Pakistan Cricket

2011-09-21T01:03:00.001-07:00

[Official] Faysal Bank T20 Tournament Sep-Oct 2011

The Twenty-20 Cup is the domestic Twenty20 cricket championship in Pakistan. Started in 2005, until 2007, it was sponsored by ABN AMRO before in 2008, it was renamed as the RBS Twenty20 Cup being sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland. In 2010, Faysal Bank took over the sponsorship. Following is the summary of previous tournaments.

National Stadium, Karachi

Karachi, Pakistan's largest and most populous city, presents an interesting and colourful combination of the old and new. The National Stadium became Karachi's fifth and Pakistan's 11th first-class ground. The inaugural first-class match was played at NSK between Pakistan and India on April 21-24, 1955, and it became a fortress of Pakistan cricket. In 34 Tests between that first match and December 2000, Pakistan won 17 and were never beaten. Their only Test defeat on the ground came in the gloom against England in 2000-01. Since then, major terrorist activity, mainly bombings, have meant that non Asian sides have refused to play in the city, and in last time only Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have visited. It is a shame because the spectators are passionate and noisy and it is a great place to play and watch.

SQUADS

Shahid Afridi (C), Mohammad Sami, Asad Shafiq, Shehzaib Hassan, Khalid Latif, Fawad Alam, Sarfraz Ahmed (WK), Tanveer Ahmed, Sohail Khan, Rameez Raja Jr, Haris Ayaz, Azam Hussain, Misbah Khan, Roman Raees, Fazal Subhan, Ashraf Ali, Afsar Nawaz, Javed Mansoor (WK), Wasal Ansar (Coach), Saleem Jafar (Manager)

Abdul Razzaq (C), Ahmed Shehzad, Nasir Jamshed, Kamran Akmal (WK), Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz, Aizaz Cheema, Tanzeel Altaf, Raza Ali Dar, Mustafa Iqbal, Muzafar Mehboob, Imran Ali, Adnan Rsool, Jamshed Ahmed, Asif Yousuf, Kamran Sajid, Aamir Hayat, Usman Malik, Azmat Ali Rana (Coach), Shahid Hamid Butt (Manager)

>>>Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Asif, Asif Hussain, Ali Waqas, Naved Latif, Farrukh Shehzad, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Salman, Zeeshan Asif, Saeed Ajmal, Faisal Yasin, Naseer Akram, Samiullah Khan, Mohammad Talha, Hasan Mahmood snr, Sabir Hussain, Zahoor Khan

>>>Iftikhar Anjum, Umar Gul, Raheel Majeed, Umair Khan, Naeem Anjum, Shan Masood, Afaq Rahim, Zohaib Ahmed, Zeeshan Mushtaq, Saad Altaf, Ameer Khan, Nauman Masood, Nasrullah Khan, Imad Wasim, Fakhar Hussain, Qaiser Rehman, Mohammad Kashif, Faizan Riaz

>>>Awais Zia, Naved Malik, Umar Amin, Zahid Mansoor, Adnan Mufti, Hammad Azam, Sohail Tanvir, Jamal Anwar, Mohammad Rameez, Samiullah, Raza Hasan, Muzammil Nizam, Tayyab Riaz, Sadaf Hussain, Rizwan Akbar, Mohammad Ayaz, Usman Saeed, Mohammad Nawaz

Shoaib Malik (C), Imran Nazir, Rana Naved-ul-Hassan, Qaiser Abbas, Shahid Yousuf, Kamran Younis, Tahir Mughal, Shakil Ansar (WK), Prince Abbas, Mansoor Amjad, Raza Hassan, Sarmad Anwar, Abdur Rehman, Adeel Malik, Ali Khan, Umaid Asif, Safraz Ahmed, Naveed Anjum (Coach), Major Naeem (Manager)

Azeem Ghumman, Sharjeel Khan, Aqeel Anjum, Faisal Athar, Shahid Qambrani, Mir Ali, Ghulam Yasin, Ayaz Jamali, Nauman Ali, Zahid Mahmmod, Farhan Ayub, Jamshed Baig, Nasir Awais, Raja Suleman, Shahzad Jamali, Bilal Irshad, Naeem-ur-Rehman, Mansoor Malik

Abdur Rauf, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ali Moazzam, Zulfiqar Babar, Naved Yasin, Gulraiz Sadaf, Mohammad Zahid, Mohammad Irfan, Zain Abbas, Taimur Ahmed, Rameez Alam, Yasir Arafat, Ansar Javed, Ahmed Raza, Mazhar Bashir, Ahsan Raza, Waqas Sharif, Salman Khan

Abdur Rauf, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ali Moazzam, Zulfiqar Babar, Naved Yasin, Gulraiz Sadaf, Mohammad Zahid, Mohammad Irfan, Zain Abbas, Taimur Ahmed, Rameez Alam, Yasir Arafat, Ansar Javed, Ahmed Raza, Mazhar Bashir, Ahsan Raza, Waqas Sharif, Salman Khan

Abdur Rauf, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ali Moazzam, Zulfiqar Babar, Naved Yasin, Gulraiz Sadaf, Mohammad Zahid, Mohammad Irfan, Zain Abbas, Taimur Ahmed, Rameez Alam, Yasir Arafat, Ansar Javed, Ahmed Raza, Mazhar Bashir, Ahsan Raza, Waqas Sharif, Salman Khan

Abdur Rauf, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ali Moazzam, Zulfiqar Babar, Naved Yasin, Gulraiz Sadaf, Mohammad Zahid, Mohammad Irfan, Zain Abbas, Taimur Ahmed, Rameez Alam, Yasir Arafat, Ansar Javed, Ahmed Raza, Mazhar Bashir, Ahsan Raza, Waqas Sharif, Salman Khan

Taufeeq Umar (C), Imran Farhat, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Hamza Paracha, Usman Sallhuddin, Adnan Akmal (WK), Babar Azam, Saad Naseem, Ali Azmat, Asif Ashfaq, Ammar Ali, Wasif Butt, Asif Rza, Kashif Mahmood, Waqas Aslam, Mohammad Hamza, Abdul Ghafar, Mazoor Elahi (Coach), Shiekh Sarwar (Manager)

Danish Kaneria (C), Faisal Iqbal, Asif Zakir, Rameez Aziz, Khurram Manzoor, Hasan Raza, Akbar Rehman, Farhan Iqbal (WK), Babar Rehman, Tabish Khan, Atif Maqbool, Faraz Ahmed, Mohammad Waqas, Aziz-ul-Haq, Anwar Ali, Ahsan Ali, Malik Aftab, Tahir Khan, Adnan Baig (WK), Azam Khan (Coach), S M Adil (Manager)

Mohammad Nabi Essakhil (C), Hameed Hassan, Gulbadin Naib, Samiullah Shinwari, Najib Zadran, Najib Tarakai, Karim Sadiq, Abdullah Adil, Nasim Khan, Mohammad Sami Agha, Fazil Niazi, Sayed Ahmad Shirzad, Abdullah Mazari, Qasem Khan, Yamin Ahmadzai, Nawab Khan, Rahim Mangal, Rahmat Shah, Afsar Zazai, Amir Mangal

Interview of Shoaib Akhtar to ESPNStar.

