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AUCKLAND: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq hit back at criticism from ex-players who advised him to think out of the box, asking should hapless tailender Mohammad Irfan be sent in as a World Cup opener?
Pakistan's top order has flopped in the last four games with opening stands of 11, 0, 1 and 10 which put enormous pressure on the middle-order.
Pakistan tried veteran Younis Khan as opener in the first match against India after regular starter Mohammad Hafeez withdrew from the tournament following a calf injury just a week before the start of the World Cup.
But that didn't work.
Recalled opener Nasir Jamshed, who replaced Hafeez in the squad, fell for nought, one and four in his three innings, leaving Pakistan to consider using wicket-keeper/batsman Sarfraz Ahmed as opener in Saturday's crucial match against South Africa in Auckland.
When asked what he thinks of former captains, Javed Miandad and Ramiz Raja's advice of thinking out of the box, Misbah quipped: “Out of the box? Should we open with Irfan?”
Irfan, the 7-foot fast bowler, is a 'bunny' with the bat, scoring just 43 runs in the 44 one-day matches he has played.
Misbah said that Sarfraz Ahmed is being considered as an opener.
“He (Ahmed) has opened the innings in the United Arab Emirates,” said Misbah of last year's one-day series with Australia and New Zealand.
“But here the conditions are different.”
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On DawnNews
Comments (91) Closed
Mar 06, 2015 05:19pm
Sarfraz should be tried as opener against UAE, to give him confidence and boost before crunch game against RSA; now its no use to try him, if he fails he will be gone from WC
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Mar 06, 2015 05:21pm
Actually not a bad idea to open with Irfan, as he could still give Nasir Jamshed a run for his money as an opener.
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Mar 06, 2015 05:22pm
NASIR jamshed would be facing steyn gun ! Let's pray for NASIR.
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Mar 06, 2015 05:23pm
That's why they say "don't argue with idiots", all the national heros are asking is to 1, include Sarfaraz and 2, go 1 down.
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Mar 06, 2015 05:32pm
Sarafraz as opener will be right decision. Let it happen, Misbah.
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Mar 06, 2015 05:44pm
I love this guys sense of humor - others can learn from it :) - especially Shoaib Akhtar
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Mar 06, 2015 05:49pm
This is a no-fix situation. Sarfraz should have been considered from the very first game but they have left it too late.
It is game over for Pakistan.
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Mar 06, 2015 05:50pm
Despite Nasir jamsheid , Irfan could prove himself best.
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Mar 06, 2015 05:53pm
Unbelievable; sarfaraz played gutsy innings in UAE against Aus & New Zealand and saved pride of the team, misbah and Waqar Younus.
And look what they have returned him with!
Without giving a chance he has been considered as failure! shame on u misbah and Waqar.
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Mar 06, 2015 06:01pm
I agree with Misbah. Current team combination is just about the best we can put with this lot. I still wish to see Sarfraz instead of Nasir but he has to play down in the order and he should be utilized against spinners. Haris Sohail usually comes in first or second over so let him open with Shahzad. Akmal at 3, Misbah 4, Maqsood 5, Sarfraz 6 and Afridi should bat at 7.
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Mar 06, 2015 06:03pm
I would suggest to open with Yasir shah. What?
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Mar 06, 2015 06:17pm
"Should we open with Irfan?”
This statement clearly says, our Captain and Coach doesn't understand what the entire World is saying.
They are trying everything except what should be tried from the very first day!
Kudos to Captain and Coach
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Mar 06, 2015 06:19pm
stick with Nasir Jamshed against South Africa and that would certainly "Out of the Box" thinking.
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Mar 06, 2015 06:21pm
@AB I think your are right.
Misbah Please don't try Sarfaraz against SAF. I would suggest Sarfaraz to reject the call from Misbah and stay on bench. In any case, Pakistan is going to be humilated, so why being part of the sinking ship?
