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KARACHI: Fans and former players slammed Pakistan's preparation and tactics on Monday after the side's heavy defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India in the World Twenty20.
Pakistan, one of the pre-tournament favourites, went down by eight wickets in the Super Eights match at Premadasa stadium in Colombo on Sunday, watched by millions in the cricket-mad country.
The defeat leaves Pakistan with a must-win last match against in-form Australia on Tuesday to reach the semi-finals, and ex-players questioned captain Mohammad Hafeez's decision to bat first after winning the toss.
“Pakistan should have realised that India's strong point is their batting and they can chase a big total, so why did they bat first?” said former captain Aamir Sohail. “Our eleven was not chosen with India in mind.”
India rolled Pakistan for a meagre 128 in 19.4 overs before Virat Kohli smashed a brilliant unbeaten 61-ball 78 to steer his side home in 17 overs, avoiding an early Super Eights exit.
Test great Zaheer Abbas said Pakistan went into the game against their biggest rivals under prepared.
“It seemed there was no planning for the crucial match,” said Abbas. “You need to do proper planning for a match against India but I saw that the team panicked and there was no plan to stop Kohli.”
The match was only the third encounter between the two sides in two years.
India beat Pakistan in the semi-final of the World Cup (50 overs) in Mohali last year and also won the Asia Cup tie in Bangladesh earlier this year.
“It hurts when we lose to India,” said Ishtiaq Ali, who watched the match with a group of friends on a big screen in Karachi.
“Pakistan should lose to any team but not to India, because it’s sentimental.”
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Comments (96) Closed
Oct 02, 2012 06:50am
Malik and Arafat, definitley yest but Akmal, he is the only batsmen we have:) Play Afridi as a bowler who can be slotted to play a max 5 balls. For a proper allrounder, include Abdul Razzaq.
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Oct 01, 2012 07:30pm
totally agree with Mandal's comments - Pls let sports be taken as sports not Indo/Pak Politics !
Grow up Indians & Pakies ......
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Oct 02, 2012 09:18am
i have been following Pakistan cricket since there inaguration match against India in 1952. For me this defeat is a humiliation. The heads must role, Chairmen cricket board, coach and the captain should be immediately removed. Please stop hiring white foreign coaches and wasting foreign exchange. we have enough talent at home.
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Oct 01, 2012 06:31pm
You are right, Mr. Mandal. agreed
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Oct 02, 2012 06:51am
until we have a plan against opposite team we can not win. against it seems against caption has no plan. indian players watch other tames playing.
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Oct 03, 2012 09:57am
Saad,
Very good point,,but remember, it does not work every time,,Do you remember India loosing a match after the ball was given to the God of Indian cricket team Sachin Tendulkar,,,
So, I dont think that is the point. The point is The Pakistani team did prepare for the regular bowlers but of course did not prepare for the unseen bowlerslike
Yuvraj who was missing from action since the last 2 yrs,,,So, may be it worked for the Indians that ways,,But Bro,,now just a simple request from the pak bros,,,take the trophy man,, Make sure it is in Asia and not with the Kangaroos Ausizz..
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Oct 02, 2012 04:17am
But did you watched other matches beside the world cup. Pakistan still has more wins against India. My little Indian friend.
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Oct 02, 2012 06:01pm
...in world cups, G.A.
Mr. Karthik, that is quite a different story. Can't compare both situations.
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Oct 01, 2012 09:41pm
The team is jinxed when it comes to playing India.
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Oct 01, 2012 07:46pm
yes, we have to 'leave' along with each other
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Oct 03, 2012 10:03am
ABSOLUTLY AGREE WITH Dr. RIZ,,,
Regards
Rajat - India
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Oct 01, 2012 03:49pm
my explanation for Pakistan defeat goes this way
Pakistan did have a game plan to hit all the balls what it may be so that Indian bowling will crack under pressure. ( may be the coach gave this plan to the captain)
First few overs worked out same way . Then India started bowling slow and even short. Pakistan batsmen instead of adjusting to new unexpected scenario , kept on trying to hit ,but since ball was too slow , they could not ,got frustrated and threw their wickets.
With 128 on board any team will win.
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Oct 02, 2012 07:36am
I believe it was lack of mismanagement. We didn't score well later on we didn't attack them well with attacking field. When India lost their first wicket we could place a fielder in slip and took catches. Secondly poor fielding and catch dropping habit took us down.
