When Sohail, Rahat nearly pulled off an improbable draw
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KARACHI: The last Pakistani pair of Sohail Khan and Rahat Ali had pulled the team tantalising close to an unlikely draw with an 11.1-over stay at the crease that accounted for the second highest partnership.
The match was as good as lost when Ali, who remained unbeaten on 15, joined Khan at the crease with Pakistan still 192 runs behind England’s target of 343.
The two forged a partnership of 50 runs – the second highest in Pakistan’s second innings behind Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali’s 73-run stretch for the second wicket.
But more important in the context of the game, they stayed together for 11.1 overs, also the second longest stay after the Aslam-Ali partnership (25.2 overs).
When Khan fell on an individual score of 36, the third highest after Aslam, 70, and Ali, 38, they were only 13.1 overs away from end of play that would have drawn the game, keeping the series level at 1-1.
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Comments (56) Closed
Aug 07, 2016 10:21pm
Spineless batting performance from our batsmen. Last pair (of bowlers) showed some sign of courage by battling out and hanging in there for 11 overs, so could have some of our batsmen. There were just 10 more overs left. This was a match, a draw written over it, the way batting was possible with patience required.
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Aug 07, 2016 10:26pm
Bad selection Pakistani deserve these defeat, they did push up without thinking particularly Azhar who showing himself hero, in second inning zero with Hafiz double zero, younus ( Hafiz, Azhar, Younus and Misbha should be dropped.) Captain have no plan, strategy. Well done A.Cook captain excellent planning.
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Aug 07, 2016 10:32pm
Dont criticize the players. There are good days and bad days. Support them. Pak can try some newcomers. Misbah should be the captain.
R.S. Menon, Bangalore
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Aug 07, 2016 10:37pm
Please look into some fixing..Amir so called sensational,just 6 wickets in three tests that too in one of the best seam bowling pitches in world.,Younus 60+ in 6 innings..
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Aug 07, 2016 10:49pm
Pakistan is increasingly facing difficult situation and it has to rise above its superficial planning. When we make choices that are not the norm, we have to face consequences Younus, Hafiz, Misbah and Azhar (Azhar is like China Mobile) some time work and no work, remaining trio have to thing retirement if not PCB should not select them, we have seen young talent Sami Aslam seating outside and performed in both innings like him many cricketers waiting for their turn. I have personally seen match on last day and observed Pakistani are just surviving not playing. England have 90 % players are lower than 30 yrs.
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Aug 07, 2016 10:54pm
Pakistani players looks tired due to PUSH UP, only fresh Sami Aslam did excellent batting performance in both inning because he did not do push up, rest of team tired due to Push ups.
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Aug 07, 2016 10:55pm
Only Pakistan can find a reason to lose a match on a perfectly fine pitch in less than 80 overs.
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Aug 07, 2016 10:55pm
How many more chances is hafiz and younis going to get? Time to send these losers home and give new talent like sami a chance.
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Aug 07, 2016 10:58pm
Nearly pulled off a draw ? I don't think so
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Aug 07, 2016 11:00pm
Younis khan and Hafeez should be rested and Sohil Khan has no stamina for 5 day game ..
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Aug 07, 2016 11:00pm
13 overs is a lifetime in cricket, and especially when Pakistan is batting.
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Aug 07, 2016 11:03pm
Mickey Arthur should be listened to not Inzaman
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Aug 07, 2016 11:07pm
These pushups provoked english batsmen dont do it next time
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Aug 07, 2016 11:09pm
OMG.....PAK batsmen predictable below par.
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Aug 07, 2016 11:21pm
I'm not surprised. Pakistan did what they are best at - losing . Hafeez and younis have to go as they are becoming a liability.
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Aug 07, 2016 11:49pm
How many chances these players will get Younus, Hafiz and Misbah, Pakistan have to find new captain for ODI and Test.
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Aug 07, 2016 11:51pm
Pak Captain easily lost this winner match with wrong planning. Pakistan have to win, with little efforts.
