November 26, 2006	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 4, 1427

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KARACHI, Nov 25: Barely hours after Bennett King, the West Indies coach, appreciated the ‘grassy’ outlook of the National Stadium pitch where the third and final Test starts on Monday, the 22-year-old strip was completely shorn of grass on Saturday evening.

The instructions from the home camp were loud and clear; ‘play for a draw to keep the 1-0 advantage intact.’ This defensive approach, however, could easily backfire as it nearly did in the second Test at Multan where Pakistan survived some anxious moments on the final day before Mohammad Yousuf steered them to safety with a marathon 191.

Keeping in view the Karachi climate which helps faster bowlers to swing the ball appreciably, the selectors opted for Mohammad Sami instead of left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman when they announced the 15-man Pakistan squad soon after the Multan Test concluded.

But it remains to be seen what sort of combination the Pakistan team management opts for in the third Test. One thing that is certain now is that Inzamam-ul-Haq wants to play safe here for specific reasons. Firstly, he is keen on winning this series to put behind the England tour nightmares and secondly, he is anxious to end a lean period with the bat at a time when his future as captain is being repeatedly questioned.

This negative mindset on the skipper’s part was also evident in Multan. On the eve of the second Test the pitch wore a grassy look and was seen as a sporting track by the critics. On the day of the match, however, the grass was completely gone and it looked as placid as ever.

Pakistan may have its reasons for not favouring a lively track at the National Stadium. The bans on strike bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have definitely altered the hosts’ game-plan despite heartening performance from Umar Gul and Shahid Nazir who have so far shared the new ball in this series.

Brian Lara’s outstanding form (scores of 61, 122 and 216) and his domination of Danish Kaneria in Multan is another reason for the home side to play totally safe.

But this policy clearly suggests Pakistan’s lack of planning. With the demanding tour of South Africa just round the corner, the batsmen need to play on sporting pitches at home and not featherbeds which will harm their chances of succeeding against Graeme Smith’s men.