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Oct 02, 2012 09:08am
Media is also equally responsible for the defeat in the hands of India, because each and every channel in the Main News Bulletin and Main Headline, praised so high about the players, without realizing, the bating power of Indian team. Our main bowlers have also failed, Saeed Ajaml also could not perform his ability. *I suggest Media should play a normal role,
thank you
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Oct 01, 2012 03:41pm
Thanks for your voice of reason. Even the best team can have a bad day. I am from Pakistan and have no shame in saying the India is one of the best team. Losing to them or any other team is part of the game. Pakistani team should have put a better fight though. May be case of nerves?
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Oct 01, 2012 03:43pm
It seems Pakistan have never had a tenacious plans against India. Pakistani Players are full of fear and trepidation when playing against India. Our team needs counselors who can raise their inner strength and optimistic self-image.
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Oct 01, 2012 06:19pm
Aman ki Aasha! Pakistan made to give in to keep India in the tournament.
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Oct 02, 2012 10:41am
I don't know why Razzaq is not playing??? he is a powerful hitter of the ball, may be a victim of internal politics. I don't know why Afridi hasn't retired yet..his reflexes are getting slower, he is not a fear factor anymore. Junaid khan and Wahab Riaz?, where are our fast bowlers? What is Yasir Arafat doing in the team when players like Razzaq are available?.... In short, i agree, the Pakistani team doesn't have a plan at all.
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Oct 01, 2012 06:26pm
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Oct 01, 2012 03:35pm
Pakistan were under-prepared, mentally of-cause
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Oct 01, 2012 07:19pm
Woo there is tooo deadly narrow mindedness on your side as compared to us
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Oct 01, 2012 12:37pm
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Oct 02, 2012 05:26am
Plan, they did have... it's a pity it didn't work and they didn't have a plan B
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Oct 02, 2012 07:31am
Asad shafiq and Abdul Razzaq should be the part of Pak Team for do an die match vs. Aus.
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Oct 01, 2012 09:59pm
Very well said when will we grow up and be proud neighbours!
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Oct 02, 2012 05:57pm
What talking to yourself now, too? Hahaha!!
only kidding guys.
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Oct 01, 2012 09:11pm
To be honest i am so bored of watching Pakistan get slaughtered by India, i am nearly 40 yrs old and since i was a child i have watched all the world cups and just seen Pakistan lose lose lose. Cant we just admit India is a better cricketing nation!
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Oct 01, 2012 06:13pm
This is a problem with our country we do not look at the bigger pictures. For us loosing to india is like end of the world. the aim should to win the T20 World cup. you cant win every match. we are like this in every issue facing our country not only cricket. we only look at short term gains. we want every thing in a min and dont want to work to achive the result.
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Oct 01, 2012 06:12pm
No doubt sports is to be in good shape to overcome other problems. Need sportsman spirit, our spirits are dead no doubt.
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Oct 01, 2012 08:12pm
I don't know, why to empathizing on the sentimental word, it all about putting the best on a particular day. Pakistan - India ties are always give thrilling experience and reflect the core excitement. Sometime the cricketers are blamed to not puting their best, how would know some they are not willing to win.
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Oct 01, 2012 01:37pm
Well said. The best possible outcome is the one where the side that played well wins the day. Indian team were the better team on the day and deserved to win. Congrats.
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Oct 01, 2012 01:36pm
Agreed!!
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Oct 02, 2012 04:41am
i fully agree with you.Both countries media is creating unnecessary hype.They are creating war like situation. Due to this not only palyers but general puplic become tense. We should not forget this fact that India has emereged good professionel cricket team over they years. They have now good infrastructure than pakistan.Pakistani team lack professionalism they give in when we expect them to deliver. But cricket is cricket win and loss is a part of the game.
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Oct 01, 2012 07:32pm
You are bloody right man! People on both sides of the border need to come out of this chauvinistic mind set. Grow up yaar and enjoy the game!
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Oct 03, 2012 08:30am
Yes. Pakistan has more wins than India as in earlier days, both teams met mostly in Sharjah where Pakistan played with 13 players. The moment neutral umpires came into picture, the scene has reversed.
