Today, an explosive spell of bowing by Pakistan left arm spinner, Abdur Rehman saw him acclaim his career best figures of 9-65. Bowling for Somerset against Worcestershire at Taunton, Rehman put in a spell 24 overs that showed why he's one of the most consistent performers on the world stage. Only Peter Trego picking up the eighth wicket of the innings, denied Rehman the chance to capture the perfect ten.

Speaking to KheloPakistan's Imran Asghar after the days play, Rehman was understandably pleased with his performance. "I am really happy that I performed for my team. I am bowling with good rhythm at the moment and hope to take this experience with me when I return to Pakistan". He added "Playing in these conditions will InshAllah help me in the future. If and when required and I play for Pakistan in these shores, I will have experience of these conditions".

Already having a Test fifty to his name, Rehman was adamant that not only his bowling but batting and fielding was coming on leaps and bounds. "After games and days off my time is spent in the nets. I am working really hard on my batting. I see batting as a important aspect to my game". Though Rehman primarily plays as a specialist bowler for Pakistan, he looks at it differently, "It is essential that I contribute with the bat when I play. It would be wrong for me to think that I have bowled and done my job. I genuinely believe I can became a good batsman". 
 

It might seem over the top to suggest that Pakistan have gone from also-rans to leading contenders for the T20 World Cup in the course of two wins against a poor Australia side, but we have seen a lot of good in the last couple of games, enough for Pakistan fans to be quietly optimistic ahead of the World Cup in Sri Lanka.
 
The first and most important reason for this is that Pakistan’s selection committee haven’t repeated the mistakes that they made for the Sri Lanka tour, whereby they erred in selection. The worst pick was that of Khalid Latif, who has failed miserably in his International T20 career with an average of 4.85 and a Strike Rate of 66.66, both of which place him as one of Pakistan’s worst batsmen in T20s, below batting superstars such as Mohammed Sami and Umar Gul.

Being an early 80's child I have been accustomed to seeing some of the best pace bowlers the history of cricket has seen, not least from the land of fast bowlers, Pakistan. Pakistan have always had an abundance of riches when it comes to pace bowling, bowlers that would reach many peoples World elevens aplenty. There has never been a shortage of quality, until now.

Nature can't be blamed for this dearth in talent, as Pakistan had the best new ball pair in the World at this time. Sadly they chose to go in the wrong path, rather than write their own bit of greatness in the history of Pakistan fast bowling. The demise of the two Mohammad's, Asif and Amir, brought the pressure on Umar Gul and he was left with the responsibility to lead the attack.

To be fair, Gul started with great endeavour. He seemed to rise to the new added pressure on him. He saw this, a chance to come out of the shadows of Asif and Amir and make his own mark. Gul seemed a match winner, someone finally repaying that huge potential that everyone knew he had. Before this he had only really done it in Twenty20 cricket, with ODI's to some extent. Now Gul had arrived in Test cricket too, someone that had gained the respect of his teammates and opposition alike.

16th June 1999, I was sitting right behind the end a certain Shoaib Akhtar was bowling. As he walked up to his run up, my father shouted Pakistan Zindabad and the whole stand got in full voice. Shoaib ran in and bowled a peach of a Yorker to the New Zealand captain, Stephen Fleming. That was my first, of many, live memories off the Rawalpindi Express. 

Before that World Cup semi-final, at Old Trafford I had seen Shoaib bowl a few times. Most memorable was his introduction to Rahul Dravid and then Sachin Tendulkar in Kolkata earlier the same year.  A young Shoaib bowled two balls in a row that can only be bettered in comparison by Wasim Akram's heroics in the 1992 World Cup final. Sheer pace and unrivalled energy that was never seen before was at show as India was silenced. 

That World Cup in 1999 was unique. Pakistan played some kamikaze cricket and it can be argued that Shoaib was the showman off the team. Oozing sheer class and youthful exuberance, Shoaib dominated the World of cricket in that edition. He catapulted Pakistan into the final, where Pakistan was outclassed by the Australian team but what was always remembered was the cricket played by Pakistan. For the sake of comparison, the modern Barcelona team in football with Messi in full flow was Pakistan and Shoaib in that World Cup. 