2011-03-20T04:14:00.000-07:00

IInterview of Shoaib Akhtar to ESPNStar.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011: Quarter Finals and Semi Finals

2011-03-20T04:05:00.000-07:00

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011: Quarter Finals and Semi Finals

Quarter Finals:

Quarter Final 1: Match C Pakistan v West Indies in Dhaka on 23 March

Quarter Final 2: Match E Australia v India in Ahmedabad on 24 March

Quarter Final 3: Match F New Zealand v South Africa in Dhaka on 25 March

Quarter Final 4: Match D Sri Lanka v England in Colombo on 26 March

Semi Finals:

Semi Final 1: NZ/SA v SL/Eng in Colombo 29 March

Semi Final 2: Pak/WI v Aus/India in Mohali 30 March

Please note the venues are correct provided one of Sri Lanka or India make the semi finals

Startling stats - Pakistan vs Australia Group Match ICC World Cup 2011

2011-03-20T00:55:00.000-07:00

Startling stats

Pakistan ended Australia’s 34-match unbeaten run in the World Cup, one that stretched since the 1999

edition, by winning the Group A match by four wickets at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on Saturday. It was Ricky Ponting’s first loss as skipper in a World Cup game.

The last team to beat Australia in the World Cup was also Pakistan. They defeated Australia by 10 runs in a Group B match at Leeds on May 23, 1999.

Australia had won 32, tied one and one game was abandoned in the 34 matches played before losing to Pakistan on Saturday. With this victory Pakistan also claimed the top spot in Group A with 10 points.

Australia’s 176 in 46.4 overs at the R Premadasa was their lowest total in a World Cup since the 1992 edition when they were bowled out for 172 in 45.2 overs by Pakistan at Perth.

The last time Australia were bowled out in a World Cup game before Saturday was when South Africa (who chose to field) bowled them out for 213 in 49.2 overs in the 1999 semifinal at Edgbaston. The match ended in a tie but Australia qualified for the final because they were higher-placed on the Super Six table.

The Drop Machine - Kamran Akmal

2011-03-10T04:05:00.000-08:00

The Drop Machine - Kamran Akmal by Ammar Bin Muhammad Ashraf is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Follow me on

We must first pay tribute to the man who made it all possible – the Maharajah of Missed Chances, the Don Corleone of Dropped Catches, the Earl of Err, the Pharaoh of Fumble, Lance Corporal Granite Hands himself, Kamran Akmal. (Copied from Cricinfo.com)

Let us count his Dropped catches and Missed Stumping.

Pakistan in England Test Series - 1st Test

England v Pakistan

1) http://www.espncricinfo.com/engvpak/engine/match/225255.html?innings=1;page=2;view=commentary

63.2 Collingwood was on 79(Final Score = 186)

Umar Gul to Collingwood, no run, gone, out, no! Dropped! Leg-cutter, outside edge straight to Kamran Akmal ? dreadful shot from Collingwood I might add ? and, somehow, Akmal shelled it. Deafening silence from the captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, and not much more being said from the slips. Ooh, that?s a shocker

Pakistan in England Test Series - 3rd Test

England v Pakistan

2) http://www.espncricinfo.com/engvpak/engine/match/225257.html?innings=1;view=commentary

38.2 Collingwood was on 21(Final Score = 31)

Shahid Nazir to Collingwood, no run, yikes, Collingwood hangs his bat out to dry ? good away-swing from Shahid again ? but it passes his outside edge. Nevertheless, Akmal somehow drops a clanger and the ball bobbles from his gloves

3) http://www.espncricinfo.com/engvpak/engine/match/225257.html?innings=3;page=1;view=commentary

5.4 ME Trescothick was on 7(Final Score = 58)

Umar Gul to Trescothick, no run, DROPPED, Kamran Akmal has dropped him. A terrific ball from Gul rising on Trescothick who feathers an edge. Gul goes up to celebrate but Akmal, with iron gloves, clangs a sitter

Pakistan in England Test Series - 4th Test

England v Pakistan

4) http://www.espncricinfo.com/engvpak/engine/match/225258.html?innings=3;page=1;view=commentary

36.1 KP Pietersen was on 15 (Final Score = 96)

Danish Kaneria to Pietersen, no run, oooh, outside edge and dropped. Snorter of a delivery, Pietersen's caught in two minds, and Akmal can't hold on to the feather. Kaneria's just not having the luck today.

West Indies in Pakistan Test Series - 3rd Test

Pakistan v West Indies

5) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvwi/engine/match/257767.html?innings=2;page=2;view=commentary

83.1 DBL Powell was on 1 (Final Score = 1)

Umar Gul to Powell, no run, DROPPED! good length delivery wide outside the off stump, pitches and moves away, comes forward and feels for it, gets the edge to the right of Akmal, who dives across and puts down the catch.

6) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvwi/engine/match/257767.html?innings=4;page=2;view=commentary

63.3 Ramdin was on 10 (Final Score = 25*)

Abdul Razzaq to Ramdin, no run, Dropped! fraction short on the off stump, swinging away nicely, Ramdin moves back to defend, gets squared up by the outswinger, thick edge and Akmal dives to his right and fails to catch.

Pakistan in South Africa Test Series - 2nd Test

South Africa v Pakistan

7) http://www.espncricinfo.com/rsavpak/engine/match/250666.html?innings=1;view=commentary

17.2 AG Prince was on 2 (Final Score = 2)

Mohammad Sami to Prince, no run, ooh, dropped by Akmal. That was a long way across Prince, who slashes a thick edge through and it pops in and out of Akmal's gloves at chest height. What a costly miss that could be - Prince has been in such good form

8) http://www.espncricinfo.com/rsavpak/engine/match/250666.html?innings=1;view=commentary

22.3 Gibbs was on 2 (Final Score = 2)

Danish Kaneria to Gibbs, no run, ooh! Edge again - but dropped. Kaneria sent the ball bending back in at the right hander, taking the edge and spilled again by Akmal. Good bowling, this

9) http://www.espncricinfo.com/rsavpak/engine/match/250666.html?innings=3;page=2;view=commentary

70.1 Kallis was on 63 (Final Score = 91)

Danish Kaneria to Kallis, no run, oh no - has Akmal dropped yet another one? Ooh, not sure - Kallis went chasing that one and seemed to feather it through to Akmal who drops it. But the replays are inconclusive. Akmal's having a poor match anyway.

