Pakistan-Australia six-match T20 series approved

[Strike!]

The ICC has approved a six-match Twenty20 series between Pakistan and Australia, which if it goes ahead will be the longest bilateral T20 series ever staged by international sides. The PCB had originally been keen to lock in a series of three T20s and three ODIs in the United Arab Emirates in August, but the extreme heat at that time of year raised serious concerns from Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association. The ICC has a rule limiting the number of matches in a bilateral T20 series to three, but countries can ask for special dispensation to hold a longer series in exceptional circumstances. The PCB's struggle to find a suitable venue for an ODI series in August prompted a proposal for a six-match T20 series, which has been approved at the ICC Chief Executives' meeting in Kuala Lumpur. "The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) requested support for the flexibility to stage a six-match Twenty20 International series against Australia potentially in the United Arab Emirates in August," the ICC said in a statement. "This request required a special dispensation from the CEC and then the ICC Board as the current regulation permits only three T20I in a series. "Because of the extreme daytime heat in the UAE at that time of the year, the CEC raised no objections to the principle of a six-match T20I series replacing the scheduled series of three ODIs and three T20Is should the PCB elect to make that switch." A Cricket Australia spokesman told ESPNcricinfo on Monday afternoon CA was still waiting for further details of the series from the PCB. Paul Marsh, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers' Association, said the ICC's decision was sensible given the extreme heat that players would be forced to play in if 50-over games were scheduled. "It's a good commonsense decision given the circumstances," Marsh told ESPNcricinfo. "It's not a perfect situation playing in the UAE at that time of year but we understand the limitations of not being able to play in Pakistan, so it's a good compromise given the circumstances." A number of three-match T20 series have been held between international sides in the past, but never have four or more games been approved by the ICC. The six games will provide an excellent opportunity for both sides to finalise their preparations for the ICC World T20, which takes place in Sri Lanka in September.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/c...ry/569940.html

[GujjarSher]

Very interesting, should be fun to watch and great practice ahead of the World Cup. Somewhat surprised ICC approved this.

[LethalSami]

lots of practice b4 wct20
lets hope for better contest though VS Hussey

pyjama cricket FTW,

[Down2Earth]

oh dear. the last thing we need is to lose important players playing in this meaningless series. Hopefully it'll give hafeez time to learn and develop. It should also give pakistan a chance to experiment with other players. Lol who am I kidding, Iqbal qasim's going to send the usual tried and tested players

[Saeth]

So no odi's then?

[cricketpassion]

Playing in Ramadan mean we have more chances of winning

[Amjid Javed]

6 T20s? so we wont be short of match practice then!

[talha3]

Gives us chance for a bit of experimentation.

[freelance_cricketer]

You gotta be kidding me. 6 damn T20 matches in a row? We don't play that many in a full year

[talha3]

Originally Posted by freelance_cricketer You gotta be kidding me. 6 damn T20 matches in a row? We don't play that many in a full year

Not international ones but at a high standard, you play many more than 6 in a row. :ipl

[Lachrymose]

Goody good!
This will be a fun series. Just hoping we will have a better team selected than we had for the T20s against Sri Lanka.
Good opportunity for Hafeez to get settled as a captain also.

[bforme]

Oh no I thought there would be some ODIs,Malaysia could have been option for that.Anyway it would provide a good match practice and chance of experimentation as well...

[freelance_cricketer]

Originally Posted by talha3 Not international ones but at a high standard, you play many more than 6 in a row. :ipl

Not sure if its a great idea. Quite surprised the aussies agreed to it.

[Space Cat]

It will become tedious after the first couple. Especially with teams changing things around.

[leatherface58]

wow and i thought the 7 match odi series between Aus and eng was tedious. that being said i hope atleast a couple matches are watchable

Sent from my MT11i using Tapatalk 2

[Maximas]

Originally Posted by cricketpassion Playing in Ramadan mean we have more chances of winning

hmm.. interesting, I didn't notice that erlier. Maybe thats why PCB was keen to not to attend longer version games. 5 ODIs would've much harder for muslim players there for sure.
Anyway I prefer practice matches should be played with low ranked / medicore teams; we are wasting opertunity to play against #1 ODI side here.

[freelance_cricketer]

Originally Posted by Space Cat It will become tedious after the first couple. Especially with teams changing things around.

Yea, T20 matches are more or less the same wham bam thank you mam every night. Different teams add variety in a multi nation tourney so its interesting but the same teams playing 6 back to back T20s is quite useless. Leave the public, even the players will feel bored after 2-3 matches.

