Christmas Day.
National holiday in Pakistan.

On this day in 2012 Pakistan played India in a T20 game - Pakistan won Hafeez MOM - Bangalore 
On this day in 2013 Pakistan played SL in an ODI game - Pakistan won Hafeez MOM - Abu Dhabi

On this day these Ashes winning players in either 2005, 2009 or 2013 were born

Simon Jones
Marcus Trescothick
Alastair Cook

80th for Hanif Mohammad. The only Pakistan batsman in the ICC Hall of Fame apart from Javed Miandad.

Considered as Pakistan's best batsman to Qamar Ahmed - uncovered pitches, no helmets & all that. 

The 337 and 499 were some of the greatest acts of individualism seen.

Here is Saad Shafqat's tribute on the 50th anniversary of the Bridgetown escape. http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/334540.html

Here a TV interview during CWC11, reflecting on his career. After Kenya game in CWC11. 

Pakistan's best player during the infancy years. 

Perth 2004

Perth 2004 Test. Glen McGrath was on track for a magic 10 in the fourth innings. 10 years since. Of course, Pakistan previously have given all 10 wickets to a single bowler in the form of Anil Kumble in 1999.

Everyone likes an underdog. They create sporting drama like no one else, should they surprise. They create admirable story lines which can be applicable to several different walks of life, not necessarily on the playing field, but beyond that too. Teams in their infancy only get better with greater participation and exposure, not less. They should be encouraged, particularly in an age where sports are competing for globalisation on the world scale. 

The end result is not the be all and the end all. Take the Afghanistan national cricket team who have made unprecedented progress to qualify for the forthcoming 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, having been in division five of the World Cricket League in 2008. For a country who have suffered appallingly, the rise of their cricket team has improved the social lives of the Afghani people and given them something to enjoy in testing times. It's about the journey. It's about the story. It's about the remarkable progression. With more exposure, funding and playing opportunities, they will only get better. No one improves overnight or without being knocked down along the way as part of the learning curve. 

Technically, they are aggressive ball strikers, prepared to take the aerial route and challenge their boundary hitting capabilities. They have a variety of both seam and spin bowling stocks to work with. Their fielding can be sloppy and shoddy, a definite work in progress. However, perhaps most significantly they have a sense of team camaraderie, all in it together with a shared goal. Togetherness and shared ambitions are the hallmarks of successful sports sides. It’s a fundamental starting point. And Afghanistan has it in abundance.

Associates have caused upsets over the years. Associates are stronger than they ever have been in the game. Through the advent of Twenty20, because of the dicey nature of the format where the chances of upsets increase as there is less time for a stronger team to comeback should they be having an off day, associates are gaining greater confidence on the world stage.

High profile championships such as a World Cup lose its value with only a small number of sides playing. The greater the numbers of participants the better, assuming the format of the competition isn’t a drag. It’s time cricket abandons its elitist attitude and plays a more encouraging and supportive role towards their growth and subsequently the growth of the game, too.

Afghanistan have the potential to win a few games against teams such as Bangladesh and Scotland at the World Cup, both who have prior experience in the mega tournament. It’s a triumph just to reach where they are, given the odds stacked against them. However, they will dearly want to make their presence felt and walk away with some wins. Otherwise, it’s a bit like going to Rome and not seeing the pope. Regardless of the results, this is only the start of a remarkable sporting journey of a country who have suffered appallingly down the years. There is light at the end of the tunnel and thankfully sport is taking a pivotal lead in this.

Corruption from players is one of the toughest challenges the world of sport faces in the modern age. Trust is lost from the spectators. Integrity is questioned. Heroes are made into zeroes. Suspicion levels are raised every time there is an incident which comes across as dramatic or unusual in the future chain of events, rather than being an unbelievable piece of high class sporting drama to entertain the audience. The thought of match fixing or spot fixing circles the mind. One is questioning the very product they are viewing. Do the individuals participating have an ulterior motive in mind as opposed to giving their maximum best at every given opportunity? And subsequently enhancing their chances of success. 

No individual is bigger than the game. Nothing is more significant than the credibility of the sport. One cannot be naive. A strong precedent must be established. A strong message must be sent.

Governing bodies and national boards need to set the benchmark with a zero tolerance approach towards those who abuse the privileges associated with representing a team in a professional environment. Few get the opportunity to play top level sport. Many dream of, but never get anywhere remotely close. How possibly could one abuse the privileges if they are provided with the opportunity many dream of, only to fall short of chasing such dreams by variable margins?

