Will Pakistan's batsmen stand up to be counted?

The Big Picture

It's no state secret that Pakistan's Achilles heel is their batting. Watching their familiar collapses leaves you with a feeling of numbness these days. It's the same script that seems to be playing on an endless loop: the openers combust mindlessly, Umar Akmal plays couple of pretty shots before throwing his wicket away, Shahid Afridi biffs a few big shots before holing out, and the innings meanders aimlessly in the end.

Will the one-day series against South Africa turn out to be different? Younis Khan is back but there is no Mohammad Yousuf or Shoaib Malik. Much will depend on how fast the hugely-talented Umar Akmal matures and how long Shahid Afridi can remain calm. Mohammad Hafeez bowled well in the Twenty20 games but didn't last long with the bat. Again, it was the same-old failing: couple of quality hits preceded an adrenalin rush that led to his dismissal. Can he turn it around in the ODI series?

South Africa will be reinforced by the return of Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, and Dale Steyn. It will be interesting to see who makes way for Kallis in the middle order. Will it be the impressive Colin Ingram, who played such a cool finishing hand in both Twenty20s, or will it be David Miller? While Ingram offers stability, Miller offers explosiveness - who will they choose?

Watch out for...

Younis Khan is back but won't get much breathing space to ease into the team. The middle order lacks the experience of Yousuf and Malik, and Pakistan will hope that Younis can hold the innings together in the middle overs. He has struggled in the last two years, though: in the 27 games he played during that period, he averaged 25.11 with just one hundred. In the eight matches he played in the last year, he averaged just 11.12. He doesn't have a great record against South Africa: he averages 25.92 from 29 ODIs at a strike rate of 66.97

Graeme Smith He averaged 28 from three games against Zimbabwe. He hit a painstaking, but vital, 38 in the second Twenty20 game against Pakistan where he struggled against the spinners but didn't throw his wicket away. It will be interesting to track his progress through this series. 

Team news

Pakistan have a few tough batting decisions to make. It's a battle between the old and the new: Younis and Misbah v the youngsters they will displace. Will Asad Shafiq and Fawad Alam get chances? Will Shahzaib Hasan be dropped or will it be Imran Farhat? Will Hafeez be played as an opener? 

Pakistan (possible): 1 Imran Farhat, 2 Mohammed Hafeez, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Umar Akmal, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq, 6 Shahid Afridi (capt), 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Zulqarnain Haider (wk), 9 Umar Gul, 10 Shoaib Akhtar, 11 Saeed Ajmal.

South Africa (possible): 1 Graeme Smith, 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 AB de Villiers (wk),5 JP Duminy, 6 Colin Ingram/David Miller, 7 Albie Morkel/Rusty Theron, 8 Morne Morkel, 9 Johan Botha, 10 Lonwabo Tsotsobe, 11 Dale Steyn.

Stats and trivia

• South Africa have won their last nine ODI games. Their previous eight wins have come against West Indies and Zimbabwe.
• Johan Botha's career bowling average is 39.57 but it skyrockets to 102.50 from five matches against Pakistan. His economy rate climbs from a career average of 4.62 to 5.06 against Pakistan. Dale Steyn is yet to play an ODI against Pakistan.
  Quotes
  "You've got two guys [Morkel and Steyn]. One has bounce and he can hit 145 kph, the other has swing and can hit 140 to 150kph. They are wonderful assets to have. " 
  Graeme Smith knows his team's strengths

South Africa win over Pakistan in the Opener

South Africa 120 for 4 (Ingram 46*, Duminy 41) beat Pakistan 119 (Tsotsobe 3-16, Botha 3-31) by six wickets

Pakistan v South Africa T20I Series - 1st T20I

Pakistan v South Africa

South Africa won by 6 wickets (with 10 balls remaining)

Pakistan innings (20 overs maximum)		R	M	B	4s	6s	SR
	Shahzaib Hasan	c Duminy b Tsotsobe	9	28	14	0	0	64.28
	Imran Farhat	c Smith b Tsotsobe	10	10	8	2	0	125.00
	Mohammad Hafeez	c Ingram b Botha	13	26	17	2	0	76.47
	Umar Akmal	c Botha b JA Morkel	14	30	21	1	0	66.66
	Shahid Afridi*	c Bosman b Botha	25	8	7	1	3	357.14
	Misbah-ul-Haq	not out	27	43	32	2	1	84.37
	Abdul Razzaq	b Botha	4	3	5	0	0	80.00
	Zulqarnain Haider†	c Duminy b M Morkel	1	2	4	0	0	25.00
	Umar Gul	c Smith b Tsotsobe	0	4	5	0	0	0.00
	Saeed Ajmal	run out (Miller)	4	8	7	0	0	57.14
	Shoaib Akhtar	run out (Miller)	3	9	2	0	0	150.00
	Extras	(lb 1, w 5, nb 3)	9
	Total	(all out; 19.5 overs)	119	(6.00 runs per over)

