Changes expected for Test decider at Newlands by AFP

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Event:

Pakistan in South Africa 2006/07

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DateLine: 25th January 2007

 

Both teams are expected to make changes in crucial positions for the decisive third and final Test between South Africa and Pakistan starting at Newlands Friday.

 

Pakistan will be without injured fast bowler Shoaib Akthar who had a meteoric impact on the series in what was effectively a single day of action.

 

Shoaib's express pace sent South Africa crashing to 124 all out on the first day in Port Elizabeth, setting up Pakistan for their eventual series-levelling five-wicket win. He took four for 36 but apart from a brief innings with the bat Shoaib took no further part in the match because of a hamstring strain.

 

Both Shoaib and fellow fast bowler Umar Gul, who did not play in either of the first two Tests because of an ankle injury, went home after Port Elizabeth to undergo rehabilitation treatment.

 

Shabbir Ahmed was expected to arrive in Cape Town Thursday as a replacement for the fast bowlers but captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said he was unlikely to play in the Test. He said Shahid Nazir, who was disappointing in the first Test, was likely to earn a recall.

 

South Africa will also have changes in their fast bowling attac. Dale Steyn, the country's fastest bowler, is expected to return after recovering from a thigh strain and Andre Nel, who bowled poorly in Port Elizabeth, seems dure to sit out the final Test.

 

Discusssions were due to be held Wednesday evening about the possibility of resting key bowlers Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock, with a five-match one-day series and the Cricket World Cup ahead.

 

"There's not a lot left in the tank for them," said captain Graeme Smith after the Port Elizabeth Test. The problem is that neither is believed to be particularly keen to sit out, especially as a look at the pitch Wednesday indicated it would be more pace friendly than it was when South Africa clinched a series against India earlier in the month.

 

The pitch appeared hard and had a good covering of grass, unlike the pitch for the India match which Smith likened to Kolkata's Eden Gardens.

 

Batsman Boeta Dippenaar joined the South African squad Wednesday as cover for Herschelle Gibbs, whose appeal against a two-Test ban for using abusive language was heard Wednesday by appeals commissioner Richie Benaud, a former Australian captain. A decision is expected Thursday.

 

If the ban is upheld, Gibbs will be unable to play and it is expected that Dippenaar will come in as an opening batsman, with AB de Villiers moving down the order to fill Gibbs' place.

 

Dippenaar was called up because Jacques Rudolph, who it was originally announced would replace Gibbs if necessary, has been released from his Cricket SA contract to take up an offer to play for English county Yorkshire as a Kolpak player.

 

Squads:

 

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Kallis (vice-captain), Paul Adams, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs or Boeta Dippenaar, Andrew Hall, Paul Harris, Morne Morkel, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Dale Steyn.

 

Pakistan: Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Asim Kamal, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Zulqernain Haider, Shahid Nazir, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.

 

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (WIS), Peter Parker (AUS)

 

TV umpire: Marais Erasmus (RSA)

 

Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)