Pakistan has named their Twenty20 squad for the Australian series and the World Championship that follows that. I for one was not best pleased with its look. Iqbal qasim left a couple of flaws to my liking, though now that the dust has settled it’s high time to back the players selected and will Pakistan on. Pakistan reached the final of the inaugural World Championship, in 2007, but were beaten by arch-rivals India. The Younis Khan led side in 2009 went one better as they secured Pakistan a major world tournament. The third and most recent one was held in the West Indies in 2010. Michael Hussey inspired Australia to knock Pakistan out in the semi-final stage. Australia were then completely outplayed by England in the final. Here is a low-down on the Pakistani 15 man squad and their chances of success this time around in Sri Lanka.

Player analysis:

Mohammad Hafeez:

The skipper off the new look Pakistani team and someone Pakistan will have to look at for both experience and performance. Hafeez has been one of the best all-rounders in world cricket. He has grown in stature within the team and his batting will be the key for Pakistan. When you add his consistent off-spin and his excellent fielding to the mix he would have to perform to his full capabilities for his nation to have any chance. 

Nasir Jamshed:

Jamshed is an aggressive opener who should not have been dropped when he initially was. Compact and also elegant, Jamshed is a typical left handed batsman. When he made his comeback in the Asia Cup many eyebrows were raised, though he answered his critics with a fruitful tournament. A finger injury ruled him out of the recent series against Sri Lanka but his comeback now will be vital to his career and his team’s prospects.

Imran Asghar of KheloPakistan had the opportunity to speak to Pakistan Under 19 star Mohammad Nawaz. The interview was arranged by a good friend of the website, Sunny Sheikh, who I would like to thank wholeheartedly. Mohammad Nawaz is an all-rounder that bats in the middle order as well as bowls left arm orthodox spin. Hailing from Rawalpindi, Nawaz seems destined for a long and illustrious career. This is what happened when Imran spoke to the upcoming star. 

The English summer of 2010 was one for Pakistanis the world over to forget in cricketing terms. The spot-fixing scandal threatened to derail Pakistani cricket for a long time. There were even calls from some —one being Ian Botham —for Pakistan to be banned from the International game indefinitely. Though what really emerged from that tour was that Pakistan's batting future was sealed.

With Younis Khan serving a ban and Mohammad Yousaf ignored, Azhar Ali got his first call-up. His First Class record was average at best and he had started his career as a specialist leg spinner until Scotland saw something in him with the bat. All things taken into consideration, the Board seemed to have made a horrendous decision. What followed was Azhar showing the world a glimpse of his talent. Despite not having a great technique and not being a natural stroke player, his hunger and drive were strong evidence that Pakistan had a talent that could excel in the world game.

Pakistan Under-19s tied in the final of the Asia cup against arch rivals India. Pakistan, like all other games, had performed admirably with the bat but this time the bowlers had come against a super talent in Unmukt Chand. Though with Zia-ul-Haq returning and not in full flow, Ehsan Adil delivered when it mattered most. Here is a insight to some of the players playing for Pakistan, and their chances of playing for Pakistan.

Babar Azam: Babar is the captain of the side and a promising talent. An opening batsman with a pure technique, Babar has been tipped by many to represent Pakistan for a long time. Cousin to the Akmal's, Babar is about to represent Pakistan in his second World Cup and remains one of the favourites to lift the coveted youth trophy. 

Prediction: Will play for Pakistan for a long time. 

Sami Aslam: Sami was a unique talent and when KheloPakistan became the first media outlet to interview him we knew he had a good head on young shoulders. Still only 16, Sami has the ability to match any Pakistani player in history. A left handed opener, first came to recognition in a Tri-Nations tournament in South Africa. His 465 runs at 115 in the Asia Cup, which included two centuries (both against India) only emphasised the talent that pakistan have on their hands.

Prediction: Sami is still 16 and its hard to evaluate, but if he keeps working hard he will become a Pakistani great.

The ICC has approved the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Cricket Australia's (CA) joint request to play six T20s rather than ODIs. This request was made after the original series, due to be held in Sri Lanka, had to be moved as it was clashing with the Sri Lankan Premier League.