A few (potentially) good men

E-Paper | May 12, 2026

With the spot-fixing scandal taking the limelight in blogosphere, I wanted to write about something different, something we can look forward to, something for the future.

As our Test team evidently struggled during the recent tour, and with the prospect of losing our best bowlers to the controversy, I decided to put together a group of players who can replace some of the players in the current line-up and represent the country for years to come.

Some players may have been over-looked or even omitted on purpose, given their age or poor performances in the recent past. One criterion for selecting these players was their age, so that they can play at the top level for at least five years. While some have already represented Pakistan in Twenty20, ODI and even Test level, they have not been able to cement their place. Some players have only been notably mentioned but that does not mean that they are any less deserving.

(Note: First-class bowling and batting ranks have been taken from the PCB domestic ranking system.)

Batsmen Asad Shafiq (Right-hand bat) Age: 24 First -class batting rank: 4 First-class average: 43.7 2009/10 Quaid-e -Azam Trophy: 1104 runs @ 64.94 in 11 matches (Four centuries, four half-centuries) 2009/10 First-class season: 1244 runs @ 49.76 2007/08 First-class season: 926 runs @ 57.9 Notes: Highest scorer in the last season of Quaid-e-Azam trophy. Plays up the order and opens the batting in domestic cricket, a position that Pakistan has been struggling to fill at Test level.

Naved Yasin (Left-hand bat) Age: 23 First -class batting rank: 17 First-class average: 54.05 2009/10 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: 1055 runs @ 70.3 in 10 matches (6 centuries, 2 fifties) 2008/09 First-class season: 517 runs @ 57.44 2009/10 First-class season: 1230 runs @ 64.7 Notes: Second highest scorer after Asad Shafiq in the QA trophy despite playing four innings less than him. Was included in the probables of Pakistan’s tour of England but was later declared injured.

Aamer Sajjad (Right-hand bat) Age: 29 First-class batting rank: 1 First-class average: 43.54 2009/10 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: 831 runs @ 51.93 in 10 matches (2 centuries, 3 fifties) 2009/10 First Class season: 1435 runs @ 68.33 2008/09 First Class season: 669 runs @ 44.6 Notes: An experienced batsman who has been consistently performing at the first-class level. However, he has failed to break into the national side despite an impressive record as the position was occupied by world-class batsmen like Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq. He now has a chance to fit into the squad that desperately needs quality reinforcements.

Notable mentions: Khalid Latif, Khurram Manzoor, Fawad Alam , Taufeeq Umar

Bowlers

Mohammad Rameez (Right-arm fast-medium) Age: 20 First Class bowling rank: 4 First Class average: 20.21 2009/10 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: 70 wickets @ 18.39 (10 wickets/match hauls x 3) 2009/10 First Class season: 79 wickets @ 20.27 2008/09 First Class season: 41 wickets @ 17.61 Notes: Played for Pakistan Under-19 along with Mohammad Amir and Umar Akmal. Since then he has made a huge impact at the domestic level and is surely one for the future. He hails from Rawalpindi, so could possibly be Pakistan’s next Rawalpindi express.

Zulfiqar Babar (Slow left-arm) Age: 31 First Class bowling rank: 2 First Class Average: 20.20 2009/10 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: 69 wickets @ 16.43 (10 wickets/match hauls x 2) 2009/10 First Class season: 96 wickets @ 16.8 2008/09 First Class season: 30 wickets @ 25.53 Notes: Came back into the first-class arena after a six-year hiatus and is knocking on the door of the national team after a career-best firsl-class season last year.

Samiullah Khan (Left-arm medium-fast) Age: 28 First Class bowling rank: 1 First Class average: 19.10 2009/10 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: 27 wickets @ 16.55 (5 wickets/innings hauls x 3) 2009/10 First-class season: 45 wickets @ 15.88 2008/09 First-class season performance: 44 wickets @ 20.45 Notes: An experienced medium pacer who has an unmatched record at the domestic level. He has been playing for the last eight years and has managed to keep his season bowling averages under the elusive 20-run mark for four years.

