November 18, 2007	Sunday	Ziqa’ad 07, 1428

JAIPUR (India), Nov 17: A dejected Pakistan squad will take on India in the fifth and final One-day International here on Sunday, knowing that a win in the match of academic interest will do nothing except to give them some confidence for the more serious Test contests ahead.

After having lost the series in Gwalior 1-3, Shoaib Malik and company should be in no mood to let the situation get out of their hands here at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, as happened in Kanpur and Gwalior after Pakistan’s best ever run-chase in the second ODI in Mohali where the tourists amassed 322 under lights to stun the hosts.

Capacity crowd is expected for the lifeless game, however, the spectators will have to accept a less-than-full-strength India facing Pakistan.

India’s cricket manager Lalchand Rajput categorically told the reporters that they liked to give those who haven’t played, an opportunity, since the series had been decided.

Although he didn’t reveal the playing eleven, he said Zaheer Khan and RP Singh, along with Harbhajan Singh would be out, adding Rohit Sharma would get a chance, means either Saurav Ganguly or master batsman Sachin Tendulkar will be given rest and Gautam Gambhir lifted as opener.

The dew factor will again come into play and so both the teams will have this thing in their game plan.

India will most probably be carrying on with their seven batsmen-four bowlers arrangement though with different players.

Murali Kartik will be the only spinner for the hosts while Shantakumaran Sreesanth and all-rounder Praveen Kumar – set to make his international debut – shape the fast bowling attack with Irfan Pathan.

The insertion of Kumar, along with an extra batsman in Virender Sehwag, gives the hosts a very long batting order, with Pathan and Kumar to bat at number eight and nine respectively.

On the other hand, Pakistan have a couple of choices for the game they would go all out to win.

The first, or rather short-sighted stance would be to field their strongest team and seek a win.

The other is to concentrate on the Tests as a totally different game, and give Imran Nazir and Fawad Alam a chance.

While allowing for the dew factor, giving Abdul Rehman practice, for he is Pakistan’s second spinner for the Tests, is something Pakistan will think about.

Another dilemma for the visitors is Kamran Akmal who, in a feeble display behind the stumps, spilled four catches in the first three one-dayers on the tour.

Young keeper Sarfraz Ahmed has been sent to India as a stand-by for Kamran, who was allegedly carrying an injury but played in Gwalior.

Still, Kamran, the tourists’ first choice gloveman, has been kept in the Test party.

If Kamran is fielded in today’s game it would perhaps only be to keep his confidence up.

A dead rubber, especially in a one-day series, inspires little excitement to most but the Indian fans are different and the crowd will pour in with intense enthusiasm.

The ingredients for a competitive encounter are all in the mix – an excellent stadium, a lush outfield, big boundaries and a full house.

So what if the series has been decided and some seniors are playing? Once the toss is over and the game begins, everybody wished for a win.

Teams (probable):

INDIA: Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Robin Uthappa, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Praveen Kumar, Murali Kartik, Shantakumaran Sreesanth.

PAKISTAN: Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik (captain), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul.—Agencies