There are several measures which can be taken to tackle the growing problem. Strong deterrents can include educational programmes, strict punishments and introducing a higher salary to provide the necessary financial security which ensures that players do not need to get into such type of activities in order to earn sufficiently. In certain parts of the world and in certain sports the salaries are too low and therefore can tempt athletes into entering troubled waters.

Perhaps the biggest deterrent of all, could be the track records and achievements statistics are totally nullified should a participator be caught and found guilty. Everything they have ever achieved in the game is gone and falls under the category of "anonymous." All that training, dedication and effort in their career will therefore count for nothing. There will be no evidence to back up what they have achieved. It will wiped out with the click of a button. This surely will make people think twice before engaging in such shameful activities which bring their team and more importantly the wider game into disrepute.

For example Lance Armstrong in cycling. He had various prestigious titles taken away from him. An unthinkable fall from grace. If more sports follow such a procedure, corruption could be minimised for the better. One wonders why they don't already? Without the fundamentals of integrity, all past achievements are futile. Sport must take a lead in that. One should not be able to cherish what they have achieved for the rest of their careers, if they fall over that dreaded line. Corruption is a major issue. There is little option but to take extremely bold steps. Sport has that precious ability to inspire and bring about change like nothing before. It's survival has to be at the forefront of everyone's minds. Being ruthless in acting against it is the only way forward. 

In statistically dominated sports where individuals get pride, pleasure and satisfaction from their numbers which reflect achievements and performances over a career, perhaps the option of that being nullified will reduce the number of match fixing cases. It may to be too idealistic to expect games to be 100% clean. But the closer to 100% the better.

Pak have won 6 of their last 16 LOIs

Pak have won 2 of their last 10 ODIs against major teams

Pak have lost 6 of their last 7 ODIs

Pak have lost their last 2 Twenty20s

All in Asia

Might as well not turn up in Aus

2 each

World Cup, Champions Trophy = India

Asia Cup, World Twenty20 = Sri Lanka

Under 19 World Cup, Test Number 1 = South Africa

Women’s World Cup, Women’s World T20 = Australia

World Cricket League, World T20 qualifier = Ireland

Sydney, Bangalore, Manchester, Centurion, Mohali and now Adelaide

The cancer of the Pakistan ODI side is back in the team… you know who

Aakash Chopra’s guide as an opener on Australian wickets http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/546827.html

Ajay Jadeja promotes South Australia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9JgDUiEyOk&safe=active

Waz doesn’t know the groups – they’ve only been out since July 2013! Embarrassing for an international commentator

5 Major Tournaments in Hockey

World Cup

Olympics

Commonwealth Games

Asian Games

Champions Trophy

Cricket

World Cup

Champions Trophy

World T20

Under-19 World Cup

Asia Cup

Pak won the Asia Cup in the 20^th anniversary month of their 1992 victory. Can the hockey side celebrate the 20^th anniversary month of their 1994 victory by winning the Champions Trophy?

Pak-SA

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/photos/a.792970220748679.1073741870.191600374219003/792971564081878/?type=3&theater

http://khelopakistanarticles.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Amla

http://khelopakistanarticles.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/south-africas-dominance-vs-pakistan.html

Last at Eden Park http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/473928.html

https://twitter.com/maza786/status/405452521059000321

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/photos/pb.191600374219003.-2207520000.1417690831./792981517414216/?type=1&theater

On this day Pakistan last won the Hockey World Cup in Sydney 20 years ago.

Venues that miss out:

Lincoln
Basin Reserve
Queenstown

Only Eng, Pak have different groups to 2011
Same for:
Aus, SL, NZ, 
WI, Ind, SA

Like 2011, warm up for Pak vs Eng

Timings for UK viewers GMT

10:00pm
1:00am
3:30am
6:30am

Dunedin and Nelson both host low key day matches

Breaking them down into 5 sections

England
New Zealand
India

South Africa
Sri Lanka
Australia

Pakistan
West Indies

Ireland
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Zimbabwe

Scotland
UAE

In 1992 there were two 39 year olds in the final. 39 games in competition.