Notable Mentions: Abdur Rehman, Junaid Khan, Tanvir Ahmed , Asad Ali

Wicket-KeepersZulqarnain Haider (Right-hand bat) Age: 24 First Class average: 34.85 2009/10 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: 495 runs @ 55 in 8 matches (one century, eight half-centuries) 2008/09 First Class season: 461 runs @ 35.46 in 11 matches Notes: A gutsy batsman who took England head-on during the Edgbaston Test as his team faced the prospect of an innings defeat. With his resolute 88 was able to help Pakistan avoid follow-on and drew comparisons with Jack Russell and Javed Miandad.

Sarfraz Ahmed (Right-hand bat) Age: 23 First Class average: 43.34 2009/10 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: 129 runs @ 32.25 in 7 matches 2008/09 First Class season: 869 runs @ 48.27 in 14 matches 2007/08 First Class season: 649 runs @ 64.9 in 12 matches Notes: An aggressive young batsman with an impressive batting and wicket-keeping record. He has been breathing down the neck of Kamran Akmal for a while as his widely known to posses the safest hands behind the stumps in Pakistan.

In addition to the above-mentioned players, it is worth mentioning that the Pakistan Under-19 team has been impressive at international level but very few members are able to break into the national squad. The players who have made it have been immensely successful at the international level. A few notable mentions in this category are Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed and lately Umar Akmal and Mohammad Amir. Pakistan has been notorious for thrwoing young players to the national side and then disposing of them at their fist failure. Such casualties include Hasan Raza, Ahmed Shehzad and Sohail Khan. It is therefore imperative that these youngsters are handled with care and are given ample opportunities to prove their mettle.

Bilal Hayat is a sports intern at Dawn.com.

The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.

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Obhai

Sep 21, 2010 12:12pm

Surely you mean the other way around!

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bharath

Sep 21, 2010 05:21am

Pls dont bring guys like Shoaib Malik who create internal politics and hamper the team spirit. Bring guys who have pride in playing for Pakistan. Educate the players about the consequences of fixing. Pakistan has a lot of unearthed talent, i hope they will not go back and pick players who players can poison the young minds.

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abdullah

Sep 24, 2010 05:02am

Keep it up! Bilal

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Khizr

Sep 24, 2010 08:02am

Let's also get rid of the Manager of the team and the current Chairman of PCB. Also Akmal brothers must go and we should plan backfill for Mohammad Yousuf. No place for Shoiab Malik either. Team should be kept away from the types of Mazhar Majeed. and the management should help hire professional promototers for the players. Also an international reputed PR firm should be hired for the team.

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annuaire

Sep 20, 2010 07:02pm

Nice . . keep it up

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Hookah

Sep 24, 2010 09:05am

we need young blood in cricket, to protect the future of cricket.

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Waseem

Sep 20, 2010 11:59am

Very well said Vaseem. btw you are the first one that I have seen who write Waseem with a V.

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vijay, India

Sep 20, 2010 12:12pm

Replace the above mentioned players with the existing pak players straight away.

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syed makki shah

Sep 20, 2010 12:22pm

Out of every difficult time comes an opportunity. The PCB should use the fact that it is under the spotlight to weed out the bad practices highlighted by the contributors here. Introduce a more independant and more commercial driven PCB, working for its players, and partners and independant of political meandering. appoint a CEO with a stable tenure a good job, and provide better trainng to the players, including personal mentoring on finances, invesetment, media and also even Languages. the money is there and pakistani players are so talented they dont need the IPL or indeed bookies from India to make money and be famous. we can use this opportunity. the thing is though, like pakistan after every natural disaster and many man made ones, we will forget and go back to the same old same old

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Muhammad Saleem

Sep 20, 2010 01:01pm

Its really disgusting to know that despite good talents waiting to be inducted in the team, they are being neglected and not considered for the national team. Our team desperately needs new talents which are there in ample but never been selected. During Imran Khan's era players were selected on merit but today cricket adopted politics. Players with influential background are being selected irrespective of their talent. Its time to shuffle PCB before its too late. Imran Khan should head the PCB and Jawed Miandad should head the Coach. Players like Shoaib Akhtar, Fawad Alam, Hafeez and Ajmal should be replaced with the new talent. If this is not done now, Pakistan team's future will be in jeopardy and we should not expect to even enter the quarter final of the next World Cup.

