Sami, Malik return as Pakistan announce squad for Zimbabwe T20s
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LAHORE: Speedster Mohammad Sami made a comeback after two-and-a-half years as Pakistan on Tuesday announced its 15-member squad for two Twenty20 Internationals against Zimbabwe.
Sami, 34, has been overlooked since he played the last of his five T20s against Sri Lanka in June 2012.
Other than Sami, former captain Shoaib Malik and middle order batsman Umar Akmal has also returned to the Pakistan’s T20 squad.
All-rounder Shoaib Malik, who last competed in the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh last year, proved his mettle after leading the Sialkot Stallions to the domestic T20 title on Monday.
Middle order batsman Umar Akmal, who failed to impress in the World Cup earlier this year, was recalled after being omitted from the series against Bangladesh.
Read: Zimbabwe tour — A promise for change
Two uncapped players — Imad Wasim and Nauman Anwar — were rewarded for their impressive performance in recent domestic matches. Meanwhile, ace spinner Saeed Ajmal and left-arm fast bowler Sohail Tanvir failed to convince selectors for their selection.
Under the captaincy of star all-rounder Shahid Afridi, the squad comprises Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Hammad Azam, Wahab Riaz, Bilawal Bhatti, Nauman Anwar, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Imad Wasim, Mukhtar Ahmed and Mohammad Sami.
Zimbabwe are scheduled to play two T20 and three One-Day Internationals at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The two T20s would be played on May 22 and 24 respectively.
Zimbabwe cricket team became the first full-member ICC team to tour Pakistan in six years when its squad landed at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport earlier today amid high security arrangements.
Read: High stakes, security as Pakistan isolation ends
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) says it has “foolproof” security involving thousands of police to protect Zimbabwe as they shuttle between their five-star hotel and the Gaddafi Stadium.
The area around the venue will be cordoned off, with various security checkpoints for fans, and paramilitaries will watch the area around the clock with constant surveillance from rooftops and helicopters.
“It is our first step towards the goal of reviving international cricket and we will leave nothing to chance to make this tour safe and successful,” PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said.
Forced to host home games in neutral venues like the United Arab Emirates, the PCB estimates it has lost $120 million in TV rights and extra overheads.
Even hosting Zimbabwe will cost PCB more than $1 million, half of which is for the visitors' fees and expenses. Not much of the outlay will be recouped by sponsorships and gate proceeds.
Read: Zimbabwe cricket team arrives in Lahore on historic tour
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (86) Closed
May 19, 2015 11:56am
13 players deserved their choice except two Ahmad / Shaoib choice is wrong.
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May 19, 2015 11:56am
Hope all goes safe and fine..ameen
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May 19, 2015 12:00pm
Strange how Shoaib Malik get selected again n again.
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May 19, 2015 12:01pm
Absolute non sense. The home series could easily have been used to prepare for the word cup but instead old guards like Sami and Malik are recalled. What a way to go for the PCB and its team of selectors !!! It is apparent that the policy of politics and "sifarish" has a very strong hold on PCB.
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May 19, 2015 12:04pm
Ahmed Shahzad does not deserve good place. Being a new opener!
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May 19, 2015 12:05pm
I am sure people will criticize Shoaib Malik's inclusion, but it's purely on merit. He deserves to be in the squad after showing good performances in domestic T20 tournament.
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May 19, 2015 12:08pm
The recent T20 domestic tournament shows that whole pakistan team is parchi and safarish, Ahmed shahzad and umer akmal failed against any credible bowling and players of sialkot side were due in the team. Last evening final between lahore and sialkot shows the pathetic form of some big names like hafeez, ahmad shahzad (bowled on first ball), umer akmal and players like bilal and other opener from sialkot is real deserving candidate.
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May 19, 2015 12:09pm
Haha. Shoaib Malik is back. Absolute parchi
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May 19, 2015 12:09pm
Very well balanced squad! HApppy to see hammad and nauman anwar got chance....!
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May 19, 2015 12:10pm
Great team selection. I wish selectors had used brain and had taken sami and Malik to world cup. Sami is the fastest bowler we have in country today and consistently performing. He is mal treated in Pakistan.
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May 19, 2015 12:13pm
Shoaib Malik??? Please don't tell me they are building for the next T20 World Cup. Inclusion of Malik means there are no young performers in the country now. Same old same old ......
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May 19, 2015 12:14pm
isn't it full proof security.
What do you mean by foolproof security ?