Venues

MCG
SCG
Adelaide
Brisbane
Perth
Camberra
Hobart

Auckland
Wellington
Hamilton
Napier
Christchurch
Dunedin
Nelson

NZ - Drew away vs SL, drew home vs Eng, won home vs Ind, won away vs WI, drew away vs Pak. Fastest improving Test side? Watch out Eng in May...
NZ 15 man squad gets named on 8th Jan

Younis’s last Test coming up. He will be shown the door after his inevitable struggles in the one day format. Almost a given he will play now.

Pak’s first 2 games vs former winners, then 2 against minnows, then 2 against teams they have a 100% defeat record against in the tournament.

Ideal World Tournament Final

Pak vs Eng

Pak vs Ind

Pak vs WI

Eng vs Ind

WI vs NZ

SL vs SA

SA vs Eng

Eng vs WI

Aus vs Ind

Pak vs Aus

Who I’ll be supporting at CWC

1)    England

2)    Pakistan

3)    Afghanistan

4)    New Zealand

5)    UAE

6)    West Indies

7)    South Africa

8)    Scotland

If England still had 3 world class players - Trott, KP and Swann – I think their chances would have been rated higher

But still they got to the final of CT13 without KP and Swann in not too dissimilar conditions to what they’ll be getting early next year

Eng beaten twice by SL in QFs, won’t have to face them this time in QFs

This day last year England went 1 down in Brisbane.

The debutants were outstanding for Pakistan in Kallis's ODI return http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-pakistan-2013-14/engine/current/match/685731.html

SA, SL, Ind got to the semis of both CT13 and WT20 2014
Pak and Aus didn't
WI and Eng did 1 each
SA lost both semis
Ind won both semis

India

Holders of the World Cup
Holders of the Champions Trophy
Finalists of the World T20
ACC Emerging Team Cup winners
Won their last tri series
Under 19 Asia Cup winners
Number 1 ranked ODI team
Owners of the IPL and CL

30 years ago today Wasim Akram made his international debut. The start of a 19 year long international career which bagged him 916 scalps.

This suggests to me spin isn't his strong point. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/649089.html http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/engine/match/781077.html http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/engine/match/742609.html All times bowled.

No Hafeez, Manzoor, Shehzad. Not a more technically well equipped top order against pace Pak have had for a long time. LBW candidates if anything. 

Tempting to introduce spin early. 2 left handers. Both limited against spin.

Imagine if they had Vettori and Jeetan Patel? Serious challenge. 

Margins of the 15 - 10 wickets, 196 runs, 7 wkts, 9 wkts, innings, 7 wkts, 10 wkts, 70 runs, 70 runs, 200 runs, 7 wkts, 5 wkts & last 3 wins

Pak – Zimbabwe

On the birthday of Afridi and Rehman

Interesting situation for Grant Flower

Misbah has a 9-2 captaincy record against them. 5-1 ODIs

They’ve had recent success against Pak – winning an ODI and Test 2013

Only deserving seniors and a young team should be sent to Aus/NZ. Start building for 2017 CT and 2019. Both in early season English conditions.

Why CT is increasingly important now

Held 2 years after last CWC, 2 years before next CWC – ideal time to assess – breaking down the four year cycle  

Held every 4 years as opposed to 2 – making it a bigger event

Held in the same country of the next CWC

Acknowledged as a liked concentrated competition which is the toughest to win
For teams like England and Pakistan it should be an added incentive because they've never won it

CWC is not everything

Other competitions as well

They are better designed competitions in many cases

By doing well in them you are automatically building for the next CWC

Shouldn't plan overly early. 4 years long time. Injuries, loss of form, disputes happen.

Warne = Australia vs South Africa final

Allan Border = Australia vs South Africa final

Tendulkar = Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India will reach semis

Martin Crowe = Australia, New Zealand, West Indies and South Africa semis

Aamir Sohail = Australia, South Africa and India are the front runners

Mark Butcher = Australia will win it

Nick Knight = Australia will win it

Ricky Ponting = It will be an Australia-India final

Pak might as well not turn up………..

Australia won their first Cricket World Cup in 1987 on this day. The beat Pakistan in the semi final and England in the final. Allan Border led the team and current ICC match referee David Boon was the player of the final.

On this day Pakistan last beat Sri Lanka in a Test series. 2011. There have been 3 series against them since.

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/338331929545846

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/346919828687056

https://twitter.com/KINGMisbah/statuses/156736148172046336

Captains photo for the 2015 version.