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Nargila

Sep 20, 2010 01:01pm

I think , these new cricket team .up lift the nation again to glory , with pride.

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Ibrahim

Sep 20, 2010 06:59am

Do we are good enough to play the international cricket. As we see our team which was in 1990 /2000 why can't we get that type of players as in Pakistan we have lot n lots of talented young players how are playing in clubs why we are using the the same players like Umer Akmal. how is good for nothing. why can we get players like Abdul Razaq a perfect all rounder

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qazwsx

Sep 20, 2010 06:02am

Pakistan management has been so slow and inefficient in responding to recent allegations about 3rd ODI. Why and how ECB had to decide whether they will continue with the series. Whenever Pakistan Team wins, English media cannot accept their defeat and start maligning our team's image. PCB should take strong notice of this.

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Bilal - UAE

Sep 20, 2010 03:47am

Politics in the game must end, I dun remember his name but in the recent series he was brought on and he scored 80 something in the first match and also was the wicket keeper, had a small injury and was set aside, why? this is a pure example of politics in the team where new guys who performs are set aside cause they may end up replacing the old goons. Pakistan is full of talent like mohammed amir and yousaf, but due to corrupt approach by the PCB in every department, the talent is being wasted. "honest" guys will never get a chance, if someone perfoms in domestic, must get into team automatically, period., but only someone with "pawa" will make it to the team. My own brother was selected back in 2002-2003 for the A-Team, but the selector asked for bribe, he said "ye to lazim hay bhai", and we backed off, if you start something fair with 'haraam' then what will be the end? PCB needs a restructring 'danda' asap, and the rules for selecting guys needs a change, otherwise you will be saying 'fatiha' for the the cricket in pakistan soon.

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Hassan

Sep 20, 2010 01:43am

I totally agree with you Rafay, infact i get irritated when I read this kind of remarks from anyone. I grew up in Lahore and we never had anything against people from other provinces. We should remember that we are not playing for Lahore or Karachi but for Pakistan. I don't know why there is so much of hatered among eachother. I am not advocating that all players should be from Lahore or Punjab for that matter. I think the players should be judged on merits. Pakistan problem is lots of players will come and score good runs in the intial games and people think now we have a very good player but suddenly after some time that player can't perform. I don't understand the logic...

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Nadeem Ahmed

Sep 19, 2010 07:38pm

These youngester have excellent talent, and writer's analysis and support to these emerging players is commendable but most important question remains, what's going to happen with Pakistan at international scene? If situation doesn't get better soon enough, such statistics are useless. Untill present board is removed and a popular and strong figure like Imran Khan is not brought in, the situation will keep on detriorating till complete ban on Pakistan. Before start of one day Internationals, (in my view)there was fifty fifty chance that Pakistan will be banned for International cricket soon after England series ends , after three one day International it has become eighty to twenty percent against Pakistan.

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Nadeem Ahmed

Sep 19, 2010 03:33pm

If Ijaz Butt doesn't leave soon, we might end up not playing at all.

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NAVEED

Sep 24, 2010 01:36pm

what about Hammad Azam currently playing in under 19?.HIS average was 175 in under19 world cup. i guess he is the best all rounder. he got tons of talent

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IRTIZA KHAN

Sep 19, 2010 08:33am

you have shown execellent youg prospetucs of pakistan, we can utilize their services, i hope with in one years these players shall be placed of yousuf/kamran/razak/shahid/shoib/and off spinner saeed ajamal pakistan present lot like khurrfam/khalid/naved yaseen /sarfraz/sharyar ghani/sami are very good prosptus for pakitan,we should utlize their services for back purpose irrespective of issue defeat or vistory like engqland, which is going to preparetion of world by playing two off spinner we have to immediately try to make back of pakistan team, as p[layers mentioned like kamran/razak/shoib/saeed ajmal./yousuf has less of fitness in fielding, they can not provide a vital role in pakistan victory or in good place, we have to take risk for future propspetucs, these line of senior player can not deliever any positive outcome, just provide a fill in blank, and 11 players but they have no spark of winning combination for which we need to improve our gray area specially fielding,

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Faisal

Sep 19, 2010 08:01am

all good mentions....Pakistan's best opener btw in recent years in taufeeq umar....people seem to have forgotten his performance in South Africa...where the big names of Pakistan's batting have traditionally floundered - yousuf, inzi, to a lesser extend saeed anwar - all we have to do though is remove ijaz butt.. i have never ever seen such an instance where one man can have such a damaging impact on an organzation....

