The Ultimate Combined All Time India Pakistan Test XI !

Bowlers !

To get a balanced bowling combination, we will include 3 fast bowlers and 2 spinners. Since, we have already picked Imran Khan, which leaves us to select 2 fast bowlers and 2 spinners.

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Fast bowlers first. One of them picks himself, Wasim Akram. There is really nothing to explain in this selection. Akram is one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, and would probably walk into an all time World XI. An easy choice in the Combined All Time India Pakistan Test XI.

We had promised to consider Kapil Dev as a fast bowler. But, in all honesty, as good as he was, Kapil the bowler, is overshadowed by the likes of Fazal Mahmood and Waqar Younis. With a heavy heart, we have to leave out the Haryana hurricane. Waqar gets the nod ahead of his countryman.

While one would normally expect India to dominate the spin lineup, the case is not so simple. True, India has traditionally produced top notch spinners by the dozen. However, having many ‘good’ or ‘very good’ spinners does not mean you have the best.

Anil Kumble is an automatic choice with his amazing record and longevity. He was always a match winner in home conditions. In the second half of his career, he also tasted success overseas. Indeed, India owes many a victory to this unsung hero.

Unfortunately, the presence of Kumble makes it difficult to include his predecessor, BS Chandrasekhar. While Chandrasekhar was definitely more lethal, Kumble’s longevity and ability to ball long spells swings the vote in his favour.

The other spinner should preferably be an off spinner. The major options here are EAS Prasanna and Harbhajan Singh (India) and Saqlain Mushtaq and Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan). R Ashwin has a fantastic record. But, his lack of success overseas, counts against him. A tough choice in the Combined All Time India Pakistan Test XI.

While Prasanna had a fanstastic record, both home and overseas, Harbhajan has generally struggled outside the subcontinent. Saqlain and Ajmal have brilliant records and their ability to run through batting lineups was legendary.

While Prasanna was more of a stock bowler, we already have one such bowler in Kumble. Therefore, it has to be one among the two Pakistanis. It is almost impossible to differentiate between the two. Finally, we settle for Ajmal although it is touch and go.

People might protest the non-selection of Bishen Bedi, but a proper analysis of his numbers reveal interesting insights. That, however, is a story for another time.

Another tough choice in the Combined All Time India Pakistan Test XI.

Among others, Abdul Qadir was a good bowler, whose reputation was enhanced disproportionately by the British media. We have also left out several orthodox legspinners. This includes, among others, India’s Subhash Gupte and Pakistan’s Mushtaq Ahmed and Danish Kaneria.

Unfortunately we also have to exclude Vinoo Mankad. Alas, but such is the pain of selecting an All Time XI.

Lower Order: Wasim Akram, Anil Kumble, Waqar Younis, Saeed Ajmal

Final XI

The final XI has 6 cricketers from India and 5 from Pakistan, which in our opinion, is a fair balance between the talents produced by the 2 countries.

Now we have to select a captain. The funny thing is everyone in this XI has captained their country at some point of time. Everyone except Saeed Ajmal.

We go for Imran Khan. Imran, a world cup winning captain, would command respect from each and every one. Moreover, he would enforce a strong sense of discipline and would be able to maintain the dressing room harmony.

The final XI reads as follows:

Sunil Gavaskar

Virender Sehwag

Rahul Dravid

Sachin Tendulkar

Javed Miandad

Imran Khan (c)

MS Dhoni (wk)

Wasim Akram

Anil Kumble

Waqar Younis

Saeed Ajmal

The batting runs deep. Wasim Akram bats at eight and we have a test centurion at nine (Kumble). Wasim and Waqar would probably take the new ball, with Imran coming on at first change. There would be no respite for the opposition, as Kumble and Ajmal would follow.

But who would this team play against. In this interest, we have compiled a second Indo-Pak XI, which is as follows.

Hanif Mohammad

Saeed Anwar

Younis Khan

Vijay Hazare

VVS Laxman

Kapil Dev (c)

Rashid Latif (wk)

Saqlain Mushtaq

Fazal Mahmood

Zaheer Khan

BS Chandrasekhar

In the interests of those striving for balance, this XI comprises 6 Pakistanis and 5 from India. Fun making the Combined All Time India Pakistan Test XI.