MS Dhoni
Alastair Cook
Brendon McCullum
Misbah ul Haq
Angelo Matthews
William Porterfield
Khurram Khan
Michael Clarke
Scotland TBD
AB de Villiers
Dwayne Bravo
Mashrafe Mortaza
Mohammad Nabi
Elton Chigumbura 

https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/428829871264247808

https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/428839550970888192

https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/428840269409042432

https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/429375350288556032

https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/384362075566264320

UAE it was https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/362165789324869632

They met in 1996

They met in 2008 Asia Cup

Pak “A” lost two matches against them in October during a 5 match series

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/656003877778648

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/654284707950565

100 days to go. Must be 200 till the final then in such a poorly constructed competition format.

Thoughts

Last time the Kiwis played a 3 match test series in these conditions they didn’t do too badly. India no1 at time.

That legside nudger Peter Fulton is no longer favoured in selection. Imagine him on these wickets.

Australia have never lost a CWC semi.

28^th February = Aus v NZ. In Auckland just like 1992 fixture. Fitting that NZ get home tie with Aus getting the final.

7 host cities from both countries.

21 pool games each.

18^th March = this is where the ecstasy and heartache starts.

India – only lost 1 game in their last 15 ICC ODI tournament games.

Dhoni has won 12 of his last 13 games in ICC Events.

On this day the tickets for CT13 went on sale. 2012.

Azhar Ali and Waqar Younis were common in the 3 consecutive Test victories over Australia.

This year we have had the quickest century in both formats – Tests and ODIs.

Azhar Ali vs Australia. Leeds got a 4^th innings maiden 50 in a shaky 3 wicket win. Dubai rebuilt after 7/2. Abu Dhabi twin tons.

I have seen him get the following since December 2012:

85* from 47 balls in T20

72* from 47 balls in T20

40 from 26 balls in ODI

119* from 82 balls in List A game

53 from 43 balls in ODI

So not surprised by quickest 50. Such a big lead, first innings runs behind him, getting a friendly full toss first up.

Next year key year for Kiwi sport. Defending the rugby. Hosting the cricket.

Misbah ul Haq averaged 49.6 in the 2011 event. Can he better this in 2015?

People have asked why 9^th in my bio. Bowling them out in a session, winning by 10 wkts inside 3 days. His first Test win. 

Reminds me of 2010/11 Ashes. Aussies woeful.

29 50+ in his last 57 innings for Pakistan as Captain.

On this day 3 Pakistan Cricketers and an agent were arrested for conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments at Southwark crown court. In 2011, on this day, cricket was in the news for all the wrong reasons. However, it was perhaps in the news for the right reasons too in the sense that they were cleaning up their act by handing out punishments of such scale. Salman Butt's wife was giving birth at the time of the verdict. Former cricketers such as Michael Atherton were in attendance to see the verdict unfold at first hand. 

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/568992749813095

https://twitter.com/KINGMisbah/statuses/363694559705825280

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/545982552114115

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/519187204793650

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/519839231395114

https://twitter.com/KINGMisbah/statuses/520303702318780416

https://twitter.com/KINGMisbah/statuses/522376459852472320

So Pak hold the record for the slowest and now joint fastest test century.

Rehman and Ajmal against England in 2012.
Yasir and Babar against England in 2015?
Spin twins.

50th Test Match for Captain

Win this and become Pakistan's joint winningest captain

Win this and break a 20 year drought vs Australia in a Test series

Win this and re-enter the top 3 in rankings

100s in both innings during the Test

Joint quickest century and quickest fifty 

A monumental thrashing on the cards

Easy game and a dream 50th Test Match 

Can't say I am surprised by the result

Pakistan beat England 3-0 in these conditions.

Drew twice vs South Africa in these conditions.

Won once and drew once vs Sri Lanka in these conditions.

Australia lost 2-0 in India in 2008

Australia lost 2-0 in India in 2010

Australia lost 4-0 in India in 2013

But without Saeed Ajmal

A vastly inexperienced bowling attack

Australia winning 7 of their last 8 Tests coming into the series

Australia's domination over Pakistan in Test Cricket historically

Having lost all 4 limited over matches prior to the Tests

There were still some doubts...

