Dear Younis Khan is now bore with fishes and is back at his old business
Younis Khan Bowling, Image Cricinfo
Yesterday I woke up late I mean really late around 1:30 PM yeah yeah its me and its pretty usual, well also as usual I found the TV remote and hit the power button. I saw with my dimmed vision a very familiar smile or giggle or chuckle whatever you say on TV in white kit with a red ball in his hands. Couple of very well-known Urdu commentators were saying something about him and then I realize it was our dear Mr. Younis Khan and I thought ah highlights but just before changing channel I thought hey what is he trying to do, oh no he was bowling, a rare scene, but hey what match that was? a test in Sri Lanka? but that was not Sri Lanka on-screen, what the hell I might probably having a nightmare damn!!.
Paractice paractice Paractice, Image Cricinfo
Meanwhile, he charged in went pass umpire and went through his casual medium pacer action deliver the ball also at his favorite just short of a driveable length, batsman went on front foot without full stretch and tried to drive the ball through extra cover, misjudged the teasing length, ball took the edge of the bat and went straight into first slip’s safe hands, a wicket for Younis Khan the bowler, ah that is a nightmare for sure I thought while hitting back of my head.
I was pretty busy in whipping my eyes with hands and trying to make them wide open but the nightmare wasn’t going away it was just fading for a while. Then I saw him charging once again to new batsman, again went through same bowling formalities and delivered, ball hit straight on pads leather, a shout was heard and I witnessed umpire finger raised a current passed through my spinal cord, thats enough, it is the weirdest nightmare I have ever had, Younis Khan on hat-trick that also at a time when he might be making centuries of fishes around him.
I gathered all my force and hit the wall with my head, it hurts it really hurts but same images on TV, so it wasn’t a nightmare but what was it? In what world that could have happen? After concentrating for a while on that un bearable commentary it all shines up, it was Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final between HBL and Karachi Blues live. And Younis Khan was bowling in it and just got two wickets on two balls, he was on hat-trick, so he is back from his cave and with a bang and that too as a Captain of his team HBL. Well he missed the hat-trick and also I realised he wasn’t captain, Hassan Raza was HBL’s captain.
This all episode was suddenly very pleasant and surprising now, that was a kind of comeback Pakistan want from him, firing in without concerned about his position or captaincy and Pakistan cricket will be pleased if he repeat this once again at International level. Although he failed at his real job batting and wasn’t able to stop HBL’s spectacular collapse 95 for 7 after restricting Karachi at 215. He was LBW out for 7. I heard he also took a very good catch in a diving effort, thats all very encouraging I guess.
Well sorry for the above childish spy story but I think this drama story could be the fittest welcome to pakistan cricket’s dearest drama queen The Younis Khan.
Dear DramaQueen Younis Khan
On a serious note ,If Younis Khan will consider coming back to international cricket silently with same excitement and commitment without concerning about his position and captaincy he might not only save his career but also can server Pakistan better in remaining years of his career. And if he will be able to produce some knocks like he did in 2004-2005 comeback everything will be back at its place in just a matter of time. After all Pakistan can’ hang out with anything consistently so captaincy and setup is bound to change anytime and he will be again a strong contender with more say this time. We just need consistency this time dear Younis and no drama please.
Hi Maddy hopefully you have recovered from this night of horror
Younis taking wickets is sure nice but imho this is where it ends already… if he ever returns to the side then sure not as a bowler, and his batting, even if it improves, is certainly only the secondary problem…
I would not risk drafting him back into a team that basically badgered him until he decided to leave. There will have been lots of bad blood and I can’t see any good in the discussion about putting him back for the ODI’s. It makes no sense, the team seems to work the way it is under Yousuf now, and putting Younis back will disturb their attempts at unity and team spirit.
I am really looking forward to the series and if there is a good stream I will stay up all night and watch, because there will be some darn good cricket.
There is no room for drama behind the scenes, no one wants to see Pakistan deconstruct themselves over that. I understand that Younis wants to return but the way it is now, I don’t see any possibility for him to re-integrate himself into the team, considering the way he departed. I was really sad when he left, but the Pakistani side must be given some time to solidify and consolidate, imho, and Yousuf is sure going to grow as a captain if they give him some time.
Cheers,
Wes
hey Wes, How are doing? Having fun with English draws?
Well talking about Younis ODI return forget it, he might be back in team in 2nd test from 3rd Jan 2010, surprised well this time new captain Yousuf asked him to join team himself to strengthen team batting, what will you say now?
I still think he has a part to play in our Test side in particular. If he can come back with a modest attitude, head down and get some runs then I’d argue for his inclusion.
Look at his lovely floppy hat. How can the Pakistani players not like him?