10) http://www.espncricinfo.com/rsavpak/engine/match/250666.html?innings=3;page=3;view=commentary

103.1 MV Boucher was on 27 (Final Score = 46)

Mohammad Hafeez to Boucher, no run, Akmal drops another one! tossed up and this one turned back in sharply, Boucher defends on the back-foot and the ball clips the inside edge and goes behind but Akmal fails to hold on to a fairly easy chance. He is clearly having a tough time out there

11) http://www.espncricinfo.com/rsavpak/engine/match/250666.html?innings=3;page=3;view=commentary

117.3 MV Boucher was on 44 (Final Score = 46)

Danish Kaneria to Boucher, 2 runs, cuts and gets an edge, DROPPED! by Akmal, who lets another chance go by

South Africa in Pakistan Test Series - 1st Test

Pakistan v South Africa

12) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvrsa/engine/match/299004.html?innings=1;page=2;view=commentary

54.5 Kallis was on 36 (Final Score = 155)

Danish Kaneria to Kallis, no run, outside off, short, forcing off the back foot, DROPPED, edges, Akmal can not hold on

South Africa in Pakistan Test Series - 2nd Test

Pakistan v South Africa

13) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvrsa/engine/match/299005.html?innings=3;page=1;view=commentary

13.4 Smith was on 18 (Final Score = 133)

Danish Kaneria to Smith, 1 run, DROPPED, drives from the front foot, turns back from the rough, inside edge, pad, Akmal tries to get the full glove to it, hard chance put down

Pakistan in India Test Series - 2nd Test

India v Pakistan

14) http://www.espncricinfo.com/indvpak/engine/match/297807.html?innings=1;page=2;view=commentary

55.6 Tendulkar was on 28 (Final Score = 82)

Mohammad Sami to Tendulkar, 1 run, dropped by Akmal. Not a surprise, actually. Only surprise is he usually catches Tendulkar. It was banged in short, outside off stump, Tendulkar decides late to go for a upper cut, doesn't connect properly and Akmal thrusts his right glove out but fails to hold on and ends up palming it behind him.

Sri Lanka in Pakistan Test Series - 2nd Test

Pakistan v Sri Lanka

15) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvsl/engine/match/388994.html?innings=1;page=2;view=commentary

59.4 Samaraweera was on 69 (Final Score = 214)

Danish Kaneria to Samaraweera, 1 run, dropped, Kamran this time, outside off, stretches forward and gets the edge, Kamran puts it down.

Pakistan in Sri Lanka Test Series - 1st Test

Sri Lanka v Pakistan

16) http://www.espncricinfo.com/slvpak2009/engine/match/403367.html?innings=1;view=commentary

7.2 Jayawardene was on 0 (Final Score = 30)

Mohammad Amir to Jayawardene, no run, Dropped Akmal's the culprit, Aamer bowls it in the corridor outside off and induces a nick, Akmal didn't have to move, he's dropped a sitter

Pakistan in Sri Lanka Test Series - 3rd Test

Sri Lanka v Pakistan

17) http://www.espncricinfo.com/slvpak2009/engine/match/403369.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

29.3 AD Mathews was on 12 (Final Score = 31)

Saeed Ajmal to Mathews, no run, dropped, Akmal spills it, spun back in but not as much as Mathews expected, played inside the line while trying to defend, got a thin edge but Akmal could not pouch it, tried again at the second attempt but failed.

Pakistan in New Zealand Test Series - 1st Test

New Zealand v Pakistan

18) http://www.espncricinfo.com/nzvpak2009/engine/match/423778.html?innings=1;page=3;view=commentary

123.3 Vettori was on 91 (Final Score = 99)

Umar Gul to Vettori, FOUR, Dropped Confusion between Farhat and Akmal, Gul holds the length back and Vettori hangs his bat out and gets a thick outside edge, the ball flies through the gap between keeper and first slip and both went for it but the ball beat them both.

Pakistan in Australia Test Series - 2nd Test

Australia v Pakistan

19) http://www.espncricinfo.com/ausvpak09/engine/match/406200.html?innings=3;page=2;view=commentary

52.6 Hussey Was on 27 (Final Score = 134)

Danish Kaneria to Hussey, no run, trying playing defensively from the crease, Hussey's beaten by a ball that rips past the outside edge of his upright bat

Subsquent replays suggest this may have been a dropped catch by Kamran Akmal. If it was it only got the faintest edge from Hussey's bat.

Oh yes, definitely an edge looking at it from front-on.

20) http://www.espncricinfo.com/ausvpak09/engine/match/406200.html?innings=3;page=2;view=commentary

62.2 Hussey Was on 45 (Final Score = 134)

Danish Kaneria to Hussey, no run, dropped, defensively forward, inside edge onto pad, through to the keeper who spills it

21) http://www.espncricinfo.com/ausvpak09/engine/match/406200.html?innings=3;page=2;view=commentary

66.4 Hussey Was on 52 (Final Score = 134)

Danish Kaneria to Hussey, no run, dropped, pushing at a ball outside off, a thick outside edge is split by the wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.

22) http://www.espncricinfo.com/ausvpak09/engine/match/406200.html?innings=3;page=3;view=commentary

113.2 PM Siddle was on 25 (Final Score = 38)

Mohammad Sami to Siddle, 1 run, dropped, short ball down leg, Siddle swishes at it, gloves it but it's dropped by the keeper to his left, should have taken it, the ball runs away for a single

Pakistan in England Test Series - 1st Test

England v Pakistan

23) http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/engine/match/426413.html?innings=1;view=commentary

4.3 AJ Strauss was on 15 (Final Score = 45)

Mohammad Amir to Strauss, no run, 136.0 kph, dropped! Kamran, what have you done? Perfect outswinger from Aamer, Strauss edges and Akmal puts down the simplest of chances. Kamran kept so well against Australia - relatively speaking, anyway - but this is the worst possible start for him against England

24) http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/engine/match/426413.html?innings=3;page=1;view=commentary

22.4 Collingwood was on 0 (Final Score = 1)

Umar Gul to Collingwood, no run, 142.1 kph, oh no! Kamran has gone from hero back to zero! Dropped! After just pulling off a stunner he's put Collingwood down first ball, it was wide, Collingwood flashed a cut and edges it towards first slip, Akmal flew across and dropped the chance

Pakistan in England Test Series - 3rd Test

England v Pakistan

25) http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/engine/match/426415.html?innings=1;view=commentary

37.3 MJ Prior was on 29 (Final Score = 84*)

Mohammad Asif to Prior, 4 leg byes, 128.9 kph, and that one's dropped, but a very tough chance for Kamran. You can't expect him to take that - it's an inside edge onto the thigh and then sneaking past the stumps, Kamran dives and just gets his left fingertip to the ball as it runs away towards fine leg for a boundary

Steve Davis has called that leg byes, but there was an inside edge on it, no question

Pakistan in England Test Series - 4th Test

England v Pakistan

26) http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/engine/match/426416.html?innings=1;page=3;view=commentary

115.3 Broad was on 132 (Final Score = 169)

Saeed Ajmal to Broad, no run, 94.6 kph, dropped a beauty...he played forward again and it grazes the outside edge but Kamran Akmal can't hold on. There was very little reaction from the players

India in Pakistan ODI Series - 3rd ODI

27) http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/236809.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

15.1 Tendulkar was on 36 (Final Score = 95)

Umar Gul to Tendulkar, no run, down the leg side, Tendulkar gets an edge, fielded by Akmal, who drops the catch.

Pakistan in Sri Lanka ODI Series - 3rd ODI

28) http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/238215.html?innings=1;view=commentary

10.1 Tharanga was on 19 (Final Score = 23)

Abdul Razzaq to Tharanga, 2 runs, dropped! good ball first up, bit of movement, pushes with an open face, gets an edge, Akmal dives to his left and fails to hold on to the chance.

