ChthonicPowers

at "Teesra". It made me chuckle for some reason
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LAHORE: Saqlain Mushtaq, who introduced the off-spinners’ googly or the “doosra” (the other one) to international cricket, is developing a “teesra” (the third one) in a bid to win back a place in the Pakistan team.

Saqlain, 27, said he hoped the new variation would help him return during a three-Test series against India, starting in Multan on March 28. “I’ve realised it’s necessary to keep on bringing variations into your bowling to survive in the hectic world of international cricket,” he said on Wednesday. “There is no survival without variation.”

Saqlain, who has grown a beard and leads the prayer congregations of the Pakistan team, has a haul of 207 Test and 288 one-day wickets but has played just one Test and one one-dayer for Pakistan since September last year.

He says he is willing to bide his time because his renewed interest in religion has taught him to be patient. However, he stresses his hunger to play for Pakistan has not diminished. “I’ve a strong urge to play in the Tests against India. I knew I’d have to come up with something different to surprise their top-class batting. Thus, the different ball,” he said. Saqlain declined to divulge what his new delivery would do. “I’m still perfecting it,” he said. “Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan and Anil Kumble have also been successful and consistent because of the variations they keep introducing into their bowling.”

Pakistan’s chief selector Wasim Bari said Saqlain was being considered for the Tests against India. “You can’t just ignore a bowler of his calibre,” Bari told Reuters. “I don’t think he’s been handled properly in the last one year since the World Cup. We are ready to back him when the time comes.”

Saqlain has been in and out of the Pakistan team since the 2003 World Cup and has not played a Test since grabbing two wickets for 70 against Bangladesh in Multan last year.

In his last one-day appearance, against South Africa in October, he went for 52 runs in eight overs. India, on their first Test tour of Pakistan since 1989-90, have never won a Test in 20 matches in Pakistan, losing five and drawing 15. The last time the countries played a Test series in India in 1999, Saqlain finished with 24 wickets in three matches including four five-wicket hauls. —Reuters
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...5-3-2004_pg2_3

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Good god..NOOOO. This Bari has not changed one bit. Still relying on reputations. I hope no new talent (kaneria) suffers because of him. F##!$$@$%#$%#%^#$%^#$%^#%$%@$%@$%@$

fair_&_balance

Let him first get his pehla and doosra right. If he can do that he wou dbe fine.

samb

I agree with Bari when he says that Saqi's not been handled properly. Yes, he did have an attitude problem and if that is still there, he should not be even in the Pak A team.

But just look at his performances for which he was dropped. He was at worst going at 5-6 runs an over and at the time he was being compared with the Ws whose economy rate were generally lower. Look at our current bowlers - everyone's easily going for at least 50 runs in ODIs. Heck going for 50 is an achievement for Afridi and Malik.

Saqi needs and deserves one more shot at this level especially since our bowling was exposed badly especially the spinners. He's a champion bowler and I don't believe that a bowler as good and smart as him could lose it at the age of 27. As long as he proves to me that he has pride in representing Pakistan, I would bring him back in a jiffy.

This is not to say that Kaneria should be left out. Kaneria has done more than enough to prove his potential. But Saqi is a proven champ and I'm very hesitant to close the door on him just yet.

waleed

^ chadis off to sambi mambi


PS: it means i agree with the above

Faisal

Reminds me of Abdul Qadir. I had heard in some interviews that Abdul Qadir had some 50 different varieties of bowling variations, so he could practically bowl about 9 overs without repeating a single delivery. Not sure if it was a gross exageration or what, but the guy knew his spin bowling.

In present day lot, both Murli and Warne are extremely aggressive spinners. Also Kumble. Its also how the captain uses the spinner. If the captain spreads all the fielders to boundry ropes as soon as the spinner comes on, you will have a widely different result compared to when a captain brings in closing fielders and attacks the batsmen with all guns blazing. Ofcourse, you need a quality and agressive spinner to attack.

ChthonicPowers

I dont think he was ever compared specifically with Wasim and Waqar in any capacity. I think just like any other bowler, he was and should still be compared with every other bowler in the team, and the potential replacement sitting outside because or inspite of him. And I think everyone will agree with me that his ouster from the team was indeed justified. he was not taking any wickets and giving away a lot of runs. while analysing the reaons for his ouster, we have to understand why this had happened. Everybody had him figured out. His doosra was de-mystified and duplicated. So based on these facts, has he done anything now that justifies his return? The "tessra" might just but nobody knows if its going to be a hit or a flop.

Secondly, comparing Saqi's performance of last year to the current bowlers is a little harsh. The pitch conditions and everything else makes a lot of difference. I dont think its a very valid way of judging anyone.

fair_&_balance

I think what will tilt decision in favour of Saqlain is that traditionally Indians are very good players of legspin.Not that they are bad player of offspin but they are extremely good against leg spinner. Neither of great leg spinners like Qadir,Warne,Macgil etc had any success against Indians. Where as Offspinner definitly have better succes against them.Spinners like Murali,Saqi ,Tauseef have doen comparatively better.
Even Vettori and Nicky Boje have won test matches againt Indians.

SO here goes Danish and comes Saqi.

Personaly I dont see Danish doing any damage to Indians.His record is mediocre if you take out his performance againt bangladesh.

Mr Xtreme

I haven't seen any evidence of this 'teesra' so far. Unless it's the one that keeps getting slogged into the stands for 6.

fair_&_balance

Xtreme

I said earlier.

bitter

where was it boy?
It seems Saqlain cleared the misconception yesterday at a press conference.
When asked about the teesra - he replied that he was quoted out of context. What he actually meant when he said that he was preparing a 'teesra' delivery - that he was preparing for his third child which media misconstrued and went overboard in reporting that he was preparing for a succesor to the 'doosra' ball.

PS:yeah..its a shame watching him clubbed for 5.53 runs/over...hope he bounces back with his teesra delivery..

Saby

if its true, thats some clever journalism

TUMS

i think he should work on his pehla and doosra for now.

Captain1

Reading the article above the double quoted sentences by standard journalism should be the exact words Saqi said. Now, one of them definitely lied.