December 31, 2006	Sunday	Zilhaj 09, 1427

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LAHORE, Dec 30: Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, has said his team was capable of beating South Africa in South Africa.

Talking to reporters at the conclusion of short training camp at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, Inzamam, who will lead the team for the first time to South Africa, explained that the team was balanced and it had good quality bowlers and batsmen in the fold and quite capable to come back with victorious.“Every player is eager to perform in South Africa and they have prepared themselves well for the challenging task ahead during the training camp,” he said.

He said the boys held training sessions on top green pitches, because similar kind of pitches was expected there.

He said the home team was a competitive one and the visitors would have to go all out to beat them at their home grounds.

He said paceman Shoaib Akhtar could not get a place in the team, only due to lack of match-fitness and no other reason.

He hoped Shoaib would make a comeback in international cricket after giving required performance in the domestic cricket.

Shoaib has a chance to join the team for the ODIs series against the Proteas but after giving required performance in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy, starting from Jan 6.

He said despite the absence of Shoaib, Pakistan had good quality bowlers in Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan as they had played key role in victories in the recent past.

Inzamam, further stated that though the tour was challenging , but a win, would boost the morale of the team before competing in the World Cup.