PK's Strategy for Bangladesh

The 16-man squad for Pakistan's trip to Bangladesh for a Tri-series also featuring India was announced today with no big surprises but surely some disappointments.

Pakistan squad: Shoaib Malik (capt), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar, Wahab Riaz, Fawad Alam, Bazid Khan, Naumanullah (source Cricinfo.com)

I really believe the it's time where Kamran Akmal should have felt the heat and the axe. It's time they get some fresh and
more safer hands behind the stumps and Sarfraz Ahmed would have been the 1st choice. He has been lurking in the backgrounds for quite some time and needs his break now.

Moreover, sticking with Shahid Afridi who needs to be taken out for a 100 million reasons manages to get another chance. They say he brings the crowds to the grounds but I think he is even losing that image. You have to perform to maintain that and I think there are better all-rounders waiting for their chance.

The best thing to see was the complete Pace Attack together finally with Sohail Tanvir proving match-winning fitness at IPL and Umar Gul & M. Asif injury-free. Lot is expected of the trio and hopefully they can finally get it going together and remain injury free.

Its not a bad squad and Shoaib Malik is a good young captain who has done a pretty good job to date. Its going to be interesting who India bring to Bangladesh considering the recently concluded IPL had so much fresh talent coming from all places of the country.

Series starts June 8th, 2008 with the hosts facing the Pakis.