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Mar 06, 2015 06:30pm
It would be a fatal mistake to open with Nasir again. Give Sarfraz chance and drop Nasir. Let Younis Khan play at 3 or 4. And Misbah please be mature!
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Mar 06, 2015 06:43pm
A ridiculous answer for not including Sarfraz..
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Mar 06, 2015 06:48pm
When you are rigid and insult expert advice.. you are bound to loose. sorry to hear such a rubbish reply. wait for a disaster.
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Mar 06, 2015 06:48pm
Hope nasir is knocked out by steyn and returns back.to pakistan
That's the only way we can see the end of this parchi player
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Mar 06, 2015 06:55pm
Putting Nasir as an Opener again, that is the confounding factor which makes me believe that yes somewhere someone did offered the retirement plan to Misbah. My 12 years can play better cricket than Nasir and yet we thinking,
Misbah wake up, its a matter of Pakistan not your personal matter.
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Mar 06, 2015 06:58pm
The only solution to bring some lost dignity to our cricket is to sack everyone from top to bottom. Make Imran Khan the chief and keep Misbah and Younis with him and form the entire team a fresh. Keep this department away from politics and political sifarshis. That's the only way to stand up again in the world.
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Mar 06, 2015 07:01pm
Think out of the box... can Misbah think? He has no time to think. His thoughts are focused around batting as no other batsman is playing good consistent cricket. Joke apart, playing Irfan is not a bad option as he can not score less than zero and can survive three to four balls. This is what Nasir is doing right now.
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Mar 06, 2015 07:08pm
Great! they found a perfect way to ruin Sarfraz's carrier. Try him against SA as opener without any practice, and then if he fails, no one can defend him. BTW Pakistan has almost made it to Qfinals with WI loss against India. All they have to do is not lose badly against SA and win against Ireland. WI has fallen quite a bit in their run-rate.
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Mar 06, 2015 07:13pm
so far irfan remained not out in both innings he played.
better stats than nasir jamshed for sure
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Mar 06, 2015 07:16pm
out of the box captain. Not out of the mind
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Mar 06, 2015 07:17pm
Misbah/Waqar/ Rameez/Wasim.... All talk about the problem with Srafraz Technique... Can they bother to explain what is the actual problem in his technique???? why they included him in the squad???? Why they never mentioned before the start of tournament.
The most successful batsman in the crisis for Pakistan is still looking for his first chance in the World Cup.
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Mar 06, 2015 07:27pm
My advise to the team, please represent Pakistan, and come back.
I never expected this team to qualify for quarter finals.
I am enjoying the comments of experts after the match.
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Mar 06, 2015 07:29pm
For Sarfaraz it's different in Australia and for the rest of Pakistanis it's run of the mill
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Mar 06, 2015 07:32pm
I am getting fed up with this Sarfraz debate. I am beginning to believe that it is more like an agenda instead of analysis. Look at all the comments in the past and you will realize that the target was Umar Akmal and Hafeez. Previously, it was Hafeez who didn't qualify as a batsman; hence Sarfraz as an opener. And now Nasir Jamshed is the target. I think Sarfraz is good as a keeper in the test cricket and Hafeez should be the next captain.
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Mar 06, 2015 07:33pm
It seems as though Misbah and Waqar are trying their best to show that they have no idea when it comes to tactics. I am not surprised as Waqar was always a duffer when it came to strategy and tactics while he was the captain and yet he is the coach of Pakistan. Only in Pakistan!! It is a reflection of the nation and people should not be surprised. Please come back home now before being destroyed in the Quarters.
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Mar 06, 2015 07:34pm
Why not someone tell Misbah that if he was such a genius why was he never selected during Inzy and Muhammad Yusuf era.Maybe Imran Khan can speak his language and teach Misbah some manners on not to be so stubborn(by persisting with his beloved Nasir Jamshed)
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Mar 06, 2015 07:38pm
Pakistan not able to find an opening batsman? Must be a conspiracy by BCCI/India or ICC or big 3....
