Pakistan suffer Taufeeq blow
Taufeeq Umar. -File photo by AP
KARACHI: Pakistan on Wednesday suffered a crucial blow when experienced opener Taufeeq Umar was ruled out of the tour of South Africa just two days before the first Test in Johannesburg.
The 31-year-old suffered a muscle injury in his shin and the team management decided to call for a replacement.
“The team management has informed us that after MRI reports on his injury doctors have advised him four to five weeks’ rest, so Umar will return and a replacement will be sent,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Nadeem Sarwar told AFP.
Umar has played 43 Tests since making his debut in 2001 and has so far scored 2,943 runs.
He missed Pakistan’s four-day side-match in East London and was expected to be fit before the first of three Tests in South Africa.
Umar’s injury will allow Nasir Jamshed to make his Test debut after scoring half-centuries in the side-game against South African Invitation XI which ended in a draw on Monday.
The PCB also announced that another experienced opener, Imran Farhat, will fill in for Umar during the Test series.
Pakistan will also play two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day matches on the tour, for which a squad will be announced next month.
Pakistan A team announced :- Sharjeel Khan, Ahmad Shahzad, Rameej Raja Jr, Imam-ul-haq, Umar Amin, Hammad Azam, Raza Hassan, S. Afridi, Zia-ul-haq, Anwar Ali, Jamal Anwar, Ali Waqas, Wahab Reyaz, Usman Qadir, Asad Ali…..looks a solid side with good batsmen and agressive bowlers….
Imran Farhat??? Much more intelligent to have taken Fawad Alam instead… PCB has wasted Fawad by continuing to play him in T20s instead of Test Matches.
Just an advice: we should stop playing Azhar Ali in One Days… else, we are going to spoil his test temprament as well.
I think he will be used as a backup only. What i dont understand is they bring, Ehsan Adil, Faisal Iqbal and Haris Sohail as backups but you can clearly see they have no intention of playing either of the 3.
I don’t understand why pcb always select Imran Farhat as a replacement for the outgoing injured player. Whether we don’t have the batsmen or our selection panel don’t want our team to progress with full potential in the future. Everybody even the small child can understand who understand cricket a bit can say without any hesitation that Imran is not the player of that calibre who can play longer version of the game like test cricket. I saw numerous time for the last 12 years and whenever he played for Pakistan, he always become liability for the team. he should himself separate from this team. A player who don’t understand what is his importance to stay on the wicket and give away his wicket cheaply then that player was total liability for the team and that what he is. Play good in one inning and get out cheaply in the remaining innings. Give chances to young batsmen like Hammad Azam. A person who single handedly take his to the final of the world cup, may has some talent. He will be our future alrounder like Abdur Razzak.
What a pity that a player like Imran Farhat being sent as opener and that too for a test series in SA.
I am very happy for imran farhat…fully deserved a recall. I feel his technique and temperament are perfect for SA conditions. Also, his stance can distract the wicketkeeper and slip fielders, so a greater chance of dropped catches behind the wicket. Remember he made a century in NZ a few years ago in testing conditions, he shouldn’t have been dropped after that performance. Go imran, the whole nation is behind you!
So who will be replacing Taufeeq Umar? Will it be Nasir Jamshed or the inconsistent veteran Imran Farhat? Or will they both be taking their turns replacing Taufeeq for different test matches which will be played?
Imran Farhat is an automatic selection by default. After playing tourist with the Pakistan team on numerous tours (compliments of influential father in law), he has been designated as the FIRST SON-in-LAW of Pakistan cricket.
Pakistani selectors will never learn. I still stick to my prediction 2-0 series win for S. Africa because of Pakistan’s middle order batting.
Why not Kamran Akmal as opener?
For heavens sake… Why cant we pick up a young emerging player ??
May be the Chief Justice will need to take an action against this too.. or will he…
Imran Farhat is not a test player and should not play in the test matches. Imran Farhat performs well in first class cricket and should stay there. Hafeez and Jamshid should open. Imran Farhat does not have a cool temperment and not a match winner.
based on what stats Imran Farhats got this call?
Based on Susar ji Stat.
This repeatedly failed batsman just got one stats and qualification that his father-in-law works for PCB!!!
Hope he recovers fully but this is positive for Nasir that he will now get the chance he really deserves.
Imran Farhat, (there got be some advantage if inlaws is part of the board member).
Nasir Jamshed should atleast be tried out for test instead of imran, Imran has been tried before with no success. ! – Opening stand has to be good, cuz it holds the whole lineup.
we have seen australian test failures – with whole team gone for less than 100.
sb drama hy imran farhat ko khilany k lye
That’s not a blow!
Anyone but Imran Farhat … Please!!
Imran Farhat — Give me a break