Well I guess his attitude was same like in QEA Trophy final, I saw one and a half session of the match but he failed miserably at batting with 7 & 4 in both innings. Although he took 4 wickets in both innings with 20 odd overs which shows he is fit but not in form with bat as you can expect after a lay off from any batsman.
It now depends how quick he will get form and also joins Pakistan team, media news suggests he displayed a positive attitude towards Yousuf call for inclusion. Fingers Crossed!
Thats our young Younis Khan with that floppy hat, it isn’t in much fashion these days but it looks good at certain players in 90s
Ha ha thanks I’d be over the draw if people didn’t keep harping on it, but there is simply so much to discuss.
First I thought you were pulling my leg, Younis back for the 2nd test?! But then, upon reading the article about the ODIs again, I guess it could really happen. The selector said something between the lines that sounded like “never say never”, so it is probably an indicator for his soonish return. Can you tell me though where you got the info from that Yousuf invited him to return? Now I even guess he’ll cope ok, seeing that my clue of Pakistani mentality does obviously not even reach from the wall to the wallpaper
Excuse me what? hahahaha ok ok right about the mentality but it isn’t always like that
Well its all over in local media from last two days since I published this post and now even there are statements about the health and friendly environment about their telephonic discussion from both of them plus some as usual bizarre reaction from PCB.
I wonder how unusual is that a Pakistani team news no matter how small didn’t make it to international media specially our dear Cricinfo our new are hot selling cakes all over the years somehow and this news isn’t an ordinary news after his disappearance.
Well there may be more shuffling in Pakistani team for this tour as Mohammad Sammi is flying to Australia, Umar Gul is having his knee scan and is on stand by, if he appears injured he will be sent back and some else fast bowler will be sent for replacement. If Younis gets ready for 2nd test he will fly and a batsman will be sent back likely Fawad Alam, Faisal Iqbal, Shoaib Malik or Misbah any. How stable line up for a single tour, look how we like to be in lime light and headlines.
Why bowl though when you’re struggling with runs? He should concentrate on that in my opinion. He’s doing himself no good.
hahah I think he was just having some good time in there and after all Pakistani players specially seniors don’t take first class seriously their whole efforts are dedicated for final stage if any.
Well it is in the Cricinfo news now as well, methinks the mills are milling a bit slower over the holidays haha. And also the verbal battles have already started (Butt vs. Hauritz). This is gonna be so big. Only a couple more days to go. My stomach is getting silly with excitement.
Well I hope Pakistan will at least pick all of my favourite bowlers. Concering the batters to be honest I don’t think reshuffling the question marks in the line-up will make much of a difference. There are some guys who are extremely important and won’t be discussed anyway, but also some others who can be swapped randomly *lol* (But I have no clue, of course it is possible that they’ll call up Pakistan’s next batting sensation into the team).
But generally speaking, I think that Pakistan will rule by ball anyway, to be honest some of the Aussie batters will have a bit of insomnia.
Happy Holidays to you Maddy!
Haha I laughed when in the German news page I read there was an article about Christmas in Pakistan… there are not that many Christians but the Germans, mainly diplomats and guys like that, organised a sort of Christmas market in Islamabad, and there were also a couple of Christmas trees with signs on them saying “Christmas Tree” or so, to inform the natives what the silly trees are about *lol*
Anyway, I have to go now
May be instead of Sami the selectors should have sent Younis to Australia:)) They could have killed two birds with one stone a good medium pacer and another out of form batsman for the #3 position.
I think he should not be rushed to make a comeback as if he failed again the media will start saying that he is deliberately underperforming. he should make sure of his form and then make a strong comeback.
But I’m glad that he came out of hibernation and is mentally prepared to make a comeback.
No Danish
I hope he’ll be fit for the second test then…
But it will be nice to see what Saeed Ajmal is planning hehe.
ah man two blows already , No Danish , No Umar Gul thats not a start I was expecting and Aussies have a little advantage of winning toss and batting first. So best of luck Pakistan fight hard.
I am at country side no internet using y cell GPRS to connect to my PC and it is very slow, can’t wath TV don’t want to disturb people sleeping around its 4:30 AM so not a good start for me as well
You are right he shouldn’t be rushed back into side speciallly after QEA trophy final performance only 11 runs in two innings.
BUt his bowling is just an option when there is nothing else, he can’t replace a bowler, well I got the joke
hahaha there are so many misconceptions about Pakistan in international media either intentionaly or unintentionaly, We have lot of Christians in almost avery big town of Pakistan living in their seprate blocks mostly like communities working with all other Pakistanis. They have at least one or two churches in those twons plus some schools and colleges in some cities. I have some friends over the year during my studies specially in university I had a very good Christian friend we used to study in group and wonder around in our small city with two other guys.