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Mar 06, 2015 07:39pm
Misbah is right. He did think outside of the box with Younis and look where it got him.
Believe me he is doing his best considering how little practice they got and so much time taken by people like Hafeez , Ajmal, Junaid, Kamran, Shaoib Malik took and didn't show up for th event.
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Mar 06, 2015 07:40pm
think out of box! in 15 men squad, who played highest no. of inning as opener for Pak? Answer is Afridi :)
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Mar 06, 2015 07:47pm
Conditions are different for all of lot, if buttered finger Nasir can be tried why not Sarfraz. Yep, try him against Steyn and I hope he hammers them all over the park just to put some sense into you and give you some guts and glory might follow.
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Mar 06, 2015 07:59pm
Great Misbah, I am so proud f you, NOT. Now you are playing dirty politics, you did not let him open against Zimbabwe or UAE so he could have got some experience. Why don't you open with Haris Sohail, bring Umar Akmal one down, yourself, Maqsood and then Sarfaraz. Instead of throwing Guy with no Outing in the last month in front of SA, so that you can say see I told you Sarfaraz is not the option to open.
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Mar 06, 2015 08:03pm
you please quit for good , I miss Pakistani team of past. Pak selectors should have made Afridi the captain.
send Afridi to open please
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Mar 06, 2015 08:06pm
Why not he can not be worse than Nasir jamshed
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Mar 06, 2015 08:14pm
Send Nasir Back Home on fitness grounds, he was never match fit anyways. Bring in his place someone like Azhar Ali or Fawad Alam & strengthen the batting
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Mar 06, 2015 08:15pm
Misbah is so typically orthodox a captain that thinking out-of-the-box for him only means doing something even more stupid. His captaincy really lacks the courage and smart thinking in tough situations. He keeps sticking to preplanned strategies no matter what the situation. He simply doesn't have the ability to think out-of-the-box or according to the situation. In most of the victories, his captaincy hardly has any role. Almost all the ex-cricketers and even the PCB chairman has suggested to play Sarfraz, but he simply refuses to listen and continues with totally out-of-form Nasir Jamshed.
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Mar 06, 2015 08:18pm
not a bad idea, I bet he will make couple
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Mar 06, 2015 08:18pm
Looks like he is fearful of Sarfraz's success as opener.
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Mar 06, 2015 08:19pm
If Sarfaraz is not familiar with Aus-NZ conditions, what Nasir Jamsheed has done so far. Nasir can't bat, he can't field, what's the purpose of including him in the playing eleven? "Pahlay Imran Nazir nay hamari jaan khai hoyi thi aur abb Nasir Jamsheed." If I'm not wrong, Sarfaraz was selected as wicketkeeper/opener for the WC squad.
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Mar 06, 2015 08:21pm
@AB That was the idea they know that he can make runs against UAE, and how come head coach doesn't know that he can open
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Mar 06, 2015 08:23pm
@A. A. You like Shoaib's sense of humar, what happened when he mentioned Sachin was scared facing him. At that time whole Indian nation was after Shoaib, asking him to apologize to Sachin.
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Mar 06, 2015 08:25pm
@Nasir Jamshed couldn't agree more
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Mar 06, 2015 08:28pm
He should be serious as his team is losing. Why can't he bat up the batting order ? Why persist with Nasir? why not give another chance to Younus ?
He is captain and should concentrate on his job.
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Mar 06, 2015 08:28pm
Finally he has put some thought in to. I am sure he can do better than your beloved Nasir!
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Mar 06, 2015 08:30pm
This is a perfect example of defensive thinking that IK talks about. You can't win trying not to lose. There is nothing that can be done about Misbah and Waqar's mindsets. They are bound to fail.
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Mar 06, 2015 08:30pm
@Shaer Khan, Agree with you, Misbah is playing dirty politics. He will pick Sarfarz, open with him, if Sarfaraz got out cheaply, then Mishab lash back, see I told you Sarfarz is not a right choice to open.
