Rana Naved-ul-Hasan has been Pakistan's most incisive ODI bowler for nearly two years. But with a sense of timing generally associated with Pakistani weddings, he has chosen the run-up to the World Cup in which to slump painfully and dramatically. Not to worry, for behind these four, every conceivable option...also appears to be crocked.

The selectors have taken two gambits in Danish Kaneria and Imran Nazir, both brave but also eminently questionable. For what it's worth, Kaneria is an admirable, shrewd pick, a victory in the mini-battle of cricket thoughts for those who prefer specialists over bit-part, neither-fully-here-nor-fully-there allrounders.

But he has so resoundingly not been part of Inzamam-ul-Haq and Bob Woolmer's ODI plans over the last two years that the move is, at its root, nothing more credible than a punt. He's played seven ODIs in the time since Woolmer took charge, only 16 ever and has not been part of any ODI squad for over a year. His will, and no little skill, may see him through but a punt is a punt is a punt.

Abdur Rehman, the specialist spinner Pakistan did try and prepare for the tournament is dropped, one two-over hammering on the back of three very decent batches of ten overs reason enough apparently.

Nazir's return is a racy decision; potentially it can be explosively good but you have to wonder about another man who hasn't been in your thinking until just recently sneaking in, essentially on the basis of one extraordinary innings in three years. By that stick, Yasir Hameed, who has dutifully made 41, 57, 71 and 41 in his last four ODIs spread over two years, should've been a shoo-in.

Beyond that mind you, options were admittedly limited. Opening has become such a desperate thing that Sadiq Mohammad and Mohammad Ilyas, openers from the 60s and 70s, called up Cricinfo (exclusively, wouldn't you know) and announced that they were willing to offer their services.

It was worth a call too, what with Moin Khan offering to keep wickets for Pakistan again. Moin's offer, tragically funny as it was, did ram home another planning failure as reflected in this squad. There is no back-up to Kamran Akmal, who has had a year so shaky that Wasim Bari, chief selector and one-time gloved genius, said as recently as four ODIs ago that he needs a break. He wasn't given one, Zulqarnain Haider becoming less understudy, more non-existent. Pakistan will now hope that Akmal's slight upturn in wicketkeeping fortunes just recently continues for there is no one behind him.

What these selections in particular say about Pakistan's planning over the last three years is similar to what Lord Mountbatten is reputed to have admitted years later about his role in the partition of the subcontinent: "I f****ed it up."

Add to this the fact that Shahid Afridi not available for the first two games, one of which is particularly vital, and Pakistan's prospects appear ever more precarious. In fact, if you inhale hard enough, you might just catch a whiff already of an impending clear-out post-World Cup, just like 2003. Captain, coach, chief selector, senior players, all can conceivably be gone after the West Indies.

Which is precisely why, of course, nobody will rule Pakistan out. It is at moments such as this, with squads as ravaged by controversies, scandals and injuries, that Pakistan, uniquely, can never be discounted as a threat. The build-up and run-in to 1992 wasn't this bad but it wasn't much better. Forget the plans and long-term vision, say selectors. We're winging it now, hoping and praying. At least we're used to it.

i m totally and entirely agree with ur article.

inclusion of imran nazir and danish kaneria can be a big disaster or both can be big trump card in the mega event.my vote goes to danish kaneria,he ll perform well while imran nazir can be harmful and might be good enough coz of his more than 2years absence from the international cricket

Assalamu alay kum
Its as if the Pakistanis are not a thinking team. The South African think about every delivery and every batting shot. I think most of us are pleased that at least the Pakistani cricketer are better behaved than in the past but personal piety is not enough. One needs to be thinking and the Pakistanis dont want to think.
They also lack mental strength. The Aussies and the South Africans can dig themselves out of trouble and you cant rule them out till the last ball they keep on trying. The Pakistanis give up very quickly.
The cricketers dont seem to concentrate well whether bowling or batting. Mohamed Yousuf does well I think because he can focus ...learnt from performing salaah properly. The South Africans are very focussed.
Also it seems that Pakistanis dont learn from their mistakes. Has an analysis every been done as to why the batting buckles for such low scores every now and then. There must be a reason but it seems no analysis is done.

i think this article is the truth about the pakistani cricket team. I still think it is much worse than u have described in this article. What i mean by that is why are they giving people chances that already had their oppurtunities and blown them away. Give someone else a chance, someone new. There has to be some one out there. Pakistan under 19 just won the world cup, pick players from that team. There is more talent then you think. Who are the selectors? There are no former cricketers in the selection panel.

As always, Samiuddin is the voice of reason. As I recall Imran's tigers were in the same position having lost Waqar and Anwar to injuries before the 92 world cup but strong leadership carried them all the way through. I doubt that Inzi's leadership qualities are as refined as Mr. Khan's but he possesses some crude motivation skills which seemed to have worked in the past. Here's to hoping that Inzi's unpredictables will surprise all Pakistani fans pleasantly.

The South Afican tour was so disappointing. The players 1 to 11 played so irresponsibly,the team has the potential to beat any team,if they play like SA played,with a plan and dedication.Woolmer should resign and Inzimam too,a coachand a captain who could not find an opening pair should be sacked.If they play even super 8, i'll be surpised. I think PCB should appoint Miadad as a coach for 2011 world cup now and find new talents I believe there are lots of them in Pakistan,if they go by merts rather than recommandations, that's the problem in Pakistan.Forget the World Cup this year,thanks to selctors and PCB.

If pakistan was thinking of giving Imran nazir a chance, then why not Azar Mahmood and Moin Khan as well?If pakistan wanted to go with new guns then why not Samiullah niazi whose been included in the squad but never played a single ODI.I watched the U19 World cup final and in there Pakistan had some fine talent.As usual everyone would agree Pakistan has yet again the best opening bowlers (on paper), but in reality everyone knows you wont be seeing Shoaib,Asif and Gul together, and even if you do theres bound to be something wrong with one of them.
Woolmer is still a much better coach though than previous contenders and at this point there isnt any one more experienced than Inzi to lead the team in to the world cup.All we can do is hope and pray that Pakistan performs better than what they did against South Africa.