Special but not sure this ranks in the top 5 Test achievements during his captaincy

Beating England 3-0 in 2012

Drawing vs South Africa in 2010

Drawing vs South Africa in 2013

Winning overseas in New Zealand

Beating Sri lanka 1-0 in 2011 

Six series unbeaten in the UAE. Along with an overseas success in New Zealand. Is that enough to knock Imran off his perch as Pakistan's best Test captain? If he won a maiden Test series in the West Indies and won at least 1 Test match in somewhere like South Africa maybe. IK still ahead just but very close.

An overrated contest. Barking mad to deny India favourites. https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/447047659543855104

On this day Team Misbah defended 209 successfully during the 2nd ODI at DSC.

25 Years

25 years 
Nehru Cup Final
Glory at a six team tournament in India
The modern day equivalent of a Champions Trophy 
IK's second biggest achievement in the shorter form 

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/65932.html

24th February 2013 = The last time Pakistan played a Test on Sky
27th November 2013 = The last time Pakistan played an ODI on Sky

Sky only show

England home and away games

And home games from every country but Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Pakistan (UAE) unless England tour

And following ICC Events

World Cup
World T20
Champions Trophy
ICC U-19 CWC

Women's World Cup
Women's World T20

a disappointing trophy design for what should be a monumental test series victory https://twitter.com/faizanlakhani/status/524585469812932609

The All Blacks did it at home in 2011-12. Can the Blackcaps do the same in 2014-15? World Cup glory.

All Rugby World Cups have been won by cricket playing nations.

South Africa, New Zealand, Australia = 2 each and one for Martin Johnson’s England in 2003

RWC final this day next year. SAs cricketers watching the 2007 final vs England during a tour of Pakistan.

31^st October

Razzaq on cloud 9. A World Cup (4 years) since.

Rugby World Cup final this day next year.

Halloween of course!

Nonsense that YK has shown 2 fingers to the selectors. Extremely lucky to still be playing even Tests after his media outburst last month. 

On this day Pakistan lost to South Africa by 1 run. Defeat from nowhere. 2013.

On this day Pakistan won the 2011 Hong Kong Sixes.

12 April 2013

https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/322733735156015104

On this day Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 9 wickets in the second Test at Dubai. 2011.

Breakdown of 40 ODI wins of M

6-0 vs Bangladesh
5-1 vs Zimbabwe
0-4 vs England
3-0 vs Ireland
2-0 vs Afghanistan
1-0 vs Scotland 
1-4 vs Australia
4-3 vs India
10-10 vs Sri Lanka
5-9 vs South Africa
Not played NZ
3-2 vs West Indies

Overall his 59 wins as captain

9 vs Bangladesh
9 vs Zimbabwe
3 vs Ireland
2 vs Afghanistan
1 vs Scotland

24-2 vs minnows

4 vs England
4 vs India
4 vs West Indies
3 vs Australia (first Pak captain to win a match against them in all 3 formats. 09 - t20, odi 2012)
1 vs New Zealand
13 vs Sri Lanka
6 vs South Africa

35-42 otherwise

Misbah's ODI Captaincy Record - 10 Positives

Led for 70+ ODIs in a row. Only one from Pak. Must be doing something right. 
Only outplayed in 3 series 4-0, 4-1, 3-0. Rest won or close. 
Beaten nine different countries in a series. 
Beaten four better ranked teams in series. 
More ODI wins than any England Captain.
Beaten 2011 CWC finalists in series. 
First time Pak have won 7 ODI series in a year = 2013.
Won against all 7 ODI teams he played in a series in 2013.
4-3 ODI captaincy record vs India.
Pre: 2/10 Asia Cup finals. Under him: 2/2 Asia Cup finals and back to back ones.

38 Points of Misbah's Captaincy Record - ALL Formats Thrown In

Highest W/L in Test history

Won a series in 1 format at least vs 12 different countries

Won 14 consecutive internationals

Unbeaten for 16 consecutive series

Won 12 consecutive series

Won more Test series than previous 5 captains

Won more Test series vs higher ranked team than previous 5

Won more ODI series than previous 4 captains

Won more ODI series vs higher ranked team than previous 4

Captained for significantly longer than previous 5 captains all formats combined

Won more international games than previous 5 captains all formats combined

Won a four team+ tournament unlike previous 4 – Asia Cup in ODIs

Fourth most international wins by a Pak captain out of 33

Fourth most capped Pak captain out of 33

Fourth most ODI wins by a Pak captain

Fourth most capped Pak ODI captain

Highest W/L all formats – 28-2 10^th Feb 2012

Highest W/L in ODIs – 14-1 on above date 

One of the better W/L ratios by a Pak captain in all formats

One of the better W/L ratios by a Pak captain in ODIs

Most ODI wins Pak have had in a calendar year in 2011 = 24

Most ODI wins a team had in that calendar year in 2011

Most international wins Pak have had in a calendar in 2011 = 34

Most international wins a team had in that calendar year in 2011

Won domestic treble in a season – first international captain to do it at the same time

