Former captain Younus Khan’s comeback hopes were dealt a severe blow as he was omitted from the 17-man squad announced for the Test series against Australia and England.
Younus, who was included in the 35-man squad from which the Asia Cup and the tour of England squads were shortlisted, was warned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that he faced a show-cause notice following the war of words between the board and Younus’ lawyer Ahmed Qayyum.
It is believed that the PCB is demanding an apology from the former captain in a similar manner to what other punished players have done.
Also missing out from the list is Shoaib Akhtar who, though, will make his appearance in the two Twenty20 matches against Australia. Akhtar’s inclusion in the Test squad was ruled out by captain Shahid Afridi after Pakistan’s defeat against India in the Asia Cup.
Umar Gul, Pakistan’s star performer from its last trip to England – the 2009 World Twenty20 – makes his comeback after missing the 2010 edition as well as the on-going Asia Cup due to injury. Gul will bolster the bowling attack that includes domestic veteran Tanvir Ahmed who remained the highest wicket-taker in the last Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
Pakistan, Bangladesh aim to avoid bottom-place
It will be batting, and not bowling or fielding, which will be under the radar for Pakistan as they take on Bangladesh today hoping to not only avoid a bottom-place finish in the Asia Cup but also their tenth consecutive loss in One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
Pakistan has failed to last 50 overs in their last nine matches, and all those have resulted in losses. The team fielded a different opening partnership against India to the one that was seen in the tournament-opener against Sri Lanka.
With Pakistan having scored in excess of 300 in the last two matches against India, much of the same was expected after a solid start. However, a flurry of wickets and a failure to utilise the batting powerplay left them 20 to 30 runs short of the total they had hoped for.
Pakistan has lost just once to Bangladesh in 25 matches – the infamous loss in 1999 World Cup – and the last time the two teams met, in Asia Cup 2008, Pakistan prevailed by 10 wickets after Bangladesh were dismissed for 115.
Captain Shahid Afridi will once again be looking for an improved performance from his bowlers following the final-over loss against arch-rivals India. Shoaib Akhtar, who impressed in both matches on his comeback after being away from international cricket for over 12 months, will sit out with out-of-favour Mohammad Asif or left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman expected to slot in.
“Akhtar bowled well in the first spell with the new ball,” said Afridi. “I think he can prolong his career till the 2011 World Cup. Because we’re playing a lot of Test cricket before, I’m not giving him a chance against every team. He will be rested for the game against Bangladesh.”
Bangladesh, on the other hand, will look for inspiration from aggressive opener Tamim Iqbal following a poor Asia Cup and the tour of England that preceded the event.
The critics are louder than ever and rightly so. Out of the last 20 ODIs, Bangladesh have won six, all against Zimbabwe.
Their bowlers have only managed eight wickets in two matches and have conceded 480 and with Pakistan’s line-up boasting hard-hitters, containing the opposition will become key to success.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2010.
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