Pakistan want lively tracks in South Africa

[sohaib17]

Pakistan want lively tracks in South Africa

Cricinfo staff

July 28, 2007



Two reasons why Pakistan might not mind a fast, grassy pitch to play on © AFP

Having complained privately over the last year about playing crucial matches on lively, green pitches, Pakistan are now hoping more of the same will be on offer in South Africa for the Twenty20 World Championship in September.

Pakistan were poleaxed by South Africa in the Champions Trophy in Mohali last year on an unusually lively pitch. In the first round of the World Cup earlier this year, they were outfoxed by Ireland on a grassy surface. Both results led to some players and officials complaining of a conspiracy of sorts against Pakistan by the ICC but with their pace attack likely to be back at full strength, they are keen for similar tracks.

"We want to play on fast tracks," Talat Ali, Pakistan manager, told The News. "All our top pacers are back and available for selection and we are confident that we will go to South Africa with a pace attack second to none."

Instead of worrying about their batsmen's traditional inability to play on such surfaces, Talat believes Pakistan will look forward to letting their fast bowlers loose. "We have some of the best fast bowlers in the world in Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sami and Umar Gul. If they make fast tracks I believe it will help us more than other teams.

The batsmen are finding some form too; Salman Butt led the way with a century in one of the practice games that saw 371 runs scored in 40 overs. Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez have also been scoring runs in the practice games.

It is likely now, however, that there will be only one practice match every other day during the camp, and not two, as was originally planned. Malik said players found it tough to maintain intensity levels after the first match in such difficult weather conditions.

"We are planning to talk to officials about it and hope they will ease the schedule a bit. We were in full flow in the opening match of the day but by the time the second began most of us were feeling tired which is why the effort wasn't the same."
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i think our pace attack is second best attack in the world after australia but seeing no Mcgrath i would say Pak attack number 1

looking forward to the Twenty twenty WC

[Afridi_Fan]

Go Pakistan I wish the attack best of luck for the 20/20 and the whole season

Go Pindi Express

Go Desi McGrath

[161]

eh ?

are they trying reverse psychology ?

demand fast, green bouncy ones and hoping to get a slow dead track ?

nice try DNA - but i doubt it's gonna work - was amusing though .

[Usman Chadda]

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! Our batting couldnt hold up against Ireland on a lively track and they are talking about facing the top oppositions on a seaming track

[Afridi_Fan]

Originally Posted by UsmanCHADDA Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! Our batting couldnt hold up against Ireland on a lively track and they are talking about facing the top oppositions on a seaming track

Hmmm nice thoughts but when you know its just a 20 overs affair I think the batsmen wont hold back and in my opinion that was our downfall in that game against IRL

[Usman Chadda]

Originally Posted by Afridi_Fan Hmmm nice thoughts but when you know its just a 20 overs affair I think the batsmen wont hold back and in my opinion that was our downfall in that game against IRL

We got a lively track in our Twenty20 against South Africa. We could only manage 129, even when South Africa didnt field their full-strength team!

[Afridi_Fan]

Originally Posted by UsmanCHADDA We got a lively track in our Twenty20 against South Africa. We could only manage 129, even when South Africa didnt field their full-strength team!

Got a point!!!!!!!!!!!!

[UJ]

Not gonna happen.

People want to see high scoring games with plenty of boundaries and sixes and thats exactly what they'll get. Thats Twenty20 cricket.

[Saqlain_doosra]

Originally Posted by UsmanCHADDA Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! Our batting couldnt hold up against Ireland on a lively track and they are talking about facing the top oppositions on a seaming track

IF they going to give to pakistan anyways migth as well know from the start and prepare for ICC pulling up another one. PCB sending message to ICC, by esyaing to them do the same thing again.

[Amjid Javed]

We always get this talk of fast tracks and in end we usually get the usual dead ones!

[P4K1 #1]

^^yup yup.. just the conditions were used to!!

[hasbeen]

Originally Posted by kashif77 eh ? are they trying reverse psychology ? demand fast, green bouncy ones and hoping to get a slow dead track ? nice try DNA - but i doubt it's gonna work - was amusing though .

spot on.

[deviously~fading~away]

Originally Posted by UJ Not gonna happen. People want to see high scoring games with plenty of boundaries and sixes and thats exactly what they'll get. Thats Twenty20 cricket.

Well it happend during the Twenty-20 match b/w Pakistan & SA.

[deviously~fading~away]

I guess Pakistan are trying to rub it into ICC for dishing out green-tops in the ODI vs SA & Ireland.

[TalhaSyed]

Originally Posted by Shez Well it happend during the Twenty-20 match b/w Pakistan & SA.

yea put now this is the T20 World Cup and the ICC are desperate not to mess this one up after the disastrous world cup.

[UJ]

Originally Posted by Shez Well it happend during the Twenty-20 match b/w Pakistan & SA.

Yep, but this is the WC. The ICC are trying to promote the game through this form of cricket in order to attract a larger audience and they will only achieve that through plenty of runs being scored. The last thing the majority of viewers will want to see is teams being dismissed for 100 odd and the total being chased down in 17 overs.

[PlanetPakistan]

I dont know about you guys but i like this 'bring it on' mind set! With a full strength team why should we be afraid to play in difficult conditions?
It's a bold message to the ICC!

[Afridi_Fan]

Originally Posted by PlanetPakistan I dont know about you guys but i like this 'bring it on' mind set! With a full strength team why should we be afraid to play in difficult conditions? It's a bold message to the ICC!

Hmmm Its a nice mentality have to agree with you on that but do you really think we want fast green tracks?

[Daoud]

Originally Posted by UJ Yep, but this is the WC. The ICC are trying to promote the game through this form of cricket in order to attract a larger audience and they will only achieve that through plenty of runs being scored. The last thing the majority of viewers will want to see is teams being dismissed for 100 odd and the total being chased down in 17 overs.

Surprisingly sensible views from a metro

Probably best if pitches arent too bowler friendly but we dont want roads with the ropes all brought in either

[Officer Barbrady]

Signs of muddled thinking.