Pakistan prepare surprise weapon for second India Test by AFP

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Player:	Mohammad Asif
Event:	India in Pakistan 2005/06

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DateLine: 20th January 2006

 

Pakistan plan to throw young fast bowler Mohammad Asif into the deep end in a bid to contain India's renowned batting in the second cricket Test starting here on Saturday.

 

Asif, who went wicketless against Australia in Sydney last year in his only Test match so far, could partner spearhead Shoaib Akhtar and Rana Naved in a three-pronged pace attack for the hosts.

 

The 23-year-old Asif is expected to replace Mohammad Sami, who conceded 67 runs in 12 unsuccessful overs in the high-scoring draw in the first Test in Lahore where India piled up

 

410 for one in reply to Pakistan's 679-7.

 

"Asif is one of the options we are considering because he has been bowling very well these days," said Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq.

 

The lanky pace bowler hit the headlines when he picked up 10 wickets in England's practice match at the start of their Pakistan tour last November.

 

Pakistan are confident the brown pitch at the Iqbal stadium here will help the bowlers more than the one at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore that was heavily tilted in favour of batsmen.

 

"This is a wicket on which we should get a result provided the weather remains fine," said Inzamam. "There is a bit of dry grass on it which should help the fast bowlers at the start.

 

"This is definitely a better wicket than what we got in Lahore."

 

Bright sunshine over the last two days has helped in preparing a firm wicket but cold and wet weather has been forecast over the weekend.

 

Indian captain Rahul Dravid predicted another run-fest, but hinted the wicket may take slow turn later in the match.

 

"It is a bit different from Lahore but not very different," said Dravid, who scored a century during the 410-run opening stand with Virender Sehwag (254) in the first Test.

 

"It should be good for batting over the first three days and play up and down later. We are just concentrating on playing good cricket over the next five days.

 

"The first day of the Test will be critical as usual. How you start will dictate how the match goes."

 

Dravid ruled out pushing former captain Sourav Ganguly as opener, saying the positives gained from the first Test had to be built on.

 

"We have good options in both batting and bowling. Sehwag and myself did well in Lahore but that does not mean we will succeed each time.

 

"We have no plans to open with Sourav. There is a strategy in place for the Test but we will not announce the playing eleven till before the toss."

 

The Iqbal stadium wicket has traditionally favoured batsmen, with 12 of the 23 Tests played here having ended in draws. Pakistan won six Tests and lost five.

 

India lost at this venue in 1982 during Pakistan's 3-0 series win, but drew three other matches including the last one in 1989 when 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar made his first Test half-century.

 

If this Test also ends in a stalemate India and Pakistan will have everything to play for in the third and final Test in Karachi from January 29.

 

Likely teams:

 

India: Rahul Dravid (capt), Virender Sehwag, Venkatsai Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly, Mahendra Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh.

 

Pakistan: Inzamam-ul Haq (capt), Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Rana Naved, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif.

 

Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (RSA), Simon Taufel (AUS)

 

TV umpire: Zameer Haider (PAK)

 

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)