Fall of wickets1-16 (Imran Farhat, 1.6 ov), 2-38 (Shahzaib Hasan, 5.1 ov), 3-46 (Mohammad Hafeez, 7.2 ov),4-75 (Shahid Afridi, 9.4 ov), 5-84 (Umar Akmal, 12.4 ov), 6-90 (Abdul Razzaq, 13.5 ov), 7-91 (Zulqarnain Haider, 14.3 ov),8-92 (Umar Gul, 15.3 ov), 9-99 (Saeed Ajmal, 17.3 ov), 10-119 (Shoaib Akhtar, 19.5 ov)

	Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
	JA Morkel	4	0	28	1	7.00	(4w)
	LL Tsotsobe	4	0	16	3	4.00
	M Morkel	4	1	18	1	4.50	(3nb)
	J Theron	3.5	0	25	0	6.52
	J Botha	4	0	31	3	7.75	(1w)

	South Africa innings (target: 120 runs from 20 overs)		R	M	B	4s	6s	SR
	GC Smith	b Mohammad Hafeez	13	26	12	3	0	108.33
	LL Bosman	c Imran Farhat b Shoaib Akhtar	2	12	4	0	0	50.00
	AB de Villiers†	b Shoaib Akhtar	0	2	3	0	0	0.00
	JP Duminy	c Umar Akmal b Saeed Ajmal	41	54	46	5	0	89.13
	CA Ingram	not out	46	54	38	4	2	121.05
	DA Miller	not out	13	12	7	3	0	185.71
	Extras	(lb 3, w 2)	5
	Total	(4 wickets; 18.2 overs)	120	(6.54 runs per over)

Did not bat JA Morkel, J Botha*, M Morkel, J Theron, LL Tsotsobe

Fall of wickets1-16 (Bosman, 2.1 ov), 2-16 (de Villiers, 2.4 ov), 3-26 (Smith, 5.1 ov), 4-92 (Duminy, 15.5 ov)

	Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
	Shoaib Akhtar	4	1	29	2	7.25
	Abdul Razzaq	2	0	20	0	10.00	(1w)
	Mohammad Hafeez	3	0	10	1	3.33
	Umar Gul	3.2	0	17	0	5.10
	Saeed Ajmal	4	0	18	1	4.50	(1w)
	Shahid Afridi	2	0	23	0	11.50

• T20I no. 190 | 2010/11 season
• Played at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi(neutral venue)
• 26 October 2010 - day/night (20-over match)

Asif withdraws appeal against suspension

Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan fast bowler, has withdrawn his appeal against the provisional suspension imposed on him by the ICC for his alleged involvement in the spot-fixing controversy. The appeals of three Pakistan players - Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir being the others - were due to be heard on October 30 and 31 in Doha.

The trio hadn't been picked, as a result of their suspensions, for Pakistan's upcoming tour of the UAE where they play South Africa in a full series. Asif, however, would not have been able to participate even if the provisional suspension was lifted following the hearing of the appeals later this month; he is barred from entering the UAE following detention in 2008 for a drug-related offence.

"I have chosen not to contest the provisional suspension at this time simply because I am content to await the main disciplinary hearing where my full case can be placed before the ICC," Asif said of the reason for his decision.

Pakistan's assignment following the UAE series is a tour of New Zealand in December by when the ICC would have conducted a full hearing - which needs to be held within three months of imposing the provisional suspension - into the controversy. The suspensions were handed out on September 2 this year and Asif can now only apply for it to be lifted once the full hearing has concluded.

"Mohammad Asif confirmed earlier today that he has withdrawn his challenge to the provisional suspension imposed on him on 2 September 2010 pending determination of the charges brought against him under the ICC's Anti Corruption Code," an ICC release said. "Arrangements are now being made for the challenges being made by Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir against their provisional suspensions to be heard in Dubai on 30 and 31 October 2010.

Younis Khan could make Twenty20 comeback

A day after coming back into the national side, former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has hinted at a possible return to the Twenty20 format he retired from, over a year ago.

After his meeting with PCB chairman Ijaz Butt on Wednesday, the board cleared Younis' selection for Pakistan and he was immediately named in the squadfor the limited-overs games against South Africa in the UAE. The chief selector Mohsin Khan couldn't clarify whether Younis would play in the two Twenty20s, but said that his selection would be left to the tour selection committee. Speaking to reporters from the training camp at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Younis said simply that he was available wherever needed.

"I am not that sort of a player who says I should be in Test matches or I should be in one-dayers or in Twenty20s," Younis said. "If my fitness is up there and Pakistan needs me, whether it's T20, T10, 50-50 or Tests, I am always available for Pakistan."

