December 11, 2002	Wednesday	Shawwal 6, 1423

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JOHANNESBURG, Dec 10: Pakistan cricket coach Richard Pybus has warned that it would be “premature to write off” his side, and that they still have an “extremely good chance” of winning the five match limited overs series against South Africa.

In Durban on Sunday, Pakistan crashed to 140 all out to lose the first match to South Africa by 132 runs.

It was not so much that Pakistan lost, but rather the manner in which they did so, that raised fears that South Africa would ride rough shod over the tourists.

After making a bright start, the staggeringly inconsistent Pakistanis lost their way with the ball, and then hardly put up a fight with the bat.

“I think there’s been a bit of an over reaction,” said Pybus ahead of the second match at St George’s Park on Wednesday.

“We just played very badly at Kingsmaed. It’s as simple as that. We have a team of world class cricketers so I don’t think it’s a particularly tall order to win the next three of four games.”

Pakistan’s cause may be aided by the return of Shoaib Akhtar. Having served his one match ban incurred in Zimbabwe, Akhtar will be able to spearhead what is already an impressive Pakistani pace attack.

“He may play at St George’s,” responded Pybus, “but I can’t comment on selection issues.

“Shoaib is an absolute match winner though. There aren’t many players in world cricket who can change the course of a one day international by themselves.

“When Shoaib’s on song he can do it. He has the ability to take four wickets in four overs. With his pace and in these conditions, Shoaib can be simply devastating.”

Pybus, who has coached South African provincial outfit Border, will at least have some insight into the South African conditions, particularly those Pakistan will encounter in the Eastern Cape.

“I don’t think it will make much difference,” pointed out Pybus. “It’s how well we do the basics. We just didn’t do that in Durban. We bowled well up front but then bowled very poorly to Rhodes. His innings took the game away from us. Then we bowled even worse to Pollock at the end.”

As badly as Pakistan bowled in the second half of the South African innings, it was their batting that was truly woeful. Their biggest partnership realised only 23 runs.

“South Africa bowled very well,” added Pybus, “but we have to be more proactive with our batting. One-day cricket is all about partnerships. We didn’t manage to build one partnership, let alone sustain one.”

Apart from the inclusion of Shoaib, it is unlikely that Pakistan will make many other changes to their playing XI.

Meanwhile former South African all-rounder Dave Callaghan said Pakistan have their best chance of beating South Africa when the two teams meet in two one-day cricket internationals in the Eastern Cape this week.

Pakistan and South Africa will play each other on Wednesday at St George’s Park here and again on Friday at Buffalo Park in East London respectively in second and third one-day matches of the five-match series.

“Of all the grounds in South Africa, Pakistan would like the conditions in Port Elizabeth and East London the most. They would have to clinch the series at those two grounds,” Callaghan said.—PPI