Pakistan V India 2005, Offiical Tour Thread Options

[anurag]

Personally I expect Pak to win the ODIS and the Tests to be drawn.

And, what do you expect impersonally, Akhtar Miyan?

[Akhtar]

Impersonally, I expect Pakistan to whitewash India

[spbobby]

india india india india wins...........

[man123]

India jeet gaya ..............

[Anil4]

Whoever wins , the pressure to perform will be there on the players , and the matches will be great to watch.


Anil

[Flex001]

Transcending borders

Can India match Pakistan's grace and hospitality?

Sambit Bal

February 17, 2005

During a casual conversation a couple of weeks ago, a senior member of the Indian team revealed his worst fears about Pakistan's oncoming tour of India. It wasn't a rib-cracking and toe-crunching spell from Shoaib Akhtar, a purple patch from Inzamam-ul-Haq, or India's indifferent form this season. "I just hope," he said, "we, as a nation, are able to reciprocate in kind to the manner Indians were treated in Pakistan when they toured last year."

It's a fear palpably felt by every Indian who set his or her foot in Pakistan during those magical days. Like us, he had seen doors and hearts open, he had felt the warmth and goodwill which was too spontaneous to have been a put-on, he had seen the Indian flags flying proudly in the stands, seen pictures of Indian revellers on the streets of Lahore, and like us, he too is left wondering if India can match the grace and the hospitality. Will we see Pakistani flags fluttering in our grounds? Will we see a procession of Pakistani bikers on our streets? Will we able to celebrate the event of cricket, irrespective of who wins?

Perhaps we are expecting the impossible. To expect anything to match the spirit of last February is a tall order. The red carpet from the state and the cricket administration was expected, but the surge of goodwill on the streets, in the shops, at homes, in taxis and restaurants wasn't part of a grand design. It just happened. One thing led to the other. A better explanation of this can be found in Malcolm Gladwell's acclaimed book Tipping Point, which explores the phenomenon of little things making a big difference.

It perhaps took small things – a boy painting himself in the national colours of India and Pakistan, someone stitching two flags together, the first few despatches filed by Indian journalists – that got the emotions stirring and in no time a spirit of brotherhood had spread across on both sides of the border. It was special, perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime experience. To expect a repeat might be a sure recipe for disappointment. But still, we have a right to expect, for what happened then was wonderful.

What can we read from the signs? A few vandals have tried to damage the pitch at Mohali; the Shiv Sena, the party which was responsible for getting a tour by Pakistan cancelled once, has been making unwelcome noises, and Narendra Modi, the man singularly responsible for giving the state of Gujarat a bad name, has been, expectedly, his usual intemperate self.

Worse, the BCCI, which has the highest stake in the forthcoming series, has taken a strangely blasé approach to scheduling. That Ahmedabad would be a sticking point everyone knew for months. Yet instead of taking a common-sense approach, the BCCI chose the precipitatory option of putting Ahmedabad in the itinerary. It was an amazingly short-sighted move, prompted by immediate expedience. By rotation, it was Ahmedabad's turn, but instead of trying to settle the matter internally, the BCCI chose the softer option. Even now, it is hoping a decision will be forced by the government. That's a strange attitude from a body which misses no opportunity to proclaim its autonomy.

When India toured Pakistan, the BCCI ensured that it got everything it asked for, including a highly contentious clause that empowered it to call off the tour at the first instance of slightest of crowd trouble. Karachi and Peshawar were kept off the Test schedule, and the Indian cricketers received a security cover reserved for heads of state. It is a cynic's argument that the Pakistani cricket authorities allowed themselves to be arm-twisted because the board's solvency depended on that tour. Grace and mutual consideration demanded the BCCI be sensitive to the internal compulsions of the PCB. It is not a time to debate if Ahmedabad is as dangerous a place as Karachi, it is a question of accommodating perceptions and honouring sentiments. By its obtuse handling of the issue, the BCCI has only ended up creating an ugly political controversy.

How does it bode for the series? Has India slipped even before it could get moving? That's a bleak view that does not take into account the power of the human heart. What happened in Pakistan last year wasn't expected. It wasn't planned. It wasn't powered by propaganda. What is needed is a few little lights to kindle a giant flame. Let's invest in hope. It's a better feeling than dread.

Sambit Bal is the editor of Cricinfo in India and of Wisden Asia Cricket magazine.

© Cricinfo

[Akhtar]

Well Shoaiby is out of the series (big surprise)...could just be a blessing in disguise...

[anurag]

So I hear that Sami, Shabbir, and Saqlain are also out of the reckoning! Then, who's gonna bowl for Pakistan?

[princeali]

Shoaib might come back for the one-day series, if he recovers by then, but it certainly is a big blow to Pak.

[anurag]

Shoaib might come back for the one-day series, if he recovers by then, but it certainly is a big blow to Pak.

Prince, I think Shoaib (or for that matter, any tearaway fast bowler) for one dayers is as effective on the slow and low subcontinent pitches as grazing cows mooing to shoo away lions from the field.

[jayant]

dn't dare underestimate the pak bwlng guys.They always spring a surprise specially against india.Suddenly u will find a never unheard bowler making the headlines in the series.Tht country has raw talent & whtever be the infighting,groupism they hv but on field those guys give their heart out.
So,lets hope it should b a closely fought series irrespective of whoever wins.
CRICKET should b the winner.
js

[Flex001]

Pakistan recall Arshad Khan for India tour

Cricinfo staff

February 19, 2005

Younis Khan has been named as Pakistan's vice-captain for their forthcoming tour of India, while Arshad Khan, the tall offspinner, has earned a recall to the Test team. Shoaib Akhtar, who recently ruled himself out of contention with a hamstring injury, was left out of the 15-man squad announced today by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Shabbir Ahmed, who has been struggling with injury, did not recover in time and nstead the pace department is spearheaded by Mohammad Sami, and also includes Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Mohammad Khalil. Pakistan will also lean heavily on Abdul Razzaq's medium-pace.

Danish Kaneria heads the spinners and will be assisted by Arshad, who was rewarded with a recall for performing consistently in domestic cricket in Pakistan. Arshad last played a Test against England in 2000-01. Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi, the allrounders, strengthen the spin department.

Squad Taufeeq Umar, Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Asim Kamal, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wk), Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Sami, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Arshad Khan, Mohammad Khalil.

© Cricinfo

[Akhtar]

I personally can't believe Arshad Khan and Mohammad Khalil were picked !

They are both CRAP AT INTERNATIONAL level.

[Akhtar]

Although I am dissapointed with the squad chosen, I would pick this side:

Taufeeq Umar
Salman Butt
Younis Khan
Inzamam ul Haq
Yousuf Youhana
Abdul Razzaq
Shahid Afridi
Kamran Akmal
Naved ul Hasan
Mohammed Sami
Danish Kaneria

[Flex001]

I don't know much about many of these recent newcomers in the Pakistan squad, except for the few I saw during the Pak vs Ind series.

My Indian 11 would be:

Sehwag
Chopra or Kaif
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Ganguly
Karthik
Pathan
Kumble
Singh, H.
Khan

No surprises, except Kaif who I feel deserves a chance, especially after his recent showing against the Aussies. Other than that I wouldn't mind dropping one of the slow bowlers for a fast one depending on the conditions; in my books probably Nehra would fill the void, is he fit?

Flex