KARACHI, 20 August 2003 — Muhammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Umer Gul and Shabbir Ahmed will make their Test debuts for Pakistan against Bangladesh today. Batsmen Hafeez and Hameed along with pace bowlers Gul and Ahmed, who have all played one-day internationals, were named in the starting line-up for the first Test by captain Rashid Latif.

Pakistan rarely announce their team the day before a Test match but Latif said there was no point in delaying it. Bangladesh have not named their side but may give batsman Rajih Salah Alam his first Test cap in place of Mohammad Ashraful, who has been out of form in recent matches.

Alam, who turns 20 in November, was named in the 14-man squad for Bangladesh’s inaugural Test played against India in 2000 but did not play. “People are looking for an improved performance from us against Pakistan,” said Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud.

“But we are looking at the future. It is not about how we fare in one match, it is about what sort of trend we set for ourselves throughout the series.”

Pakistan coach Javed Miandad said his team would not go easy on Bangladesh. “We have told the boys they are professionals and know how they have to play this series,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has welcomed the resumption of cricket tours by international teams and has called upon India to visit early next year.

PCB chief executive Rameez Raja said yesterday: “The Bangladesh team is here and we have South Africa and New Zealand to follow this season. We are now optimistic about the future.”

Sehwag Eyes Middle-Order Slot

Explosive batsman Virender Sehwag is eyeing a middle-order slot in the India Test team despite his successful run as opener.

The 24-year-old, who has 872 runs in 14 Tests at an average of 41.52, got a debut century against South Africa batting at No. 6 but was promoted up the order against England at Lord’s last year.

“At the moment I’m opening in both Tests and one-dayers, but I’d like to bat in the middle order in Tests...I’m basically a middle-order batsman,” Sehwag told reporters yesterday during an India fitness camp in Bangalore. “I haven’t yet informed the team management and at the moment I’ll be ready to open, but maybe later I’ll get a chance to play down the order.”

Sehwag bats at four for Delhi in domestic cricket, but the India middle order is difficult to break into with Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, captain Saurav Ganguly and Vangipurappu Laxman coming in from No. 3 to 7.

McMillan Recalled by New Zealand

Meanwhile, New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan has been given the chance to resurrect his international career after being picked for the Black Caps’ tour of India and Pakistan beginning next month.

McMillan, who suffered a nightmare run late last year and during the World Cup in southern Africa, had been dropped for New Zealand’s tour of Sri Lanka in April.

But he has been drafted back into the New Zealand squad because of his experience and the belief that he can still reproduce his best form, selector and legendary former allrounder Richard Hadlee said.

New Zealand’s touring party that will be missing strike bowler Shane Bond, who is recovering from an injury, and allrounder Chris Cairns, whose wife is expecting the couple’s second child. Cairns has been picked for the one-day leg of the tour.

Test squad: Stephen Fleming (capt), Nathan Astle, Ian Butler, Robbie Hart, Richard Jones, Michael Mason, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Mark Richardson, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent, Paul Wiseman.

One-day squad: Stephen Fleming (capt), Nathan Astle, Ian Butler, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Paul Hitchcock, Brendon McCullum, Craig McMillan, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.