Groups for the Worlt T20 in April 2014 have been announced:
Group 1: England, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka + qualifier
Group 2: India, Pakistan, West Indies and Australia + qualifier
Being played in the subcontinent therefore hard to look past India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka. I think Australia can also be included in that group because a lot of their players play in the IPL and they generally perform reasonably well in the subcontinent.
India and Pakistan face off again - on March 21st. India will of course look to extend their unbeaten run against Pakistan in world cups while Pakistan will no doubt be keen to end it.
It's being played in Bangladesh and they're yet to qualify. Would be pretty funny if they fail to.
Thoughts/predictions?
World T20 2014 Groups
posted on 27/10/13
Actually I realised that India might be reluctant to use zak for the shorter formats considering that we have 9 tests overseas in a span of 9 months. It would be really important to keep zak fit for Eng and Aus series. Not to forget the world cup straight after.
posted on 27/10/13
I wonder how India will keep all their bowlers fit :
We have 2 tests in SA then NZ, t20 WC then 5 tests in Eng, then 4 tests in Aus and then WC.
Not to forget other mindless odi cricket that we play.
posted on 27/10/13
I wouldn't play Zaheer for the NZ series and perhaps not for the T20 WC either in that case. So Yuvraj in for Zaheer there.
We'll definitely need Zaheer for SA, Aus and England along with Umesh Yadav. But I can't see the pair of them being fit for all the series.
posted on 28/10/13
From a Pak perspective I would seriously consider bringing back our 40 year old Misbah for the T20 WC. He's probably still one of the fittest guys in the Pak side which say's a lot for the rest
The Bangladeshi tracks are ideal for him and we all know he likes to hit spin out of the park and along with Dhoni and Yuvraj he is one of the cleanest strikers of the ball.
posted on 28/10/13
No idea how you have come up with that kash – gone down in my estimation
Misbah – overall – 37avg @ 110 strike rate
Dhoni – overall – 32 avg@ 114 strike rate
Yuv – overall – 33avg@ 153strike rate
IN ASIA
Misbah – – 30’Savg @ 103 strike rate in 10 games
Dhoni – – 35 avg@ 122 strike rate in 17 games
Yuv – – 43avg@ 158strike rate in 15 games
If you wana bring him in for experience – fine. Agree he can hit a ball a long way, but the facts are that with us losing wickets early on more often than not, he comes in and takes far far far tooo long to get moving. When he does, its too late. We need some of amirs young heros to come through from the domestic scene
posted on 28/10/13
I'm not talking about strike rates here because then I would include the likes of Gayle, Watson etc etc. I was talking about striking the ball with pure technique. Someone like Afridi it's just a big golf swing with your eyes closed.
I've said it many times but Umar Akmal in T20s should be batting at 3. He is our best batsman in this format but is always wasted so low down the order
My T20 side:
1) Jamshed
2) Shehzad
3) U Akmal (wk)
4) Hafeez
5) Misbah
6) Afridi
7) Amin/Maqsood
8) Azam
9) Ajmal
10) Gul
11) Irfan
posted on 28/10/13
My T20 side:
1) Jamshed
2) Imran nazir
3) U Akmal (wk)
4) Hafeez
5) Amin
6) Afridi
7) Hammad
8) Hasan raza
9) Ajmal
10) Junaid
11) Irfan
posted on 28/10/13
Strike a ball with pure technique means naff all if you can't do it at a good strike rate in T20.
posted on 28/10/13
Why would you still pick Afridi?
Surely it's time to move on.
posted on 28/10/13
Imran Nazir
This joker is the worst batsman ever to play for Pakistan. Scores runs against the minnow's and then fails miserably against decent sides. Awful player.
Neon, Afridi has gone full tilt again. Previously he was in the side for his bowling and rare batting and now its the other way around. His batting has improved and his bowling has got worse.