12 April 2004	Monday	21 Safar 1425

RAWALPINDI, April 11: India's players head into the deciding third Test against Pakistan on Tuesday, knowing it could be the best opportunity to win their first overseas series in 10 years.

The visitors, who won the first Test in Multan by an innings and 52 runs then lost the second in Lahore last week by nine wickets, have not been able to win an overseas series since beating Sri Lanka in 1993-94.

Pakistan, though, are suffering an injury crisis with four players already ruled out, while there are also doubts about the fitness of paceman Mohammad Sami, leaving Shoaib Akhtar as the only front-line fast bowler fully fit for the Rawalpindi match.

Sami, the most consistent Pakistan bowler in the series, has been complaining of back pain since Friday to add to the woes of a team already missing wicket-keeper Moin Khan, all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, and seamers Umar Gul and Shabbir Ahmed.

Moin, Razzaq and Shabbir did not play the second Test, where Umar took a career-best five for 31 with his accurate line and length. Umar was ruled out of the third Test on Friday with a back injury and Pakistan have included four young seamers, Fazle Akbar, Abdur Rauf, Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan and Rao Iftikhar, in an extended squad to tide over the injuries.

Coach Javed Miandad is confident his back-up bowlers will respond but the pressure will be on hometown hero Shoaib against the strong Indian batting lineup, reinforced with the return from injury of captain Saurav Ganguly.

Shoaib, nicknamed "Rawalpindi Express" and regarded as the world's fastest bowler, has been nowhere near his best in the series though he looked to be getting his rhythm back in taking three wickets in the second innings at Lahore.

India were led in the first two Tests by Rahul Dravid with Ganguly recovering from an injury sustained while fielding in last month's deciding fifth One-day International, which India won to clinch the series 3-2.

Ganguly's return will cause a flutter in the batting order with suggestions the aggressive Yuvraj Singh, who scored a brilliant maiden Test century at Lahore, could be promoted to open the innings with the explosive Virender Sehwag.

Another option would be to promote wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel after his unbeaten 62 in the second innings at Lahore ensured India saved the embarrassment of an innings defeat. -Reuters