PESHAWAR, 30 August 2003 — Pakistan fought back after Bangladesh’s Alok Kapali completed a historic hat trick to leave the second Test on a knife-edge after a pulsating third day yesterday. Kapali’s feat, the first Test hat trick by a Bangladesh player, left Pakistan 66 runs behind the touring side’s total of 361.

But the hosts snapped up four quick wickets to leave Bangladesh struggling on 52 for four at the close, just 118 runs ahead with six wickets in hand. It was the first time Bangladesh, who lost the first Test in Karachi by seven wickets, had taken a first-innings lead in 23 Tests.

Shoaib Akhtar removed first-innings century-maker Javed Omar for a golden duck and snapped up in-form Hannan Sarkar in his third over to leave Bangladesh struggling on 20 for two.

Habibul Bashar and Mohammad Ashraful steadied the innings after seeing off a fiery five-over spell from Shoaib, but with the total on 43, Bashar was trapped lbw by Umar Gul after making 28.

Leg spinner Danish Kaneria than had Ashraful caught in the slips and Bangladesh were spared further punishment when the umpires offered the batsmen the chance to leave the field because of bad light.

Bangladesh, seeking their first ever Test victory, were indebted to left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique and Kapali, who brought the Pakistan innings to a quick end shortly after tea. Yousuf Youhana had reached his 18th Test half-century from 138 balls, when part-time leg spinner Kapali struck.

He had Shabbir Ahmed caught at mid-off with the fifth ball of his second over and then trapped Kaneria lbw. On the first ball of his next over he won a lbw decision against last man Umar Gul to leave Youhana stranded on 64 not out.

Rafique, who bowled virtually unchanged from the start of play in only his fifth Test, completed figures of five for 118, only the fourth time a Bangladeshi bowler has taken a five-wicket haul in Tests.

Rafique put Pakistan on the back foot before lunch when he had Taufeeq Umar (75) caught behind and bowled Inzamam-ul-Haq for 43. Captain Rashid Latif, who made 40 from 66 balls, added 64 runs for the fifth wicket with Youhana before he was stumped off Rafique.

Meanwhile, President Pervez Musharraf will honor veteran cricketers who played during Pakistan’s inaugural Test tour of India half a century ago, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced yesterday.

The event was originally planned for last year but was postponed after Pakistan’s home series against Australia and West Indies were rescheduled to neutral venues because of security concerns in the country.

PCB spokesman Samiul Hasan said the ceremony would be held in Islamabad on Sept. 16. Abdul Hafeez Kardar led Pakistan’s first team to India, where it lost the five Test series 2-1 in October-December 1952.

Of the 16 who went on the inaugural tour, Kardar, Amir Elahi, Maqsood Ahmed, Mahmood Hussain, Anwar Hussain and Nazar Mohammad have died.

The invitees include Fazal Mahmood, Hanif Mohammad, Imtiaz Ahmed, Israr Ali, Khan Mohammad, Waqar Hasan, Wazir Mohammad, Rusi Dinshaw, Zulfiqar Ahmed, Khalid Ibadullah, Khursheed Ahmad and Khalid Qureshi.

They will each receive a commemorative medallion, a cash prize of 250,000 rupees (around $4,200) and a current green Pakistan blazer. “The ceremony is meant to recognize the contribution of these cricketers and to honour their services for the country,” the spokesman said.

England Delay

Naming Test Squad

England delayed naming their squad for the fifth and final Test against South Africa yesterday due to injuries. Chairman of selectors David Graveney had been due to announce the squad yesterday, but said there would be a 48-hour delay.

“We need more time to re-assess our options in light of the injuries,” he said in a statement. Batsman and former captain Nasser Hussain will miss the fifth Test starting at The Oval on Sept. 4, while seamer James Kirtley has been ruled out with shin-splints.

Fast bowler Martin Bicknell, aged 34 and recalled for the fourth Test after a 10-year absence from the team, is a doubt with a hamstring problem.