Champions Trophy 2006-07

Pakistan revert to familiar disarray

Oct 5, 2006: Reports in Pakistan are suggesting that Mohammad Yousuf has been appointed captain for the Champions Trophy in place of Younis Khan, who earlier today refused to take up the Pakistan captaincy.

The aftermath of Ovalgate

More than an inconvenient truth

Oct 1, 2006: When Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove decreed Pakistan guilty of ball tampering on the afternoon of August 20, 2006, they were venturing into uncharted international territory

The question of Hair's future

Justice still awaits

Sep 29, 2006: Having seen Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan team cleared of ball tampering charges and Pakistan the country, a slur removed and its honour restored, sights were set trained on Darrell Hair

Pakistan tour of England, 2006

Otherwise pandemonium

Sep 13, 2006: Pakistan outright lost the Test series against England this summer and though they drew the one-day international series, never has a draw been more a loss than this

England v Pakistan, 4th Test, The Oval

It's Hair's word against Pakistan's

Aug 21, 2006: Not much clarity has yet emerged from the stinking carcass of the match on any of the many grave issues involved. One thing though is becoming clear and it is a time-honoured truism; like the tango, it takes more than one.

England v Pakistan, 3rd Test, Headingley, 5th day

Painful and sadly predictable

Aug 8, 2006: Lurking nastily beneath all the hopes Pakistani fans must have harboured last night at the prospect of a spectacular heist lay the fear of a day like this

England v Pakistan, 3rd Test, Headingley, 2nd day

Pakistan defy Headingley history

Aug 5, 2006: Osman Samiuddin watches a Pakistan side defy the history of Headingley

A history of Pakistan's struggles against left-arm spinners

Trouble in the left-arm front

Jul 30, 2006: Pakistan's Old Trafford shellacking was, a Pakistani paper sagely observed, one of their worst ever under Bob Woolmer and Inzamam-ul-Haq

Opening dilemmas Part 2

The opening conundrum

Jul 13, 2006: Osman Samiuddin tracks Pakistan's age-old dilemma - the search for that seasoned, durable, Test opener

These boots were made for filling

Jul 13, 2006: Pakistan's age-old dilemma - the search for that seasoned, durable, Test opener - still remains

Who should be the captain?

Inzamam or Younis?

Apr 1, 2006: Inzamam-ul-Haq or Younis Khan? Osman Samiuddin ponders over the big question

Pakistan v India, 3rd ODI, Lahore

The thin red line

Feb 13, 2006: Nowhere are lines between success and failure thinner than in ODIs

Peshawar dismissal row rumbles on

Inzamam's reaction leaves a bad taste

Feb 10, 2006: Osman Samiuddin on how Inzamam-ul-Haq's post-match reaction to his controversial dismissal at Pashawar was so wide of the mark

India in Pakistan, 2nd Test, Faisalabad 2005-06

Shoulder injury forced Rana out

Jan 21, 2006: Rana Naved-ul-Hasan's surprising omission from the second Test at Faisalabad was the result of a minor shoulder injury

India in Pakistan, 2nd Test, Faisalabad 2005-06

Playing safe could mean sorry

Jan 21, 2006: The omission of Naved-ul-Hasan may backfire

India in Pakistan 2005-06

Sami the enigmatic

Jan 17, 2006: Just what do you do with the boy Mohammad Sami, asks Osman Samiuddin

India in Pakistan, 2005-06

Making a pitch for favourable weather

Jan 15, 2006: Wasim Akram wanted them hard and bouncy. Inzamam-ul-Haq wanted them fast and bouncy. The PCB, according to its official newsletter, also wanted them fast and bouncy.

India in Pakistan 2005-06

Amber signal

Jan 10, 2006: Umar Gul reflects on his last crack at the Indians two years ago

The chucking controversy

Throwing out the stigma

Dec 23, 2005: Osman Samiuddin weighs in on the chucking controversy

The Best of Inzamam

Grace under fire

Nov 28, 2005: Inzamam-ul-Haq's best innings have been compiled when the pressure has been at its greatest, and Inzamam at his most unflappable