Pakistan Squad for Zimbabwe tour announced

ODI Squad:

• Misbah-ul-Haq (c)
• Nasir Jamshed
• Ahmed Shehzad
• Mohammad Hafeez
• Asad Shafiq
• Umar Akmal (wk)
• Umar Amin
• Haris Sohail
• Shahid Afridi
• Saeed Ajmal
• Mohammad Irfan
• Junaid Khan
• Asad Ali
• Anwer Ali
• Abdur Rehman

Swinger Anwer Ali paves way to his international debut.

T20 Squad:

• Mohammad Hafeez (c)
• Nasir Jamshed
• Ahmed Shehzad
• Umar Amin
• Umar Akmal (wk)
• Sohaib Maqsood
• Shahid Afridi
• Saeed Ajmal
• Sohail Tanvir
• Mohammad Irfan
• Zulfiqar Babar
• Asad Ali
• Anwer Ali
• Haris Sohail

Sohaib Maqsood, emerging right hander replaces Hammad Azam.

Test Squad:

• Misbah-ul-Haq (c)
• Mohammad Hafeez
• Khurram Manzoor
• Imran Farhat
• Asad Shafiq
• Younis Khan
• Azhar Ali
• Faisal Iqbal
• Adnan Akmal (wk)
• Junaid Khan
• Wahab Riaz
• Ehsan Adil
• Rahat Ali
• Saeed Ajmal
• Abdur Rehman

Experienced Faisal Iqbal ready to anchor.

Dropped after scoring 77 in 2010, Khurram Manzoor comes back.

Stats check: Know the new boys in Pakistani team!

Finally PCB has announced T20 and ODI squads for West Indies tour. Overall, it’s not a worthy selection as many of them are same old and tested players but a few youngsters have managed to win the place. Let’s have a look at their stats.

Hammad Azam (All-rounder)

An emerging all-rounder who is equally good with bat and ball and has all potential to fill the void Abdur Razzak and Azhar Mehmood left long time back.

First Class matches: 36

Batting Average: 24.50                  
100: 1    50: 7

Wickets: 56

In last 10 domestic matches: 204 runs (Including 74*, 66), 8 wickets

Haris Sohail (Batsman)

Sialkot Stallions’ super hero, a talented left-handed middle-order striker and a match-winner – he can be the X-factor Pakistani team has been missing.

First Class matches: 53

Batting Average: 52.75                  
100: 11                  50: 22

Twenty20 Average: 72.83 in 14 matches

In last 10 domestic matches: 313 (Including 99, 62*, 56*, 34)

Asad Ali (Medium Pacer)

An emerging fast bowler with controlled line and length. In the warmup ODI for Champions Trophy, he grabbed 3 wickets against South Africa.

First class matches: 78

Wickets: 355      
5-wickets haul: 24 times

In last 8 domestic matches: 18 wickets

Zulfiqar Babar (Spinner)

A left-arm orthodox bowler, Zulfiqar. He said to be one of the most successful bowlers in domestic seasons.

First Class matches: 63

Wickets: 309                     
5-Wickets haul: 19 times

In last 10 domestic matches: 6 wickets

Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper)

The 21 year-old wicketkeeper is said to be a budding talent.

First class matches: 35

Catches: 116                      
Stumps: 6

Batting Average: 44.32

100: 3      50: 12

In last 10 domestic matches: 14 catches,  3 stumps

Squad for WI: What Gaindballa thinks..

Team selection for West Indies tour: Good to see Harris Sohail, Hammad Azam and Asad Ali given a chance in the team. Shahid Afridi and Ahmad Shahzad’s comeback may also strengthen the batting. Good decision to use Umar Akmal as wicket-keeper. Shoaib Malik, Imran Farhat and Kamran Akmal deserved to be dropped. Inclusion of Sohail Tanvir and Umar Amin is a disaster. ODI Captain Misbah-ul-Haq is still a turtle!

Pakistan announced squad for West Indies tour

ODI Squad:

Misbah-ul-Haq (c)
Nasir Jamshed
Ahmad Shahzad
Mohammad Hafeez
Asad Shafiq
Umar Akmal (Wk)
Shahid Afridi
Saeed Ajmal
Wahab Riaz
Junaid Khan
Mohammad Irfan
Umar Amin
Mohmmad Rizwan (Wk)
Abdur Rehman
Harris Sohail

T20 Squad 

Mohammad Hafeez (C)
Nasir Jamshed
Ahmad Shahzad
Harris Sohail
Umar Akmal (Wk)
Shahid Afridi
Saeed Ajmal
Sohail Tanvir
Wahab Riaz
Mohammad Irfan
Asad Ali
Umar Amin
Zulfiqar Babar
Junaid Khan
Hammad Azam

What a year Mohammad Hafeez!

