ISLAMABAD, Oct 11: Pakistan have their captain Inzamaul Haq “fit and ready” to return in Sunday’s series-deciding fifth game in Rawalpindi but the South Africans will be without theirs.
Smith was banned for one International by match referee Clive Lloyd on Saturday who found him to be guilty of using offensive language in the second game at Lahore last Sunday.
The tourists will also be without all-rounder Andrew Hall who was banned for one International and two Tests.
While the South Africans were not willing to comment on the loss of their captain and Hall, Inzamam said his side was wary of the tourists. “Even without them they remain a strong team and we have to be on our toes to beat them.”
Inzamam who missed the third match in Faisalabad and also Friday’s game in Rawalpindi because of hamstring problem, said he had regained fitness. “I am fully fit and confident that we can beat them tomorrow.”
Inzamam said that Pakistan had been unable to win the last two games for being under-strength. However on Sunday, the home side will also be strengthened by the return of Abdul Razzak who too had to sit out the fourth match because of a stomach ailment and the inclusion of opener Imran Farhat.
Imran, a left-handed batsman who scored a half century in a practice match against the tourists, could replace opener Muhammad Hafeez, who has had a poor series, having managed just 33 runs in four innings.
South Africa are likely to play Morne van Wyk in place of Smith, who had said following Friday’s match that his side had proven they were no chokers, having come from 0-2 down to even the series.”We will now try and make it three in a row.”
With the kind of form the South Africans displayed in a six-wicket rout of Pakistan yesterday, it shouldn’t be a difficult proposition. After bowling out the hosts for only 157, the visitors overhauled that total with Jacques Kallis striking 58 not out and Herschelle Gibbs scoring 41.
But the Pakistan batsmen will have to show more maturity to see that they do not lose their wickets as they did on Friday, failing to cope with the pace of Andre Nel and Makhaya Ntini. Only Yousuf Youhana, also fined 50 per cent of his match fee by Lloyd for bringing the game into disrepute in the second game, stood out with a well-sturck 60.
The match promises to provide a lot of tense and exciting moments and is again to be played under heavy security, something the South Africans have now become used to ever since arriving in Pakistan last month.
Meanwhile, Pakistan have called up all rounder Azhar Mahmood for the fifth and deciding one-dayer against South Africa on Sunday.
“Azhar was called to the nets today and will be under consideration for the final match,” Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq told Reuters.
Mahmood was called up after fellow all rounder Abdul Razzaq fell ill. Inzamam said Razzaq had recovered but Mahmood might still play.
Inzamam declared himself fit after missing the previous two matches at Faisalabad and Rawalpindi, which Pakistan lost to leave the series tied on 2-2.
Teams (from):
PAKISTAN: Muhammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamamul Haq (captain), Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Rashid Latif, Muhammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Shabbir Ahmad, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmad, Faisal Iqbal, Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Azhar Mahmood.
SOUTH AFRICA: Mark Boucher (captain), Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, Neil McKenzie, Jacques Rudolph, Robin Peterson, Alan Dawson, Makhaya Ntini, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Paul Adams, Morne van Wyk.
UMPIRES: Darrell Hair (Australia), Aleem Dar (Pak)