Shahid Afridi as Captain

Hope fully Shahid Afridi will lead the Pakistan Cricket Team in World Cup 2011, as the senior players of the teams like Younas Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gull showed full confidence on Shahid as a captain of Pakistan in world cup.
PCB is not very much happy with Shahid Afridi and officials of the PCB want to remove him as a Captain in the world cup, but the think tank of PCB asked opinions of the senior players of the team PCB have to go back on back foot. Some pressure was also put by the sponsors of the team who want Shahid as a captain because they have invested huge amount on the campaigns for the World Cup 2011 and on Shahid as well. An ad of Shahid and Shoaib was broadcast today during the 3rd ODI between Pakistan and Newzealand.
Official announcement of Shahid Afridi as a Captain will be in a day or two.
Best of luck Shahid Afridi and Team Pakistan.

Pakistan Won Test Series Against Newzealand

Pakistan was not only able to draw the 2nd Test against Newzealand but also won the series against Newzealand. This is the only series which is won by Pakistan after 2006 outside the Pakistan. So you can say this is really a big victory for Pakistan team.
Now Pakistan don't have any more test matches before the World Cup 2011, so the main focus of Pakistan is on the ODI series which sets the Pakistan route to the World Cup.

Congratulation Pakistan.

Pakistan Announced World Cup Squad

Pakistan Selection Committee issued a press release for the World Cup Squad of Pakistan on Tuesday, but did not mention the Captain for the Pakistan Cricket Team which was really amazing. World Cup is just a month away and PCB can not even select a captain for the World Cup. Another interesting decision was about the Muhammad Yousaf who could not secure a place in the squad. Lets see what will this selected squad do for the Pakistan in World Cup.
1. Shahid Afridi
2. Misbah ul Haq
3. Muhammad Hafeez
4. Ahmad Shahzad
5. Kamran Akmal
6. Umar Akmal
7. Shoaib Akhtar
8. Umar Gull
9. Asad Shaffique
10. Saeed Ajmal
11. Abdul Rehman
12. Sohail Tanveer
13. Wahab Riaz
14. Younas Khan
15. Abdul Razzaq

Although this is a good combination of Batsman, Bowlers and All Rounders, but according to list it is obvious that Pakistan will depend on its All-Rounders, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razaq, Kamran Akmal. These are the match winners for the Pakistan. Sohail Tanveer and Wahab Riaz could be useful in the last overs as batsmen. Umar Akmal and Asad Shaffique are the true assets for the future of Pakistan. Younas and Misbah ul Haq have a vital rule in the batting and they must show their responsibilities.

Best of Luck Team Pakistan.

ODI Squad for Newzealand Tour

The last tour of Pakistan before World Cup 2011 is going to end in current month. Pakistan will play its 2nd Test against "Black Caps" on 15th. Pakistan have a series with 1-0 and Pakistan has a chance to double it. Newzealand will try to equalize the series. Lets see what will happen.
Mean time Pakistan Cricket Board and Selection Committee announced the 16 players squad for the ODI series against Kewi's. This squad might be the world cup squad with a single or couple of changes. The selection of Players are very good for this squad and hopefully they will perform very well in series and in World Cup too.
Following are the players;

1. Shahid Afridi (Captain)
2. Misbah ul Haq (Vice Captain)
3. Kamran Akmal (Wicket Keeper)
4. Muhammad Hafeez
5. Umar Akmal
6. Younas Khan
7. Asad Shaffique
8. Abdul Razzaq
9. Shoaib Akhtar
10. Umar Gull
11. Abdul Razzaq
12. Abdul Rehman
13. Saeed Ajmal
14. Tanveer Ahmad
15. Sohail Tanveer
16. Wahab Riaz

According to me one of between Sohail Tanveer and Wahab Riaz will go in to World Cup and same case is between Ahmad Shahzad and Asad Shaffique. Muhammad Yousaf will get his chance as he is the senior player and could be very useful in the mega event.

Decision of Spot Fixing Case

ICC Tribunal Committee reserved the decision of Spot Fixing Case after completion of hearing which was on going on Doha from 5^th January 2011. According to Micheal Belof the head of ICC Corruption Unit the decision will announced on 5^th February 2011 after another hearing of Spot Fixing case against Pakistani cricketers Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Aamir. He also added that the players and their lawyer showed great cooperation during the hearing.

What will be the final decision? Can anyone guess?

Players are confident that they are innocent. ICC said if these players will not get punishment then this is not a good sign for cricket as ICC prepared a great case against them.

As I have said earlier that Pakistan Cricket Star were trapped in this spot fixing case but there case is very week, specially Salman Butt and Muhammad Amir are not at safe position. Muhammad Asif can get benefit of doubt.

What are the reasons behind delaying the decision? It is not obvious, but due to delay in this decision these cricketers will not play in World Cup 2011.

In this way we can say as a Pakistani, that ICC is not taking good and positive steps for the cricket of Pakistan. Pakistan will go to World Cup 2011 without his top 3 players. 

Ist Test Won by Pakistan

Ist Test against Newzealand was won by Pakistan by 1 inning and 10 wickets. I think this is the best performance in recent time. Pakistan started the calendar year 2011 in an excellent way and hopefully Pakistan will keep this up. Last year was not very good for Pakistan cricket. Pakistan lost all ODI and Test Series against all the cricket nations, like England, Australia Sri Lanka. This victory give Pakistan team a boost for the preparation for the World Cup and future tours.

Pakistan Lost T20 Series Against Black Caps

Pakistan lost T20 series against Newzealand in Newzealand by 2-1. 

First two matches were in favor of Newzealand but in the last T20 Pakistan fought back very strongly. In the end result is not very good for the Pakistan and for the fans of Pakistan Cricket. Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi and Omar Akmal were fine but not up to the mark. This Newzealand tour is very crucial for Pakistan as this is the last chance for the practice against a top level team.

Possible Squad for World Cup 2011

Pakistan Cricket Board have announced the 30 possible players for the World Cup 2011 squad. Kamran Akmal is included in the list but Shoaib Malik and Daneesh Kaneria could not make their places.
Following is the list of Players

1. Shahid Afridi
2. Younas Khan
3. Muhammad Yousaf
4. Umar Gull
5. Abdul Razzaq
6. Shoaib Akhtar
7. Muhammad Hafeez
8. Nasir Jamshaid
9. Tofeeq Umar
10. Imran Nazir
11. Yasir Arfat
12. Rana Naveed ul Hassan
13. Azhar Ali
14. Asad Shaffiqe
15. Kamran Akmal
16. Sarfraz Ahmad
17. Umar Akmal
18. Naveed Yasin
19. Zulfiqar Babar
20. Tanveer Ahmad
21. Izaz Cheema
22. Misbah ul Haq
23. Shahzaid Hassan
24. Junaid Khan
25. Yasir Shah
26. Ahmad Shahzad
27. Wahab Riaz
28. Saeed Ajmal
29. Abdul Rehman
30. Salman Ahmad