[Lalafied]

I'd rather have us play 6 T20s then nothing at all. Will give a proper chance to some guys in the T20 Squad, so no more excuses of not enough chances.

[The Muppets XI]

Interesting if this manages to go ahead. Would be perfect warm up before the T20WC. Both teams have new Captains. Would be kinda a nice that our T20 team would get an opportunity to try out some different combination of youngsters. Oops must stop daydreaming - keep forgetting that the squad picked for the SL T20's will be the same one turning up for the WC.

[James]

Six T20 matches?

The slow death of real cricket.

[Saurav]

six T20 internationals?wat a joke

[Love Pakistan]

Originally Posted by Saurav six T20 internationals?wat a joke

Not gonna be a bigger joke than IPL but still its a joke!

[Shayan]

Whilst i'm not keen on the idea of so many T20s, there's no doubt that this is a massive bonus for the team ahead of the World Cup.

[BoomBoomCricket]

In the short term a 6 match t20 series is good for Pakistan’s World T20 preparation, but in the long term such series are a threat to the world game ..........

[Saurav]

Originally Posted by Love Pakistan Not gonna be a bigger joke than IPL but still its a joke!

leagues are different thing,u can hv many as its multi-team tourney.

6 bilateral T20s will be boring.I think T20s should just be confined to leagues except WC

[Shayan]

One thing to remember is that the ICC plan to have a T20 tournament every 2 years. Can you imagine if every country decides to have a 6-7 match T20 series just before those tournaments. Won't be good for the game, so a risky precedent being set by the ICC here.

[mastermind_quad]

Player Association in Australia have concern over ODI series because of the temperature in UAE.

They seems okay with the proposal of more T20s as it require less time on field and in the end it got approved . ..

[chacha kashmiri]

More crowds, more money, more broadcasters, t20 wc, hot weather in aue

T20 over odi any time

[Mission18thMarch]

damn this will be fun what country is it happening in?

[zaid65]

The sponsors ( money) decide the test vs on day vs T20, cricket board decides the venues ( based on financial return), and st the end bookies decided the outcome of the match results.

Money talks ( Paisa kee taaqat).

[w8in_4_0402]

Great prep for t20 world cup.

Need to select the best possible t20 players in the country and give all of them a chance to play.

All players like Raza Hasan, Haris Sohail, Imran Nazir, Ahmed Shahzad, Nasir Jamshed, Kamran Akmal need to be given some game time.

[Amjid Javed]

Well one thing is for sure we shouldnt be unprepared come the world cup with this many warm up games!

[cricketfan86]

it will be good practice for t20 worldcup

[Canistani Hero]

Why not 5 or 7? Last thing we want is a 3-3 and no final

[Blistering Barnacle]

Are these T20s at the expense of test matches? If so, what a waste.

[trogger]

That seems to come up in ever thread about this series, do people really have such short memories that they can't remember the aus vs pak test series in england two years ago?

That was the scheduled pakistan home test series against aus, the next test series isn't due till mid 2014.

[srh]

not good T20s < ODIs

[Maximas]

Originally Posted by Blistering Barnacle Are these T20s at the expense of test matches? If so, what a waste.

As per FTP there were supose to be have 4 ODIs & 3 T20s, not sure how it changed into 5 T20s & now 1 T20 extra with that.

[LastLaugh_PK]

Originally Posted by Saurav leagues are different thing,u can hv many as its multi-team tourney. 6 bilateral T20s will be boring.I think T20s should just be confined to leagues except WC

If you find it boring then just flip the channel. SIMPLE

Nobody is forcing you to continue watching.

[TNA]

more than the weather the spin will be too hot to handle for the Aussies.

[freelance_cricketer]

Originally Posted by LastLaugh_PK If you find it boring then just flip the channel. SIMPLE Nobody is forcing you to continue watching.

He's just giving his opinion.
Chances are he ain't watching your tests and ODIs with a lot of interest (like me) either. Such is the appeal of this team.

[Gabbar Singh]

Only 6?

In England on T20 finals day they play 3 matches in one day. So the same could have happened here and you could play a 18 match series.

[zains_rulez]

No way 6 T20's ..... Atlast we will be having good practice for WC
&
also will be able to select better players for WC

[Markhor]

6 T20s is overkill but at least the players will get some experience ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Can we please just select T20 specialists for this ? That means the likes of Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed and not assume Test players will perform in T20s too. Hammad Azam is a must to add balance to the side.

[Green Leopard]

I find it ironic and laughable saying this will be good "preparation" for World T20.

