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.

Being a Britsh born Pakistani, and  in the East End of London; means multi-culturalism. People of all origins live here, there is a mixture of asians, blacks and whites amongst us. Yes, race hate does exist here, like any place but not as much as mutual respect and understanding of peoples traditions and culture does. 

India named their squad for the Asia Cup this afternoon with a few surprises; the axing of opening batsman Virender Sehwag being the major news. Along with Sehwag, Fast bowlers Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav have been rested. Their are re-calls for allrounder Yusuf Pathan and Ashok Dinda, who conmes back after two years out.

There was major speculation that the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and captain Mahendra Dhoni will also sit out, but those rumours proved to be unfruitful. Sehwag's apparant 'rest' comes after he managed to score 143 runs in 7 innings in the current CB series in Australia. 

Opening has been a major issue. The injury prone, Sehwag and Gambhir have disappointed in Tests. Their replacements (Murali Vijay and Mukund) don’t seem to have the class to deliver the goods at the highest level. Also they have never been given enough chances to prove their mettle. Openers haven’t been able to leave the ball well. Gambhir, in most matches edges to the wk/slip cordon, Sehwag chases for deliveries outside off and invites trouble. Gambhir had it in him to play knocks of substance, but these days he looks very tentative with his foot movement against deliveries on the off stump.

Only Sachin and Dravid, look somewhat assured against fast bowling. Both of them are good leavers of the ball and know where their off-stump is. Especially Sachin leaves the ball on the 3rd /4th stump better than anyone. This has been the weakness of Sehwag, Laxman and Dhoni; all 3 of them have unique techniques. Laxman has a tendency to play away from his body, especially the cover drives, his back foot doesn’t move much if the ball is banged short. He has been able to survive with his technique all these years, but that doesn’t seem to be working these days. Sehwag hardly moves his feet but his ability to pick the line of the ball quickly and time the ball well even without much feet movement helps him. Dhoni’s technique is difficult to describe, his walking-cover-drive has resulted in his downfall too many times. These three have an exceptional hand-eye coordination which has been of immense help to them in their careers.

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To the powers above,

I remember March 12th of last year so well, woke up that morning, had a shower, even styled my hair. I asked MSD to make sure he wins the toss at any cost to the BCCI and bat first. He surely obliged and me and Veeru went out to the crease against South Africa full of confidence. The sounds of De Ghuma Ke in the dressing room was still buzzing through my ears as I tore Steyn and Morkel apart. I remember getting to my 99th Hundred in style, what a day it had been. Yes, I also remember South Africa won the game chasing 298 to win, but who cares? I was one Ton away from the promise land. 

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After yet another loss in a away game, this time at Sydney, the Indian team are in turmoil. The pressure playing away from India is taking its toll on the line-up. What have been the reasons and what needs to be done is the question that need to be asked and answered and fast. 

The captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is Mr Cool, so to speak. It's absolutely fine to be calm and unflustered but when plan 'A' fails a captain needs to be pro-active and quickly move onto plan 'B' or even 'C'. This is more so when you have a bowling line-up that is toothless and will struggle to get twenty wickets on most tracks. Sitting back, looking to stifle runs and waiting for the opposition to make a mistake is not what great captains are made of. 

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As 2011 started all I had hoped for was a controversy free twelve months and I got them all-right. Along with being controversy free, Pakistan cricket also saw a sense of consistency as well. Winning more ODI's than any other side, 24 to be precise and jointly winning 6 Tests along with England. So what now for, 2012 and the twelve months ahead?

Pakistan start the year with England in late January. The world number one side will be a test but a Test that Pakistan will hopefully rise to. In all three formats Pakistan have a strong bowling line-up and that will be the key. Whether the batting lives up to the standard and can perform is another matter. Though I stand confident of a positive result.

Bangladesh will, depending on security, become the first team to tour Pakistan since 2009. International cricket returning to Pakistan is a relief, you can play in the UAE, England or anywhere else but home is home. I get shivers with the thought of the team in 'Green' walking out in Lahore or Karachi after so long; simply magical.

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