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May 19, 2015 12:18pm
Big question mark on selection...why choose shoaib and sami ????....i guess lack of confidence on youngsters. Pakistan cricket should move forward now rather then again select the same old faces.
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May 19, 2015 12:26pm
I'm all for selecting Malik and Sami. Usama the leggie deserved a chance.
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May 19, 2015 12:30pm
Nothing is going to improve until we are rid of the "Star All Rounder" for once and all.
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May 19, 2015 12:30pm
@Farhan Like Muhammad Sami, Hasan Raza, Faisal Iqbal, Muhammad Waseem and a host of other players, Shoaib Malik can only perform at domestic level. As soon as the ball swings an inch, he is done. Plus how can we forget his ill influence on the affairs of the team. Akmal's return is also not a good news. Talent counts for little if you have no common sense and too much attitude.
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May 19, 2015 12:40pm
@Haider Rehman
Bring a new opener, not being. Sorry!
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May 19, 2015 12:46pm
Wellcome back Mohammad Sami, Hope & wish all the BEST.
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May 19, 2015 12:50pm
Best luck to Mohammad Sami, Wish him all the Best,
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May 19, 2015 12:54pm
Care more about the hosting international cricket rather than the player selection.
Good news for me - to see Pakistani grounds all packed up again.
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May 19, 2015 01:02pm
Proof that the cupboard is empty. Despite the hype by ex players among others that Pakistan has an abundance of cricketing talent (that might have been true in the 70s and 80s) we keep going back to the same tried and tested failures....there are no world class batsmen or pacers coming through the system
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May 19, 2015 01:03pm
Malik in t20 whyyyyyy?
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May 19, 2015 01:10pm
Hope pakistan wins this one at least, best of luck
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May 19, 2015 01:37pm
Yes, there are questions in selection. But, one message is given out by Board loud and clear. You perform well in the domestic tournament and you get noticed. This is a good strategy to promote good competition and improve the quality of domestic cricket.
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May 19, 2015 01:51pm
Just one domestic T2o competition held and the team decided/ poor team selection tactics/ If good then why Mohammad Sami was not included in T20 against Bangladesh
If Shoaib makes a return then why not Razzaq????
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May 19, 2015 02:04pm
Let the game begin !!!!
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May 19, 2015 02:24pm
Ahmad is a very good player but he is getting so slow of late. That's an area of concern, specially for T20 & ODI!!
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May 19, 2015 02:25pm
The inclusion of M Sami & S Malik is good for Pak cricket;because they are tested experienced who could perform better in any given situation.
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May 19, 2015 02:26pm
No matter what team is selected... Afridi will always play with Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal regardless of performance. Refer to World T20 2010 where Hammad Azam was included and never played a single match in the tournament.
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May 19, 2015 02:29pm
Shoaib Malik are you serious? Based on what performance?
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May 19, 2015 02:34pm
Why are we going backwards in picking players who are beyond their best by date ? This board needs to go.
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May 19, 2015 03:17pm
15 Man Squad for a home series????? when will PCB make sensible decisions???
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May 19, 2015 03:29pm
The inclusion of Shoaib Malik is great for the team purely because of his experience and form and quite honestly there aren't enough in this team who could match his class and coolness.
umer gul should have been in the teams as well in place of Sami, although we cant really underestimate the speedster with the amount of talent he possess
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May 19, 2015 03:29pm
And what did Umar Akmal do for the selection ?
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May 19, 2015 03:31pm
Whats the Plan for Sami, he is already 34 unless a farewell is planned in this way
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May 19, 2015 03:47pm
Welcome Zambawe to Pak. Thank you for visiting my country. You will enjoy your stay.
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May 19, 2015 03:48pm
The inclusion of Shoaib Malik is great for the team purely because of his experience and form and quite honestly there aren't enough in this team who could match his class and coolness.
umer gul should have been in the teams as well in place of Sami, although we cant really underestimate the speedster with the amount of talent he possess
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May 19, 2015 03:55pm
PCB looks totally confused. One side they are claiming to rebuild the team and at the same time opting for old players like Malik & Sami. Also Umer Akmal was not impressive in Haier T20.
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May 19, 2015 04:19pm
Hope Pakistan will win the series.
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May 19, 2015 04:25pm
@Larka because he is performing in the domestic tournament
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May 19, 2015 04:39pm
I think team selection, it is blend of youth and experience
I wish same team would have gone to WC
only worry is selection of good spinner like raza hassan
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May 19, 2015 04:43pm
We need to build a team based on consistent performers. Not sporadic performances.
