|
|
|
| February 14, 2007 | Wednesday | Muharram 25, 1428 |
Fifth ODI at Johannesburg today: Inzamam hints at changes, Pollock confident of series win
JOHANNESBURG, Feb 13: Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq on Tuesday hinted at "two or three changes" to their side for the fifth and final One-day International against South Africa on Wednesday which the tourists must win to level the series 2-2.
While the burly skipper wasn't entirely forthcoming on some of the other changes, he was pretty direct when it came to the inclusion of medium pacer Rao Iftikhar Anjum, the 26-year-old swing bowler from Islamabad.
"Rao Iftikhar will definitely be given a chance. In the last year he has bowled very well," Inzamam said ahead of the team's final practice session. Rao Iftikhar could come in for Mohammad Asif, who is suffering from an elbow problem and should be rested lest he tear a ligament there ahead of a World Cup in which he will be a key bowler for Pakistan. That could mean a reprieve for Rana Naved-ul-Hasan who has had a torrid time in the series but he will play unless Mohammad Sami recovers from his back strain.
Kamran Akmal is another player who has had a miserable series as opener and he could be moved down the order with Imran Nazir and Shoaib Malik opening the batting.
While Inzamam was talking about "hard work", "seeing and learning from our mistakes" and "taking responsibility" as being necessary if Pakistan were to recover from their ten-wicket mauling in Cape Town, South Africa were not taking their cushy position for granted.
"This is a pressure game for us because we really want to win the series, so that means it's like a final," veteran all-rounder Shaun Pollock said. "We are really motivated because if we lose we don't win the series."
Pollock did not agree that Pakistan were dead and buried after South Africa's bloodless coup at Newlands last weekend, in which they achieved victory with 36 overs to spare. "They have some very dangerous match-winners and some amazing talent. If they click as a unit, they will be very difficult to beat," Pollock cautioned.—Agencies
|
|
|
|