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Mar 06, 2015 08:35pm
@Nadeem, USA ... Well said.
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Mar 06, 2015 08:36pm
This is what happens when you have no logic to justify your decision. You attack the people questioning you rather than answering the question. I am not a Misbah basher. But, I am puzzled by his and Waqar's decision to continue to play Nasir Jamshed and not giving a chance to Sarfaraz.
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Mar 06, 2015 08:50pm
Misbah's mind begins with Jamshed and ends with Irfan. There is no such MIDDLE. And in that middle you will find the solution. What a senseless answer by Misbah.
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Mar 06, 2015 09:04pm
Gotta love Misbah - always gives a solid reply without stooping to the level of his critics. A real well spoken captain since Imran khan
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Mar 06, 2015 09:26pm
Why are we experimenting now? , the batting order we have is a joke .
Younis was given one chance while nasir has been given 3 - sack the coach or just send him to the casino with the mangement
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Mar 06, 2015 09:47pm
He will be better than Jamshed. At least he can field (wicket keeping). Also we should have had fawad alam instead of Umer akmal.
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Mar 06, 2015 10:14pm
If I see Nasir Jamshed again on pitch tomorrow against SA, it will be the most disgusting thing to see. For God sake, think abut Pakistan and throw him out of the WC. Sarfaraz is much better option as he will not only score runs but will also catch the ball behinds the stumps.
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Mar 06, 2015 10:30pm
The logic is simple. Waqar likes the idea of Sri Lankan batting having a right handed and a left handed opener with a left handed one down batsman. Unfortunately, Nasir Jamshed is totally out of form.
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Mar 06, 2015 10:31pm
@Fariha I.K. wants to be P.M. dummy.
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Mar 06, 2015 10:32pm
whatever people say...Pakistan will win against south africa...
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Mar 06, 2015 10:49pm
Lets look at it a different way or shall I say out of the box, if Safaraz plays and scores then Misbha and Waqar have failed. Now why would they want to do that at this stage of the world Cup!
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Mar 06, 2015 11:00pm
I was hoping for rain but it does not look like it is going to rain for this game against South Africa. Let's hope Pakistan do not lose by a big margin and hopefully win against Ireland that will at least keep Pakistan Cricket honor(not that this team deserves) but for Pakistani people's sake.
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Mar 06, 2015 11:04pm
"But here the conditions are different." Misbah you are very defensive and with this statement you already have made Sarfaraz defensive and under pressure.
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Mar 06, 2015 11:31pm
@ahtesham plz dont make hafeez next captain....had he been in india he would have struggled even to make name in club cricket
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Mar 06, 2015 11:49pm
At 7 feet tall some bat company needs to give Irfan a long blade and long handle bat so it might be less awkward for him. I insist on opening with Haris Sohail.
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Mar 07, 2015 12:34am
Should we open with Irfan? Hain?
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Mar 07, 2015 12:44am
Yes, as Irfan may perform better as an opener than Nadir Jamshed. With this mentality you can't beat South Africa.
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Mar 07, 2015 01:14am
No Misbah. You don't open with Irfan. you open with Sarfraz. Do you have a good answer to that?
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Mar 07, 2015 01:16am
please play sarfraz in place of jamshed or injured player plus 5 bowlers goodluck pak
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Mar 07, 2015 02:38am
@haris , @AB - That is what actual plan is from Akmal's sponsors that tried Sarfaraz in the critical game just like they did in the UAE with Australia and if he fails then they'll have a case to let him go.
Bus Sarfaraz is a telneted player, InshaAllah he'll succeed just like he was successfully in UAE last year.
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Mar 07, 2015 03:01am
Start batting in reverse order. And it will stunn the opposition.
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Mar 07, 2015 03:08am
Doesn't matter who open pakistan players are not good enough they to slow and rubbish
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Mar 07, 2015 03:23am
Misbha and younis must b 12th men for rest of matches asthese test players make other players coward or tuk tuk.