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Aug 07, 2016 11:54pm
drop shafiq(pair owner), younus(dancer and called walking wicket) and hafeez(conspired to force aamir out of the team and doest not hold merit to be in th team). bring babar azage 50 60 runs
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Aug 07, 2016 11:55pm
@Ali Reza UK you want guys like azhar ali and misbah to be dropped? firstly misbah has been a consistent performer and secondly azhar ali scored a brilliant century in the first innings !!!!!
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Aug 07, 2016 11:57pm
@joe remember mr joe these were good batting wickets and Pakistan lost because of the batting. they could have posted 500+ in old trafford like England did to Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. And this match, well Pak lost because of the poor batting by the middle order in first inns where they could have batted England out of the test match by taking 200+ lead.
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Aug 08, 2016 12:05am
Can understand the frustration of Pak fans. From a strong position, went on to loose the match.Batsman should try to spend more time in crease.Should not be concerned about strike rate.Even a drawn match is highly appreciated.Easy to blame the player, but England bowled very well.
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Aug 08, 2016 12:07am
There r no consistency in Pakistani team, next result of series is 1-3 lost by Pak, main problem is no planning, patience and no game plan.
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Aug 08, 2016 12:12am
Not surprise with the result, it was written in the wall. First we failed to impose a lead if 200 which was quite possible considering the state of the pitch, then we continue to open the second inning with Hafeez, we knew he want survive 5 overs and that exactly happened and bring the morale of whole team down.
Hafeez, Yasser, Younus should be out for next match, bring zulfiqar, iftikhar and Rizwan in the team. If we have to lose then we should take a chance with youngsters.
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Aug 08, 2016 12:38am
Why look we need 243 in 58 overs with 9 wickets in hand and Pakistani batsman start stopping every ball and start getting out ,, Pakistani players are so disgusting
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Aug 08, 2016 01:16am
Disgraceful defeat...very disappointed Pakistan crowd...
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Aug 08, 2016 01:24am
@Tangerine only hafeez he was never test batsmen
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Aug 08, 2016 01:27am
It was a draw that Pakistan needed if they go down 1-3.
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Aug 08, 2016 01:56am
Shameful performance, loosing four wickets for one run.
Hafeez zero and two should end his career, he should be sent home and should not be selected in future, because he does not have the temperament.
Aslam is a new find, with 82and 70 in the same test match, he should be groomed.
After this season, Misbah and Younis should retire for new blood to take over.
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Aug 08, 2016 02:27am
Everyone is blaming Hafeez and Younis. What about Asad, Sarfaraz, Rahat, Aamir and Yasir? They didn't perform either!!
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Aug 08, 2016 02:34am
Rohit Sharma was right...don't go gaga about Amir...He is just above average. Just play him out for first 4 over. He is not lethal like Waseem.
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Aug 08, 2016 03:03am
Both bowling and batting failed badly in the second innings. I didn't agree to Misbah's choice of bowling first, and neither did I like bowling wide instead of trying to take wickets. Yasir failed in both the matches after Lords and now we must play both Iftekhar and Zulfiqar baber replacing Hafeez and Yasir Shah. I wouldn't replace Younis. He has the capacity and capability of winning a match.
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Aug 08, 2016 03:22am
What a fantastically exciting test cricket. Result in the final session of the day after 5 hard fought days. Credit to Pakistan team for competing outside home conditions.
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Aug 08, 2016 03:52am
Test cricket is as much a mental challenge as technical. Paks simply couldn't withstand that one crucial hour of examination. Losing 4 of your 6 top order guys for less than 10 runs is inexcusable.
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Aug 08, 2016 03:59am
@joe grow up . Our battling line collapsed as expected
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Aug 08, 2016 04:02am
@Qadir Shah Birmingham By the way Iphone is made in China as well LOL
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Aug 08, 2016 04:33am
Inzamam is a big Liability. He favors, Hafeez, Younis and other 2 caps for his own personal reasons. Alongwith Hafeez and Younis, show the door to Inzamam. Find a honest and sincere person like A.H. Kardar who can create a good team and good players.
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Aug 08, 2016 04:36am
@joe
Do you have a count, how many catches on Amir's bowling were "not taken" by Hafeez.? This is a conspiracy, throw Hafeez out....