NatWest Series [Pakistan in England] - 2nd match

29) http://www.espncricinfo.com/engvpak/engine/match/225246.html?innings=1;view=commentary

6.3 Ian Bell wan on 8 (Final Score = 9)

Shoaib Akhtar to Bell, 1 leg bye, wow, that was quick and full on off, Bell drives but is beaten all ends up, ball brushes something but Akmal fails to collect it to his left, ball runs away and they steal one, umpire calls it leg byes, was there bat on that though? Looks like it, according to the replays

30) http://www.espncricinfo.com/engvpak/engine/match/225246.html?innings=1;view=commentary

6.6 Trescothick was on 6 (Final Score = 6)

Shoaib Akhtar to Trescothick, no run, good length ball on off, Tresco stands tall and drives but makes zero contact, a tight over coming to and end, should have had Bell but Akmal dropped another catch to add to his summer's tally of non-takes

ICC World Cup - 1st match, Group D

31) http://www.espncricinfo.com/wc2007/engine/match/247457.html?innings=1;view=commentary

38.3 Lara was on 28 (Final Score = 37)

Shoaib Malik to Lara, no run, ooh, ooh. Interesting. Malik annoyed that Akmal failed to pouch that one, dropping the fine edge. Akmal's glovework leaving much to be desired as is, sadly, often the case

Warid Cricket Series - 2nd ODI

32) http://www.espncricinfo.com/waridcricketseries/engine/match/293505.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

4.2 Kapugedera was on 19 (Final Score 20)

Mohammad Asif to Kapugedera, 1 run, dropped! He chases a short delivery outside off stump, gets the nick, and Akmal drops a simple take behind the stumps...poor stuff from him

South Africa in Pakistan ODI Series - 3rd ODI

33) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvrsa/engine/match/299008.html?innings=1;view=commentary

22.3 Smith was on 24 (Final Score = 48)

Shahid Afridi to Smith, no run, dropped by Akmal. It was a googly outside off stump, Smith stabbed at it and edged it to Akmal who fails to hold on. The ball pops up and it falls between a lunging Akmal and Younis at first slip.

34) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvrsa/engine/match/299008.html?innings=1;view=commentary

32.1 Smith was on 48 (Final Score = 48)

Abdur Rehman to Smith, 1 run, dropped,though it was tough. Tossed up wide, Smith gets across off and plays at it, getting a thick edge which Akmal doesnt read, and the ball clips his pad to run fine

South Africa in Pakistan ODI Series - 4th ODI

35) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvrsa/engine/match/299009.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

29.2 Pollock was on 61 (Final Score = 90)

Abdur Rehman to Pollock, 1 run, oh ho! Full and flat on leg stump, Pollock gets forward and paddles it up in air, Akmal turns and stumbles and doesnt make any effort to dive for the catch ... sums up Pakistan's evening

South Africa in Pakistan ODI Series - 5th ODI

36) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvrsa/engine/match/299010.html?innings=1;view=commentary

2.3 Kallis was on 6 (Final Score = 86)

Shoaib Akhtar to Kallis, no run, dropped, Akmal drops an absolute sitter, this one was a touch fuller, it pitched on a good length and drew Kallis forward, the ball kissed the outside edge and flew at an easy height straight to Akmal who couldn't take it cleanly, Kallis has had a poor ODI series so far and Pakistan could have had him cheaply once again

Pakistan in India ODI Series - 1st ODI

37) http://www.espncricinfo.com/indvpak/engine/match/297801.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

6.1 Gambhir was on 7 (Final Score = 44)

Shoaib Akhtar to Gambhir, FOUR, dropped, by either Akmal or Younis, Gambhir pushed tentatively away from his body at a good length delivery outside off stump and got a regulation edge that flew between the wicketkeeper and first slip, neither Akmal or Younis moved an inch

38) http://www.espncricinfo.com/indvpak/engine/match/297801.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

14.5 Ganguly was on 37 (Final Score = 39)

Shahid Afridi to Ganguly, no run, dropped, Ganguly tries to run the ball to third man and got a faint edge to Akmal, the ball hit the gloves and rolled towards third man, Gambhir came half-way down the pitch from the non-striker's end but was sent back by Ganguly, that's the third catch Pakistan have grassed

Pakistan in India ODI Series - 2nd ODI

39) http://www.espncricinfo.com/indvpak/engine/match/297802.html?innings=1;view=commentary

13.4 Gambhir was on 17 (Final Score = 57)

Iftikhar Anjum to Gambhir, 1 run, Dropped by Akmal. It was full in length, outside off stump, Gambhir drives on the up and gets a edge which flies low and just in front of Akmal who couldn't quite wrap his gloves under the ball

Pakistan in India ODI Series - 3rd ODI

40) http://www.espncricinfo.com/indvpak/engine/match/297803.html?innings=1;view=commentary

0.1 Ganguly was on 0 (Final Score = 39)

Shoaib Akhtar to Ganguly, no run, Dropped! Would you believe it? Kamran Akmal drops a regulation 'keeper catch. It was full in length, outside off stump and Ganguly had a poke at it with an open-face of the bat. Sure, the ball was dipping as it went to the left of Akmal but he should have held it. What a start. Hold your mails. We know many of you don't rate Akmal much.

Bangladesh in Pakistan ODI Series - 2nd ODI

41) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvbdesh/engine/match/343760.html?innings=1;view=commentary

32.5 Mahmudullah was on 14 (Final Score = 58*)

Shoaib Malik to Mahmudullah, no run, spins down the leg side and the Akmal misses a good stumping chance as the batsman came down the track.

Bangladesh in Pakistan ODI Series - 3rd ODI

42) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvbdesh/engine/match/343761.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

36.2 Shakib Al Hasan was on 35 (Final Score = 75)

Sohail Khan to Shakib Al Hasan, 1 run, dropped! Outside the off stump and Shakib Al Hasan drives, gets the outside edge to Akmal behind the wicket, who dives low to his right and drops the ball. That should have been taken

Kitply Cup - 1st match

43) http://www.espncricinfo.com/kitplycup/engine/match/345468.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

33.5 Abdur Razzak was on 0 (Final Score = 26*)

Umar Gul to Abdur Razzak, FOUR, Dropped by Akmal. well he didn't even reach it. He should have as it wasn't too far to his left. Gul had produced a jab and a edge wit ha delivery that straightened outside off stump from round the stumps and Akmal was late in reacting

Pakistan v West Indies ODI Series - 1st ODI

44) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvwi/engine/match/374059.html?innings=1;view=commentary

39.5 Marshall was on 2 (Final Score = 26)

Shahid Afridi to Marshall, no run, dropped, that was short of a good length outside off, Marshall gets onto the back foot to punch it wide of the covers, gets an outside edge and Akmal spills a regulation chance!!

