http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Tour of England: Cricket Round Up
Pakistan team faced a humiliating 354-run defeat at the hands of England in the first Test of the 4 match Test series at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on Sunday. It was the second biggest margin defeat for Pakistan in Test cricket against any opposition in its history. The worst defeat by the Pakistani team was recorded in 2004 when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 defeated the side with a margin of 491 at Perth.
Though the bowling performance was brilliant but due to fielding lapses, the team failed to capitalize on the situation. The poor batting performance further dented the side in the second innings as the whole team was rolled over for just 80 runs. Only two batsmen – Imran Farhat (15) and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Danish-Kaneria-c1314 (16) – entered double figures.
Kamran Akmal’s performance with the gloves reminded the fans of the disastrous tour of Australia. Kamran was equally bad with the bat as he lost his wicket to Finn in both the innings without opening his account.
There are talks that Zulqarnain Haider might replace Kamran Akmal for the second Test at Edgbaston. Hasan Raza would replace Danish Kaneria while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yasir-Hameed-c2811 is also expected to make the playing XI in the Edgbaston Test. If Yasir would be included in the squad, Umar Amin would have to sit at the sidelines.
The Pakistan Cricket Board reacted swiftly to the humiliating defeat at Trent Bridge by recalling former captain Mohammad Yousuf. The veteran Test cricketer who averages more than 53 in Test cricket has not played international cricket for the last five months. In http://www.senore.com/Cricket/March-c74391, Yousuf announced his retirement from international cricket as a protest against the indefinite ban. Since then, attempts have been made by the PCB to make the veteran Test player take back his decision but he remained adamant.
However, in the last month, statements came from the former captain that he is ready to play if his country needs him. Yousuf further claimed that he has no problems in playing under a junior captaincy. And finally, Yousuf got a call-back on Sunday, a few hours after the devastating defeat against England.
Yousuf is expected to join the side in the second Test starting from Friday, 6th August, if he gets his visa cleared from the British High Commission (BHC). Sources have revealed that the player has a visit visa to UK but that does not allow him to play international cricket. Sources have also revealed that the PCB has contacted the BHC for the issuance of a sports visa for Mohammad Yousuf and the board is hopeful that BHC would issue him the visa by Tuesday.
While the experts and the cricket fans bashing the inexperienced batting squad of Pakistan for its capitulating performance against English Team, captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Salman-c88163 Butt and the coach Waqar Younis have backed the novices. The skipper said that people are not looking at the reality. Salman Butt added that the same guys bagged Pakistan a victory after 15 years against Australia. He said that these are the guys for the future and cricket fans should realize the reality. The 25-year-old Salman said that the youngsters should be given a fair chance and the management should remain consistent with the squad if it wants some positive results from the novices.
Salman Butt said that he has captained just two games. He won the first and lost the second and if Pakistani fans and the management expect the side to win every game than that is not possible.
“I am just two games old. We have won one and lost the other. What do you expect from them - win every game? That will not happen. This is the time when you back your players. I know they can come back.”
The national Coach, Waqar Younis, has also shown his satisfaction upon the performance of young blood and said the youngsters should be given some time to perform well.
“It might take a couple of losses but this unit looks really good to me and I’m certain that the youngsters in the team are good enough and just need a bit of time to perform.”
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