October 23, 2007	Tuesday	Shawwal 10, 1428

FAISALABAD, Oct 22: The winning of toss will once again be vital in Tuesday’s third One-day International between South Africa and Pakistan as yet another batting-friendly pitch has been prepared for the match at the Iqbal Stadium.

In the last two ODIs, played at the Gaddafi Stadium, the team batting second failed in chasing the targets successfully. Skipper Shoaib Malik, however, played down the toss factor, claiming that both the matches in Lahore saw teams batting second losing quick wickets in early stages of their innings which cost them the game.

“I do not believe toss is that important,” said Malik at the pre-match press conference here on Monday. “We have our game-plan for all conditions and will try and adhere to it.”

South Africa’s coach Mickey Arthur said his team had played good cricket on the tour and had the potential to comeback and win the crucial match at Faisalabad on Tuesday. “We have set high standards for this series and losing only one match has no affect on that,” he said.

Both Arthur and Malik supported the new ICC rule of changing the ball in the 35th over, calling it fair as it was equally beneficial to both the teams.

“After 34 overs, the ball turns soft. The new one helps both bowlers and batsmen,” he added. Arthur said he had no plans to replace vice-captain Justin Kemp for his poor batting in the last two matches. “Kemp is one of our main players and he will bat at No.5,” he said.

Malik said he had not seen the pitch so far, therefore, he could not make comment on it and added the team would be decided after holding the training session.

He said the rapid changes in the opening slot was being done to find out a reliable pair before the start of the important tour of India (Nov-Dec).

“The tour of India is obviously important and we are trying different combinations to find out the most formidable pair before the tour, therefore, rapid changes are being made,” he said.

Pakistan played the first match with Mohammad Hafeez and Imran as openers. In the second ODI, Hafeez was dropped and makeshift opener Kamran Akmal started the innings for Pakistan. In the third ODI on Tuesday, Pakistan is likely to experiment with yet another pair, that of Yasir Hameed and Kamran.

The team management has also released Hafeez with an advice to play some Quaid-i-Azam Trophy matches and have called up young Khalid Latif.

Malik, sounding confident about his team’s chances in the series, said all the players were keen excel at Faisalabad and were working hard at the nets.

“The boys are keen to win here. Soon after reaching Faisalabad from Lahore on Sunday, they went straight into the nets for some serious batting and catching practice.”

Malik, who remained off the field in South Africa’s innings during the second ODI due to cramps in leg, said he still had a bit of stiff left leg but would play the match.

Commenting on the recovery of pacer Mohammad Asif, Malik said that he was shaping well now, and a decision about his selection would be taken later.

Asif sat out the first two ODIs due to a nagging elbow injury and is likely to miss the third one too as the team management has decided to give him complete rest before the demanding tour of India next month.

A sizeable crowd is likely to turn up at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium on Tuesday to see two teams fighting out their guts for supremacy in the five-match series. The new-look Iqbal Stadium now boasts a electronic scoreboard as well as a giant TV screen. The local administration has announced a local holiday for the match.

Earlier, South Africans had a hectic practice session in the morning while Pakistanis had their nets later under lights.

Teams:

PAKISTAN (from) - Shoaib Malik (captain), Yasir Hameed, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Sohail Tanvir, Khalid Latif, Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt.

SOUTH AFRICA (from) - Graeme Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, A.B. de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Mark Boucher (wicketkeeper), Shaun Pollock, Johan Botha, Charl Langeveldt, Makhaya Ntini, Albie Morkel, Paul Duminy, Andre Nel.