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[Cover_Drive]

Does anyone have first-hand experience of the pitches over there? Or has anyone watched a decent amount on tv?

I imagine them to be similar to what you get in Bangladesh, very slow with very little help for the seamer, but I can't actually recall watching a match thats been played there?

I have nearly watched all of recent matches and to be honest the ICC curator did a amazing job on the pitch it was not a totally dead track there was everything for everyone. It was certainly not a lifeless track.

It was good sporting track

[Cover_Drive]

I am very interested to see some of the new bowling guns of Pakistan; have not been following their cricket for some time.

@CD: apart from Gul who do you think is the most talented fast bowler in the new bunch?

Junaid Khan as I previously mentioned has improved significantly since his County Stint.

Wahab Riaz does have a shoddy image but mind you he is very talented bowler too!

Aizaz Cheema is old (32) but he is quite hardworking bowler.

So overall all are good bowlers but apart from Gul no one has played against England expect Wahab in two matches where he took a fifer in his dubt first innings against England

[kaustav]

Cool. Who is the fastest among them? I think world cricket is craving for another Wasim/Waqar from your neck of the woods. Just need to make sure they get injured before they play India though....lol

[Alvaro]

Cheema has a wonderful haircut.
A real bowl on top of a bowler.

[Cover_Drive]

Cool. Who is the fastest among them? I think world cricket is craving for another Wasim/Waqar from your neck of the woods. Just need to make sure they get injured before they play India though....lol

I would say Wahab Riaz, recently he has been clocking close to 150s apparently.

Cheema is fast too!

Wahab/Junaid have potential but it is upto them to become like Wasim/Waqar and in order to become like that one needs to do a lot a lot of hardwork.

I was watching Sharjah match last night which was played in 1985/1986 and I think it was Maindad last ball six one and Wasim was a crap bowler then but he worked extremely hard.

Imran Khan was crap in his early days too but he worked like a dog and changed his action (took 6 years etc) and become worlds best bowler.

[kaustav]

Wasim always credits Imran for the transformations in him as a bowler; he has mentioned it at least 10-15 times while doing commentary during the Ind-Aus series. I think a guiding hand is required.

Ya--- the Indian supporters took a long time to forget the six..lol. The bowler was Chetan Sharma, who incidentally later on got a hat-trick (I think the first one ever in One Dayers).

[Cover_Drive]

Wasim always credits Imran for the transformations in him as a bowler; he has mentioned it at least 10-15 times while doing commentary during the Ind-Aus series. I think a guiding hand is required.

Ya--- the Indian supporters took a long time to forget the six..lol. The bowler was Chetan Sharma, who incidentally later on got a hat-trick (I think the first one ever in One Dayers).

Oh yeah Imran Khan made Wasim Akram I'd say but credit goes to Wasim for putting the hard work mate

Guiding hand, seems like Indian bowlers are not taking Wasim seriously

[The_Bird]

God I miss Wasim and Waqar, batsman genuinely feared for there lives/toes with those two about

[kaustav]

God I miss Wasim and Waqar, batsman genuinely feared for there lives/toes with those two about

Batsmen around the world dont; they made the team so good in the 80s and 90s !!

[Joe]

Monty on fire against PCB XI. 16 overs, 4 wickets, 26 runs at 1.69 an over

[mdl_1979]

Just e-mailed a mate to ask him if he could see a possibility of England playing 2 spinners.  At the moment I don't see it happening - the injury to Bresnan probably scuppered that possibility.  In Sri Lanka and in India later in the year we may well want to play both spinners - hopefully Bres will be fit enough to allow us to do so.

[Alvaro]

I think that it is a foregone conclusion who they will pick.
In fairness to Monty he has bowled really well, and it is encouraging that England have a quality back-up. It would be strange if Swann pushed himself too much in the warm-up. He is potentially not 100% and no spinner worth their salt would show their full hand before the big stuff - see Warne in England in 1993.

On the other hand, Pakistan are notoriously suspect against quality left-arm spin, so Monty playing may not be the most surprising thing - if only England still had Colly's wobblers...

[alba caerulea]

Not suprised to see Monty bowling well. He was the best spinner in the Championship last year and has some history against Pakistan. Would love to see him play the first test but I don't think he will 

[jw17]

I think Cheema is a wonderful bowler i expect him to take a lot of wickets.
Junaid Khan im not so convinced by i think he lacks an extra dimension to his bowling.

[Jord030994]

Looks like Monty wont be getting a game.