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Oct 01, 2012 10:28pm
I am an Indian living in the US. I admired Umar Akmal's attempt and even found myself rooting that he catch it. Not because I didn't support India but because it would have been a Jhonty Rhodes moment by an Asian (We don't see too much of that unfortunately.) I frequently read both Pakistani and Indian newspapers to get both sides of a story and the comments by both sides on any story generally leave me with a bad taste and very little hope of things getting better. I applaud the people commenting here for showing their class. Kudos to all of you. I now have rekindled hope that we can live side by side like brothers in arms. All the best to Pakistan against Australia and to India agains SA. May the best teams win.
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Oct 02, 2012 12:39am
at least once
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Oct 01, 2012 07:54pm
Who says that the team didn't had a plan. To reinforce a frail top order they decided to promote Afridi who has been a walking wicket for quite some time. In bowling it was decided no bowler should get a slip and all the field should be spread out.
To bench Shafiq and Razzaq is a crime for which the team management should be held accountable.
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Oct 02, 2012 02:42am
we have lost it in every aspect of life from judiciary to democracy, from politicians to sportsmanship. Allah's anger is upon us. People who don't learn from their mistakes are bound to repeat them. its time to do it or lose everything forever.
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Oct 02, 2012 02:36am
May be Pakistan Cricket Team should do some "Yoga" to calm their nerves before they face Indian team
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Oct 01, 2012 05:57pm
Very well expressed Mandal!
The question is, do we expect them to grow up or mature?
My answer is, not at least in my life time!
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Oct 02, 2012 05:36am
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
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Oct 02, 2012 08:27am
funny Indians felt the same thing when playing Pakistan especially from 1986 to 1990
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Oct 02, 2012 02:28am
I beg to differ, they did have a plan to loose.
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Oct 02, 2012 06:18am
You can boast on your pseudo intellect as much as you want. I wonder if our players go on to the field with a thinking like yours, they would hardly win any matches against any side. Its the passion and "sentiments" against each other which drives the players to give their best shot which eventually makes the match exciting and interesting. The men in business (players) have no problem with these sentiments but you seem to have a lot of problems with that. Grow up and show your secularism and philanthropy at right places not in a forum like this.
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Oct 01, 2012 04:58pm
It is so nice to read something positive actually humane from our friend across the border. Yes we should take a sport as a game and not ego.
Kudos to Tathagata Mandal..........
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Oct 02, 2012 04:12am
Nearly 40? You're a kid that hasn't seen Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Mushtaq Mohammed and Zaheer Abbas in their day. You haven't seen the Sharjah matches.
I have seen both and I think this is nothing compared to the thrashing India got routinely and sickeningly in those days.
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Oct 02, 2012 05:54am
100 % im with u uncle..:-)
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Oct 01, 2012 11:48pm
I agree with the sentiments BUT first Pakistan has to win!
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Oct 01, 2012 05:02pm
Please put Razzaq in the playing 11. He has shown consistency in the matches against Australia in UAE. DROP AFRIDI PLEASE
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Oct 02, 2012 09:52pm
We simply need to rest out of form players like Afridi and Umer Akmal, for the next match. The team must take to the ground in a positive,relax and confident mode.
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Oct 02, 2012 05:49am
Enough is enough: Four players must be eliminated from pakistan team: Shahid Afredi, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik and Yaser Arafat; Otherwise face the humiliation as long as they are in the team.
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Oct 01, 2012 10:46pm
I doubt it being possible in next decade or so, as the politicians had been using the hate against the other for so long to gather support(an thus votes), that it has seeped deep into the mentality of general public. And as such it would take a long time to clear the misconceptions.
Indeed it has been their lust for power, the cause for most of the problems. They can do to the depths of cheapness to get that. Even if it may involve the most hideous of actions.
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Oct 02, 2012 08:18am
We all become Monday morning quarter backs after a defeat. We have an average team that plays in a very erratic way. We can beat the best in world on a given day and than loose to a weakest team on the very next day. One or two changes in a team can only have a limited and short lived impact. We need players like Miandad, Imran and Wasim if we want to be the best in the world again.
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Oct 01, 2012 10:56pm
Semi-final in Mohali. I don't know what it is...call it pressure, stress or fear that they freeze up and stop thinking like a child has seen a monster who freezes completely? In my view, talent is not the issue. It is the lack of mental skills to think of strategy, carrying strong nerves and acting maturely against India. In my view, they should go in to play with India as if the would loose stress free based on past perfromances and then see what happens. The Pakistan team takes on unwarranted stress walking into the cricket field as if they are entering a battle field. Cricket is a sport and play it as a sport to win.That's it.