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Farhan

Sep 19, 2010 07:26am

The captain had a lot of say in the selection of this team, and he is a pathan from Karachi. Check your facts before you blurt your ignorance all over the internet.

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Mujtaba Mirza

Sep 18, 2010 10:30pm

We should encourage young players and I strongly feel that the present wicket-keeper needs to be replaced. Zulqarnain Hyder is a good choice.Is'nt he?

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Mr. Khan

Sep 26, 2010 06:48am

Well, first of all, thumbs Up for Bilal on such a good article on basis of some hidden truth. I agree with you guys but no completely. I think there is need to put PCB on proper track, unless PCB will not perform seriously, we cannot get benefit to put new talent/blood in team because initially they performed well after few series they will definitely affect by either PCB bad culture or mazar majeed. So I think we need to format good system rather line-up only talented players. Good system can automatically produce good players. Thanks

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M.Srinath

Sep 18, 2010 02:56pm

Not surprised by the wealth of talent Pakistan has. However, I am guilty of underestimating the present team's ability to surprise by their (mis)deeds on & off the field. The Sun's expose appears straight out of Ripley's 'Believe it or not'. I hope these 'potentially good men' are not left with the scorched earth by their seniors.

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Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

Sep 18, 2010 06:45pm

ICC must also investigate the circumstances under which England team snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the 3rd ODI. Now it is the credibility of ICC at stake.

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Rafay Hasan

Sep 18, 2010 08:51pm

Why is it that we have to have a battle between the two provinces. I grew up in Lahore and we thought of ourselves as Pakistanis not LAHORIS! And as qauid said many years ago "Pakistan first, then balochi sindhi KP" when i look at umar akmal and fawad Alam i think what great talent from PAKISTAN not LAHORE!!!!! so please look beyond these small detail sir and conspiracy theories. It reminds me of divide and rule and how we are soo immature that people can manipulate us in a split second!

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Irfan

Sep 18, 2010 07:02am

Please give these wicket keepers some chances too. Kamran Akmal has literally eaten alive excellent bowlers like Sami and Dinesh. We cannot afford to feed this carnivore anymore of our God-gifted talent. Also, Mr Imran Khan owes his complete fan-following; popularity; political career; world-fame; etc; etc to Pakistan cricket. If he is truly sincere with the country and patriotic he should openly and widely offer to become the PCB chairman, as it is also a fact that the way insha Allah he would be able to handle the mattes of Pakistan cricket, no other currently "known" Pakistani can. He should come out on the media and openly offer to the Pres and PM to let him become the chairman for 2 years WITHOUT outside interference and hopefully public and media pressure will support the cause and ensure that he does get the rank.

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Yawar Siddiqui

Sep 18, 2010 07:27am

I think Zulqarnain is a worthy prospect and should be considered over Kamran Akmal for South African tour. Asad Shafique will be a part of the team and his strokes are a bit classy which will take some burden of Yousuf in the middle order. Muhammad Rameez is fast, and he will get a chance soon. The only problem is when they get a chance they dont utilize it. Zulfiqar Babar i'm surprised has still not been called for the national side, he has a God gifted talent of spinning it a long way. A little hard work can get him playing at the top level. Sarfaraz needs to wait as we all know Zulqarnain has proved his worth.

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Kahn

Sep 18, 2010 08:41am

There are a couple of few good fast bowlers playing for Pakistan A currently against Srilanka A. Mohammed Talha and Junaid Khan both are peforming good. Also Hammad Azam is not scoring big but is taking regular wickets to be considered as a future allrounder.

