History inspires Pakistan ahead of second India Test by AFP

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Ground:	Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Event:	Pakistan in India 2004/05

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DateLine: 15th March 2005

 

Pakistan will seek inspiration from events six years ago when they return to their happy hunting ground for the second Test against India starting at the Eden Gardens.

 

Pakistan posted a stunning victory at this venue in the opening match of the Asian Test Championship in 1999 after losing six wickets for 26 runs on the first morning.

 

"My boys plan to watch that Test on video this evening," said Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq on Tuesday on the eve of the second test. "It will certainly inspire the whole team.

 

"We have also not forgotten that we have never lost a Test at the Eden Gardens. It is a lucky venue for us."

 

Pakistan, who have drawn four Tests and won one here, continued their good run at the celebrated 90,000-capacity stadium when they chased a 270-plus total to beat the hosts in a one-day international in November.

 

But Inzamam warned his team against being complacent.

 

"We still have to work hard to win this Test," he said.

 

"The opening Test has given us confidence. We now know we can produce better results if we continue to play like this."

 

Pakistan drew the first match of the three-Test series from a losing position at Mohali last Saturday, denying India victory with their determined lower-order batting.

 

Inzamam indicated there could be a couple of changes from the team which played at Mohali.<

 

Seamer Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, suffering from a shoulder injury, is likely to be replaced with left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Khalil who has figured in just one Test.

 

All-rounder Shahid Afridi may also be included in place of left-handed opener Salman Butt, who failed in both the innings at Mohali.

 

"I think changes are required at the top order and in bowling," the Pakistani captain said.

 

India skipper Sourav Ganguly, meanwhile, stressed the draw at Mohali did not affect his team's morale.

 

"We are disappointed not to have won there, but now we have to come back strongly to win this match," Ganguly said ahead of the Test on his home ground.

 

"I don't think pressure will be only on us. I think pressure will be on both the teams to win here."

 

India have yet to decide whether to go into the match with three seamers and one spinner or two paceman and as many spinners.

 

"There's a chance of playing three seamers as there's grass on the wicket. We'll see how it looks on Wednesday morning," said Ganguly.

 

But there are indications that off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will be named in the playing eleven after being dropped at Mohali to make way for a third seamer.

 

Harbhajan rose to international fame at this venue in 2001 when, against Steve Waugh's Australia, he became the only Indian to grab a Test hat-trick.

 

India (from): Sourav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Dinesh Karthik, Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Laxmipathy Balaji, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh, Ashish Nehra.

 

Pakistan (from): Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Shahid Afridi, Taufeeq Umar, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Asim Kamal, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Khalil, Yasir Hameed, Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Arshad Khan.

 

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (WIS) and Darrell Hair (AUS)

 

Match-referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)