11 April 2004	Sunday	20 Safar 1425

RAWALPINDI, April 10: Pakistan's chances of winning the historic Yest series against India have been dented with the news fast bowler Mohammad Sami is struggling with back pain.

Shoaib Akhtar is now the only fully-fit front-line pace bowler available for the hosts, who won the second Test by nine wickets in Lahore earlier this week, as they head into the series-deciding third Test in Rawalpindi starting on Tuesday.

Seamer Umar Gul was ruled out of the third Test with a back injury on Friday while pace bowler Shabbir Ahmed (shin), allrounder Abdul Razzaq (back) and wicket-keeper Moin Khan (groin strain) all missed the second Test.

"Sami has complained of back pain since the series started. Though he's braved it so far, he's in more pain since Friday," Pakistan coach Javed Miandad said on Saturday.

"He's getting treatment and there is still time before the match. So, we remain hopeful.

"Umar showed lot of courage to play in Lahore because after his opening spell in the morning he collapsed with a stiff and painful back," Miandad said.

"But he went out batted and then also bowled in the second innings after taking injections."

Pakistan have included pace bowlers Fazle Akbar, Abdur Rauf, Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan and Rao Iftikhar, in a 17-man squad for the final Test.

"I've confidence in the ability of our back-up bowlers to give the Indians a hard time," said Miandad. "We believe we still have the bowling strength to bowl them out."

India, on their first full tour of Pakistan in over 14 years, won last month's one-day series 3-2 before winning the first Test in Multan by an innings and 52 runs, their first Test victory in Pakistan.-Reuters