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Aug 08, 2016 04:53am
@Harmony-1© it is always what should have been
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Aug 08, 2016 04:53am
@joe I was waiting for that
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Aug 08, 2016 05:25am
nearly doesnt count you are losers! so accept it and get your acts together!
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Aug 08, 2016 05:42am
The players are disturbed because PCB is sending their families back home.
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Aug 08, 2016 06:01am
Kill the merit and you arrive at the same situation every time
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Aug 08, 2016 06:15am
Do English or Australian sides get the same hate and disrespect for their own supporters? Pakistan blanked England in last two home series and sri Lanka who looked like a pub team in England, blanked world top test side at home. Everyone wins at home these days but still, Pakistan should have drawn this match but this is cricket.
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Aug 08, 2016 06:15am
Do English or Australian sides get the same hate and disrespect for their own supporters? Pakistan blanked England in last two home series and sri Lanka who looked like a pub team in England, blanked world top test side at home. Everyone wins at home these days but still, Pakistan should have drawn this match but this is cricket.
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Aug 08, 2016 06:34am
Its strange that the Pakistan team cannot survive a full day on a very docile and flat track. One of the reasons for their collapse, not just in this game, but also in the recent past, has been an overtly defensive approach, where the batsmen just allow the opposition to bully them and invite increasing pressure on themselves. They should be a bit more aggressive so that the opposition do not attack them with so many close in fielders.
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Aug 08, 2016 06:46am
What rubbish! ! Would you stop it, please. Don't you see this not good for anything
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Aug 08, 2016 07:47am
All the losers
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Aug 08, 2016 07:48am
@Optimist
"The players are disturbed because PCB is sending their families back home."
This is an explanation I did not see coming. Joe's "conspiracy / fixing" theory I was expecting, but not this. Wow!!!!
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Aug 08, 2016 07:52am
There was not justification of selecting Hafeez in the team. Any chase of over 200 runs is impossible for this fragile batting line up.
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Aug 08, 2016 09:05am
By the way who is paying for the wives and kids of Hafiz and Younis travelling with them. Misbah is no cricket brain. He has no strategy and cannot motivate its players. He is there but he is not a leader.
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Aug 08, 2016 09:18am
11+ overs left, this can't be termed as a near draw, may be upto 3 to 5 overs can be termed near draw.
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Aug 08, 2016 09:20am
Rahat Ali + Sohail Khan combined score in two innings =64
Younas Khan + Asad Shafeeq +Hafeez combined score in two innings =37
I don,t think it needs any more explanation than this
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Aug 08, 2016 09:56am
@Rahmat Ali
"In the context of the game"....those are the operative words. I am afraid I disagree with you --- and agree with whoever gave the headline. When established batsmen were falling like nine pins, the last pair held out for so long, and nearly pulled it off. THAT is the point the author is trying to make, and I agree with him.
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Aug 08, 2016 10:36am
@Waseem Sarwar PCB is taken wrong decision to allowed families to travel with team. Now team members are busy with family activities and picnic, no practice, they do not have time for cricket, on free money they enjoying. Team looks tired and not in fighting mode. Families of cricketers to be banned to travel with them.
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Aug 08, 2016 11:10am
@Jaffer ali Mirali : you are 100 % rights you are well aware under what circumstances, heat, sponsorship, transfer, poor health care, small residence, we save foreign for our country Pakistan to bringing reserve $23B, which are lowest in compare to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Philipine. Think about cold weather of Europe, USA they work on icy condition, See how immigrants by boat trying to cross Europe only to get jobs. We save our hard currencies and sending to our families. These cricketers under Sharyar khan spending hard foreign exchange with their families for what they are 100 % wastage of foreign exchange.
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Aug 08, 2016 11:32am
We excel in criticizing. No team would have survived that half an hour of reverse bowling by England bowlers. By the time the tail came, the ball had stopped reversing. That is why, both Sohail and Rahat managed to stay that long at the crease.
Had Pakistan pulled off a draw, we would have showered our team with praises. I think that this loss is a blessing in disguise because had we drawn the match, we would have continued with the same team. And hence, potentially increased the chances of losing the last match and the series. We still have a chance to level the series provided we make some changes in the team. They need to drop at least Hafeez and Younis
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