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| November 11, 2005 | Friday | Shawwal 8, 1426 |
Pakistan think-tank yet to decide on final lineup
MULTAN, Nov 10: The make-up of Pakistan’s playing XI for this week’s first Test against England was still being contemplated on Thursday with coach Bob Woolmer refusing to speculate anything on the possible combination.
With as many as five slow bowlers cramped in the 16-man squad, which was announced almost two weeks ago, including Mushtaq Ahmed the forgotten leg-spinner, the Pakistan think-tank of Woolmer, skipper Inzamamul Haq and vice-captain Younis Khan have yet to reach a decision.
Given the current state of the Test pitch (as on Thursday evening), the situation points towards a bowling line-up of three-pronged pace attack and just one specialist spinner (most certainly to be Danish Kaneria) since the pitch had a slight tinge of green and the top surface appeared to be firm with a hint of moisture as well.
But in Pakistan cricket, it is always a risky proposition to predict the exact nature of match pitch until just prior to the start of the battle itself.
Woolmer, without committing himself said: “We are getting close to get the right sort of combination. At the moment we are still in the process of working out which set of players we need for the match.”
The pitch for the England Test is the same which was mysteriously rejected by Andy Atkinson, the English curator whom the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hired for the high-profile series against India in the spring of 2004.
The result: India making history with their maiden Test victory in this country and Virender Sehwag become the first — and so far — the only Indian to score a triple century.
Inzamam, on the other hand, has said on countless occasions, since England retained the Ashes from the clutches of Australia for the first time in 18 years, that he would prefer to have Mushtaq back in the Test frame after a two-year absence.
Meanwhile, Shoaib Akhtar bowled at full throttle during the home team’s three-hour long practice session in the afternoon. The fiery, but temperamental, fast bowler looked in great shape as he worked up decent pace as he charged in for a lengthy spell.
Both teams are scheduled to have light nets on Friday during which the pre-match media conference will be held.
The PCB, in the meantime, has asked the spectators to follow specific instructions if they wish to come to the match. They are advised not to bring hard objects like bottles and food containers. Instead, the same should be carried in plastic bags.
With such stringent security all over the place, a majority of the local public would prefer to stay at home rather than take undue risks of being harassed by gun-totting security personnel clad in uniforms as well as plain-clothes who are present at every nook and corner of Multan whenever and wherever the teams travel.
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