We were just humiliated by a relatively weak SL side in Tests and here we are planning to play SIX T20s!!!! in place of Tests.

Even if we win this World T20 (btw this tournament is not even afforded to be called a "World Cup", sounds more like an exhibition, Hong Kong Sixes anyone?!?) it won't prove to be any sort of consolation, especially if SL win this series 2-0 and move ahead of us in Tests.

Some real misplaced priorities from PCB and some fans.

[LastLaugh_PK]

Originally Posted by Green Leopard I find it ironic and laughable saying this will be good "preparation" for World T20. We were just humiliated by a relatively weak SL side in Tests and here we are planning to play SIX T20s!!!! in place of Tests. Even if we win this World T20 (btw this tournament is not even afforded to be called a "World Cup", sounds more like an exhibition, Hong Kong Sixes anyone?!?) it won't prove to be any sort of consolation, especially if SL win this series 2-0 and move ahead of us in Tests. Some real misplaced priorities from PCB and some fans.

What are the players going to do if the umpire are hell-bent on giving them out by hook or by crook. Call me a conspiracy theorist or what but I have never seen a pair of umpires favour the home side that much.

[Bilal7]

How many players are the teams allowed to keep in their squad?
I think at-least 18 should travel to the UAE. If not then it will be a wasted opportunity to try out many different players before the T20WC.

[Green Leopard]

Originally Posted by LastLaugh_PK What are the players going to do if the umpire are hell-bent on giving them out by hook or by crook. Call me a conspiracy theorist or what but I have never seen a pair of umpires favour the home side that much.

It is too convenient to blame the umpires (which no doubt need to be punished) but the lack of batting performances of the guys who escaped the umpires wrath wasn't encouraging, and not forgetting the recent ODI series, the England ODI series in UAE, and our batting wasn't exactly covering themselves in any glory during the Tests vs Eng in UAE.

There is too much T20 cricket creeping into Pakistan cricket, we have played the highest number of T20i in the last 2 years.

We have no nurturing program for top level cricket, i.e. Pakistan A team. The last time they played was way back in November 2010. I recall we use to have Pakistan B touring 20 years back!!

England Lions and Sri Lanka A team play over 10-15 first class games per year!!

And then we wonder where did all the talent go. Talent doesn't just drop by shaking a tree in Pindi!! It's a takes a long slog and hardwork to get there.

[LastLaugh_PK]

Originally Posted by Green Leopard It is too convenient to blame the umpires (which no doubt need to be punished) but the lack of batting performances of the guys who escaped the umpires wrath wasn't encouraging, and not forgetting the recent ODI series, the England ODI series in UAE, and our batting wasn't exactly covering themselves in any glory during the Tests vs Eng in UAE. There is too much T20 cricket creeping into Pakistan cricket, we have played the highest number of T20i in the last 2 years. We have no nurturing program for top level cricket, i.e. Pakistan A team. The last time they played was way back in November 2010. I recall we use to have Pakistan B touring 20 years back!! England Lions and Sri Lanka A team play over 10-15 first class games per year!! And then we wonder where did all the talent go. Talent doesn't just drop by shaking a tree in Pindi!! It's a takes a long slog and hardwork to get there.

You know you have a problem when kids these days dream of being the next Afridi rather than the next Miandad or MoYo.

[Afridirocks]

Originally Posted by LastLaugh_PK You know you have a problem when kids these days dream of being the next Afridi rather than the next Miandad or MoYo.

why is it wrong to be the next afridi?

let the kids decide what they want to be, whether its wasim akram or inzamam or afridi

[Markhor]

Originally Posted by Green Leopard We have no nurturing program for top level cricket, i.e. Pakistan A team. The last time they played was way back in November 2010. I recall we use to have Pakistan B touring 20 years back!! England Lions and Sri Lanka A team play over 10-15 first class games per year!!

I don't understand this, we need to get the Pakistan A and Under 19 teams to tour places like England, South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, and expose them early on in their careers on these type of pitches, separating the wheat from the chaff.

But our administrators have probably forgotten the A team even exists. Why do the A team play so few matches ? Its mind boggling.

It is ideal for them to go tour these places, adapt to the conditions so they aren't so horribly found out at international level. The same technical deficiencies appear TIME and again - from season to season. Our batsmen's technique against the moving ball is poor. We've made Nuwan Kulasekara look like Glenn McGrath. Too flat footed on the crease, not getting into line behind the ball, all these technical issues have been exposed in this Sri Lankan tour.