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May 19, 2015 04:47pm
My playing team from the selected ones would be Nauman, Sarfraz, Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Rizwan, Hammad, Afridi, Imad Wasim, Wahab and Sami. I had though loved to replace Hafeez with Bilal Asif. But it feels nice to know that Mukhtar, Naveed Yasin and Bilal Asif are right there to put pressure on the playing 11. I just wish Usama Mir was given a break.
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May 19, 2015 04:51pm
Our selection committee has no vision nor has our PCB Chairman. Players like Ahmad Shehzad and Umar Akmal will simply not learn. What kind of role model they can be to our players for the future. It was about time to develop new team with future world cups in sight rather than regress into self defeating prophecy yet again! Our cricket need to break away from player power and groom new talent with commitment to play for the county rather than for self-glorification.
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May 19, 2015 04:54pm
I am a big fan of Malik and Sania. At this point, they can both make it to Pakistan Cricket squad. I wonder why leave Sania out.
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May 19, 2015 04:57pm
Tried and tested failure Sami. How the hell does he (a fast bowler) make a come back at 34 ?
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May 19, 2015 04:57pm
@CricketOne ... He (U.Akmal) did same thing which he is doing since 2009.
Shahid Bhai, Shahid Bhai,Shahid Bhai,Shahid Bhai,Shahid Bhai,Shahid Bhai.
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May 19, 2015 05:01pm
@Malik
He is not maltreatment whenever he got chance on the team,his performance did not remain upto the international level and he remained a bit unlucky also that on his bowling some catches were not taken.
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May 19, 2015 05:02pm
@Hashim
He is young but not younger.
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May 19, 2015 05:04pm
Bring Mohammed Amir back and Aziz Cheema
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May 19, 2015 05:12pm
@Mary Cleric and others who think Malik and Sami are good selections, please remind me the last few successful performances from either at the international level please?
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May 19, 2015 05:15pm
NOT Shoaib Malik again. He is NO good and not dependable. I guess PCB wants Zimbabwe to win this series as bonus for visiting Pakistan.
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May 19, 2015 05:17pm
@Farhan, On Shaib yu are WRONG. Check his average in the last 10-15 matches.
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May 19, 2015 05:19pm
Why not also include Imran Farhat, Kamran Akmal and Sikander Bakht.
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May 19, 2015 05:31pm
So time has come once again to repeat the same old mistakes. If a player cannot perform in 15-20 matches, there is no need to continue with him. Period. This is what Australia, SA and India is doing.
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May 19, 2015 05:31pm
too much attitude and not enough performance! Get rid of shehzad and akmal once and for all!
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May 19, 2015 05:32pm
Shoaib Malik deserves a permanent place in T20 squad. He is a hardworking and determined athlete, the traits where most of the national team players lack.
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May 19, 2015 05:33pm
@Farhan Agreed. Your domestic system should be very strong and each and every player must take part in the system and final eleven should by picked from top performers not some other (senseless) bases. That way each player should have the same pressure when playing domestic cricket and no should be an automatic choice unless someone is very consistent almost every time he gets the chance to play. But still no one should be allowed to play even after his domestic performances if the player is not physically fit for more tougher international cricket. I don't mind seeing Sami, Akmal, Malik or anyone if they are performing and taking the game seriously for the country.
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May 19, 2015 05:36pm
Malik deserved a chance after performing in Australia, WestIndies and now Pakistan in T20s. Usama Mir and Bilal Asif could have been included as well. Ahmed and Hafeez have to prove himself in the series what could be their last chance i reckon. But all in all, good selection. Hope to see young Nauman Anwar performing well against Zimbabwe.
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May 19, 2015 05:42pm
i like sami, i always felt he is underrated bowler. hope he regains his old rythm. Good for Pakisthan. Respect from indian...
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May 19, 2015 06:00pm
Why don't we give choice to Mohammad Amir in this series
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May 19, 2015 06:01pm
Ahmed Shehzad and Malik does not deserve to be in this side ever again. Bring new players and give them chance instead of old tested one's.PCB think beyond parchi system for the betterment of sport in the country.
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May 19, 2015 06:55pm
hope afridi gives good performance and justifies his place....
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May 19, 2015 07:24pm
Selection is on merit on recent performance
I think this is a good practice must apply for every format
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May 19, 2015 08:17pm
I don't understand why these failed players with the worst ever bowlong performances keep on coming back. Sohail Tanvir is T-20 specialist bowler and he should have been selected in place of Bilawal Bhatti who has never performed under pressure. Sarfaraz should have been rested as he is getting married and Rizwan gets an opportunity to show his talent against the weak Zimbabwians to boost his confidence level. Ahmad Shahzad and Mohammad Hafeez didn't deserve a place in the T-20 team, they can be in the ODI team. The new comers including Mohammad Sami and Hammad Azam would be watching from the side lines.