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Mar 07, 2015 04:22am
That retort from Misbah means that there is some issue between him, the coach and Sarfraz---otherwise this blatant disregard of common sense wouldnot be overlooked.
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Mar 07, 2015 04:30am
match against south africa reminds me of song from famous dev 'anand movie'GUIDE''- Allah megh ( rain) de, paani de
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Mar 07, 2015 04:53am
Agree with Misbah. If he takes the advice of the experts and it did not work no one will ask these experts, Misbah has to answer.
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Mar 07, 2015 06:00am
@A Pakistani. The problem is players from Karachi don't have the same sophisticated batting techniques as Nasir Jamshed and other batsmen dominated from Punjab ...
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Mar 07, 2015 06:29am
I am sure that Irfan will perform better than NJ or I can too score what NJ did in the World Cup.
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Mar 07, 2015 07:17am
Talk about "putting your big feet in your mouth". Against the toughest opposition Sarfraz comes out flying. The price that the country paid for those trying to keep the "best" out of this team for 4 matches.
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Mar 07, 2015 09:38am
Yes Misbah, Sarfaraz's technique is definitely different. He scores runs, which is very different from you and the rest of your team who look like they are swatting flies on the pitch.
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Mar 07, 2015 09:48am
misbha, if sarfaraz is not used to the conditions, is Nasir jamshed used to the "conditions"???
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Mar 07, 2015 10:51am
After losing 4 wickets for 1 run against West Indies , no one mind if you open with irfan or coach WAQAR younis
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Mar 07, 2015 11:58am
Would you believe it. After scoring an unheard of 49 for a Pakistani opener, Sarfraz takes a stunner behind to dismiss the dangerous Amla. Take that Misbah, Umar Akmal and your lousy team management.
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Mar 07, 2015 01:25pm
Misbah only wants his fifty......always slow down the attacking score rate.....learn from de Villiers how captains need to play
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Mar 07, 2015 02:04pm
Who should you open with??? did you get your answer after pak vs SA match? The entire country turned their faces red screaming to play sarfraz....but you kept him out for four games....shame on you
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Mar 07, 2015 09:18pm
Stick with Nassir and Akmal and it won't be out of the box it will out of the world cup.
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Mar 07, 2015 09:41pm
Two things, mr captain - firstly learn to respect your proven seniors and pay attention on their words; secondly you can not ridiculed after initial failures and disgraceful performance.
Now you can see, how your words been back fired after amazing performance by Sarfaraz against SA !!!
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Mar 07, 2015 10:12pm
Mr. Younis you are one of the most vision-less guy. You are not a leader or a coach. You don't have these abilities. May be your hands are tied. May be Umer you can't say no Akmal.
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Mar 07, 2015 10:29pm
Concentrate on rotating the strike
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Mar 08, 2015 04:59am
misbah ,can you talk sense--critics are right ,open with sarfaraz and afridi,remove younus put shezad #3,harris,you,maqsood akmal wahab rahat suhail irfan is the teram for coming matches
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Mar 09, 2015 07:05am
New development: Ireland has told Younus and Misbah that Sarfraz is not an opener neither is good wicket keeper, so for their match on 15th March, Younus and Misbah should drop Sarfraz and play Umar Akmal as Wicket keeper Batsman and Nasir Jamshed as opener. Ireland also told Pakistan that it is unfair on Sarfraz to play and ruin his career, so Sarfraz should not play to save his career. Younus and Misbah, both understood Ireland argument and thanked them. Now, Younus and Misbah is deciding to drop Sarfraz in next match. Meanwhile, we Pakistanis are thinking that Younus and Misbah should not have been in team, as both are ruining the team. Misbah with his defensive batting and both (especially Younus) with their deficient thinking.
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Mar 09, 2015 12:59pm
Am sure Irfan is gonna perform better than Jamshed. Worth experimenting!
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