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Pakistan to test bench strength against Zimbabwe

Cricinfo staff
December 16, 2007

Pakistan will be trialling fresh faces during the five-match one-day international series against Zimbabwe, due to begin from January 26. The relatively low-key nature of the series provides an ideal opportunity for Pakistan's selectors to test players in three departments, before Australia visit in March for a full tour.

"We will definitely try out some new faces in whichever department we need them in," Salahuddin Ahmed, chief selector, told Cricinfo. "That's not to say that we are taking Zimbabwe lightly, but we need to assess players on the fringes of the national side and this is a good opportunity."

The bulk of the experimentation will be carried out with fast bowling, opening and the wicketkeeping slot, areas which have for various reasons troubled Pakistan in recent years. Salahuddin suggested domestic pace stalwarts such as Abdur Rauf and Mohammad Irshad would be in line for debuts.

"We're also keeping an eye on the progress of Anwar Ali [former Under-19 star] and Sohail Khan." Sohail, a right-arm fast-medium bowler from the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) but based in Karachi, has lit up this season's Quaid-e-Azam trophy with a string of outstanding performances.

In nine matches of what is his debut first-class season, for Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), he has taken 65 wickets; he has already taken eight five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket match hauls. This includes, in his last match, a Pakistan first-class record haul of 16 for 189, including 9 for 109 in the second innings.

The selectors also have an eye on three openers in particular prospering domestically. "Khurram Manzoor, Khalid Latif and Nasir Jamshed have been very good this season from all reports and they are definitely in the mix for that series, as is Asim Kamal," Salahuddin said.

Manzoor, who opens for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is the only batsman with over 1000 runs this season (including matches for Pakistan A), while the left-handed Jamshed and Latif, with three hundreds apiece, are not far behind. Latif, in fact, was called up to the Pakistan ODI squad for three matches of the series against South Africa in October, though he didn't eventually play.

And following more mediocre performances behind the stumps in India, it is almost inevitable that Kamran Akmal will be rested and former U-19 captain Sarfraz Ahmed given a run in his place. Sarfraz was called up to India as cover for Akmal and made his debut in the last ODI at Jaipur, impressing most observers with an assured display. The idea that both play, with Akmal as a specialist middle-order batsman, has also been discussed by the team management.

Zimbabwe are scheduled to arrive on January 12 and will play a four-day match and a three-day match before the ODI series begins.

Cricinfo

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That guy Sohail Khan is really on fire!!! This is his first season at Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and he has already taken 65 wickets in just 9 matches!! Yesterday he took 9 wickets in the 2nd innings which made a total of 16 wickets in the match!! He is the 59th player in the world to take 16 wickets in a first class match and he is the 1st Pakistani in that list to achieve this feat!!!!👏
Khurram n Khalid, I hav always praised them both especially Khurram!👏👏

Thanks for sharing... we do need new talented players lyke manzoor...oh btw fawad alam.. has he been selected for this series?

Originally posted by: *Fiza*

Thanks for sharing... we do need new talented players lyke manzoor...oh btw fawad alam.. has he been selected for this series?

actually...the squad has not been finalised...but i think Fawad,Yasir Arafat and Sohail Tanvir will definitely b there...these 3 aren't considered new anymore😆

oh yeah ur ryte.. its just that i didn't watch pak indo series at all...thats y i was still considering him the new player of the team..

Originally posted by: *Fiza*

oh yeah ur ryte.. its just that i didn't watch pak indo series at all...thats y i was still considering him the new player of the team..

he played only 1 match..the last ODI in the Indo Pak series!! actually, he's been a part of the squad from quite some time..rite from Shoaib Malik's first match as captain..that is y he is considered as not a new player...

well i dont c yasir as a good batsmen anymore..dunno whats up with him...he used to be a good cricketer..but in india he looked out of talent ideas...and just dont deserve a place in the side..sohail tanveer shud def be in d side.. 😛

thank you so much opening this 👏

so, it's starting on Jan 26? Well they show it on Zee Sports?

Originally posted by: farisss4

well i dont c yasir as a good batsmen anymore..dunno whats up with him...he used to be a good cricketer..but in india he looked out of talent ideas...and just dont deserve a place in the side..sohail tanveer shud def be in d side.. 😛

yeah..but I was talking about Yasir ARAFAT not yasir HAMEED!
yasir hameed doesnt deserve a place in the team any more!! his technique is soo faulty...i think its high time that we try out some new openers who have sound techniques!
As for sohail tanvir, yup he shud b there n i think he will b coz now he is more or less a permanent member of the squad!😛

Originally posted by: Lefty.Chicha

thank you so much opening this 👏

so, it's starting on Jan 26? Well they show it on Zee Sports?

yup..the first match is actually on 26th..but zimbabwe is arriving on 12th jan..then they'll play a couple of warm up matches!!
i am not sure if they'll show it on zee sports...but i think it will come on sky sports!