anyone, and the ball which caught the edge of his bat was terrific.

One cannot simply ignore his contribution in the lowly Windies side (esp that time) friend. I'm really looking forward to see more of him in the tournament!

I would have preferred Shiv Chanderpaul in his place anytime.

 

[Ahmad94]

Game is going out of Pakistan's hands. Bravo and Pollard playing really well. Am really impressed. WI have got this under control.

 

[cerande]

Pollard was playing with great maturity,he is gone now.

34 more runs to get,anything could happen.

 

[Ahmad94]

Pollard was playing with great maturity,he is gone now.

34 more runs to get,anything could happen.

Not enough runs left, plus Bravo is still there.

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Bravo is gone, but Narine just hit a four. The game is in Balance.

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Well played WI. I though Pakistan had this game, but you have been the better team tonight.

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So close, yet so far.

Fell around 15-20 runs short

 

[zeustrojanstark]

Very happy for the win West Indies.Congrats Bravo for your first win as ODI Captain in an international match.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Pakistan and India, are the more frustrating teams to support in the world. I come from India, and a lot is said about the rivalry with Pakistan but, I rather see them win, than any other country. I have a few issues with Pakistan cricket, which I hope some fellow Pakistani friends could answer.

1) Misbah-Ul-Haq : I feel, he's the right man to lead Pakistan. He has a calm about him, which is needed when you captain teams like India/Pakistan as our people and administrators can be rather fickle and tend to sway with the wind, more so with Pakistan. However, his tactics often absolutely amaze me. He's a good enough batsman, easily one of Pakistan's best and I feel a little too much is made about his S/R. But, like I said, his tactics are baffling and his field placements are often not just defensive, but more in the favor of the opposition. Just to site out an example : Pollard doesn't play the short stuff well. He put the seamers on, which was good, but he gave him a slip. Now, if your bowlers are bowling back of a length and peppering him with the short stuff, you need a short leg, not a slip. His field placements, are very unimaginative and very defensive, a lot like MS Dhoni in tests.

2) Kamran Akmal : I, for the life of me, cannot understand, how he still merits a place in the Pakistan team. He's been there for a good 6-7 years now and is yet to cement a place in the batting order. I don't think he's good enough to open, and his abilities as a finisher are far from proven. I'm all for giving a player a run and numerous chances, but six years is just a little too much. Most importantly, his keeping is just aweful. He almost dropped Pollard, which was straight forward, and after years of keeping to Ajmal, he still doesn't pick him. I've never seen him stay put to any of the doosra's that Ajmal bowls. As a result, he gets himself into absurd positions and tangles up catches and stumpings.

3) Mohommad Hafeez: He's someone, who would make the XI of any team around the world. But, he is NOT an opener. His technique is just not suited to the moving ball and with cricket evolving, it is of imperative importance to see off the new ball and keep wickets in tact. Hafeez, is much better off batting in the middle, when the new ball has lost it's shine and he can work the bowling around in the middle when the spinners/medium pacers are operating. He should have a direct swap with Shafiq, who I feel is one of the better young and emerging talents in Pakistan.

4) Shoaib Malik: I think, his time is up. He may win you the odd match in the sub continent on flat tracks, but that you get with Umar Akmal too and I can't imagine how pakistan manage to drop their best young batsmen. You need to give guy a run and the confidence of not being dropped as well as a settled position. It's one of the good things to have happened to Indian cricket with the advent of MS Dhoni and I hope, Misbah can do the same with Pakistan.

Lastly, it's a pity India and Pakistan got separated, at least in terms of cricket. You drop an Indian batsman and I assure you, there are three or four waiting in the wings who are ready to play at any level and at any format. The same can be said for Pakistan, when it comes to the bowling. Drop a quick, and you have another ready to clock 90mph and swing it. India lacks this with the ball, while Pakistan lack quality with the willow.