PESHAWAR, 19 March 2004 — Both India and Pakistan enter the new battleground at the Arbab Niaz Stadium after two matches that have seen gut-wrenching finishes and the teams level 1-1 in the one-day series. Both are not worried about the fusillade they can expect to launch after the bowlers were taken for over 1,000 runs. But there’s worry for both from their bowling department for different reasons.

For Pakistan it is the threat over their captain Inzamam ul-Haq for their slow over-rate in the first two matches, and for India it is the dreath of bowlers and the lack of nip in the attack that will be gnawing at their captain Saurav Ganguly’s mind.

With the match today taking on additional importance after Pakistan drew level in the five-match series with a thrilling win in Rawalpindi after India had snatched the Karachi nail-biter, both the teams will be looking to remedy this worrying area in this encounter. The winner here will have the psychological advantage for the remaining two matches in Lahore.

Pakistan managed to set things right in Rawalpindi recovering from the wide and no-ball syndrome and their seamers bowled a more disciplined line. The same, however, cannot be said about India.

Pakistan face the daunting task of completing their quota of 50 overs within the stipulated 3 hours and 30 minutes. So far in the first two matches they have defaulted — by two overs in Karachi and three in the Rawalpindi. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken a serious of this. Match referee Ranjan Madugalle fined the Pakistan skipper 80 percent of his match fees. But there’s worse to come. There is every possibility that Inzamam could be banned for two to four Tests or four to eight One-Day Internationals if Pakistan default again.

Team manager Haroon Rashid is concerned as is Inzamam. He said that team has done the math to keep the overs within the time limit. “We have made our calculations and will keep a check on the over-rate,” the manager said.

Pakistan is likely to make one change in the side that won on Tuesday. Taufiq Umer may replace allrounder Shoaib Malik.

India’s worry is different. Ashish Nehra’s injury during the Rawalpindi match has depleted their already weakened bowling department. With Zaheer Khan struggling to find his rhythm and Laxmipathy Balaji looking an average bowler, the exit of Nehra could be a hard blow for India. Irfan Pathan is likely to take Nehra’s place and have shored up the attack with the callup of Amit Bhandari, who will be available for the last two ODIs.

“Injuries are part and parcel of the modern game because we play so much these days,” said Ganguly. “I expect Pathan to deliver. We are very keen to win this one because taking the lead will be very handy before for the last two games.

“There appears to be some grass on the wicket, but it remains to be seen how much of it will be there on Friday morning,” he said.