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May 19, 2015 08:25pm
@BalighAndAaqil - Both Shaoib Malik and Mohammad Sami should have been in the WC team in place of Nasir Jamshed and Rahat Ali. If the tour selection committee have recalled these two players and selected sensibly with sarfaraz and Yasir Shah in the team in all matches Pakistan would easily have qualified for the Semi-Finals which would have meant better rating and additioanl revinew of $ 300,000/- for being in the semi-finals.
The coach Waqar Younus has failed miserably, he brought down the team rating from # 4 to # 9. The chairman of PCB should tell us at what point he will take action, when the rating goes down to the lowest level like # 14 or # 16.
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May 19, 2015 08:32pm
How about Rifatullah Momand who stamped his authority with his brisk knock. He had a record of triple century at domestic level under his name. Keep ignoring such talent PBC and keep giving chances to old horses
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May 19, 2015 08:42pm
@original ZAK
To answer your question, "foolproof" is correct, full proof carries a different connotation. But I maybe lying, so why don't you Google?
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May 19, 2015 08:47pm
Did Afridi ask for the selection of Umar Akmal, Shoab and Sami? Afridi did play a big role in selecting Ahmad for BD's tour.
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May 19, 2015 08:48pm
Sami and Aamir can be a good combination. They both have good line & length, speed, bounce and have technique to swing the ball.
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May 19, 2015 09:51pm
@AA Shoaib has performed with best numbers among all for 1½ years while Razzaq doesn't play any more. I had hoped that our selectors will get some sense of modern cricket and get rid of Ahmad Shehzad and Hafeez from limited over game but it was not to be. I now hope that they keep playing Nauman in T20 and ODIs for at least 10 matches even if he doesn't score big. He must be given a proper chance to flourish. Hard luck Bilal Asif and Usama Mir.
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May 19, 2015 10:36pm
Shoaib Malik is given another chance. He better perform as it is against a mediocre bowling attack.This should be his last chance
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May 19, 2015 10:36pm
@Hindutavi Rakshas I think MA banned to play until Sept this year.
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May 19, 2015 10:40pm
@Karachi Wally why not also get Imran Khan and Sarfaraz Nawaz in the squad. BTW based on recent performance, elders were selected and because youth also get tired too quickly.
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May 19, 2015 10:47pm
Selection without any vision.Simple as that.
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May 19, 2015 11:20pm
Wonder how difficult it is for our selectors to be consistent in their approach...few weeks back, they were claiming to build a young side...
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May 19, 2015 11:43pm
It would have been even better selection if they had selected both Bilal Asif and Usama Mir. These guys are ready to take their chance.
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May 20, 2015 12:43am
Sir
Another selection committee and another U turn from the youth to the senior citizens like Mohammed Samu and Shoeb Malik.
It seems that the selectors of the pakistani cricket team only know about the reverse gear.
A fast bowler is always considered to past his prime at the age of 34 but Mohammed Samu has earned another recall.
What a cruel joke with young and budding cricketers!!!!
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May 20, 2015 01:06am
So bad they did not give chances to more youngsters such as Rana Naveed ul Hassan
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May 20, 2015 02:05am
We are going backward
Sami at 34 has made his 30th come back
Malik great prospect for the next 10 years
we have jokers in the pcb select committee
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May 20, 2015 02:47am
@Hashim Yes they are building for the future - seniors team!
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May 20, 2015 03:00am
Saami, come on guys invest in youth not on older war horses. Also Mr. Sania. Pakistan has lots of talent please count on youth
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May 20, 2015 03:11am
Typical of PCB... Same old quota system an non-sense rotations. PCB is run by idiots
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May 20, 2015 03:38am
Bad choice, selection of Sohaib Malik and Mohammad Sami is a big surprise it is now clear that The Cricket Board and Selection Committe are bent upon ruining Pakistan cricket. Now that international cricket has returned to the country after long time all their concentration should be on developing the game on fast track but by selecting redundant players they have proven their incompetence and lack of expertise. Cricket Board should be headed by an ex-cricketer with demonstrated leadership skills.
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May 20, 2015 06:19am
A litmus test for the viability of international tests in Pakistan.
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May 20, 2015 07:03am
Sami? Wrong choice.
Shaoib not good either.
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