LAHORE, April 4: Inzamamul Haq, the Pakistan captain, said on Sunday his team was determined to square the series 1-1 after winning the second Test. "It is a crunch game for us and we have to win it to stay in the series.
I am hopeful my boys will play to their potential and we will go into the third Test at Rawalpindi with 1-1," Inzamam told a press conference.
Rival captain Rahul Dravid said India's priority wouldbe to dominate the first day's play. "I think the first two or three sessions will be important and we will try to dominate them and will see the rest later," he said.
He added that his side won the Multan Test because ithad dominated the first day and then piled up pressure onthe home side on the second day. "Every Test is 50-50 for both sides before it starts and then drifts to the side which dominates the first sessions."
Dravid was not worried when he was asked if he felt any threat from Pakistan's pace attack on a pitch that is expected to be bouncy and grassy. "As both teams have good pace attacks I think a fast and bouncy track will not be an advantage for any team."
He said that the Indian bowlers had proved their potentialat Multan by bowling in the right areas and they would repeat it at Lahore. To a question, Dravid said he did inspect the pitch but hewas more concerned about his team's preparation than the condition of the wicket.
Dravid announced that a 13-member squad had been finalized from which the final eleven would be picked on Monday morning. "ButI can't disclose the strategy by giving names now."
The stand-in Indian skipper remarked that his team are in Pakistan to play positive cricket and not create history. Inzamam said obviously his side was under pressure but they are going into the Test without any fear.
Asked if he had chalked out any special strategy for the Indian opener Virender Sehwag, Inzamam just smiled and said, "yes". Sehwag hit a triple century in Multan which was thefirst for India in Test cricket. The Pakistan captain said that Imran Nazir was called upto the national side for his 'improved' performance in domestic cricket.