Yesterday they have those celebrations in every Churuch and their blocks they do shoppings and all the stuff as usual. We had a holiday but mainly due to 133rd birthday of founder of Pakistan Qaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. oh well that was quite a social history lesson and wasn’t it a cricket bog? so I should stop know else I can go on and on
Oh it is always interesting to hear, and of course I knew that the 25th is the birthday of the founder of Pakistan B)
*****
Ok. Ahem. I looked it up a few days ago on my search for info about holidays in Pakistan, so yeah, I cheated a little, hehe. But it is really a funny coincidence that he was born on the 25th of December, while Jesus’ birthday is celebrated on the 24th, and the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh (the last Guru of the Sikhs) is on the 22nd. Birthdays galore!!!
Sorry this is really going off topic now. Trying to get the bend back to topic… Dan the Kan is only the second Hindu to play for Pakistan… *lol* okay that was a bad try. I will shut up
Hmm okay I’m not the greatest fan of Gul but it is 135-0 now and there where a few moments when my heart stopped beating but luckily for Oz, and sadly for Pakistan, good chances were dropped. I hope that Umar is alright, one couldn’t watch him bounce about in pain, that was horrible.
Asif and Ajmal being their usual interesting selfs but still we survive.
It is slowly getting hot for Shane the Wat, Pakistan are putting a few coals in the fire now hehe. Will he get his century today? But… of course as soon as I go to bed there will be wickets.
I hope you will be able to watch some cricket today
Night!
hahah nice try man, neevr mind after all its our own public place to say what we like thanks to blogging and little off topic isn’t hurting
Well, if those chances would have taken Pakistan would have in a better position at the end of first day. Did you notced how much we missed Danish ( Not DAN Vettori will not like as he is the copyright owner of DAn, he is DANI according to Akmal in stump mic) although pitch is flat and batting friendly not much assistance at all. Look how Saeed Ajmal struggled to get some turn but he get some good bounce which is encourging for 4th and 5th day. Rauf is in effective and thats why we are missing another strike bowler on this deck.
Austlains batted very well specially first hour or even first two sessions but I think they have been jinxed in 90s *lol*. A little strange declaration I thought they will go way beyond 500 or 550 and put great pressure on Pakistan but I think they took chance to produce result, it will be interesting.
Pitch is good for batting so now Pakistanis have to make sure to bat 1 and a half day atleast till the end of third day and went as close as possible to those 454.
I am not catching enough of action just a session or two but keeping my self updated.
Hey you’re back.
Well it was clear from the very first moment that *Dani* would be missing. Also, Rauf, despite killing our precious Hauritz, couldn’t impress me that much… but, I might be wrong here.
I fully agree with your thoughts on the declaration, my mate and I were absolutely convinced he would still have North and Haddin have a good whack and try to go to 600 and then maybe enforce the follow on, if Pakistan get out early. But it is very interesting now. You have lost four wickets for 109, and Yousuf is among them due to an overturned decision. Oh woe…. I don’t know what to make of it.
Let’s hope the Akmals can put some more runs on the board and keep it interesting. Farhat being the first to go wasn’t fair I have to say. Also it wasn’t fair that he couldn’t take a wicket. But at least Ajmal got one, the work horse really deserved it.
Why did you call up Mohammad Noball as a nightwatchman, do you hope he is going to make 75 hehe?
Sorry. Just a little tease. He might as well get a century… With horror I’m thinking back to Abu Dhabi.
Okay I will be watching the first one or two sessions tonight, let’s hope for some action!
Well we nearly avoided follow on thanks to Umar and Misbah fifties and hey our nightwatchman survived for 80 odd balls not bad
Yousuf wicket at the end of that and in that bizzare way was disapointing and unlucky he was looking in good touch and we might have a good partnership with Umar but we lost it.
Interesting start of Australian second inning Kaitich, Pointing and Hussey out at 40 runs now Pakistan need to keep taking wickets they shouldn’t allow a partnership as it has been developing between Watson and Clark. I am expecting 450 – 500 target in one and a half day a very tough ask even to survive and draw it.
Well I am not back exactly just keeping in touch, will be back on fifth day.
Oh yes I agree, these are my thoughts on the 3rd match day but please bear in mind my lack of clue:
Bolly, good boy, he will take wickets with a beach ball, if it is new. Hilf might find it difficult to return. Mitch, simple and effective, pleasant to watch… is this the real Mitchell Johnson now? Shane Watson, once more the man to do the job and to brave the storm like a German oak. Ahem. I hope he’ll put some more runs on the board and won’t go out before 96.
