Shehzad and Masood stake claims for Test spot

AP Published October 9, 2013

SHARJAH: Pakistan 'A' opening batsmen Ahmed Shehzad and Shaan Masood staked their claims for next week's first Test against South Africa by scoring solid half centuries against the Proteas in the warmup match on Wednesday.

Shehzad scored an attacking 66 with 10 fours while Masood batted confidently against seam and spin before being retired out on 50 off 140 balls. Pakistan A finished the second day of the three-day game on 230-4 after South Africa declared its first innings at 354-8.

Pakistan selectors left the second opening slot vacant while naming a 12-man squad for Monday's first Test, and either Shehzad or Masood will get the nod to partner Khurram Manzoor at Abu Dhabi.

Asad Shafiq, who will likely play in the middle order in the first test, was unbeaten on 32.

Sport

Sign of things to come as South Africa prosper in warm up

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Oct 09, 2013 09:59pm

Well done, keep it up and hang on tough. You ain't seen nothing as yet.

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cricketlover

Oct 09, 2013 10:16pm

The idea should be to groom the current talent, which leads us to a logical conclusion: Ahmed Shehzad is the automatic choice. However, the only drawback is that he was being groomed for the shorter format rather than the longer one. Comparatively, Shan Masood is an unknown quantity and, as such, needs to wait in the wings before being experimented with. This way, Khurram Manzoor would still have some confidence left to carry the burden of facing the roaring SA quickies.

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Nadeem Mirza

Oct 10, 2013 04:37am

Shan and Shezad should open followed by Azhar, younis, Misbah, Asad (not sure why he wasn't named in the initial list), Adnan (Should have been Rizwan), Saeed, Umar Gul, Irfan and Abdul Rehman/Zulfiqar Babar.

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manzoor

Oct 10, 2013 07:46am

The series will depend on younis khan.if he performs good pakistan had a chance otherwise they will be crushed by the mighty africans.

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Effy

Oct 10, 2013 01:53pm

Sohaib Maqsood and Sharjeel Khan are the best 2 batsmen in Pakistan now. They have the same talent and agression as Inzi and Sehwag.

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Shan

Oct 10, 2013 01:51pm

Why declare on 311, only because so called captain Umar Amin was bowled on 12 him self and didnt want Shoaib Maqsood (who was playing well at 34) to do a big score ... Cannot make sense of it ... we were there to practise batting not bowling as non of the bowlers are supposed to be playing any test from A team and who declare before the lead is remaining.... i can see what sort of a captain umar ameen will become ..another Shoaib Malik in Making...

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Shan

Oct 10, 2013 01:50pm

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Farhan

Oct 11, 2013 02:17pm

Sohaib Maqsood played better actually - he needs to be given a chance.

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