In the UAE on flat tracks or on flat tracks in domestic cricket where the ball comes onto the bat slowly, these flaws are not exposed, but they are whenever we go to places like Sri Lanka, these batsmen are found out.

A player should go through domestic - the top domestic performers should then go through to the Pakistan A side - then through to the national team.

[Anfield]

oh please KMN!!

[Anfield]

Originally Posted by Afridirocks why is it wrong to be the next afridi? let the kids decide what they want to be, whether its wasim akram or inzamam or afridi

Nothing, Nothing at all, except.. Ball Biter, backbiter, pitch dancer, media Whore, selfish, cry baby, unprofessional, mediocre, brainless slogger..

[Green Leopard]

Originally Posted by Markhor I don't understand this, we need to get the Pakistan A and Under 19 teams to tour places like England, South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, and expose them early on in their careers on these type of pitches, separating the wheat from the chaff. But our administrators have probably forgotten the A team even exists. Why do the A team play so few matches ? Its mind boggling. It is ideal for them to go tour these places, adapt to the conditions so they aren't so horribly found out at international level. The same technical deficiencies appear TIME and again - from season to season. Our batsmen's technique against the moving ball is poor. We've made Nuwan Kulasekara look like Glenn McGrath. Too flat footed on the crease, not getting into line behind the ball, all these technical issues have been exposed in this Sri Lankan tour. In the UAE on flat tracks or on flat tracks in domestic cricket where the ball comes onto the bat slowly, these flaws are not exposed, but they are whenever we go to places like Sri Lanka, these batsmen are found out. A player should go through domestic - the top domestic performers should then go through to the Pakistan A side - then through to the national team.

Fans can be fickle, I don't blame them, I am at times too.

But PCB administrators, anointed as caretakers of Pakistani cricket have been failing miserable lately.

Players like Inzi, Waqar, Shoaib Akthar (he wasn't dusted off Wasim back of shoe as some poster's sig :sigh) all went through Pakistan A team, playing for 1-2 years. Plus they benefited hugely from County Cricket.

Someone like Umar Akmal would benefit immensely playing for Pakistan A team on graveyard shifts in foreign conditions. This is the best opportunity to understand his game against good opposition away from the limelight and pressure.

[Afridirocks]

Originally Posted by Anfield Nothing, Nothing at all, except.. Ball Biter, backbiter, pitch dancer, media Whore, selfish, cry baby, unprofessional, mediocre, brainless slogger..

so people should never be wasim akram, inzamam, waqar younus, mushtaq ahmad as there name was in match fixing report???

you have a flawed logic my friend

people should never be shane warne??? he was caught taking steroids?

sachin tendulkar rahul dravid were caught tampering the ball????

by that logic, people should have no role models lol

[Green Leopard]

Originally Posted by Afridirocks why is it wrong to be the next afridi? let the kids decide what they want to be, whether its wasim akram or inzamam or afridi

It's an opportunity cost.

If a talented young 12 year old with excellent back-foot technique to play short balls and front foot technique to play swing decides he wants to become a 16 year old Afridi and set the stadium on fire every-time he takes to the crease, then it will be a massive loss to Pakistan cricket.

[Anfield]

Originally Posted by Afridirocks so people should never be wasim akram, inzamam, waqar younus, mushtaq ahmad as there name was in match fixing report??? you have a flawed logic my friend people should never be shane warne??? he was caught taking steroids? sachin tendulkar rahul dravid were caught tampering the ball???? by that logic, people should have no role models lol

The fact that you put Akram, Inzamam, Waqar Younis, Shane warne, Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid in the same category tells how flawed YOUR post and logic is.

None of the above mentioned names are unprofessional and mediocre.

[Random Aussie]

This series is gonna be a huge yawn.

[Legend Killer]

Normally six T20s would be boring/tedious but considering the T20 WC is just around the corner, this series will serve as perfect practice for both the teams.

[LethalSami]

great chances for Pak to try out Hasan Raza, Imran Nazir and other younguns'


expect atleast 2 thrillers in there

[Random Aussie]

Originally Posted by Legend Killer Normally six T20s would be boring/tedious but considering the T20 WC is just around the corner, this series will serve as perfect practice for both the teams.

Will be brilliant when both teams get a rash of injuries right before the
t20 WC.

[Liverpool_Faizan]

im prob gonna stop giving a crap after the 3rd match.

[freelance_cricketer]

Originally Posted by Liverpool_Faizan im prob gonna stop giving a crap after the 3rd match.

Show up in the leagues section some day nawab, we happen to be team mates. You wont even know