Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Younis Khan

Younis Khan Biography
Mohammad Younis Khan (born November 29, 1977 in Mardan, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan) is a Pakistani cricketer and current captain of the Pakistan national cricket team. Younis' name is often spelled Younus Khan.He is only the third Pakistani player to score 300 or more runs in an innings. Younis Khan made his international debut in an ODI against Sri Lanka at Karachi in February 2000, and has since played over 150 ODIs for Pakistan. He has also played in over 50 Test matches. Younis was one of the few batsmen who retained his place in the team after Pakistan's disastrous World Cup campaign in 2003, but lost it soon after due to a string of poor scores in the home series against Bangladesh and South Africa. He came back for the one-day series against India, but failed to cement a place in the Test side. It was his return to the side in October 2004, at the pivotal one-down, against Sri Lanka in Karachi that laid the groundwork for his emergence as a force in Pakistan cricket. He was the top run-getter in the disastrous 3-0 whitewash in Australia immediately after and on the tour of India, for which Younis was elevated to vice-captain, he blossomed. After a horror start to the series he came back strongly, capping things off with 267 in the final Test. It was his highest Test score and came off 504 balls in the first innings, to set up a series levelling victory in Bangalore. As well as being an accomplished batsman, Younis is also a skilled slip fielder and a very occasional leg-spin bowler. He has performed particularly well outside Pakistan, including on tours of Australia, India, England and Sri Lanka. In the six Tests he has played against India, Younis averages an exceptional 106, the highest average against India by a Pakistani. Apart from his 267 at Bangalore, Younis also made 147 at Kolkata in 2005 and a pair of centuries during India's trip to Pakistan in 2006. More importantly, the tour to India also showcased his potential as a future captain of Pakistan and his energetic and astute leadership has impressed many people. Also in 2006, Younis made a century in the third Test against England at Headingley. On 22 January 2007, he scored a matchwinning 67 not out in the 4th innings to guide Pakistan to victory over South Africa in Port Elizabeth. The five wicket win levelled the series at 1-1. In 2005, he was one of the 15 nominees for the ICC Test Player of the Year. He 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. Younis Khan's highest position in the LG ICC's Test Batting Rankings is third, which he achieved after the third test against England in 2006. His ranking score of 856 is the fourth highest achieved by a Pakistani batsmen after Mohammad Yousuf (933), Javed Miandad (885) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (870). Younis Khan made his first 300 against Sirilanka in 24 Feb 2009.

Younis Khan

Younis Khan 117 v India - 2nd ODI - 2007

Younis Khan 101(109)-England vs Pakistan 3rd ODI 2006 at Southampton

Friday, May 18, 2012

Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar biography

Controversial speedster Shoaib Akhtar has provided an insight into infighting that has always dogged Pakistan cricket team, recalling how greats like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were at loggerheads.

In his tell-all autobiography, 'Controversially Yours', Shoaib described in detail the tension in the dressing room caused at one stage by a feud between Wasim and Waqar. The pacer also claimed that senior players ganged up against him in his debut Test leaving him demoralised.

The feud between Wasim and Waqar took place prior to the Asian Test Championship match in Kolkata (1999) that led to his selection for the Eden Test.

"...Meanwhile, we lost the Delhi Test and Wasim got into an argument with Waqar. It got so bad that rumour started doing rounds that Waqar was to be sent back home," the bowler writes.

"But the entire squad left for Kolkata for the first Test of the Championship. Inside the dressing room, things got uglier. I do not remember it but ever being as tense as it was then," he revealed.

"The two seniors were at war and we were a young and fresh team. Everyone was stressed out and amidst all this, it was decided that I would play."

He alleged that some Pakistan players "ganged up" against him during his debut Test match against the West Indies in Rawalpindi back in 1997.

"What can I tell you about my first Test match! The one I had prepared for all my life. Wasim Akram was the captain and he told the board he wouldn't play Shoaib come what may," he claimed.

"Perhaps he wished to continue with the previous team because he was satisfied with its performance or perhaps he didn't want to encourage the emergence of new fast bowler."

Shoaib recollected his first day in international cricket when his own teammates weren't exactly cordial with him.

"We were to field first and I nervously got ready to go out on to the ground. The atmosphere in the dressing room was horrible; the rest of the team ganged up against me and made things as uncomfortable as they possibly could, peppering every phrase aimed at me with abuses," he alleged.

"The result was that I felt messed up and terribly unsure of myself. This feeling heightened as the day wore on and I wasn't asked to bowl even once. I did get my first chance after lunch and got two wickets, but I knew that I had under-performed.

"I just couldn't shake off the tension that had built up in me, and as a result I bowled far below my own standards.I remember feeling that perhaps I wasn't good enough to play at this level. I was completely demoralized and my dreams seemed to lie shattered around me," he recalled.