Pakistan v West Indies ODI Series - 2nd ODI

45) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvwi/engine/match/374060.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

30.4 Findlay was on 0 (Final Score = 12)

Shahid Afridi to Findlay, no run, dropped, that was an off spinner pitching on off, Findlay lunges forward to defend, gets a thick outside edge that Akmal puts down

Sri Lanka in Pakistan ODI Series - 2nd ODI

46) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvsl/engine/match/385750.html?innings=1;view=commentary

19.1 Kandamby was on 16 (Final Score = 59)

Shahid Afridi to Kandamby, no run, dropped, quicker ball that spun away sharply after landing on the off stump, tries to defend off the back foot, gets a thick outside edge and Akmal puts it down behind the wickets. Straightforward

Sri Lanka in Pakistan ODI Series - 3rd ODI

47) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvsl/engine/match/385751.html?innings=1;view=commentary

40.4 Kndamby was on 28 (Final Score = 32)

Shoaib Malik to Kandamby, no run, missed stumping, Pakistan have been poor, flighted outside off inviting Kandamby out of the crease, he goes for a loft over extra cover but the ball spins away, he misses and so does Kamran Akmal who makes a mess of it behind the stumps

Pakistan in Sri Lanka ODI Series - 1st ODI

48) http://www.espncricinfo.com/slvpak2009/engine/match/403370.html?innings=1;view=commentary

1.1 Jayasuriya was on 1 (Final Score = 15)

Abdul Razzaq to Jayasuriya, no run, dropped, again on the leg stump, it goes down the leg side, Akmal has to dive low to his right to take that, he fails to collect it, and his reaction suggests Jayasuriya had edged that

ICC Champions Trophy - 6th match, Group A

49) http://www.espncricinfo.com/iccct2009/engine/match/415278.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

22.3 Dhoni was on 0 (Final Score = 3)

Saeed Ajmal to Dhoni, no run, Dropped by Akmal. Tough chance. T'was a topspinner outside off stump, Dhoni tries to cover drive, edges and it deflects to Akmal's right pad

Asia Cup - 4th match

50) http://www.espncricinfo.com/asia2010/engine/match/455234.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

36.6 Sharma was on 9 (Final Score = 22)

Shoaib Akhtar to Sharma, 1 run, all night Akmal has been appealing without any edges, now he gets a regulation edge and he drops it! Poor keeping really! Beats me how this man is keeping in international cricket! Sharma goes chasing, edged away slightly wide of him, he sticks out one firm hand and it bounces off it. Really didn't have to go too far

Asia Cup - 1st match

51) http://www.espncricinfo.com/asia2010/engine/match/455231.html?innings=1;view=commentary

2.5 Dilshan was on 12 (Final Score = 18)

Shoaib Akhtar to Dilshan, FOUR, Edged between the keeper and the first slip. It pitched well ahead of the cordon and rolled away. It was around 145 kmph back-of-length delivery and Dilshan went for the cut and edged. Kamran dived but couldn't reach in time

52) http://www.espncricinfo.com/asia2010/engine/match/455231.html?innings=1;view=commentary

8.4 Jayawardene was on 0 (Final Score = 54)

Mohammad Asif to Jayawardene, FOUR, Edged but Kamran couldn't get to it. It was a lovely leg cutter around off - a classic Asif delivery - and Mahela had a lame poke at it,. Almost fatal. The gap between the keeper and slip was wide and Kamran dived but couldn't reach

53) http://www.espncricinfo.com/asia2010/engine/match/455231.html?innings=1;view=commentary

41.2 Kulasekara was on 5 (Final Score = 14)

Shahid Afridi to Kulasekara, 1 wide, Stumping chance missed. Not a surprise if you have followed Kamran's career. It was down the leg side and Kula had leaned forward to flick and lost balance and had stepped well out of the crease. But Kamran doesn't collect it cleanly. Oh well

Asia Cup - 5th match

54) http://www.espncricinfo.com/asia2010/engine/match/455235.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

43.2 Shkib ul Hassan was on 2 (Final Score = 25)

Abdur Rehman to Shakib Al Hasan, 3 runs, thank God for some constants in life! Kamran Akmal has dropped one! Difficult edge, though, a thick one and a decent deflection. But thankfully some things never change

NatWest Series [Pakistan in England] - 3rd ODI

55) http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/engine/match/426430.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

18.5 Yardy was on 0 (Final Score = 4)

Umar Gul to Yardy, 1 run, Kamran Akmal drops it! Calamity Kamran strikes again! Gul finds a thickish outside edge that goes low and wide to Kamran, diving one-handed to his left and he couldn't quite hold on. Looks to have damaged his finger as well

Pakistan in New Zealand ODI Series - 5th ODI

56) http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-pakistan-2010/engine/match/473927.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

44.1 NL McCullum was on 4 (Final Score = 14)

Wahab Riaz to NL McCullum, 1 run, somethings in Pakistan cricket never change. Like the fact that inevitably, Kamran Akmal will drop a catch. He's done it again. Short ball, Nathan gets a top edge behind his head and it was a dolly for Kamran who was moving back. And he put it down.

ICC Cricket World Cup - 10th match, Group A

57) http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/match/433567.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

30.1 Sangakkara was on 22 (Final Score = 49)

Abdur Rehman to Sangakkara, 5 wides, Kamran fluffs a stumping, all is well with the world, Rehman beat Sanga with some flight, and angling it down the leg side, he got some extra bounce again, which beat Kamran totally, Sanga was in no position to get back

58) http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/match/433567.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

34.6 Sangakkara was on 33 (Final Score = 49)

Abdur Rehman to Sangakkara, 1 wide, Kamran, oh Kamran. Another fluffed stumping. Same as before, Sanga jumps out a mile looking to flick. Rehman sees him and fires it wide, Sanga misses and is halfway down the track. Kamran whips the bails off. Find the missing link - yes, Kamran did not collect. I now know the only weak link in Pakistan's side. It is behind the stumps.

ICC Cricket World Cup - 17th match, Group A

59) http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/match/433574.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

3.1 Gunasekera was on 8 (Final Score = 8)

Umar Gul to Gunasekera, no run, dropped by Kamran or did it go off the back thigh? It cut across from the leg stump line, went right across the batsman who was squared-up in defense. the ball flew to left of Akmal, who was initially moving to his right. He then threw a big dive with outstretched left hand but couldn't hold on. Replays don't confirm an edge. It seems it went off the thigh.

ICC Cricket World Cup - 24th match, Group A

60) http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/match/433581.html?innings=1;view=commentary

13.2 Taylor was on 0 (Final Score = 131*)

Shoaib Akhtar to Taylor, FOUR, Ross gets a birthday gift, it's the Kamran moment, Shoaib got the edge with a perfect delivery that zipped away just a shade, the ball flew between younis and Kamran, who initially appeared to go for it, and then did the keeper's version of shouldering arms, stood stone still, as a bemused Younis looked on

61) http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/match/433581.html?innings=1;view=commentary

13.4 Taylor was on 8 (Final Score = 131*)

Shoaib Akhtar to Taylor, no run, oh I don't believe this, two birthday gifts is too much, from the same man too, Shoaib has Ross pushing at a one that held its line,and the healthy edge goes ever so slowly to Kamran who is in good position to take it, gets gloves on it, and clangs it, Shoaib can't do anything about it, boy is he distraught

62) http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/match/433581.html?innings=1;view=commentary

30.4 Styris was on 4 (Final Score = 28)

Shahid Afridi to Styris, 1 run, another drop from Kamran, outside off, Styris looks to stab it from the crease, edged and Kamran's horror day continues, Afridi is not amused

Pakistan Vs England, Trent Bridge, 2010.

63)

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/engine/match/426413.html?innings=1;page=2;view=commentary

70.2 Collingwood was on 48(Final Score = 82)

Danish Kaneria to Collingwood, no run, missed stumping! Kamran's really not having a good day... Collingwood charged down the track, was beaten in the air and by the turn. He was practically walking off he was so far down, but Kamran fumbled the take, and couldn't pick the ball up before the batsman got back in. Kaneria really needed that wicket - Pakistan needed it!

