Pakistan Test Cricket

Here we are yet again. Another test match and another tough Pakistan loss. The day started with much optimism. Pakistan needed 252 to win on the final day (in no way an easy task) and had 7 wickets in hand. I didn't make it home until the 6th bowl of the first over and by that time this match was already over.

What is it about batting 4th that just scares this team? Pakistan hasn't won a match batting in the 4th inning since January 2007. If you look for matches where Pakistan had to chase over 200 in the 4th inning that streak runs over 6 years. Yes, I understand that Pakistan hasn't played much Test cricket in that time frame but that stretch is still way too long.

As is always the case with Pakistan cricket the team selection continues to be mind boggling at best. How is it that Faisal Iqbal keeps finding a spot in the team when far more talented players like Asim Kamal, Yasir Hameed and Taufeeq Umar haven't been able to find a spot in the team in years? There has to be more to it then him being Javed Miandad's nephew. Right? Right? Will the PCB ever give Fawad Alam a fair shot in the team or will he get discarded like many talented young players before him?

When will the PCB realize that playing Shahid Afridi in tests is a gamble worth taking? Why do people continue to ignore that he has a test average of 37.40? His last test was in 2006. He has had gotten better recently so that number has the potential to get better. What makes him even more of a test player now is his bowling. He has been on a roll recently and a spot in the test team will be a challenge he will handle well.

I would like to see Pakistan give Sarfaraz Ahmed a shot at keeper too. Yes, Kamran has had a decent run with the bat the last couple of years but his wicketkeeping still leave a lot to be desired. I think it is about time we give the kid a shot. Who knows, maybe a little competition will push Kamran Akmal. Moin Khan and Rashid Latif always seemed to do it to each other in the 90s.

What should the Pakistani test team look like?

1)Imran Farhat
2)Salman Butt
3)Younis Khan
4)Mohammad Yousuf
5)Umar Akmal
6)Shahid Afridi
7)Kamran Akmal
8)Mohammad Aamer
9)Umar Gul
10)Mohammad Asif
11)Danesh Kaneria/Saeed Ajmal

They could always decide to play Afridi as the only spinner and add a bowler or batsman accordingly. Who do you guy guys want to see be in the squad? Clearly there is still work to be done.

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