Climbed up to #2 and scored half of his career runs in a year

The year 2011 for Pakistani Cricket, witnessed not only a number of great victories but a brilliant show from a few individuals as well. At the end of the year, Pakistan climbed up in the ODI Team Ranking as well as a few individuals rise-n-shine in the Player Rankings. One of the prominent chapters of Pakistani team in the year 2011 was the opening batsman and a handy off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez who has enjoyed a great calendar year overall. Soon as Pakistan crushed Bangladesh in the 3^rd ODI, Mohammad Hafeez ascended to #2 position from #8 in both Bowlers and All-rounders ranking.

31 years old Mohammad Hafeez has come a long way. He made his debut in 2003 when selectors trusted him after the team’s poor performance in WC 2003 and started off with a couple of failed innings until a fifty in 4^th ODI, although his bowling was never noticed as a full timer. He was dropped several times but slow and steadily, he occupied his place in team and proved 2011 to be his year.The year 2011 for Pakistani Cricket, witnessed not only a number of great victories but a brilliant show from a few individuals as well. At the end of the year, Pakistan climbed up in the ODI Team Ranking as well as a few individuals rise-n-shine in the Player Rankings. One of the prominent chapters of Pakistani team in the year 2011 was the opening batsman and a handy off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez who has enjoyed a great calendar year overall. Soon as Pakistan crushed Bangladesh in the 3^rd ODI, Mohammad Hafeez ascended to #2 position from #8 in both Bowlers and All-rounders ranking.

In 2011, his bat has fired 1075 runs including the spanking 3 hundreds and 5 fifties. His impressive batting show and versatile strokes not only brought victory to Pakistan many times but almost solved Pakistan’s prolonged opening problem too.

Known as a handy and economical off-breaker, he earned 32 wickets in 2011 and was also among the prominent bowlers of Pakistani bowling line-up in WC 2011. He earned his captain's confidence through great performance and now not only bowls as a full-timer, but also often leads the bowling attack by bowling the first over.

He is also a great athlete in field and has taken magnificent catches at times.

Hafeez’s magnificent performance throughout the year and improvement in ICC rankings has proved him as a promising and talented cricketer. We wish him best of luck!

We know you want a better quaff

We know you want a better quaff

“T20 performance should not be the selection criteria”, Test Cricketer Faisal Iqbal speaks

"Mohammad Hafeez is playing good cricket in current team"

"I'm always forced to play on 3rd position"

"Karachi is being ignored by selectors"

Interview by: Jibran T. Siddiqui

Pakistan is known to have produced great fast bowlers but on the other hand, the land has raised legendary batsmen too. The new comers are now expected to carry the legacy of Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Haneef Mohammad, Zaheer Abbas, Saeed Anwer, Shahid Afridi, Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf. For cricket followers, Faisal Iqbal is not an unfamiliar name. He is nephew of the great batsman Javed Miandad and claims to be targeted by Miandad’s opponents. Right-handed batsman, Faisal belongs to the ‘Cricketelly fertile’ land of Karachi which has produced excellent cricketers in all ages. He emerged with his Test debut in 2001 against New Zealand where his 42 and 52* was a highlight of the match. He has scored 1124 runs in 26 Tests. Despite a prolific and fair display in Domestic and First-class scene, his selection, form and performance in International cricket is still a question mark. We asked Faisal Iqbal to answer.

GB: Why are you still not a part of the national team?

Faisal Iqbal: Ask selectors. Consistent selection matters, I’m never selected on a regular-basis which affects my performance. I’m a middle-order batsman but they make me play on number 3 which is not genuinely my ideal position. They include me for one match as middleorder batsman and then in next match I’m the 12^th man. I think the management imposes 3^rd position on me so I could not perform and cement my place in the team.

GB: Which format are you comfortable playing in – Test, ODI or T20?

Faisal Iqbal: I can play in all the formats, just need the confidence to play as other players (including senior players) are given. I’m sure I’ll perform b

etter than others Inshallah.

GB: Who you think is the best batsman and bowler of all times?

Faisal Iqbal: Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Akram.

GB: Has T20 anyhow influenced cricket?

Faisal Iqbal: Yes, T20 has changed the game. It should remain as an entertainment but shouldn’t be the selection criteria for other formats. A player performing well in T20 should be considered for T20 only. For Test match selection, the 4-day first-class game should be the criteria.

GB: In the current team, who you think is playing good cricket?

Faisal Iqbal: I think that’s Mohammad Hafeez. He is consistently scoring runs.

GB: Is Karachi ignored when it comes to team selection?

Faisal Iqbal: Yes, and its nothing new, since 30 years. I cannot name anyone but there are lots of talented boys in Karachi who deserve team selection.

GB: What was the reason of the team’s defeat against India in the World Cup semi-final?

Faisal Iqbal: The main reason was the pressure that the players could not sustain in the semi.

GB: How much of your cricket is left?

Faisal Iqbal: I’m 29 right now and have whole career ahead. I’m experienced and more mature cricketer now. PCB has invested in grooming me and now it’s time to utilize me for the country.

GB: Are you hopeful?

Faisal Iqbal: Yes, I am. If treated fairly on merit, I hope to make a strong come back Inshallah.

GB: What are your expectations with the ongoing National T20 Cup?

Faisal Iqbal: Karachi Zebras is performing well. Lets see!