10 March 2004	Wednesday	18 Muharram 1425

KARACHI, March 9: Pakistan coach Javed Miandad urged the Karachiites to show exemplary behaviour during the opening match of the One-day International series against India at the National Stadium on Saturday.

Talking to reporters on Monday after the team's first training session, Miandad made a passionate appeal to the people of Karachi to show they are truly hospitable and good hosts during the Indians' 32-hour stay in the city.

"This series is being played at a time when both governments are trying to bring about peace in the region. We should set examples by playing excellent hosts to both the Indian cricketers, their people and the media," he said. "Since Karachi is hosting only one match, the onus is on people to make it an unforgettable and memorable occasion."

About the forthcoming matches, the coach admitted that pressure will be on both Pakistan and India. "We must be ready to play under pressure. The political pressure, the pressure of the matches itself and above all, the pressure of the public in both countries. But we must not let our emotion get the better of us."

Miandad added that his team was looking forward to the series with a positive frame of mind. Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, remarked that his side had the ability to take on India's powerful batting line-up. "No doubt, our batting is weaker as compared to the Indian side, but we have even chance of winning."

Inzamam pointed out that the players had extensive workouts during the training camp in Lahore. "The boys are focussed for the series. We have been trying hard to eliminate our weaknesses. Most of the time, we had been working on the fitness level of the squad. The fielding is also improving," he added.

The Pakistan side, meanwhile, face a PCB XI in a practice match on Wednesday.

Teams (from):

Pakistan XI: Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Shahid Afridi, Yasir Hameed, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed, Mohammad Sami, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Malik, Imran Farhat, Misbah-ul-Haq, Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan, Rao Iftikhar.

PCB XI: Hasan Raza (captain), Shadab Kabir, Naveed Qureshi, Naved Latif, Asim Kamal, Aamir Bashir, Salman Butt, Naeem Ahmed Khan, Saeed Ajmal, Tauqir Hussain, Sami Niazi, Abdul Rauf, Tanvir Ahmed.

Umpires: Islam Khan and Shakeel Khan.