Pakistan tour of Zimbabwe 2013

[CremerCurrans]

Maruma. He is more or less a bowler who can bat a bit, isn't he? Apart from his surprise pick in the match against Pakistan, he did not get to bowl even when Williams and Waller did a little of their part time spin.

He's a batsmen now. He's been bowling less and less, which is a real shame because he still usually gets wickets when he bowls in domestic matches. He was one of our best spin bowlers when he first debuted for Zimbabwe, but has granularly turned into a batsman. He scores most of his runs in the Logan Cup, and struggles in the Pro50 & T20 competition. A really strange decision to be playing him in T20 International matches and one day internationals. Deserves another chance in the middle order during the test matches against Pakistan. He had to open in his first test match, which I don't think he's ever done. Really hope he takes his bowling seriously again, could make him a real asset to the team.

 

[Samuels]

I see. It is only for the good of himself if he starts bowling again. By doing so, he can gel into the ODI side as a bowling allrounder and in the test side as a batsman who can bowl much. There is not much chance for him in T20Is with Utseya around.

 

[Pakistani Army]

Exactly. Misbah is doing what Rahul Dravid did for India in the early 2000s - to draft the innings. He is Pakistan's only batsman who looks calm and in a mood to bat for long hours at the crease. If you have him out, I doubt Pakistan will score even 200 on a regular basis in ODIs. Run rate would not be a problem of course but that does not count when your team gets bundled out for sub 200 total.

Spot on! Unfortunately, the majority of the Pakistani fanbase don't see and think of it this way.

 

[Excommunicado]

Century in style for Mohammad Hafeez, playing at a tremendous strike rate of 90.00+. What a century, also a good game by Umar Amin. He get's run out twice in two games, ugh is he fit?

 

[Samuels]

Impressive batting by Hafeez and great acceleration in the latter half of the innings from Pakistan. Afridi made the most of the opportunity to bat against Zimbabwean bowlers but he will have to do that regularly against the teams with better bowling attacks to prove his worth as an allrounder.

Spot on! Unfortunately, the majority of the Pakistani fanbase don't see and think of it this way.

I know. Myself and Gone4Duck tried to explain the same thing to Pakistani fans on the site during the Pakistan vs West Indies series but to no avail. Pakistan should take a leaf out of West Indies actually. WI has too many hitters around but still is not the most consistent batting unit but good thing about WI team is no matter what, they keep playing Darren Bravo who plays the anchor role in the team which is what Misbah does to the Pakistan team but for some reason most Pakistani fans do not understand he is the fulcrum of Pakistan's batting. You cannot expect a Hafeez to play a knock like he played today in every other game.

 

[Umair7]

9 runs and 6 wickets :/ Zimbabwe lost the match Taylor and Waller played well so as Williams but the others didn't helped them

 

[cricket_icon]

Agreed with everyone saying Misbah is the lynch pin of this team. His batting is crucial, in the vast majority of matches where he performs, Pakistan get a 200+ score, when he does not, rarely do thy set up anything competitive. It's the same when chasing a score, he seems to be the only one who remembers how to chase a target lol This is a team once famed for their great chases (remembering the awesome ODI teams of the 90s).

In terms of this series, I've only seen highlights but Amin looks to be coming along nicely but the bowling has been a bit inconsistent, which is a rarity for Pakistan. Maybe they should rest Irfan and I don't see why Ajmal is on this tour, he should have been rested, he's had a hectic schedule. I currently like England's rotation policy in non-marquee series', having said that that do have a deeper squad.

 

[Umair7]

So once again the financial problem for Zimbabwe Cricket Continues, give us the money by tonight or we wont play

 

[Sulaiman7]

So once again the financial problem for Zimbabwe Cricket Continues, give us the money by tonight or we wont play

The 3rd ODI is in trouble....

 

[Samuels]

This is very very bad. ZC cannot help it due to shortage of funds and one cannot blame the players too.

Here is the full article.

 

[CremerCurrans]

Looks like the domestic competition is under threat again.

The players just need to stay united. I have no problem with the remaining matches being boycotted, and the Sri Lanka series lost if some scrutiny finally comes on Zimbabwe Cricket. There has been mismanagement of money for ages now. The people in charge are so over-paid, they drive around in expensive cars, and don't care about anyone else; just obsessed with keeping control. :/

 

[Samuels]

The same article now says that the last ODI is likely despite the dispute.

 

[Samuels]

Its official: we will have a match. The ugly bit is delayed for the good.

 

[Umair7]

Misbah saved Pakistan once again but they would still call him TUK TUK

 

[Excommunicado]

Why Misbah stands as the captain. He will break the record of the oldest international player One day. He won't stop and Moin and Whatmore will always support him. ugh. MISBAH!!