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| January 18, 2006 | Wednesday | Zilhaj 17, 1426 |
Skippers pray for sporting tracks
LAHORE, Jan 17: Rival skippers Inzamamul Haq and Rahul Dravid are hopeful of sporting pitches in the remaining two Tests in the ongoing series between Pakistan and India.
“Though I will not criticize anyone for providing a flat track for the first Test, I hope for sporting wickets in the coming matches,” Dravid said after the weather-plagued first Test ended in a tame draw.
“I have played a lot of cricket and believe preparing pitches is not an easy job. It is not a science as wet weather conditions and less or more rolling over has an impact on it,” Dravid said.
“It is not possible to make the wicket according to one’s desire,” he opined.
Inzamam, whose recommendations carries weight in preparing pitches, said that one should remember he was a captain and not a curator.
“I have been vocal for sporting wickets and do hope such strips will not be prepared in future,” he said.
Inzamam, however, played down the failed attempt of the Indian openers to break the world record saying: “It is not a big matter if the Indian pair had broken the world record.”
He, however, was not happy with his bowlers’ performance. “Our bowlers did not bowl well as the wicket was not so bad. They are capable of bowling much better and no doubt Indian batsmen also played well.”
Inzamam denied the impression that the performance of Indian batsmen had demoralised his team.
Dravid said that his previous partnerships of more than 300 runs with V.V.S. Laxman against Australia and with Sachin Tendulkar were important as they had helped India win Tests.
“The opening stand of 410 with Sehwag in Lahore was the need of our team since we were facing a big total,” he said.
Inzamam said that his playing side for the second Test would more likely be the same, playing down the fact that opener Salman Butt was still limping after he was struck by a ball on Monday while fielding at silly point.
Dravid emphasised that the final eleven would only be made public after watching the pitch and weather conditions in Faisalabad.
The Indian skipper said it was for Pakistan cricket authorities to convince ICC for six days Tests to offset the loss due to bad weather.
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