October 17, 2003	Friday	Sha'aban 20, 1424

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LAHORE, Oct 16: Pakistan stand-in-captain Yousuf Youhana declared on Thursday that he would go all out to win the first Test against South Africa rather than play for a draw. The first Test of two match series is scheduled to begin at Gaddafi Stadium from Friday.

Talking to reporters, Youhana, who will be leading Pakistan for the first time in a Test match due to an injury to Inzamamul Haq, expressed his disappointment over the 16-member squad stating that he was not consulted by the selectors. “I only received the names of the 16-member side on Tuesday night for which I was never consulted”, Youhana said.

The stand-in skipper was of the opinion that middle-order batsman Younis Khan dropped for the Test should have been in the team as he was an experienced player.

Youhana hinted that Pakistan would play two specialist leg spinners — Danish Kaneria and Mushtaq Ahmad and as many pacemen — Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami, besides all-rounder off-spinner Shoaib Malik.

“A final decision on the composition of the team will be taken on Friday morning”, Youhana said.

He admitted that top-order failed in the ODI series, which Pakistan lost 3-2, but added Taufiq Umar and Imran Farhat had been inducted and hopefully they would give Pakistan a solid start.

Pakistan captain dispelled the impression that he was not fit stressing that he was 100 per cent in form. Inzamam played with 80 per cent fitness in the crunch fifth ODI in the best interest of the team. “I am quite fit and not feeling any problem,” Youhana added.

South African skipper, Graeme Smith hoped his key opener Herschelle Gibbs would play to his true potential. “Gibbs scored 180 against England in his last Test innings and we are confident that he will deliver the goods”, Smith said.

Smith said that South Africa were likely to field two spinners Robin Peterson and Paul Adams but lamented the absence of Andrew Hall banned for two Tests which he termed as a big loss to his side. “Hall is a great fighter and a fantastic player and the team will miss him,” Smith said.

Meanwhile, English curator Andy Atkinson, specially hired by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to prepare pitches expects the Gaddafi Stadium strip to be a sporting one.

Match Referee Clive Lloyd held a routine meeting with two captains, two coaches and the field umpires in the morning.

Lloyd told Dawn that little change had been made in the timing of play due to weather conditions. On first day, due to Friday prayers, the first session will be held from 9.45am to 12.15pm.

After an hour’s break for lunch and prayers play will resume at 1.15pm and continue till 3pm. The match will start at 3.20pm after a 20 minute tea break and will continue till 5.05.

On other days, the following schedule will be followed: First session 9.45-1200 hours. 40 minutes lunch break. Second session 12.40pm to 2.40pm. 20 minutes tea break. Third session 3pm to 4.45pm.

Darrell Hair (Australia) with Neil Mallender (England) are the two umpires.

The first Test will be the 10th encounter between the two sides with South Africa having won five and losing one. Three Tests ended in a draw.

Meanwhile, Pakistan cricket team’s chief selector Aamir Sohail said on Thursday that his committee had consulted regular skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq while selecting the final squad for the first Test.

Talking to reporters, Aamir said that it was not necessary to discuss the team with the stand-in captain Yousaf Youhana and it was enough to brief Inzamam in the matter.

Youhana, in his pre-match press conference on Thursday disclosed that he had no say at all in the selection of the team which he will lead in the first Test.

The chief selector also said it was a unanimous decision of the selection committee not to select middle-order batsman Younis Khan about whom Youhana disagreed.

Teams:

SOUTH AFRICA (from): Graeme Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher (wicket-keeper), Shaun Pollock, Neil Mckenzie, Jacques Rudolph, Robin Peterson, Allan Dawson, Makhya Ntini, Andre Nel, Charl Langeveldt, Paul Adams.

PAKISTAN (from): Yousuf Youhana (captain), Taufiq Omar, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Aasim Kamal, Shoaib Malik, Danish Kaneria, Mushtaq Ahmed, Moin Khan (wicketkeeper), Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmad, Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper).

UMPIRES: Darrell Hair (Australia), Neil Mallender (England).

TV UMPIRE: Nadeem Ghauri.

RESERVE UMPIRE: Siddique Khan.