Pakistan Vs England, Oval, 2006.

64)

http://www.espncricinfo.com/engvpak/engine/match/225258.html?innings=1;view=commentary

40.3 Mahmood was on 0 (Final Score = 15)

Danish Kaneria to Mahmood, 4 byes, ah, should have been out. Mahmood came down the wicket aiming to hoick that over mid-on; instead he completely missed it and should have been stumped by yards but Akmal didn’t even move and the ball flew past his gloves really easily

Pakistan in South Africa Test Series - 2nd Test

65) http://www.espncricinfo.com/rsavpak/engine/match/250666.html?innings=3;page=1;view=commentary
40.4 Prince was on 17 (Final Score = 22)
Danish Kaneria to Prince, no run, stumping chance missed! A lovely teasing flighted delivery, again Prince comes down the track and is beaten by the flight and the dip. The ball threads through the bat and pad gap and is just outside off stump and Akmal clangs it. Would have been definitely out had he gathered.

Sri Lanka in Pakistan ODI Series - 2nd ODI

66) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvsl/engine/match/385750.html?innings=1;view=commentary

34.2 Jayawardena was on 5 (Final Score = 24)

Shahid Afridi to Jayawardene, no run, went through him! Kept low there, pitched on a good length outside off, just fractionally wide of the off stump, and spun away, Mahela failed to get his bat down in time and the ball clipped his back pad on the way to the keeper. Replays indicate there was an inside edge, but a really tough chance there for the keeper.

Pakistan v West Indies ODI Series - 3rd ODI

67) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvwi/engine/match/374061.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

15.2 Gayle was on 34 (Final Score = 122)

Saeed Ajmal to Gayle, no run, looks like an edge and Kamran up to the mark (his own) dropped it

Pakistan in India Test Series - 3rd Test

68) http://www.espncricinfo.com/indvpak/engine/match/297808.html?innings=1;page=3;view=commentary

118.6 Pathan was on 23 (Final Score = 102)

Danish Kaneria to Pathan, no run, fullish and outside the off, played at with hard hands, the ball slips past bat, the reactions from Akmal, who gloves the ball to the floor, and the bowler, suggest that there might have been an edge to that

Pakistan in Australia Test Series - 1st Test

69) http://www.espncricinfo.com/ausvpak09/engine/match/406199.html?innings=1;page=2;view=commentary

74.6 Ponting was on 30 (Final Score = 57)

Mohammad Asif to Ponting, no run, forward with bat and pad to a good delivery that nips through the batsman's defence, if he nicked it it was of no consequence since Kamran Akmal failed to take it cleanly

Replays suggest Ponting probably got an inside edge. So perhaps we can put that one down as a drop to Kamran Akmal.

NatWest Series [Pakistan in England] - 2nd ODI

70) http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/engine/match/426429.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

40.6 Morgan was on 1 (Final Score = 16)

Mohammad Hafeez to Morgan, no run, edged, and dropped by Kamran! It was a really thick edge and a big deflection as Morgan tried to cut, the keeper did well to even get a glove to that

Bangladesh in Pakistan ODI Series - 5th ODI

71) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakvbdesh/engine/match/343763.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

25.3 Dhiman Gosh was on 21 (Final Score = 29)

Shahid Afridi to Dhiman Ghosh, no run, uses his feet and looks to work it through the onside, misses it and Akmal misses a stumping chance.

NatWest Series [Pakistan in England] - 2nd match

72) http://www.espncricinfo.com/engvpak/engine/match/225246.html?innings=1;view=commentary

32.3 Read was on 12 (Final Score = 30)

Shahid Afridi to Read, 1 wide, fired down the leg, batsman out of his crease but Akmal snuffles a take, Afridi not happy

Pakistan in England T20I Match

73) http://www.espncricinfo.com/engvpak/engine/match/225263.html?innings=1;view=commentary

11.5 Trescothick was on 46 (Final Score = 53)

Shahid Afridi to Trescothick, no run, ooh, he nicked that one off the back foot but Akmal fluffed it

Pakistan in South Africa T20I Match

74) http://www.espncricinfo.com/rsavpak/engine/match/255957.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

8.6 Bosman was on 45 (Final Score = 53*)

Abdur Rehman to Bosman, 1 run, DROPPED! swung down to long on, what a mess by the man on the fence - Akmal of all people! - and Bosman gets a life

ICC World Twenty20 - 18th match, Group F

75) http://www.espncricinfo.com/twenty20wc/engine/match/287870.html?innings=1;view=commentary

6.4 Ponting was on (Final Score = 27)

Shahid Afridi to Ponting, FOUR, Ponting tries to pull a ball that pitches on middle stump and spins across him, he gets a bottom edge which goes between Akmal's legs for a boundary

76) http://www.espncricinfo.com/twenty20wc/engine/match/287870.html?innings=1;view=commentary

8.4 Ponting was on 19 (Final Score = 27)

Shahid Afridi to Ponting, 1 bye, Ponting comes down the pitch, Afridi beats him with a quicker ball but Akmal misses a stumping chance

ICC World Twenty20 2007 - 1st semi final

77) http://www.espncricinfo.com/twenty20wc/engine/match/287877.html?innings=1;view=commentary

19.6 Taylor was on 36 (Final Score = 37*)

Mohammad Asif to Taylor, 1 run, low full toss pulled high in the air off the bottom of the bat and that's a poor piece of keeping from Akmal who calls for it... and then fluffs it. That may be amusing, but let's hope for his sake that it doesn't come down to a run...

ICC World Twenty20 2009 - 1st semi final

78) http://www.espncricinfo.com/wt202009/engine/match/356015.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

8.2 AB de Villiers ws on 1 (Final Score = 1)

Shahid Afridi to de Villiers, no run, dropped by Akmal. Lovely ripping leg break turning from the off stump line, AB pushed hard at it, got the thick edge and Akmal couldn't hold on to slightly difficult chance

ICC World Twenty20 2010 - 4th match, Group A

79) http://www.espncricinfo.com/world-twenty20-2010/engine/match/412680.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

6.5 Mohammad Ashraful was on 11 (Final Score = 65)

Abdul Razzaq to Mohammad Ashraful, FOUR, educated edge just wide of the keeper Akmal, who put a surprisingly low-key effort. A big dive was possibly in order, but it ran away for four

80) http://www.espncricinfo.com/world-twenty20-2010/engine/match/412680.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

7.1 Shakib Al Hasan was on 7 (Final Score = 47)

Mohammad Hafeez to Shakib Al Hasan, no run, was that a drop from Kamran? short of a length, Shakib can't connect with the flick but possibly got a thick inside edge, and Kamran put it down

81) http://www.espncricinfo.com/world-twenty20-2010/engine/match/412680.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

15.4 Mahmudullah was on 0 (Final Score = 0)

Mohammad Sami to Mahmudullah, no run, dropped by Kamran Akmal! Thickish inside edge that darted in, and Kamran had to regroup and dive to his left. In the end, he did well to stop what would have been a sure four

ICC World Twenty20 2010 - 21st match, Group E

82) http://www.espncricinfo.com/world-twenty20-2010/engine/match/412697.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