In 30 years of Asia Cup, only one of two Pak skippers to have won it in 12 editions

Won an international tournament and a domestic Twenty20 tournament (very few have)

Highest winning % in T20I by Pak skipper, six in six at one point before 2 defeats

Lowest % of Test defeats after 17

Won more than he has lost in all 3 formats (only Pak captain)

One of 4 to lead to 50+ international wins in Pak captains

One of 4 to lead in 100+ internationals in Pak captains

First time Pak have won 7 ODI series in a year = 2013

Won against all 7 ODI teams he played in a series in 2013

Won or drawn against better ranked in ten series overall across all formats combined

Won a series against better ranked ODI team on 4 occasions

4-3 ODI captaincy record vs India

Pre: 2/10 Asia Cup finals. Under him: 2/2 Asia Cup finals and back to back ones

52 Points on Misbah's Record as Test Captain During His Time

Highest W/L in Test history

Won 5 consecutive Tests

Won 4 consecutive Test series

Unbeaten for 7 consecutive Test series

Unbeaten for 12 consecutive Tests

Took Pak into top 3

Beaten a number 1 ranked team

Won or drawn against all eight teams played against in series

Second most Test wins Pak have had in a calendar year (2011)

Highest win/loss ratio Pak have had in a calendar year (2011)

Won a Test series outside Asia after 7 years

Won a Test series vs higher ranked team after 5.5 years in 2011 vs SL

Only Pak captain to not lose a full Test series vs South Africa

First Pak captain to beat England by a 3 match margin

Winning Test series against England away from home after 16 years

First Pak captain to whitewash a side outside home

First Pak captain whitewash a side since Bangladesh 2003

Second most Test wins by a Pak captain

Fourth most capped Pak captain

Only one of three Pak captains to lead in over 50% of their overall Tests played

Won a Test Match vs 8 different sides

Won a Test Series vs 5 different sides

Won or drawn a Test Series vs 8 different sides

Only lost 1 Test in 8 series at one point

Lowest % of Test defeats after 17

After 23 Tests had highest % of won Tests by a Pak captain

Won or drawn a series against better ranked team on 5 occasions

4-4 vs number 1 ranked Test sides

Joint most Test wins by a team in 2011

Highest W/L by a team in 2011

Only lost Test Series vs 2 out of 8 countries

Only lost a Test Match vs 4 out of 8 countries

Most AWAY wins by a Pak captain

Difference of 4 between won and lost. Imran had 6. Waz 4.

5-4 from 11 Tests vs number 1 or number 2 ranked sides

Only lost 1 in 5 series vs first or second ranked side.

Miandad most series wins with 8. Misbah on 5.

Pak have never won a Test series 4-0 or 5-0. Best 3-0 times 5. He did it.

Pak have only won 7 out of 22 series vs England. He did it.

Pak have whitewashed a side 5 times. He did it.

Won or drawn 21 out of 30 Tests as captain. Imran 40 in 48.

Not lost any of six series in UAE.

13-9 overall record

5-3 series record

Last six teams to tour NZ – highest winning % in series

Last six teams to tour NZ - only two have won. Him being one. Ind lost. Eng drew.

2012 was first series whitewash in Pak vs England since first playing them in 1954

Led in 15 consecutive Tests twice. Very few have. 9-1 in first 15. 4-8 in second 15.

7-2 record in UAE

5-1 vs number 1 or 2 in UAE

Back to back Test wins for first time since 2005.

Superior or level head to head record against everyone but SL and SA

On this day Azhar Ali registered his maiden Test Century at the DSC against Sri Lanka. 2011.

On this day the pools for the Bangladesh WT20 finals were named. 2013.

Happy 40th birthday to England's winningest Test Captain - Michael Vaughan.

