June 4, 2003	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 3, 1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

KARACHI, June 3: Pakistan cricket Captain Rashid Latif said Tuesday that top order batting will be key to his team’s success in the coming tour of England.

“Clicking of top three in batting order will set the tone in the outcome of the series”, he declared prior to his departure to Islamabad from where he will fly to London on its way to Scotland with the 18-member squad for opening tour game at Glasgow.

The performance of the top order batting will have great impact on the tour, he added.

He said opener Imran Nazir has staged a comeback in the team while Bilal Asad has been included for the first time while Yasir Hameed will be coming at one drop spot.

Rashid said Muhammad Hafeez is settling down as an opener and if these batsmen showed form and clicked together, Pakistan team will put up a fighting show in three one-day series.

He stressed that top order batting went through a great practice during the tri-nation event in Dambulla and was learning process for them against moving and seaming balls.

“Dambulla exposure will definitely be helpful on english conditions where ball moves around”, he hoped.

He said in presence of Muhammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul, Pakistan got a strong pace- quartet. “If pacemen showed discipline in bowling, they got the potential to upset England batting”, he maintained.

Rashid said in spin department they got leg spinner Danish Kaneria, off-break bowlers Shoaib Malik and Muhammad Hafeez.

Pakistan skipper said allrounder Azhar Mahmood, who has been recalled in the team is already doing on the County Circuit for Surrey.

He said after triumph in Sharjah and exposure in Sri Lanka, England tour is very important. “We are looking to play positive cricket in England”, he said.

Rashid said England side is tough opposition in their on backyards. Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick are their main batting strength and in pace duo of Darren Gough and Michael Anderson, he said.

Commenting on his coordination and combination with coach Javed Miandad, he said he got a great rapport and respect for him.

He said he had always consulated Miandad on technical aspect and follow his advises and suggestions. “Miandad is almost involved in all matters of team on and off the field” Rashid said.

He expressed the confidence that the way team was moving it will be developed into good combinations in both brands of cricket in Tests and One-day International in coming months.

Rashid said he was fully satisfied with selection of the team for England visit and said with coach Miandad, chief selector Aamir Sohail he was looking ahead to make Pakistan a strong team.—APP