14.2 AB de Villiers was on 34 (Final Score = 53)

Abdur Rehman to de Villiers, no run, goes for the sweep shot, it bounces over the middle stump line and Akmal doesn't collect it cleanly. Was there an edge? The replays aren't conclusive. BAd angles basically

Pakistan in England T20I Series - 1st T20I

83) http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/engine/match/426417.html?innings=2;page=1;view=commentary

12.2 Yardy was on 13 (Final Score = 35)

Saeed Ajmal to Yardy, 2 runs, dropped by Kamran, tough chance as it flicked the edge, Kamran didn't even get a hand on it, it just flicked the edge and went off his knee

Pakistan in South Africa Test Series - 3rd Test

84) http://www.espncricinfo.com/rsavpak/engine/match/250667.html?innings=4;page=2;view=commentary

62.5 Prince was on 58 (Final Score = 59)

Shahid Nazir to Prince, no run, oh no! Akmal's had a(nother) shocker there. Prince got a big inside edge and there was a regulation catch, low to his right, which slips out of his gloves while the players are busy celebrating. It's unlikely to have made a huge difference, in truth, but it won't have done Akmal's confidence, nor his reputation, any good

ICC Cricket World Cup 40th Match, Group A

85) http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/current/match/433596.html

39.4 Krejza was on 0 (Final Score= 7)

Abdur Rehman to Krejza, no run, that beat everything, Akmal included. Missed stumping? Perhaps. Akmal's day had been too good to last

The Drop Machine - Kamran Akmal by Ammar Bin Muhammad Ashraf is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

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Saeed Anwar The Majestic Opener

2011-03-09T07:58:00.000-08:00

Majestic timing and placement were Saeed Anwar's hallmarks. He was an opener capable of electrifying starts in all cricket through graceful strokeplay rather than brute force. He loved driving through the off side with minimal footwork. He annihilated any bowler offering width outside off stump although he too regularly guided the ball straight into the hands of fourth slip or gully. He first came to prominence as a one-day player but soon achieved equal success in Test cricket.

His father was a talented club cricketer when business allowed. Aged 45, he played in a club match with his son and straight-drove a ball which, his son says, almost cleared two grounds. Anwar thinks he may have inherited some of his wrist-power from his father. He developed it by playing squash (daily) and table tennis; he became a slow left-arm bowler too; and, above all, he practised batting in the garage of his Karachi home. The bowler was not his much younger brother, Javed Anwar, who has played for Lahore Under-19, but often Rashid Latif, Pakistan's future wicket-keeper, who lived nearby. His reflexes were heightened by batting against a tennis ball covered in tape and bowled from 14 or 15 yards.

His rapid run-scoring led to selection against the touring Australians in 1988-89 at Peshawar for the NWFP Governor's XI: batting at No.5 Anwar does not seem to have been overawed as he scored his 127 from 156 balls. He was chosen for the short tour of Australia and New Zealand a few months later and he did make his debut in one-day internationals, but was sent home after one first-class game in Australia as Pakistan needed an opener. He was back on the Test tour of Australia a year later. There was little opportunity in the middle order, but when he was promoted to open halfway through the World Series, he scored 126 off only 99 balls against Sri Lanka. His one-day career was launched.

His beginning in Test matches was stickier: against West Indies at Faisalabad in 1990-91, he bagged a pair as an opener, but it was Curtly Ambrose and Ian Bishop who dismissed him and he can laugh about it in retrospect. The one-day runs continued in profusion, but further Test opportunities did not arise, and the one-day batsman label applied by Pakistan's press and public stuck ever more tightly. It was with some relief that in February 1994, in his third Test, he scored 169 against New Zealand at Wellington. He said "It was the most thrilling time of my life. I was really happy to have proved all those people wrong."

Anwar was the first Pakistani batsman to score a century against India on Indian soil in a one-day match. He has the highest Test batting average (59.06) of any Pakistani against Australia, and once scored three consecutive centuries against them. He scored a classic century against South Africa in Durban, which allowed Pakistan to win a Test match for the first time in South Africa.

Anwar is a member of the exclusive club of batsmen who have scored three successive hundreds in ODIs, with hundreds against Sri Lanka, West Indies and Sri Lanka during the 1993–94 in Sharjah. He scored two successive hundreds on three other occasions in his career, and was the first batsman to complete this feat in ODIs.

An opening batsman capable of annihilating any bowling attack on his day, Anwar was an attacking batsman in one-day matches and once settled in Test matches, scored quickly and all over the field. His success came from good timing and wrist flicks rather than physical power, and Anwar became famous for his trademark flick. He was able to lift a ball that had pitched outside off stump for six over midwicket. Anwar's timing and ability to score quick runs made him a crowd favourite. He was named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1997.

In the beginning his impetuosity brought accusations of a lack of concentration, a fly-by-night character. Instead Anwar showed that his destructive one-day talent could be harnessed into a formidable Test-match force, so much so that he became Pakistan's best opener since Majid Khan, and perhaps even surpassed Hanif Mohammad, who is usually acclaimed as the greatest of all Pakistan's opening batsmen. Imran Khan always rated Anwar highly, and someone of doubtful temperament would never receive Imran's praise. He wasn't quite on a par with Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, as Imran claims - but few batsmen are. Nor was he a natural athlete: indeed he was sometimes a liability in the field. And when the captaincy came to him, he seemed surprisingly uncomfortable. Perhaps it should not have been a surprise, because it was batting that Saeed Anwar loved most.

Two events changed that. Early on in the 1999 World Cup final, Anwar asked for the rubber on his bat-handle to be changed. He was out next ball, and Pakistan crumbled. Had the change been necessary? Had it broken his concentration? This thought tormented him, and some of his hunger ebbed with that disappointment. Two years later his young daughter died. Anwar's mind turned to religion. What did cricket matter after that?

Still he insisted that he wanted his place back. And the sole pleasure that Pakistani fans derived from a disappointing World Cup in South Africa was Anwar's farewell one-day century against India. This was fitting because despite his general success against all countries, two of his most memorable successes had come against India in India. The third Test that Pakistan played in India in February 1999 was the first in the Asian Test Championship. India and Pakistan had drawn the preceding Test series, so this match in Calcutta was effectively the decider. Pakistan, put into bat, collapsed to 26 for 6. They recovered to 185, and in the second innings Anwar carried his bat for a magnificent 188 not out in a total of 316, which turned out to be a winning score.

Two years earlier in Chennai, Anwar posted 194, the highest one-day score by Pakistani to date and possibly for years to come. Pakistan will not replace him easily.

On 15 August 2003 he announced his retirement after being overlooked for the series against Bangladesh.

He confirmed his intentions at a news conference.

"I enjoyed my cricket for Pakistan," he said, "and after 15 years today I announce my retirement from international and first-class cricket."I am retiring on a high note but am disappointed," added Anwar. "I could have played for two more years. I made a pair in my first Test and never in my dreams imagined I would go that far after failing in my first Test. I played for Pakistan with pride and want to be remembered as a good and decent player. No one leaves cricket as a happy man ... but I think this was Allah Almighty's will."

