How set to play in second Pakistan ODI

With the World Cup quickly approaching and preparation time at a premium, New Zealand have ditched the old adage of never changing a winning team ahead of the second one-day cricket international against Pakistan on Wednesday.

Just who drops out of the 11 that thrashed Pakistan by nine wickets in the first match at Wellington last Saturday remains to be seen but the first of the rotational changes will see Jamie How, the 12th man in game one, play here at the Queenstown Events Centre, notwithstanding the dominance of the first-up victory.

New Zealand coach John Wright today reiterated that the selectors wanted to see all 15 World Cup squad members get action in the six-match series, leaving them with a tricky balancing act between maintaining winning momentum and giving players gametime.

"We'll probably make a change, Jamie How might get an opportunity down here but we'll look at that tomorrow," Wright said today, confirming How, the backup wicketkeeper in the World Cup squad, would play as a batsman only and not be handed the wicketkeeping gloves.

"He'll probably start as a batsman. With Jamie's batting, we'd like to see him play very aggressively. He's a brilliant fielder and it will just be a matter of guys taking their opportunities."

It is unclear where How, a top order batsman, would fit into the lineup.

Wright said Jesse Ryder and Martin Guptill, who put of 84 for the first wicket in 10 overs at Wellington, would be given another opportunity to grow their opening partnership, while Ross Taylor, the only other batsman to get time in the middle on Saturday, would also play.

"We'd just like to give him a run," Wright said of How.

"We'll have a look at how people are training and how the wicket looks tomorrow, but I know the selection panel are very keen for all 15 players to get some game time.

"Ryder and Guptill looked quite settled (opening), but I've always left the batting order up to the captain."

How joined the team here today after he suggested to management that he stay in the capital an extra day to play for Central Districts in their domestic one-day match against Wellington yesterday, but Wellington's foul weather put paid to any chance of time at the crease.

Wright also hinted at a possible change to the bowling lineup, with a new ball combination of Tim Southee and Hamish Bennett being mooted, though captain Daniel Vettori will have the final say.

Man-of-the-match Southee, who took five for 33, opened with swing bowler James Franklin in game one while Bennett, who took three for 26, following Southee as second change.

"There was the expectation there might be a bit of swing up in Wellington but it might be different here," Wright said.

"There's also the temptation for Bennett and Southee to take the new ball, they certainly bowled well last weekend so maybe they will be first up, but the skipper will make the decision on the morning."

New Zealand trained confidently today under cloudless skies and a beaming sun, though Wright was playing down the effect the win might have had on the team.

"That's too early to judge," he said when asked of confidence levels had been restored following the 11-match losing streak late last year.

"We got a first victory in a six-match series, so it's far too early to tell. We're training hard and you just hope that after four or five games we're making some progress."

Pakistan trained in Queensland this morning among the company of Melbourne-based Australia Football League (AFL) club St Kilda, who are in Queenstown for a pre-season camp.

Reports suggested some of the AFL players proved more than able net bowlers for the tourists

Pakistani cricketers must learn from Sachin: Miandad

KARACHI: Former captain and director-general of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Javed Miandad has urged Pakistani cricketers to learn from the achievements of Indian batting maestro, Sachin Tendulkar.

Rather than letting their on-field performance speak for them, Miandad feels that the players are happy to brag about their performance in media.

"We keep on reading and hearing about some of the players making claims about how they will deliver, but on field that is not happening and it is a big let down for the nation."

"I would advise them to just focus on their game and go for improvement and take every match seriously. The players need to realise cricket is played on the field.

"They should learn from Sachin who has had a wonderful career and scored century after century but one never hear him making tall claims about his performances or achievements. He is a proper professional and someone our players can learn from," the veteran of 124 Tests insisted.

Miandad also called on captain, Shahid Afridi to take more responsibility as a player and lift the team by example and said that the all-rounder has got enough amount of talent and he should channelise it properly.

"He shouldn't be playing the way he is. Imran Khan is a great example of how a captain should perform.

