September 15, 2003	Monday	Rajab 17, 1424

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LAHORE, Sept 14: Fast bowler Mohammad Sami is expected to sit out Monday’s third One-day International against Bangladesh as Pakistan may opt to retain the same team that won the first two matches of the five-match series.

Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, told a press conference on Sunday that although Sami had been declared fit for the game when he was named in the 15-member squad for the day/night fixture at the Gaddafi Stadium,, yet he would not be rushed since he needed further time to be fully tuned.

“Sami joined the side after a long lay off at the practice session on Sunday. But we want to check his fitness and form in the last two matches,” Inzamam told reporters.

The 22-year old Sami missed Pakistan’s 3-0 Test win preceding the one-day series due to ankle injury and may get a tune up before a tougher home series against South Africa.

“We are aiming to be more and more consistent and if you attain consistency you can beat any opponent,” said Inzamam, who was named captain after Rashid Latif was ruled out following a five-man ODI ban for claiming an ‘unfair’ catch during the final Test in Multan.

Inzamam said that the team had the potential to deliver goods in the next home series against South Africa starting from Sept 26.

“The current team mostly comprises youngsters who have performed well enough against Bangladesh and I see no reason why they give good results against South Africa.”

Asked if he needs some senior players against South Africa such as leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, Inzamam said that the matter was not being senior players but rather their performance.

“If a player is performing well and the team requires his services he should be in the team,” he said.

Asked to comment on his decision of including medium-pacer Junaid Zia in the playing XI, Inzamam said that the bowler had justified his ‘selection’ by taking three wickets in the second One-day International at Faisalabad.

Asked if Junaid did not have a suspect bowling action, Inzamam said that it was not his job to determine it and the umpires  and referees were the better judges.

Commenting on Monday’s match, Inzamam said that Pakistan would not take their rivals easy as they had given good resistances in the previous matches.

Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud expected his team to give a better batting performance in the third game after the visitors were bowled out for 186 and 169 in Multan and Faisalabad, respectively.

Mahmud said that his bowlers managed to restrict Pakistan in  the second match for 243 which in itself was a huge improvement from the Multan tie where the hosts plundered 323.

He said that overall his side had improved its skill and got better results from this tour.

Pakistan beat the tourists by 137 runs in the first match and by 74 runs in the second at Faisalabad last week to go 2-0 up in five-match series.

The two remaining matches will be played in Rawalpindi on Thursday and Karachi next Sunday.

Teams (from):

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Nazir, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Yousuf Youhana, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Shabbir Ahmad, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul, Junaid Zia, Danish Kaneria, Salman Butt.

Bangladesh: Khaled Mahmud (captain), Hannan Sarkar, Habibul Bashar, Mohammad Ashraful, Sanwar Hossain, Rajin Saleh, Alok Kapali, Khaled Mashud, Mohammad Rafique, Mashrafe Mortaza, Alamgir Kabir, Tapash Baisya, Mushfiqur Rahman, Hasibul Hossain, Tushar Imran.

Umpires: Nadeem Ghauri (Pakistan) and Russell Tiffin (Zimbabwe).

TV umpire: Asad Rauf (Pakistan).

Match referee: Mike Procter (South Africa).