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Oct 02, 2012 05:05am
Very well said!
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Oct 01, 2012 11:57pm
Lets get out of this India centric mentality and focus on playing good cricket. Pakistan it seems, has not been able to get out of the shadow of India.
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Oct 02, 2012 05:29am
Agreed...
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Oct 02, 2012 02:00am
I agree with u Amir. We need to change our perception.
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Oct 01, 2012 02:48pm
Credit goes to umpires.
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Oct 01, 2012 03:11pm
its just a game, fellas.
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Oct 03, 2012 04:11am
Guys relax... Okay so we lost to India...We got the jitters and didn't have a plan. What is new??? It is very easy for us to talk about all their faults. However, we are in the semi's and India is out. Lets enjoy the semi-finals and cricket. Pakistan is a very unprediticable team and hope on Thursday we see the strong Pakistan cricket team
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Oct 01, 2012 06:46pm
Pakistan vs India is one of the biggest if not "the biggest" rivalries in any form of sport. When you think of others, Ashes, Manunited vs Liverpool, Packers vs Bears, Nicks vs Bulls all come to mind. It is good for the sport for these types of rivalries to be nourished otherwise the matches would slide into mediocrity. I am a Pakistani and a cricket lover. Although I have not been able to watch cricket on a regular basis while in the US, I, like millions of others look forward to a Pakistan vs India encounter at any venue.
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Oct 01, 2012 02:43pm
Team Pakistan came under extreme pressure developed as a result of media hype. The team was not allowed any option other than to thrash the opponent, this is not fare. All sort of flashy & flamboyant messages & slogans were storming the mind of the public as well as the players, this made them nervous and effected their performance. Winning or loosing is always a part of the game, so restrain should be shown.
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Oct 01, 2012 12:51pm
i totally agree with the above comment .Its time we get over these small issues and address the real issues like poverty and health . We need to treat game as game ,which can bring us thrill thats all.
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Oct 01, 2012 02:43pm
I loved Dhoni's plan of keep giving surprises to Pakistani batsmen with a different bowler each time. Batsman takes 3 balls of each over to understand the bowler, and by then it is too late. Dhoni did not give long spells to any of the bowler. He gave overs to batsmen, just to keep it different and difficult to understand. It worked, I was expecting same from Hafeez. He should have given smaller spells and 1-2 overs to his batsmen for the surprise factor.
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Oct 01, 2012 02:57pm
i believe that who will ball first will have 80% chance of win the match.
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Oct 02, 2012 08:55am
Lack of mismanagement? Were you expecting more mismanagement?
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Oct 01, 2012 02:38pm
I think there were two main factors to Pakistan defeat:
1) Pakistan shouldn't have selected to bast first.
2) Pakistan did not handled pressure well while India managed the pressure very well
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Oct 01, 2012 01:33pm
Oh my! ... This is just a game. You win some and you loose some. The "greats" are acting like they never lost a game in their life. Sadly, Pakistan lost the game that counted while winning the warm-up game in style. India has a far better batting line-up than Pakistan. The numbers prove the case. What the "greats" should question is, where are the U-19 players who triumphed over Kohli and Raina back in the day? In this case, Indian Cricket honed the talent and allowed them to surface. And yet Pakistan geared to "survival" mode and stayed with the 30 somethings. Lack of preparation goes way back.
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Oct 01, 2012 02:36pm
People in Pakistan do like Indian players and appreciate their awesomeness like Tandulkar for example.
I agree with Mr Mandal, this mentality has to change.
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Oct 01, 2012 02:32pm
Yeah.... agree to the idea..... but you got more to do..... convince your government to play more often, and do something with Bal Thakray......
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Oct 01, 2012 02:32pm
Mr.Mandal can't help it,unless if both team plays regularly then sentiment can be replace by common sense/sportsmen spirit.
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Oct 01, 2012 02:26pm
i appreciate you man.. its just a game.. and a team either wins or looses.. so we should not take it that way..
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Oct 01, 2012 04:49pm
We have complained about the capability of Pakistan Cricket team in the past and we are again doing it today!! Is there any accounatabilty?? my Spanish friend( who does not understand anything about cricket) sponateously commented at the "lack of concentration" when a catch was dropped!! I think it was a fair comment!-something the Coach and team management should instill in the team.
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Oct 03, 2012 07:31am
Dear Mr Sayani,
The way catches were dropped by Akmal jr and Imran Nazir, it looked like the match was fixed. Thats purely my opinion.
