October 3, 2003	Friday	Sha’aban 6, 1424

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LAHORE, Oct 2: South Africa captain, Graeme Smith, on Thursday declared that his team was mentally and physically prepared for the first One-day International against Pakistan as it had played a practice match on Wednesday which had improved the fitness of the players.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday Smith remarked that his side had acclimatised and was ready to face the challenge.

However, Smith avoided to predict the outcome of the match. “It is difficult to predict the outcome as I think it will be a tough game and Pakistan is a good young side, having the advantage of home crowd and ground,” he pointed out.

When reminded that South Africa had a better record against Pakistan, Smith said: “I think the past is the past. Ahead is a new game with new team and we have to see the new situation”.

Proteas skipper agreed that dew could play an important factor in the match and pointed out there was lot of dew in the evening on Thursday, but, we have a game plan for it.

Asked to comment about his planning if Pakistan prepared spin wicket as it had two world class spinners (Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmad), Smith said that Pakistan also had good pace attack in Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami.

“The wicket was turning a little on Wednesday but not too much and I think our players are prepared to counter Pakistan attack” Smith said.

Regarding the absence of Lance Kluesner, Smith admitted that he was a fantastic player but there were other reasons he was not here.

He dispelled the impression that being a junior player, he was facing any problem from the seniors. “Not at all, all the players are behind me and cooperating and I am very much satisfied with them”, Smith said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq believed that his team could win against South Africa if it played to its potential and worked hard.

“South Africa is a tough and experienced side but the wickets here are more familiar to us and we are a balanced side with the induction of some new players,” remarked Inzamam.

Inzamam said that Shoaib Akhtar and Sami could play a vital role in Pakistan’s win, adding Shoaib would prove the major difference between the two sides and he would rely more on bowlers.

“Our pace attack is equally good as is spin and Inshallah Pakistani bowlers will deliver the goods”, Inzamam said.

Inzamam admitted that the Pakistan would be under pressure while playing against South Africa but added his team had done lot of home work to cope with the pressure.

Inzaman said that dew had a role in the match but the coach Javed Miandad admitted that no body could do any thing about it. “We have to chalk out a strategy how to play under dew. I was here on Wednesday to see the practice match and I observed dew started from 7.30pm and I think it could play a role in the last one and a half hour.”

Miandad, stressed that Pakistan was anxiously waiting for this series as international cricket had returned here after a long 15 month absence starting with the Bangladesh series.

“South Africa are No 2 in the world. Everyone who welcomed the series against Bangladesh, now are looking for a tough series against the Proteas and I think the people will enjoy cricket,” Miandad said.

Teams (from):

SOUTH AFRICA: Graeme  Craig Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Neil Mckenzie,  Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Rudolph, Robin Peterson, Andrew Hall, Allan Dawson, Makhaya Ntini, Charl Langerveldt, Andrew Nel, Boeta Dippenaar, Paul Adams.

PAKISTAN: Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Yousaf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain),Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Rashid Latif, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Mushtaq Ahmed, Umar Gul, Shabbir Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq, Faisal Iqbal,Salman Butt.

UMPIRES: Darrell Hair (Australia). Aleem Dar (Pakistan).

TV UMPIRE: Nadeem Ghauri.

RESERVE UMPIRE: Malik Iftikhar.

MATCH REFEREE: Clive Lloyd (West Indies).