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Ali Khan

Sep 18, 2010 09:29am

Whoever plays well, should be in the team. Simple. players from Peshawar have done better in recent years than Karachi players. Dont blame them. I agree that favorotism is a plague affecting Pakistan cricket, though. When the chairman of the board is a relative of the Defence Minister, what can you expect?

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Shahbaj from india

Sep 18, 2010 10:56am

I think this is better time for new talent to perfom there best

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Ahmed

Sep 18, 2010 04:41am

I agree with your comment.

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UMAIR AYOUB SHAIKH

Sep 24, 2010 10:43pm

Every body shud b given a chance..............

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dim-light

Sep 22, 2010 05:37pm

lolxxx.. sure everyone should be given chance..i agree.

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dim-light

Sep 22, 2010 05:40pm

what about Hammad Azam currently playing in under 19?. i guess he is the best all rounder. he got tons of talent yar. i am His fan.

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Gulshan

Sep 18, 2010 03:19am

These newcomers should get the equal opportunities and the players who are not performing well should be kicked out...its very disappointing that you have great players in the pipeline but front line is damn loosing everyday.

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Ijaz Sheikh

Sep 18, 2010 03:28am

YES. THERE SHOULD BE MAX ENCOURAGEMENT TO GROOM PLAYERS FROM PK & BALOCHISTAN, AK & GILGIT-BALTISTAN. BUT THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY UNDUE FAVOURS BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A RECIPE FOR DISASTER. ONLY ONE FORMULA WORKS TOWARDS SUCCESS: ALL INDIVIDUALS PROGRESS MUST BE BASED ON MERIT, HONESTY & HARD WORK.

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tahir

Sep 17, 2010 01:14pm

where is junaid khan who hav jus took 9 wikets agains SL A and he's got 157 in only 31 matches at 23 avg

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Ahmad

Sep 17, 2010 01:11pm

You've got be kidding. The amount of professionalism of the PCB during Tauqir Zia's era was highlighted by the fact that his son made it into the Pakistani XI, and hasn't been heard from since his dad got the boot.

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Amaar Bokhari

Sep 17, 2010 12:57pm

A commendable article highlighted to show our ' potential' talent in the country. However the name which I would like to emphasis is that of 'Hammad Azam' As you and the viewers may recall, this guy was sent to the T20 finals in the WI but was never utilised. To an extent it was harsh for his talents not to be exercised in crunch and important games when we could have used someone as handy as him - with both bat and ball - ( reluctanly saying ) in the field as well !! His inclusion becomes more emphatic after his 'good' performance with the Pakistant A squad in Sri Lanka. I hope our selectors give him the nod for the main team and actually end up using him for future Pakistan representation. The way controversies follow our cricketers we can only be grateful that such talents exist!

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Ahmed

Sep 17, 2010 12:56pm

We should request Gen Tauqir zia to come back and hold the reins of cricket in Pakistan - people of his stature and resolve can only deal with the current menace we have made of cricket!

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Nabil

Sep 17, 2010 12:37pm

Good article... Please bring in new guys as this is what we need. I don't know much, i'm a small guy but what i know is that Butt needs to go and Imran needs to come. Or get some 1 on the chair who can truly represent. cuz we need some serious representation @ the highest level... c'mon we can do it. we've done it before. Rise from the dead ppl... its about time...

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sara

Sep 17, 2010 12:17pm

We must give the LADS a chance after all there's no harm in doing this experiment. Good luck guys.

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Shah

Sep 17, 2010 01:50pm

Hammad Azeem is continously showing the character to turn the games around and can be a strong replacement for Abdul Razzaq

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Obaid

Sep 17, 2010 01:49pm

where is anwar ali ?? i have seen him bowling consistently well at domestic level and is considered to be a bowling all-rounder.

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Nadeem ...Texas

Sep 17, 2010 03:05pm

While a very welcome topic on Pakistan Cricket. But I believe the writer, while giving the CV of potential players should also mention the Domiciles and province of residence of these potentials....and should be sensitive enough to omit any one from karachi, so as not to get their hopes up.........................