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Oct 02, 2012 09:34pm
Pakistan has wasted unlimited player potential over the years. Abdul Razzak should have been kept in the fore front all along, discounting the loss of form that happens to all players. Who knows the politics behind selection or rejection of the players? Pakistan's strength is its bowling. It is mediocre in batting and fielding and a powerful all rounder like Razzak would be a front line player in any cricket playing country.
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Oct 01, 2012 12:56pm
i hope the day comes sooner then latter when the people on the both sides accept this reality that we have to leave along with each other.
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Oct 02, 2012 09:40pm
Unprofessional, PCB down to Captain and most players.
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Oct 01, 2012 04:35pm
Did Not have plan, technique, physique, skills, or mental toughness!!
Can some of the women player qualify to play in the team instead??
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Oct 01, 2012 06:15pm
I fully agree with you, Mandal!
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Oct 02, 2012 02:48pm
for God sake, pls do not mix politics in cricket. winning or loosing is part of game. Enough is enough...now we need to see india-pak match as game, not war.
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Oct 01, 2012 05:14pm
I don't mind if Pakistan loses to India after putting a good game but losing like that is not acceptable against any team. BTW, I agree 100% with comments above.
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Oct 01, 2012 07:18pm
Sports should unite people But in case of India and Pakisthan it divides
Why India shouldn't lose against Pakisthan or vice versa It is just a game
Agreed We have fought with each other three times but See Europe they were fighting against each other till 1950 Now they have stopped and have made lot of Progress. The People of India and pakisthan share common regional and cultural background and if we come together we can have a prosperous India and Pakisthan else we spen money in Nuclear Arms and covertly attack each other and our people will be always poor
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Oct 01, 2012 05:22pm
Hmm absolutely right. But still i would say that atleast pakistan should fight well to meet the oppenent at its best so we can say that pakistan fought well before being put in down.
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Oct 01, 2012 07:17pm
Hafeez cannot perform under pressure.
There is no logic in persisting with Yasir Arafat when he is used for one or two overs only and his average runs per overis extremely high.
Hafeez should bat lower down the order. Pakistan needs to make a couple of changes. Give chance to Mohammad sami and Abdul Razzak.
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Oct 01, 2012 05:41pm
It is Media that should grow up
Game is game ...one has to lose....timings is most important
Chasing is always better ....as one know what is must
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Oct 02, 2012 11:40am
Keep in mind that India and Pakistan's cricket is winning here. It is simply a match take it as it is....
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Oct 02, 2012 01:51am
lol ... kinda agree with you :)
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Oct 01, 2012 08:00pm
yes it is sports and not war.I can not see in near future any changes in the sentiments between Indians and Pakistanis when it comes to cricket or say hockey.I say for a starters stop the drama of the flag retreat ceremony at wagha border.
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Oct 02, 2012 02:53am
One more thing if indian part time ballers can come in and boss us around every single time then don't you think i deserve to be in the team. shame on our players.
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Oct 01, 2012 11:00pm
The headline says that Pakistan did not have a game plan against India. I wonder when do they ever have a plan when playing with India from watching this match and also the ICC worldcup Semi-final in Mohali. I don
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Oct 02, 2012 06:44am
Situation of HOPE, why we always have to cling on HOPE to get Team Pakistan qualified. The who didnt play well have no right to qualify.
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Oct 02, 2012 06:41am
I agree with Irfan here. Indian team also carries lot of pressure when they go for a match against Pakistan. But Pakistan team carries almost an unbearable pressure as every Pakistani attaches so much of emotions for win against India. You can see that from the number of tweets and discussions within Pakistanis. The pressure is so visible on the faces of the players. One batsman clearly nicked the ball to Dhoni but kept on denying it while walking back. I feel it is injustice to your players. Treat them as human beings and not robots which have been created to massage you ego by bringing every win.
On a lesser degree, it is applicable for Indians as well.
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Oct 02, 2012 08:25am
Asad Shafiq can serve as a good replacement for Afridi
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Oct 02, 2012 06:28am
Congratulations to India on their super performance! Why is that "our boys" never do special planning against India? Indians have even been given special counseling treatment and medicines to calm their nerves and enhance their performance. I ask you have they done serious preparations against the match today with Australia.? Must go with a "do or die attitude". Allah subhan wa tala will help,Inshallah! Good luck to the lads.
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