Pakistan sends a formidable team

This year’s Cricket season will see a two-month long tour of the Pakistani team, playing three T20, six ODI and two Test matches.

Pakistani cricketers are popular for their flamboyant, talented, unpredictable and never-say-die attitude. The forthcoming Test team is led by Misbah-ul-Haq Khan Niazi, a middle order batsmen with an excellent record in the local first class and an average record in test. This would be his third tour of New Zealand.

Younis Khan, a veteran player with an outstanding record in tests would be the main batsman and running machine. However, we would also be keenly watching out for Azher Ali, Asad Shafiq and Umar Akmal.

It will be a testing time for newcomers Azher and Azad to survive in New Zealand conditions.

Azher is an old fashioned player, takes ample time to settle down and difficult to dislodge, while Asad is a fine stoke maker, nibble-footed, with a variety of strokes all around the ground.

Umar started his career in New Zealand but due to poor selection of strokes, he was out of the team. Umar has to work hard to get in the playing eleven.

Fast bowling has always been a specialty in Pakistani Cricket and the country has produced outstanding fast bowlers. This time their attack is lead by Umar Gul, famous for his deadly Yorkers, Tanvir Ahmed, Wahab Raiz and Sohail Tanvir.

Tanvir Ahmed is a veteran, with more than 400 first class wickets in credit but recently, in his test debut, he took six wickets in the first innings against South Africa.

Known for seam, swing, and tons of stamina, he would be able to endure the conditions in New Zealand. He would in fact be a good replacement of Mohammad Asif.

Raiz, a left arm fast bowler with good speed (around 140 kmph), would be an effective replacement of Mohammad Amir.

Sohail Tanvir is another bowler from Rawalpindi. He is a left arm fast medium bowler, who swings the ball like a tennis ball.

Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman (left arm) spinners are also new in this field.

The Pakistani team is featured in three T20 matches against New Zealand. It would suit the players, many of who have grown up playing taped ball street cricket, ever popular in Pakistan. It is a hit and out game.

Other ‘dangerous men’ to be watched are Captain Shahid Khan Afridi, Right arm medium fast bowler Adul Razzaq, and late ‘Rawalpindi Express’ Shoaib Akhtar, who was once the fastest bowler in the world, who can still deliver at 150 kmph.

They begin the tour with a warm-up game against Auckland on December 23.

Twenty20 Squad: Shahid Afridi (Captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shahzad, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Adnan Akmal (Wicket-Keeper), Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar, Tanvir Ahmed, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz.

Test Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (Captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Younis Khan, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Adnan Akmal (Wicket-Keeper), Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Tanvir Ahmed, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz.

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Pakistan Cricket Tour of New Zealand