KARACHI, 13 March 2004 — Pakistan and India, resume their cricketing rivalry today when they play the first One-Day International of the current five-match series at the National Stadium here. The 15-member Indian team flew into Karachi yesterday afternoon from Lahore.

India are playing a full series in Pakistan — five One-Day matches and three Tests —after a break of 14 years. The last Indian team to visit Pakistan for a full tour was in 1989.

The strategists of the Indian team must have had a bad night on Thursday after the visitors’ shock defeat in the warm-up match in Lahore against a junior Pakistan team having the services of only four players from the senior squad.

Indian coach John Wright was the most concerned person after the match. Without mincing words Wright said: “We got a jolt and we have to sort things out quickly.”

Wright is rightly worried about his pace attack. If Thursday’s performance is any indication, Zaheer Khan was hardly his old self. Not only he lacked accuracy and penetration, his run-up and body language confirmed that he was not fully fit — at least on Thursday.

More alarming was the fact that the spearhead of Indian attack conceded as many as 22 no-balls and wides while his partner, Laxmipathy Balaji bowled 5. The two between them gave as many as 27 runs in extras which is 4.3 overs —- exactly the same the Pakistan team had left when they reached the winning target. Surprisingly, it were the part-time Indian spinners, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, who not only conceded less runs than the main bowlers but also accounted for two important Pakistani wickets of the four that fell in the match. Equally disappointing was the Indian fielding, which was not even a shadow of their performance in Australia only a couple of months ago.

Wright was quite critical of his frontline bowlers. He said they did not show the discipline that was needed on a wicket which was full of runs. But Wright defended Zaheer by saying that he was playing after a long injury layout and hoped that the fast bowler would soon pick up his rhythm,

Addressing a pre-match press conference at the National stadium here yesterday soon on arrival, skipper Saurav Ganguly said Thursday’s match was a warmup exercise and did not really reflect the Indian team’s potential. “We have come here to play serious cricket and win,” Ganguly said. He agreed that the Pakistan team was a serious opponent, but said his team was well equipped to meet the opposition.

In the Pakistan camp there is only one worry for the moment. Their young but fast-improving seamer, Shabbir Ahmad, is a doubtful starter.

Team manager Haroon Rashid confirmed that Shabbir, who had injured his right-hand finger during practice a week ago, is still not comfortable. “The injury has been stitched and the finger bandaged but he is not comfortable. He will be put to a fielding test before a decision is made”, Haroon said.

In that case Pakistan may opt for two spinners, Saqlain Mushtaq and Shoaib Malik — who is more of a batsman-allrounder, and that will boost the batting.

Pakistan and India have so far played 86 One-Dayers including bilateral series and in various tournaments. Pakistan have a distinct edge having won 52 while India has won 30, four matches have ended in no-result.