October 08, 2007	Monday	Ramazan 25, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 7: Despite having star batsmen Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf back, Pakistan are going to face a much-confident South Africa, in the final second Test, starting from Monday at Gaddafi Stadium, with a colossal task ahead to win and to square-up the series (1-1).Pakistan after a morale boosting performance in the World Twenty20 Championship struggled in the longer version of cricket and lost the first Test by a big margin of 160 runs in Karachi.

With the visitors hungry for a 2-0 clean sweep, Pakistan decided to bring back the aging but out of practice Inzamam for his farewell Test after the great batsman announced last Friday that he wanted to call it a day after the Lahore Test.

Pakistan, however, are bolstered by the return of Yousuf, who is available after disassociating himself from the Indian Cricket League. Yousuf’s induction, undoubtedly, has strengthened the middle-order batting line up, which looked weak since it was depending on the inexperienced duo, Faisal Iqbal and Misbah-ul-Haq.

But Pakistan still has enough firepower in their bowling line-up with maverick fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar sidelined because of his involvement in another disciplinary inquiry.

Shoaib, had played a key role in the two Tests Pakistan won against South Africa in the last four years.

Shoaib’s six-wicket haul in the first Test of the 2003-04 series at Lahore, aided by century opening stand in both innings by Taufiq Umar and Imran Farhat, propelled Pakistan to an eight-wicket win.

Pakistan’s second win against South Africa was in Port Elizabeth earlier this year was inspired by Shoaib, who claimed 4-36. But as Shoaib did not bowl in the second innings due to an injury and flew home after an altercation with the then coach Bob Woolmer. Pakistan lost the final Test to go down 2-1 in the series.

While South African captain Graeme Smith is upbeat for a 2-0 victory, calling the Karachi triumph as great success in the sub-continent, Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik did not lose heart, vowing his boys will stage a comeback to level the series.

“The win in the first Test in Karachi has increased our confidence and the victory will have its effect on the second one, too,” Smith said at the pre-match press conference on Sunday. “We are here obviously to win Tests. And it will be a special case to win in the subcontinent where we have won less.”

Shoaib, who is pinning hopes on a reshaped middle-order batting after bringing in Inzamam and Yousuf, is optimistic about drawing the series.

“In Karachi the main difference between the two teams was Jacques Kallis and with Inzamam and Yousuf in the team our batting line-up, I’m confident that we’ll win. Provided of course, the boys do not repeat the mistakes they made in the first Test,” Shoaib said.

While there is no injury concern in the Pakistan camp, the South Africans are sweating over the fitness of paceman Andre Nel and vice-captain Ashwell Prince.

Smith, hinted no big changes for the final Test and said it was not going to make any difference. “The most important thing is to play positive cricket, even if we have to make any changes.”

On the comeback of Inzamam and Yousuf, Smith said his team had a game plan for all situations.

“We have discussed Yousuf because he was expected to play in Karachi and definitely we will also have a plan for Inzamam, who is a great batsman,” he remarked.

Both skippers expect extra bounce in Gaddafi Stadium pitch, as compared to the National Stadium track in Karachi.

“The pitch here has a little extra bounce with some grassy patches. The first three days are important in the Test,” he said.

“Pitches in Lahore always have some extra bounce and I am expecting this one too. Only those bowlers and batsmen will excel, who are willing to work very hard,” Shoaib opined.

Shoaib hinted that Pakistan would go with two spinners.

The Pakistan captain, who was looking somewhat nervous and showed some sign of frustration while replying to some of the queries, said the inclusion of Inzamam and Yousuf had at least raised the team’s morale.

Shoaib was hopeful the players would keep their emotion under control during Inzamam’s last Test.

Meanwhile, Pakistan are likely to play with only one regular opener in Salman Butt. Wicket-keeper/batsman Kamran Akmal could be used as a makeshift opener to adjust both Inzamam and Yousuf in the line-up. Faisal Iqbal, after playing a fine knock in the second innings of the first Test, is unlikely to retain his place

Abdul Rehman and Danish Kaneria are certain to continue as the two regular spinners with Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul taking the new-ball responsibilities.

Likely teams:

Pakistan: Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik (captain), Abdul Rehman, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, Ashwell Prince, A.B. de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, Paul Harris.

Umpires: Mark Benson (England) and Simon Taufel (Australia).TV umpire: Zameer Haider (Pakistan).

Match referee: Alan Hurst (Australia).