Pakistan's leading pacemen Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul both made their comebacks to competitive cricket in the last few days after being out with injuries for 6 months and 4 months respectively.

Mohammad Asif turned out for National Bank yesterday in the semi final of the ABN Amro National One Day Cup Competition against Habib Bank. He bowled 8 overs for 36 runs including an opening spell of 5-0-10-1. Asif seemed to be back to his best knocking back Rifatullah Mohmand's off stump with a trademark inswinger off the 4th ball of Habib Bank's innings.

Umar Gul played a couple of matches in the ABN Amro Cup and he is attacking the bowling for Pakistan against Bangladesh as we speak. He's spraying it all over the place but at least he's not injured and bowling at full pace.

Looks promising for Pakistan.

The other 2 comebacks were those of Mohammad Yousuf and Shahid Afridi.


Yousuf scored his 15th and 2nd consecutive ODI century with an unbeaten 108 against Bangladesh earlier today. His previous 100 was an identical score against Zimbabwe in the 5th ODI of the series in January. Its not the same comeback as Asif's or Gul's but after Lawson's criticism and demands for having him out of the team, it sure is a comeback.

Afridi was another player that Lawson didn't want in the team and he showed his value by smacking a typical 11 ball unbeaten 27 against the hapless Bengalis as Pakistan posted 322 in the 1st ODI earlier today. Yet another comeback.

Pakistan should easily win the on going match but I have a problem with the XI that is playing.

Similar to what they did against Zimbabwe they are persisting with 3 pacers, Afridi, and Malik as the only bowlers. Thats too thin a bowling line up.

This strategy fared well against the Zimbos and it will work alrite against the Bengalis as well, but what will happen when they face tougher opposition? Surely a 6th bowler is required and instead of doing that against the tougher ones, Pakistan should be trying an XI that fits 6 bowlers now.

Another problem I have is that there is no Sohail Khan in the XI despite being in the squad. He has been the bowler to watch out for this domestic season. He got only 1 game against the Zimbos and I fail to understand why Ifitikhar Anjum keeps getting picked.

Come on team management - pull up your socks already!