Pakistan Test Squad Against South Africa

After beating their rivals on the ground, Its time now for Pakistan team to beat the number one test team in the world. South Africa is currently playing second test match against New-Zealand and will play against Pakistan in next month.
Pakistan Cricket board has announced the squad which will be leading by Misbah-ul-haq. Under his captaincy Pakistan had never lose a single test match.

Surprise Packages:

Akmal Brothers are axed:

This is some what a surprising to see after a long time not a single Akmal brother is included in the test squad. Adnan Akmal who has been a consistent keeper for Pakistan test team is not include. Sarfaraz Ahmed is chosen as a wicket keeper. Umar Akmal inclusion is not surprising in the test squad as he is not showing some great performances from his bat.

The Giant is selected for the test:

7'1" tall Muhammad Irfan who has shown a marvelous performance against India is selected in the test squad. Perhaps not pick so many wickets but was unplayable with the new ball. After the first ODI against India there was questions regarding his fitness in the depth over of the play. May be he was selected as he bowls extraordinary well with the new ball but his fitness could be the issue. He has to be chosen wisely for the team 11 in any of the test. And if selected he should take care of his fitness. More over after that there will be ODI's and T-20 matches. So his fitness will be the key. Other than that conditions of South Africa's pitches will support him greatly.

Nasir Jamshed's Inclusion:

Well he is a surprise in the sense that in the presence of Taufeeq Umar and Hafeez he is included. But his inclusion was actually because of his performance against India in ODI's. His performance was extra ordinary against India scoring two consecutive hundred. Probably the best batsman to face against South Africa from Pakistan at present considering his performance against India. He is also being compared with Saeed Anwar, very few times it happens when a Pakistani Batsman is being compared. But that all was against a bowling line up which is struggling greatly. He has to take care against bowlers like Philander, Steyn and Morkel. Also Kallis can create some problems with old ball. So all in all he will be facing against the best bowling attack in the world. Also if he is inducted may be we will see Hafeez playing down the order. And the biggest Problem for Pakistan in the test series will be their batting not the bowling. So he may be there to fix it.  

Pakistan team in this tour going with four fast bowlers and two spinners. And as the condition suggest they will be playing with 3+1 bowlers rather than 2+2 which they pursue in Dubai conditions. And they have got very proficient bowlers to attack South African batting line up. Also Muhammad Hafeez will be a great support to the bowling line-up. 

Pakistan team playing first test match after almost half a year. Besides, not playing since six months they are at spot 4 in ICC ranking of test. Still they need to play out of the skin to play and beat the best test cricket team in the world. 

Pakistan Test Squad Against South Africa:

Misbah-ul Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Nasir Jamshed, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Faisal Iqbal, Taufiq Umar, Mohammad Irfan, Sarfraz Ahmed(WK), Umar Gul, Junaid Khan, Ehsan Adil, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Haris Sohail.

Pakistan Win The Series With third ODI Left

Dhoni should be drop from captaincy.... What the hell Kholi is doing? Jadega is just a million dollar lost? And bla bla bla... But no one says that Pakistan team played better. Playing in Eden Garden in front of huge support of Indian crowd by two openers and creating a partnership of 141, don't you think that's an extra ordinary effort from Pakistani openers. Muhammad Hafeez, well he is turning out to be a great asset in all formats for Pakistan. He is performing in T-20's, ODI's as well in test matches. He is really keeping himself on the top of the performing chart. Another fine knock of Nasir Jamshed, he is turning out to be a lethal weapon against India. He has scored three consecutive centuries in the last three meetings of Pakistan against India in ODI's. Both of them provide a solid start but as the wicket of Hafeez fall Pakistan team unable to go with the run-rate of six and they in the end manage to score of 250. Younus Khan was given out which was big blunder by umpire-VA Kulkarni. Indian team looks pretty solid on paper but Pakistani bowlers were on fire as they have put India for 102/6 in the first ODI and this time they did the same they create such a phenomenal pressure that they were once again 103/6. And the total of 250 was looking 350 for them. Dhoni who wants some one to come out and support him but he was loosing partners. Raina tried to give him some support but he was unable to do that and was stumped thanks to Kamran Akmal. Indian team all out if 165. Ishant Sharma should be given credit as he tries his level best to defend yorkers. Dhoni once again un-castled in the series up till now.
A question is raised in Indian media that if he(Dhoni) has such a great average than why he plays at 7. He should come at 3 or 4. But another question arise is what is India's best batsman Virat is doing at 3. He has scored more than thousand runs last year. He should take the charge. Some one says that it was because that the matches India has played in last year were in the friendly condition and that's why he scored. But still the way he has played in Australia against Srilanka was superb. Also against Pakistan in Asia Cup in which Jamshed scored a ton and his ton was in vain. Indian is running short in the bowling line-up that's for sure but in Eden garden it was a fine effort by the bowlers so this time there batsman should perform but unfortunately for India that doesn't happen. For Misbah and his team it will be a great booster before they will play against South Africa in their home. But one more thing they should keep in mind is Indian team is in their worst time period. There top quality bowlers are injured like ZAK, Irfan Pathan, RP Singh, Praveen Kumar.... and so on. So the bowling line up was very easy as it was only Ishant who was bowling Pakistan second time. Dinda and B. Kumar were new against Pakistan. Also Indians have lost Tendulkar from their batting line-up, although he was also not in his best form but he will always be a pressure for Pakistan team. So Indian team looks pretty an ordinary team. On the other hand Pakistan they were playing with a set and gelled team. Younus Khan's experience was really helpful for all the Pakistan players as he has played one of the brilliant innings of his career in India. But when it comes to South Africa it will not be as easy as they have to beat world's best team also the way their bowlers are thrashing New-Zealand team it will not be as easy for Pakistan team to play against them in their home condition as of Indian condition. 

Still third ODI left between the two rivals and the series will be end. PCB and BCCI is planning to have a series like Ashes in future under the name of Gandhi-Jinnah Cup (The leaders of both the nation) in alternate years. Let see how they will come out with such a plan as they have a very long event like IPL going every year. Mean while Pakistan leading the series 2-0 with third ODI left. 
Congratulations to Pakistan they have won their first match of this year. Also they won the first and last match of the previous year.