"Imran lifted the team in the 1992 World Cup. Afridi needs to start doing that himself. He did it during the World T20 Championship so he is perfectly capable of delivering," Miandad said.

He emphasised, "He (Afridi) has immense talent which he does not utilise properly at times."

Urging the players to take the current one-day series against New Zealand seriously Miandad said, "Unfortunately what I noticed was that the players didn't appear serious about their business in the first match in Wellington they took things lightly. In international cricket this is not acceptable."

Pakistan who are currently engaged in an ODI series against Kiwis failed to replicate their performance in Tests against the hosts and lost the series opener by nine wickets after being bowled out for just 124 runs in 37.4 overs.

Adding greater significance to ongoing series in view of the upcoming World Cup, Miandiad reiterated that losing it could have a big impact on their performances in the mega event.

"It is important for the players to realise that once they get into a losing streak it will be difficult for them to come out of it in a high pressure event like the World Cup," the former batsman cautioned.

"The players must realise they are fortunate to get such a series just before the World Cup," Miandad said while expressing his surprise at the relaxed attitude of the players in the first match.

"They need to realise the significance of the World Cup when every Pakistani is praying for their success. The tournament comes once in four years and everyone expects the team to fire in the World Cup."

"No excuses can be accepted and the players must also realise that if they perform well in the World Cup how much of a boost it would be for Pakistan cricket which is facing so many problems," he added.

"The players just need to get more serious about their performances. I believe they have the capability of winning the series in New Zealand and also doing well in the World Cup but for that they need to focus on their short comings and strengths and use them properly," Miandad said while pinning hope on the present ODI outfit.

DOES PAKISTAN CRICKET BOARD WANT TO MAKE TWO CAPTAINS FOR THE MEGA EVENT.

Former Test Batsman of Pakistan has profoundly criticized Pakistan Cricket Board for not announcing the captain for the upcoming World Cup. He said that PCB is creating factions in the team by separating them into two groups. It is causing damage to the preparations of the team for the showpiece event. Inzamam has played 120 Test matches for Pakistan and scored 8830 runs with the average of 49.60 including 25 tons.

His conclusion seems to look absolutely right because already the Pakistan cricket team has lost their first one day international six match series against New Zealand by 9 wickets at Wellington. All the team were bowled out on a very low total of 124 in just 37.2 overs. However, the same team had given a fantastic performance in the Test match series against the same team and on the same tracks. Now suddenly the downfall in the performance of batsmen raises wonders. Current one day skipper Afridi has already blamed batsmen for the shameful defeat.

Pakistan team is the only country among the other 14 nations who has announced their 15 member squad without naming the captain. The delay is raising questions against the PCB.

Misbah has proved himself a better leader after beating the black caps in the Test match series by 2-1 and earlier Pakistan has also drawn a Test series against South Africa at UAE under his captaincy. On the other hand one day skipper Shahid Afridi’s performance as captain is under a question mark. He is also struggling with his personal form. Missbah has played crucial knocks in the last two Test match series and has been a major character behind the victory. That led to the thought of changing the captain.

If it is so then PCB should have announced the captain before the one day series.

It doesn’t make any sense that the team has been announced without the consent of the captain and coach. If Pakistan gives a poor show in the mega event, no one will be there to take the burden. However, captain and coach will probably come up with an argument that it was not our responsibility.

And if there is no leader then how will the Pakistan team make a strategy for the showpiece event remains a question. Whatever the reason behind the delay, the captain should have been announced before the start of the one day series. Otherwise Pakistan fans should be ready for another controversy and fans will only blame the players.

On the other hand it looks that the force already exists in the dressing room against the current skipper Afridi. Otherwise a sudden downfall in the performance would never be noticed.

There are only three weeks remaining before the World Cup that will be played in the  sub continent and Pakistan Cricket Board is still under the thought of “ who will be the captain of Pakistan". It shows the profundity of management, of how they have made the preparations for the mega event.