"I've enjoyed playing for Pakistan and it has always been a great honour for me to wear the national blazer. I relished the challenge of facing the world's fastest bowlers and scoring runs against them,"

The Velvet Sledgehammers - Younis Khan & Mohammad Yousuf

2011-03-09T07:13:00.000-08:00

The Velvet Sledgehammers - Younis Khan & Mohammad Yousuf by Ammar Bin Muhammad Ashraf is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

The two Heavyweight giants, one is fearless, as befits his Pathan ancestry and will forever be remembered as the second Khan to bring home a world title for Pakistan, and other one is best known in cricket for his achievement in 2006 when he broke the world record for most Test runs in a single calendar year.

First Mohammad Yousuf, at his best, watching Yousuf bat is an unnervingly tranquil experience, especially amid the traditional chaos of a Pakistan batting order. He has a dangerously high backlift, which makes every shot he plays, a late, unhurried afterthought, but a beautiful one. The feet take time to get going, but once they do, they dance with the best. Square and behind it on the off side are his areas, where his game is the most enchanting.

Younis Khan, it is as a batsman, and a fearless one, that he made his name first, playing with a flourish. He is especially strong in the arc from backward point to extra cover. He is prone to getting down on one knee and driving extravagantly. But this flamboyance is coupled with grit.

Muhammad Yousuf breaks Vivian Richard Record:

The year 2006 has been a spectacular one for Mohammad Yousuf. It started off with a 199-ball 173 against India at Lahore, and since that knock, he hasn't looked back, finishing with an aggregate of 1788, beating Viv Richards's tally of 1710 quite handily to wrest the record of most number of runs in a calendar year. Younis Khan helped Mohammad Yousuf a lot in this year to grab this big record for Pakistan.

Following is the table of partnership list of Mohammad Yousuf in 2006.

Younis Khan's Triple Hundred:

Younis Khan is the second fastest Pakistani in terms of innings to reach 4000 Test runs, behind Javed Miandad. Younis reached the milestone in 87 innings, just one more than Sachin Tendulkar took. In year 2009, Younis became the third Pakistan batsman after Hanif Mohammad and Inzamam-ul-Haq to reach a triple-hundred.

Younus Khan topped the ICC's Test Batting Rankings in February 2009 after an acclaimed innings of 313 in his first test as captain, in the process of helping save the match for Pakistan.

THE 2 BIG:

Most teams tend to rely on three or four batsmen more than others, but in Pakistan's case the difference between the contribution of the two stars and the rest is stark. Younis Khan along with Mohammad Yousuf has been head and shoulders above the rest of the Pakistan batsmen, which the table below confirms. The other specialist batsmen - Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq, to name a few - have all had very modest success.

In the 34 Tests (1 Jan 2005 - 26 July 2009) that Yousuf and Younis have played during this period, they've averaged 63.63, scored 30% of the team's total runs and nearly 50% of the hundreds. Remove the two from the equation, and Pakistan have only averaged 29.37 runs per wicket.

Let's look at how Pakistan's reliance on the super duo compares with other teams' dependence on their two best batsmen during the same period. Clearly, the team of Yousuf and Younis have outperformed the group of champion batsmen from other teams.

They were more prolific than any other middle-order pair, averaging more than 100 runs per completed partnership. In the 24 innings they batted together, they added at least 50 runs on 15 occasions, and went on to a century stand seven times. Below table will give you a clear cut idea of these two superstars dominance.

These two have proved in the past how important they could be for Pakistan and their records speak for themselves. Pakistan needs these two batsmen in their batting line-up as they are seniors. They have ability to transfer their skills to the next generation of Pakistan Cricket. Players like Asad Shafiq, Umar Amin, Fawad Alam, Azhar Ali, Umar Akmal and many more should learn as much as they can from these two superstars. We all know that how badly we miss these two batsmen on England tour.

Article compiled by Ammar Ashraf

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LBW Explained

2010-04-15T12:13:00.001-07:00

Law 36 of the MCC's laws of cricket still has peoples' heads in a spin - exactly how does the lbw law work? To the uninitiated, the leg before wicket dismissal is to cricket what the offside law is to football. But the lbw law is not as complicated as some people may think. It is governed by certain principles which, once mastered, make the law simple to understand. And that is exactly what this guide will aim to do!

The umpire will consider an lbw decision if he believes the ball would have hit the stumps had its path not been obstructed by the batsman's pads or body. But the umpire also has to take certain factors into consideration before making a decision.

The three stumps

There are three stumps that make up a wicket.

They are the off stump, middle stump and leg stump.

From a bowler's perspective, the off stump is to the left of middle stump.

And the leg stump is to the right of middle stump.

This is reversed for a left-handed batsman.

Not out: Ball pitches outside leg stump

The most important factor when an umpire considers an lbw decision is whether the ball pitched outside leg stump.

If the ball lands outside the line the of leg stump, the batsman cannot be given out - even if the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps.

Not out: Bat before pad:

A batsman cannot be given out if the ball hits the bat before the pad.

Not out: Outside line of off stump:

A defence against an lbw appeal for a batsman is to get his pad outside the line of off stump.

An umpire will turn down any appeal if he believes the ball has struck the batsman's pad outside the line of the off stump, even if the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps.

Unless...

Out: Offering no stroke

...the batsman makes no genuine attempt to play a stroke.

The outside off stump defence becomes redundant.

Batsman is out

In this situation, the ball has pitched on the stumps and has struck the batsman on the pads in front of the wicket.

The ball has not pitched outside the line of leg stump.

And it has not struck the batsman outside the line of off stump.

Therefore the umpire should give the batsman out.

But a lot of the time it is never this simple...

Yet more considerations

The umpire must also consider four other variables:

The height of the ball's bounce Swing and spin of the ball Where the ball hit the pad Whether the batsman is attempting to play a stroke.

Height of the ball's bounce

Each pitch tends to have its own idiosyncrasies which must also be taken into account by the umpire.

Some are faster, harder and bouncier than others, which means the ball will bounce higher than on a slower pitch.

In those circumstances, the umpire must decide whether the ball would have gone over the stumps after striking the pad.

Swing and spin

Bowlers often swing the ball in the air or make the ball spin when it pitches on the wicket.

So if the ball strikes the batsman's pad, the umpire must assess how much the ball would have moved had it not struck the pad.

Would it have swung or spun enough to hit the stumps? Or would the ball have moved too much and missed the stumps completely?

Where the ball strikes the pad

Batsmen can create doubt in an umpire's mind by taking a big stride down the pitch with their front foot.

By moving further down the pitch, the batsman lengthens the distance between the ball and the stumps.

If he is struck on the pad a long way down the pitch, the umpire has a more difficult job to assess whether the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps.

But if a batsman is struck while on his back foot or back pad, there is a shorter distance to judge between the batsman and the stumps, strengthening the bowler's appeal for an lbw decision.

Is the batsman playing a stroke?

The umpire must consider if the batsman is making a genuine attempt to offer a stroke.

Sometimes, especially to spinners, batsmen can intentionally hide their bat behind the pad, making it unclear as to whether they are playing a shot or not.

This is a very defensive move designed to frustrate bowlers.

However, it can be difficult to judge, so it comes down to the discretion of the umpire.

Umpires under pressure

Lbw appeals happen within the space of two seconds, often less.

During that time the umpire has to assess numerous factors before arriving at their final outcome.

The increasing role of technology has brought even greater scrutiny to lbws.

TV viewers can see a decision from numerous angles with the help of computer software which can predict swing and spin.

But the umpire has only one chance to get the decision right.