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ali

Sep 17, 2010 02:57pm

I think we need to clean the mess in pakistan cricket. Nothing harm in trying and injecting new blodd into the team. The team may lose at the start but will get better in future. With all the top names in team, we are losing every other match anyway. We need to get away our full time attention form cricket and focus on other sports too and promote, as we can see what aisam-ul-haq done in tennis.

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ali

Sep 17, 2010 02:52pm

he' s talking about juniad khan not junaid zia.

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Tayyab Raza

Sep 17, 2010 02:27pm

Breath of fresh air after so much controversy. something good to read

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N Qazi

Sep 17, 2010 03:28pm

Fully agree with the conclusion,"Pakistan has been notorious for thrwoing young players to the national side and then disposing of them at their fist failure." (although sentence structure seems a bit ....) But then that's the story in every aspect; talent is wasted and 'purchi' cases are given chance be it jobs, top jobs, coveted posts, hence anything & everything.

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Vaseem Siddiqi

Sep 17, 2010 04:08pm

Anyone in PCB even slightly tainted with corruption whether they be administrators, coaching staff or players should be got rid of permanently in order to clean Pakistan cricket. No degree of dishonesty or corruption should be tolerated. I am sure there are sufficient number of decent people in Pakistan who can serve the country better not only in cricket but in all walks of life. Let us make change Pakistan and make it a GREAT nation where individuals progress is based on merit, honesty and hard work. I know I am a dreamer but together inshallah we can make the dream a reality.

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Irfan Rizvi

Sep 17, 2010 04:04pm

Ok one mistake and what else?. Now compare this to the current management and you will find tenure of Tauqeer Zia a great success.

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Altaf

Sep 17, 2010 04:42pm

Why cant Pakistan give there players a central contract and pay them a decent wage to live which will reduce the amount of fixers getting to your talented players,Lets start a new team and control all the agents from meeting the players

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Rizwan

Sep 17, 2010 05:05pm

I do hope that the current spot fixing controversy turns out to be a lie. After all Aamir was on his way to a legendary career and was most definitely the future of Pakistan cricket. Having said that, it's nice to know that we have a handful of young and talented players up our sleeves.

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Ijaz Sheikh

Sep 18, 2010 03:38am

A VALID SUGGESTION WORTHY OF FOLLOWING. BRING MERIT RATHER THAN 'SIFARISH' TO APPOINTMENTS.

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javed qamer

Sep 17, 2010 06:31pm

We need to give the young players a chance. The older players dont want to work hard to keep their place in the team. Thats why our fielding is so terrible. The players mentioned by you in your article should be groomed for test level play. We need to get Tauqir Zia back. Cricket management improved tremendously during his chairmanship. For cricket coaches and managers there should be a age limit. The old ones like Intikhab and Yawar Saeed should be sent to a retirement home.

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someone from karachi

Sep 17, 2010 06:36pm

WHEN WE WILL GIVE THE PLAYERS FROM SMALLER PROVINCE A CHANCE? HOW LONG THE CRICKET WILL BE DOMINATED BY PLAYERS FROM PUNJAB AND KARACHI?

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World Watcher

Sep 25, 2010 01:45pm

Isin't too obvious Zulqarnain Haider and Najaf Shah would never be a part of national team. Because of thier names...unless PCB establish use EEO (equal employment oppertunity) in Pak PCB..and i'm sure 99% PCB don't even know what is EEO is and how doest that work so sorry both of you...you both have no future in Pak national cricket team

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Aqil Siddiqi

Sep 17, 2010 08:34pm

What????Karachi?????Wake Up. Even Peshawar has more players then Karachi in our touring side. Our team for the longest time has been "Punjab Eleven". It is because of this bias and prejudice, that the whole nation is suffering. Give who ever deserve the chance, and then see how well we perform in international arena.

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Zubair

Sep 17, 2010 08:38pm

Very well written article, really highlights some of the top performers in our domestic circuit. But the selection is not based on merit, there are few players who are in b/c of nepotism . The selectors should be held accountable for not selecting these top performers, esp. when the international team is down on its knees. I don't understand why Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed and Umar Amin were given a chance over these top domestic performers, esp. Asad Shafiq and Navid Yasin even though they were piling runs in domestic....

