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| October 24, 2003 | Friday | Sha’aban 27, 1424 |
South Africa need mental effort to level series
FAISALABAD, Oct 23: South Africa need a tough mental outlook to fight back against Pakistan and level the series, skipper Graeme Smith said ahead of the second and final Test starting here on Friday.
“It needs big mental effort and we got to make sure we come through on top in the five day,” he said on Thursday.
Pakistan took a 1-0 lead after an eight wicket victory in the first Test at Lahore.
“I think in many ways the defeat in Lahore, though disappointing, has given us a goal of fight back,” said Smith, whose side faces a Pakistan side that will be missing Shoaib Akhtar.
Shoaib, who scuttled the South African top order in the second innings of the first Test with 4-36, will not feature in the second Test due to a ban slapped on him by the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Clive Lloyd.
Shoaib was cited for using abusive language against South African Paul Adams on the first day in the Lahore Test.
Pakistan will also be missing Shoaib’s new ball partner Mohammad Sami, who is ruled out due to flu and an ankle injury.
Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who missed the first Test because of a hamstring injury, is back but vice-captain Yousuf Youhana is now ruled out due to injury.
“A lot of the pressure came from Shoaib, he bowled really well and ran and knocked down the top order both times in Lahore and that allowed the spinners to bowl and take wickets,” Smith said.
Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria exploited Shoaib’s early spoils with 5-46 to dismiss South Africa for 241.
This was South Africa’s second consecutive defeat following their series levelling defeat at The Oval in England last month.
“I think we let (ourselves) down in many areas,” the South African captain said.
“But in this game the batters will take more responsibility and we got to get a big total whether we bat first or second.”
South Africa won the one-day series against Pakistan 3-2.
“The one-day win would definitely be motivating but its gone, the first Test is gone and it’s another five days of fight,” said Smith.
Pakistan’s captain said a series win is very important for his side. If Pakistan win they will jump to fifth position above India in the ICC Test ranking.
“We have not won a home series against a big team for quite some time now, so it is very important for us to maintain the winning run,” said Inzamam, who ruled out the possibility of adding another spinner.
“We played three spinners in Lahore and if we add another one here it would be negative cricket,” he said.
Pakistan brought all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and 17-year-old uncapped leg-spinner Mansoor Amjad onto the 16-man squad.
The home team has bitter memories of the Iqbal Stadium where they lost a Test against South Africa here by 53 runs after failing to chase 146 in the 1997-98 season.
“The past is past and we will play for a win here and not even (think) of a draw,” Inzamam said.
The Pakistan captain conceded that his side will feel the absence of both Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami on a pitch which is likely to turn less than the one in Lahore.
“We will feel their absence,” Inzamam said. “The pitch I don’t think will take turn from the first day as it did in Lahore, but it will start turning from the second day onwards and our spinners again have a lot to do.”
Pakistan’s victory in Lahore was only their second in 10 Tests against South Africa and their first at home.
Although Pakistan beat Bangladesh recently, they have not won a home series against a top-ranked team since 1997 when they swept West Indies 3-0.
“That is a big motivating factor for us,” said Inzamam. “We want to win this series badly.”
South Africa are likely to bring in slow left-armer Robin Peterson for seamer Andre Nel.
“I think in many ways the defeat at Lahore, though disappointing, as we let ourselves down in many areas, has given us a goal to fightback,” Smith said.
“We have a long season ahead of us and we have to knuckle down for the next five days.”
Teams (from):
Pakistan: Taufiq Umar, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Shoaib Malik, Moin Khan, Asim Kamal, Abdul Razzaq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Shabbir Ahmed, Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt, Danish Kaneria, Mansoor Amjad.
South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Gary Kirstan, Herschelle Gibbs, Boeta Dippenaar, Neil McKenzie, Jacques Kallis, Jacques Rudolph, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Robin Peterson, Makhaya Ntini, Paul Adams.
Umpires: Daryl Harper and Simon Taufel (both Australia).
TV umpire: Asad Rauf (Pakistan).
Match referee: Clive Lloyd (West Indies).—AFP/Reuters
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