RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, 16 March 2004 — Indian captain Saurav Ganguly has a fever and is doubtful for today’s second One-Day International against Pakistan.
The 31-year-old left-hander missed a practice session yesterday and the team’s medical staff will assess his condition this morning.
“Saurav has a mild fever,” Indian vice-captain Rahul Dravid told reporters. “We’re hopeful he’ll be fit to play after his situation is reviewed on Tuesday morning.”
India suffered another blow with left-arm paceman Ashish Nehra, who bowled a tidy final over to take India home by just five runs in a thrilling finale to the first game of the five-match series on Saturday, ruled out because of ankle trouble.
“Ashish has a swelling in his ankle and he won’t be picked for tomorrow’s game,” Dravid said.
Nehra has a history of ankle injury and has never been near his best since he underwent surgery soon after the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.
Left-arm paceman Irfan Pathan, who made an impressive debut in Australia earlier this year, is likely to take his place in the team.
But the team’s biggest bowling concern is the form of left-arm spinner Murali Kartik, who went for 74 from his 10 overs at Karachi.
“His bowling definitely needs to improve,” Dravid said. “It’s not always easiest to bowl on a wicket where both teams score in the region of 350. But Kartik would like to bowl better and we’d certainly like him to do better.” With frontline spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh both missing due to injury India’s other spin option is uncapped Bombay off-spinner Ramesh Powar.
India are hopeful Vangipurappu Laxman, left out for the Karachi match at the last minute due to stiffness in his left knee, will return today to further strengthen the batting.
“We’re very confident that Laxman will be ready,” Dravid said. “The physio and trainer will give final word on him tomorrow.”
India are in Pakistan for their first full series in over 14 years. Many hope cricket could prove to be the catalyst for enduring peace between the two south Asian neighbors.
100-Game Akhtar Wants to Be
Pakistan’s Savior Against India
Pakistan’s fiery fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar hopes to celebrate his 100th One-Day International today by stopping the Indian batting juggernaut on his home ground.
“It’s an honor to reach a milestone but I will celebrate only if can help my team win,” said the 28-year-old ahead of the day-night match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan need a win to level the five-match series 1-1 after India pulled off a five-run victory in the spectacular opening encounter at Karachi on Saturday.
It was the highest scoring one-dayer in history with India piling up 349-7 and Pakistan replying with a gallant 344-8 following a century by captain Inzamam ul-Haq.
Akhtar, nicknamed the Rawalpindi Express for the lightning speed he generates, went for 55 runs in his 10 overs on the run-laden wicket but was unlucky not to have claimed more than two wickets.
India’s swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag, who was dropped in Akhtar’s opening over, smashed 79 off 57 balls to lay the foundation for his team’s huge total.
“The wicket at Karachi was a belter,” said Akhtar, who has 160 wickets from 99 games so far.
“There will be more help for the bowlers here in Rawalpindi and I am totally focused on keeping the runs down.”
Pakistan need to be more disciplined in the attack after sending down 20 no-balls and 10 wides in Karachi that gave India five additional overs to bat and cost the hosts the match.
Coach Javed Miandad laid special emphasis on this aspect at the nets on Sunday and yesterday even as seamer Shabbir Ahmed was declared fit to play after missing the previous game with a finger injury.
“It’s good to have Shabbir back but we will finalize our team only on Tuesday afternoon,” Miandad said.
“There was little to choose from the two sides at Karachi and this should be another good game. But we have to be more disciplined in our bowling.”
India, meanwhile, welcomed back in-form batsman Venkatsai Laxman, who sat out at Karachi with a knee injury.
Laxman, who hit three one-day centuries on the recent tour of Australia, is expected to replace Hemang Badani in the only change in the winning Indian combination.
India will once again rely on its experienced batting to overcome the depleted bowling attack that is missing frontline exponents Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar and Harbhajan Singh through injuries.
Spearhead Zaheer Khan, still to hit peak form after a recent hamstring injury, was thrashed for 66 runs from 10 overs at Karachi, while spinner Murali Kartik went for 74 from 10. Left-armer Ashish Nehra saved India’s blushes by conceding just three runs in the final over when Pakistan needed nine, but the tourists can ill-afford another run feast from their rivals.
“Bowling is an area we have to work on,” said coach John Wright. “We are giving away too many runs.”