Younis led Pakistan to a memorable World Twenty20 triumph in England in 2009, but retired from the format immediately after, saying it was time for younger men to take over. Since then he featured only in the ODI and Test set-up, though he has continued playing Twenty20s in domestic competitions in Pakistan and abroad. Though available, Younis' selection is not guaranteed; he averages just over 25 from 22 Twenty20 matches with a relatively unspectacular strike-rate of 124.85. But at the time he retired, Younis seemed to be coming to terms with his role in the format, finishing among his side's top-scorers with 172 runs in the World Twenty20.

Younis has been kept out of the national set-up since January, when he played his last ODI in Perth and he hasn't featured in a Test since July last year; the result of a punishment handed out to him for disciplinary reasons after the tour of Australia and a protracted personality and legal clash with Butt and the board. At the age of 32, however, Younis was keen to move on rather than dwell on what has happened. "I talked to the chairman yesterday and we forgot whatever happened in the past. I didn't want to end my cricket like that. If I say sorry it's not a big deal. I can't fight with the chairman, I can't fight with the board, as whatever I am is because of them. As far as discipline is concerned I have never been fined and everyone knows me well."

Since Younis hasn't played at the top level for so long, there will inevitably be questions about his form and the logic of selecting him for limited-overs cricket, where over the course of a ten-year career he hasn't hit the heights he has in the five-day format. He averages just over 32 in 202 ODIs, though that has risen to nearly 35 in the last three years when he has been one of his side's most senior players. He scored only 67 runs, though, when recalled for the five-match ODI series against Australia.

"I played a county season for Surrey, I played T20s and if a player has eight or nine years experience, he often just needs one click," Younis said. "If luck favors me and I play one good innings everything will be back on track. When I was recalled for Australia, I went there after playing just one domestic match, at least now I have played county cricket, so I am prepared mentally."

Waqar Younis, the Pakistan coach, welcomed Younis' return to the team. "It's very good that Younis Khan is back. He's been a great servant for the last 12-14 years, he has served Pakistan as a captain, as a player, as a senior member he has done wonders. He is a seasoned player, he is still fit, fitter than most of them actually, and always gives 100%."

Younis Khan and PCB resolve issues

 The long-running battle between Younis Khan and the Pakistan board has finally been resolved, after a meeting between the former captain and Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman. Younis, a former Pakistan captain, was cleared for selection almost immediately picked in the limited overs squad for the series against South Africa in the UAE later this month.

The meeting took place early on Wednesday and board officials familiar with the meeting told ESPNcricinfo that all outstanding issues were resolved amicably. A resolution had been on the cards since the board sent a letter to Younis asking him to meet the chairman. Younis responded positively, telling reporters in Lahore he was keen to meet and play again for Pakistan.

At a press conference later in the day in Karachi Mohsin Khan, chief selector, announced that Younis had joined the training camp in Lahore. "The chairman [PCB] has given clearance this afternoon to Younis Khan and that is good news," Mohsin told reporters. "I discussed with the selection committee and we picked him straight away. He is fit, playing top-class cricket."

There was some confusion, however, over whether Younis had also been inducted into the Test squad. "For now he is in the limited-overs squad," Mohsin said. "We will see his progress over the ODIs and then make a decision for the Tests after that." Over in Lahore though, at almost the same time, Intikhab Alam, the team manager, indicated to reporters that Younis was back in the Test side as well.

Younis' return has also been hastened by the pullout from the ODI squad of Mohammad Yousuf. Yousuf has not been training over the last two days at the camp at Gaddafi Stadium and has a grade 2 abductor muscle tear. Mohsin said he is likely to be out for 2-3 weeks, though added that Younis would have been selected even if Yousuf was available.

Younis was one of four players the board either banned or decided would not be selected for an indefinite period in the aftermath of a disastrous tour of Australia in 2009-10. Three others were fined heavily.

Alongside five others, Younis appealed against the punishment to a one-man appelate tribunal. Shoaib Malik, the Akmal brothers and Shahid Afridi had their fines reduced and bans lifted soon after, while Rana Naved ul Hasan had his one-year ban lifted recently. Yousuf didn't appeal, announcing his retirement instead, though he was asked by the board to return for the England tour, his punishment apparently waived away.

Younis' case, however, had stalled. The tribunal "set aside his order" and referred it back to the board, as it did with the others. The other players then apologised to the board and accepted their mistakes, clearing the way for their return. Younis refused to do so, insisting through his lawyer that he had done nothing to apologise for and had instead maintained that he wanted to clear his name fully of the charges laid against him.

The board released a statement with few details, referring only to the meeting and that the matter now "stands closed."

Over the last few weeks the board and chairman in particular had come under severe pressure from a clutch of former cricketers as well as the national assembly's standing committee on sports to bring Younis back into the fold.