Captaincy issue dividing Pak team ahead of WC: Inzamam

Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is the latest to criticise Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to delay the announcement of captain for the World Cup and said by doing this the PCB has created two divisions within the national team. "By not announcing the captain just three weeks before the World Cup,the board has split the players into Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul Haq groups," Inzamam said.

The former batsman, who represented his country in 120 Tests and 388 ODIs including five World Cup appearances, said the PCB had created an unnecessary crisis over the captaincy issue and it will affect the team in the mega-event starting on February 19 in Dhaka.

"I just don't understand what they are trying to do. In such circumstances I don't have much high hopes from this team in the coming tournament," Inzamam told the 'Jang' daily newspaper.

"Human beings are powerless against fate and you can never rule out a miracle from this team. But at the moment it looks to me their fate will be the same what was in 2003 and 2007," he said.

The PCB has announced their final World Cup squad but stopped short of naming the captain, a move which did not go well with many former players including team's chief coach Waqar Younis.

While Afridi is presently leading Pakistan in the ODI series in New Zealand, Misbah, who captained the side in the Test matches, is his deputy.

Both the players are seen as strong contenders for captaincy in the World Cup and indications are that Afridi's chances of retaining the position will depend on his and the team's performance in the ongoing series against New Zealand.

Inzamam, who led Pakistan in the last World Cup, said in the existing circumstances he feared for the worst.

"I just hope the disappointments of last World Cup is not repeated," he said.

remove Afridi from captaincy says sarfraz nawaz

After humiliating defeat in the first one day international against Black Caps, former Pakistan fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz has again asked Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to dump Afridi as skipper.

Talking to a private television channel on Sunday, Sarfraz Nawaz said, “Afridi clearly failed to live up to the expectations and PCB shouldn’t take risk with him in the upcoming mega event like cricket World Cup.”

Pakistan lost the first one day international against New Zealand by nine wickets as the 100-over match was finished in less than 55 overs.  Shahid Afridi became skipper of Pakistan one day and Twenty20 last year February and since then Pakistan cricket team has failed to win a single ODI series.

Afridi’s own performance as skipper of team is a big question mark as failed to lead from the front.  On the other hand, Pakistan test cricket team skipper Misbah-ul-Haq continued to impress not only with his bat but also with his captaincy skills.

Although, the former greats like Wasim Akram and Rameez Raja are against the change of captain before the World Cup but former fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz and Asian Bradman Zaheer Abbas are demanding the cricket board to axe Afridi and appoint Misbah as skipper for the World Cup.

Pressure builds on Pakistan team

Pakistan selectors' decision to delay naming the captain of their World Cup team has, it seems, plunged the team into yet another controversy.

Many of the players, including coach Waqar Younis, are upset over the decision and he made his sentiments public. His statement has irked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which already has a gag order in place on players and officials going to the media since the spot-fixing scandal broke sometime back.

Younis, who is known for his no-nonsense approach and candid views, has worked hard to transform the team into a winning unit during the New Zealand tour. The board, in its eagerness to enforce their policies, immediately issued a notice to Younis over his statement.

Younis is keen not to divide the players into two camps — one supporting Shahid Afridi, the one-day captain and another for Misbah ul-Haq. Interestingly, Haq after leading Pakistan to a draw over South Africa (in the UAE) and a series win against New Zealand in Test matches has emerged as a strong contender for the post.

Great tour

Afridi supporters feel that Haq has been named vice-captain for the one-day series against New Zealand to unnecessarily put pressure on Afridi.

The impact of all this has resulted in Pakistan, which was having a great tour in New Zealand, losing the first one-day match by nine wickets in Wellington. Haq top-scored in the match with an elegant half century while Afridi fell for just 15 runs and didn't do much with the ball.

One of the reasons for not naming Afridi as the captain is his outspoken ways which has irritated the PCB many times. To add to Afridi's misery, he has also been struggling for form.

Another factor going Haq's way is his calm approach. He is easily the most articulate player in the team (he holds a Masters degree in Business Management) and the PCB believes that Haq can lift the sagging image of the team and should be able to handle the media pressure successfully.