Another 40 year old Misbah ul Haq is on the brink of becoming Pakistan's winningest Test Captain.

Chris Tavare

Happy 60th to cricket's most famous notorious blocker - Chris Tavare. England 1980-1989. Ashes winner 1981. One of the best extreme classical players in the game during his time. One of the hardest defensive batsman to dislodge. He could bat for an age without the scoreboard moving along. The height of obduracy. He famously closed up an end while Botham was on cloud nine during the 1981 Ashes when England were attempting to fight their way back in the series. A modern day mix of Azhar Ali and Nick Compton. Some of the innings he played in his career-

35 from 240 balls

9 from 82 balls

44 from 200+ balls

A reflection of his ability to grind it out for long periods and value his wicket at all costs. 

Michael Vaughan

Happy 40th birthday to the man who captained his country to Ashes glory after 18 years in 2005 against the great Aussies side.
He also led England to 10 consecutive home Test victories before that series.
He also led England to an unprecedented 26 Test victories as captain.
He also led England to the final of the 2004 Champions Trophy.
He had the honour of leading them in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

Winning a Test from 7/2 having lost 9 of their last 10 international games.
Playing against a team that had won 7 of their last 8 Tests.

Pak vs Aus Recently

In ICC Events: W W W

In Tests: W W 

In LOIs: L L L L 

Breakdown of his 13 Test Wins as Captain 

Won a Test Match Against

England times 3 (2012)

Bangladesh times 2 (2011)

Zimbabwe times 2 (2011 and 2013)

Sri Lanka times 2 (2011 and 2014)

South Africa times 1 (2013)

West Indies times 1 (2011)

New Zealand times 1 (2011)

Australia times 1 (2014)

Lost a Test Match Against

South Africa times 4 (2013)

Sri Lanka times 3 (2014)

West Indies (2011)

Zimbabwe (2013)

Drawn a Test Match Against

Sri Lanka times 5 (2011, 2012 and 2014)

South Africa times 2 (2010)

New Zealand times 1 (2011)

Pakistan haven't lost their last 8 "home" series including in NZ vs NZ in 2009 and in England vs Australia 2010.

6 series in the UAE post spot fixing. 4 different countries. 5 better ranked sides played coming into the series. Not lost a series. 

All the talk on England's Ashes and away tour of South Africa in 2015/16.  Pakistan in UAE will be their hardest challenge. No team has won here. 2012 memories still fresh. 

England have only won 2 out of 27 Tests vs Pakistan away from home.

27th February 2012. The last time Pakistan played England in an international fixture. 

A year today beaten by an innings against SA. Today win by 200 and plenty. Cricket. 

Six wickets away from back to back Test wins against Australia. Building on Leeds 2010.

Beat them at the World T20 this year. Beat them in a Test. The two most important ones. Who cares about bilateral LOIs?

Hope not a repeat of last year vs SA in 2nd test - Pakistan haven't lost a Test in Abu Dhabi. Don't make the second Test a first.

16 weekends to go.

22 till the final.

First Nine Days - Different Games

Late arrival for UAE. Hope they can stay competitive for long enough against the Zimbabweans.

When a New Zealand XI played Scotland in October 

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/777791.html

SA won in 2011 CWC, India won in CT13. Both were high scoring encounters. Here we go...

Not the first time. Interesting situation for Phil Simmons. 

Bangladesh - Afghanistan

When they met at international events early last year

Asia Cup: http://www.espncricinfo.com/asia-cup-2014/engine/current/match/710299.html

World T20: http://www.espncricinfo.com/world-t20/engine/current/match/682897.html

On this day Imran Tahir bowled his way to a Test 5-fer at DSC during a comeback Test match and a must win Test match last year. It was on the opening day of the Test. Pakistan were shot out for 99 for a second successive time at the venue, having won the toss and elected to make first use of the surface.

Pakistan lost this Test comprehensively. However, South Africa's innings victory was overshadowed with ball tampering controversies during the evening of the third day.

Turgid day at the Test Match. Hard graft.

Prediction at stumps tomorrow: Pakistan 341 AO. Australia 110/4 (40+).

Early Post

Assuming Pak go 1 up...

MAINTAINED. Misbah has won a Test and won/drawn a series against every team he has captained against. Only India is missing. All other 8. 