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simba

Sep 17, 2010 08:46pm

you need to understand that players from other provinces usually migrate to punjab and karachi if they are serious enough about their cricket or they are picked up from such areas by academies. plus weather, econmic and scoail conditions that exist elsewhere dont allow too many players to develop in places other than punjab and karachi

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ali

Sep 17, 2010 08:52pm

PCB did give the central contracts to the players but the greed for money of some players has no limits.

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someone from miami

Sep 17, 2010 09:26pm

So you are saying the players mentioned above non of them are from Punjab or KHI??? seriously ?

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Ali

Sep 17, 2010 09:48pm

With all due respect I think you should do more research before cutting and pasting numbers. Looking at numbers is easy, but you have to watch the games to actually make sense of those numbers. You mentioned the possibility of Mohammad Rameez being the next Rawalpindi Express. There is no doubt that Rameez has talent, he hasn't taken wickets by accident. But he doesn't have great pace, if you've tuned into domestic cricket on Geo Super you would know that he is very similar to Azhar Mahmood when it comes to his action and swing. Rameez could be serviceable at the highest level, but let's not make a star out of people who aren't.

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Omarr

Sep 25, 2010 10:58am

Akmal brothers?? REally?? No way they are still one of the most dependent batsmen in Pakistan's pathetic batting line up

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FAROOQ AZIZ

Sep 18, 2010 01:49am

CRITERIA SHOULD BE, HOW BIG A PLAYER YOU ARE, NOT HOW SMALL IS THE PROVICE YOU BELONG TO.

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akbar

Sep 18, 2010 02:44am

Have you seen the dynasty players in our cricket ? Most of them get their berth because of the good deeds of their elders. Tauqir,s son is not the only one.There are many still in the game now & vioces are raised now & then against such practices. But some of them are really worth playing for Pak. So there is no harm in playing him. If he was worth it, he could have survived. That,s it , but to cling to the team like a parasite is very very damaging for our team.

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Mashood Mustafa

Sep 21, 2010 08:29pm

these guys are very talented, specially the young Asad Shafiq. I want him to be a regular member of our team in all formats.

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Ahmad

Sep 25, 2010 07:01am

I agree 100% what Kiizr wrote. These people should go, must leave Pakistan Cricket and to start with; Kamran Akmal, the biggest hole in the team and a suspected figure. Chairman of PCB should be shown out the door ASAP. And Shoaib Malik doesnt deserve to be in the team, he and Kamran Akmal have been named as the main culprits behind the rift in the team in many occasions. And nevertheless to mention about the immediate need of a PR firm as mentioned by Khizr.

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Ahmad

Sep 25, 2010 06:53am

"A few (potentially) good men" by Mr. Bilal Hayat is simply a superb comprehensive narration that how does PCB overlook the potential prospects due to its bias attitude. These players are the assets of the country and overlooking them is not only injustice to these players but to the Nation as well. The PCB is simply a reckless arrogant money making machine with improper people to manage it. There is no accountability whatsoever and the injustice to the players is not surprising. Less than little the PCB did to save the name of Pakistan Cricket over the years and the latest Spot Fixing controversy is one of the outcomes. GOD will not help PCB (or Pakistan) unless & until we do not march forward and help ourselves. Its now the high time, the PCB owes an explanation to the Nation. And there shouldn't be no scapegoat.

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Ejaz Ahmed

Sep 22, 2010 07:56am

Sir, before we drag someone to the fore We should think of Younas Khan, the most prefessional one in our national squade. He is punished for what he didn't commit. No talent can work untill a sober and sound platform is prepared, a system is made and a mechanism is there. Imran said that Pakistan Cricket needs proper organizational network. An eighty years old and purely unaware man of cricketing is the head of our talented guys. Their manager is alleged of ,,,. Their teammates are said colluding to over throw their captain. We love Cricket. But many of us are unhappy with these developments.

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Adeel.N

Sep 18, 2010 12:40am

If Ijaz Butt doesn't leave soon.. we might end up being compared with teams like Bangladesh, Ireland and Netherlands. The only reason he is there is because of the patronage that he gets. May God have mercy on us!

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