Misbah, who would have thought? Puts his hand up just in time. Aamer, struggled with the ball first, batted superbly according to plan, admirable self-control, took crucial wickets. The problem is though, he is heaps expensive, and has produced 12 (twelve) no balls so far o.O I think, at this price, he has to take more wickets really. But let’s give him another 5 years. He will be sensationally young 22, and who knows what he will be able to pull off then!
Umar, I find difficult to talk about. Why? I like this guy heaps and it hurts when he kicks himself out. When the top order had crumbled, much weight was on his young shoulders. But without Yousuf to tell him off after each over I think he got overexcited and it was only a matter of Mitch when he would depart because he could not resist. He was in a difficult situation, he was the senior player, had to guide a 17-year-old partner, had to provide the runs while Aamer defended. But, he is the guy who has the potential to make a century on Aussie ground and I wish him so much he will stay calm and do it. His brother was unfortuntely no big help, and without the control of Misbah and watchfulness of Aamer and Saeed Ajmal Pakistan could have ended up in a really embarrassing situation.
It’s gonna be a great 4th match day now, we shall see. But in all honesty, I hope Danish will be back soon. I so wish for spinning wickets. Maybe Ajmal will get a couple more but in fact I would like to see Farhat’s filthy, muddy, sludgy, lurchy legspin
Oh my, what an innings!!! Mohammad Aamer must have listened carefully to my wishes and became the second youngest bowler ever to take 5 for in a test innings, and he took them for very few! And only one no ball I think
Amazing. Breathtaking spell.
It was only fair that on the other side of the pitch it was Aamer, too, off who Shane Watson scored his first century, while around him the wickets kept tumbling, as the Aussies obviously decided to surrender to Aamer’s increasingly beaming all-around-the-head smile.
Unfortunately no Imran Farhat yet (2:03 pm local time), but Shane Warne has already demanded for his appearance, so, my remote controlling skills are making good progress hehe. Anyway I will disappear soon now, looks like Pakistan are gonna have a nice chase before them, good luck!
Oh Ajmal just got Hauritz, and Ponting is declaring. So, we shall see Farhat now, but with a helmet on. That will be good night from me then.
Well I guess this comment is before the forth day’s play as your thoughts may have been little different now
Right Bolly is in his best form and Hilff gota wait. Mitch I think is not at his best he had done better then this. Watson is superb but again tried his best to do it in 90s on 99 but thanks to Abdur Rauf and Pakistan’s fielding he achieved it otherwise it might be a history. Those 66 minutes he stayed in 90s will be worth watching plus Aamer spell I am dying to watch highlights.
Batting performance is getting better, even some always failed batsmen are putting some fight like Faisal Iqbal and Salman Butt. Pakistan is much positive in second inning in batting, scoring runs, putting bad balls away, some risk involved but it paying off. If they keep it up till lunch at least specially these two, we will be sighting a possible historical victory.
Umar is agressive with good and positive technique but he had to learn a lot, he need to know how to use it. He need to lower his blood pressure and calm down when he is going very well. I have rarely seen him in trouble, he only throw away his wicket when he is in best of his flow and scoring heaps of runs. But in trying to keep it up he plays an unnecessary shot. He needs to adjust his ON/OFF button so he could easily switch to and calm down mode. He will achieve it with experience and if he is not someone senior and capable need to step up and make sure he understand this. Yousuf is trying to calm him down mostly when he is out there with him.
First session tomorrow will be very interesting.
I am sorry about Farhat it is not his day nor his test. You will have an exciting day tomorrow with all things possible:
1 – Pakistan survives first session without any loss of wicket with +100 runs and all set to chase 150+ runs in last two sessions with 7 wickets in hand. Can’t predict beyond this, its crazy.
2 – Australia gets couple of wickets in first session specially if these two and are on there heels to get others in last two.
3 – Pakistan collapse as unexpectedly as they do.
4 – Pardon me I am not playing at MCG, wait for the day dude.
Lazy Maddy
It’s highly improbable that these two will be able to add 100 runs till lunch, no team has scored so far 100 runs before lunch in this series, at most you can expect 60-70 runs. It’s imperative that these two do not lose their wicket and continue to bat as long as possible.
Even if Pakistan manages to draw the match it will be a minor victory.
oh well I might have been carried away, ok then 60-70 is totally fine by me if they don’t loose any wicket also considering Aussies will be bowling so negatively to stop runs if they don’t get wickets.
Draw is more rare then a victory or defeat as batting out whole day with seven wickets is very difficult giving Pakistan love to collapse. Hey but chase 252 will also take whole day so its pretty do or die there.