Won Series Against

England
New Zealand
Sri Lanka
Zimbabwe
Bangladesh

Drawn Series Against

South Africa twice
West Indies
Zimbabwe
Sri Lanka

Lost Series Against

Sri Lanka twice
South Africa

On this day in 2011 Taufeeq Umar got the first double hundred by a Pakistan opener in 19 years.

Tonight: That start of the most important season in New Zealand cricket history.

Like 2010/11
Pak are playing a 2 match Test series against number 2 ranked side in UAE
Followed by a series against the Kiwis.
And then the biggest thing going in one day cricket follows.

Australia have won 3-0 in 4 out of their last 5 series against Pakistan.

Last time we played Test Cricket vs Australia in Asia - Steve Waugh was their captain. It's been THAT LONG.

BCCI should have used this as an opportunity to send them to Australia earlier and get some much needed acclimatization to stand a chance of being evenly remotely competitive in the Tests, but it seems one day cricket is a higher priority for them in the lead up to mid Feb.

On this day, for the second time, Misbah hit a left arm spinner for a six to bring up a Test win for Pakistan, finishing the job off in style.

2002 Under 19 World Cup won by Australia in New Zealand
2010 Under 19 World Cup won by Australia in New Zealand
2018 Under 19 World Cup in New Zealand

England reached 2004 Champions Trophy final and lost from a winning position at home
England reached 2013 Champions Trophy final and lost from a winning position at home
England host the 2017 event

Prediction - West Indies will win the 2016 Under 19 World Cup - beating Bangladesh in the final led by Tagenarine Chanderpaul. 
Prediction - West Indies will win the 2016 World Twenty20 - beating India in the final.

Pakistan's 2017 CT and 2019 WC Captain

1) Azhar Ali - my choice
Other possible options below is no particular order:
2) Mohammad Hafeez?
3) Umar Amin
4) Sami Aslam
5) Babar Azam
6) Shan Masood
7) Sarfraz Ahmed
Ideally Misbah of course ... who is to rule it out with how far he has stretched his tenure?

On this day Pakistan made their Test debut in 1952.

On this day Lahore Lions won the Pakistan domestic T20 tournament for the first time, defeating Karachi Dolphins in the final. 2010.

16th October 2004

10 years since the home defeat in the tri series final. Won 4/4 in round games. 

SL in Pakistan

1995 Won Test Series

1996 Won World Cup

2004 Won Tri Series

2008 Won Asia Cup

Thoughts

Fantastic to see Steve Finn in England’s one day plans. Wicket taker. Attacking bowler.

Like the way Tredwell varies his pace from 45mph-60mph. Fascinating stuff.

England resuming action on 26^th November – the day which brought Alastair his most famous Test win under his captaincy – A 10 wicket win at Mumbai to level proceedings

Glad to see Taufeeq back in the Test plans. When he last played Pak had only lost 1 Test in 8 series (2010-12). Best run I’ve seen from Pak

Steve O Keefe surely has to play. Might not be Herath but Pak are a hopeless bunch against SLA

Scotland defeated by 1 run to NZ. They meet in the first week of CWC.

You associate aggressive scoring rates with this Aus line up. Would be interesting to see if they can curb their instincts in conditions where scoring rates are known to be stodgy

Five Tests in 42 days for England-India in the summer. Five Tests in 40 days for Pak now against the hosting nations of the World Cup. Most challenging schedule since England 2010 where 6 in 7 weeks.

Misbah like Cook in the summer – five tests to get through in quick succession – get through it – prize to lead in cricket’s biggest global prize

Is the CWC what it once was?

So many different tournaments now

Since 1998 – Champions Trophy was introduced and there have been 7 editions

Since 2008 – IPL

Since 2009 – CLT20

Since 2008 – Asia Cup played every alternate year

Since 1998 - ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup has been played every alternate year

Since 2007 – World T20s have been introduced as an alternate year championship and we have already had five of them

When there was no Champions Trophy, Youth World Cup, IPL/CL, World Twenty20s or the Asia Cup played with regularity in the 90s then perhaps it was bigger.

Now there is so much choice.

The competition format for the World Cup doesn’t help:

Needless to have quarter finals after such a long qualification process

If they want to have as many knockout matches as possible – why not have a knockout from the start with 16 teams after a few warm ups?

Very few sides are eliminated despite the duration of the round games

Over half of the teams progress

All major teams are bound to reach QFs unless they are exceptionally poor