The controversial pacer then spoke about his spat with the then captain Waqar during the 2003 World Cup where Pakistan couldn't even make it to the last four stage.

Even though I have taken a fiver against Kenya and wickets in almost all the matches, that we played, it was not enough for us to win the Cup. The dressing room reflected what was happening to us on the field. Tempers were short and fights and squabbles kept breaking out.

Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar: The fastest bowler of all time. Pakistan

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal Biography

saeed Ajmal, an offspinner, received a call-up to the Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup at the age of 30 after an impressive domestic season with Khan Research Labs in 2007-08, during which he took 38 wickets in 12 first-class matches at an average of 29 apiece, and 12 wickets in nine list A games. He made an immediate impression with his subtle variations, unafraid to use the doosra. But his career took off with a series of ODI performances that bewildered Australia in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; he gave away few runs and his doosra was nigh-on unreadable. The ICC called him for his action, though it was cleared soon after. The pressure didn't get to him and immediately after, he played a crucial role in Pakistan's drive to the 2009 World Twenty20 title, regularly bottling up the middle overs with Shahid Afridi. He ended the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with an exemplary economy rate as batsmen around the world struggled to pick a big turning doosra or even cope with his changes in flight, pace and angle. Consistent performances in the ODI version have quickly earned him a reputation for choking the runs in the middle overs with clever variations.

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal Teesra , Doosra And Off Spin Vs England 1st Test 2012

TEESRA, DOOSRA variations by Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Anwer

Saeed’s Anwer Biography
Born in Karachi on September 6th 1968, the Pakistan Captain Saeed Anwar
has become one of the best batsmen in the world through hard work, dedication
combined with his exceptional talent. He has a tremendous eye,
excellent timing, and makes use of his wrists better that any
other batsmen in the game. He can find the gaps at will, and more
often that not, a little push from Saeed simply races away to the
boundry. Strong on all sides of the wicket, Saeed’s favorite shot is
the cut shot, which he plays better than any other Pakistani batsmen.
Very strong on the off side, Saeed has the ability to play some
glorious cover drives that are an absolute delight to watch.
His off side shots are so good, that he is considered to be the
best off side player, among left handed batsmen in the world.
The reason for his immaculate off side play is because of his
sound technique. He is solid in defence, yet can destroy any
bowling attack in the world in a matter of minutes. His strength
in timing and the ability to play on the rise, combined with
excellent execution, makes him the best opener to ever come from
Pakistan…far ahead of the likes of Soahil,Raja,and the Mohammad
brothers.
As a first class cricketer, Saeed used to bat in the middle order
however once he made his ODI debut in Australia, he was thrust
into the opener’s role. He began opening the innings in domestic
cricket, and made his way back into the ODI side as a specialist
opener. Despite, having lost out on precious years due to politics
in the PCB, Saeed never lost hope. He made most of the limited
opportunity’s that Imran Khan gave him, yet he was over looked
for the likes of Shoaib Mohammad and Ramiz Raja…players who
never performed outside of Pakistan.
In 1993, Saeed created a new world record..he hit three back
to back ODI hundreds in Sharjah, a feat never before achieved by
any Pakistani player. He was now finally a permanant member of the
ODI side, under Wasim Akram. However, he was still not considered
for a test spot..once again a huge error by the selectors.
In 1994 however, Saeed finally got a chance to show his worth as
a test match plater. He hit a mammoth 169 in New Zealand and
combined it with some important half centuries in the rest of the
series. He had now proven his credentials as a solid test match
player with the temperment and ability to succeed at the level.
Since 1994, Saeed has played another 40 odd test matches, scored
over 3500 runs and averages 47.20. He is simply a brilliant player.
He is also the Captain of the Pakistan team. He has the ability to
lead from the front and become an excellent Captain, as time will
tell.
Saeed is an excellent team man and gets along extremely well with
his team mates, who have nothing but praise for him..as well as fans
and press alike. Saeed is also a Computer Engineer, and his wife
Lubna, is a doctor who takes care of him when he gets his regular
dose of flu:)
Pakistan’s best batsman..is a great asset to the game..and Inshallah
will continue to play for Pakistan…for years to come.

Saeed Anwer

Saeed anwer

Saeed Anwar's 194 vs India

Saeed Anwar *Diving Catch one handed* England v Pakistan at Birmingham Natwest Series 2001

Mohammad Yousuf

Mohammad Yousuf Biography
Full name Mohammad Yousuf
Born August 27, 1974, Lahore, Punjab
Current age 34 years 312 days
Major teams Pakistan, Asia XI, Bahawalpur, Lahore, Lahore Badshahs, Lancashire,
Pakistan International Airlines, Water and Power Development Authority
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak

Mohammad Yousuf

Mohammad Yousuf Bowling

Mohammad Yousuf