LAHORE, 10 December 2005 — All-rounder Shoaib Malik will play for Pakistan in the first one-day game against England today, captain Inzamam ul-Haq said yesterday.
Malik’s participation had been in doubt after he had to fly to Perth earlier this week to undergo biomechanics tests on his bowling action after it was reported following the first Test in Multan last month.
“Malik has returned today and he is keen to play the match despite some jet-lag. We have left the decision to him and he says he will play. He is an important member of the side and his presence would be vital in the first match,” Inzamam said. Pakistan and England will be meeting in a one-dayer for the first time since September 2003.
The home side will be boosted by the return of all rounder Abdul Razzaq, who missed the three-Test series won 2-0 by Pakistan due to an elbow injury.
Vice-captain Younis Khan also returns after missing the third Test due a family bereavement but they will be without all-rounder Shahid Afridi, banned for the first two games for scuffing the pitch in the second Test in Faisalabad.
Inzamam said beating England in the test series would count for nothing as the touring side had a balanced one-day outfit and would be keen to bounce back.
Marcus Trescothick, leading England in the absence of injured captain Michael Vaughan, is confident that his team will do better.
“We are absolutely disappointed to lose the test series and it is important for us to win a one-day series away from home,” he said.
England lost their only warm up game before the ODI series to Pakistan A on Wednesday.
Teams from: Pakistan: Inzamam ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Arshad Khan, Yasir Arafat, Rana Naved, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Yasir Hameed, Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria.
England: Marcus Trescothick, Vikram Solanki, Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff, Geraint Jones, Matthew Prior, Ian Blackwell, Shaun Udal, Kabir Ali, Steve Harmison, Liam Plunkett, James Anderson.
Wasim Accepts Coaching Post With Pakistan Domestic Team
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has accepted the post of bowling coach with leading domestic team Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
Wasim, who retired after the 2003 World Cup with 414 Test and 502 one-day wickets, will be available for PIA on a match-by-match basis.
“He will be available to us for our first class game from Jan. 22 and thereafter,” PIA coach and former test player Rashid Khan told Reuters yesterday.
“Wasim has always been interested in being a bowling coach. He is very keen to help out young players and groom young bowlers so he was very happy to accept our coaching offer,” Rashid said.
Wasim captained the PIA team for a number of years. After retiring, the fast bowler became a television commentator.
South Africa Win but Injury Woes Worsen
In Perth, South Africa scored their first win on tour with an eight-wicket hammering of a Western Australian Chairman’s XI yesterday but celebrations were tempered by an injury to their lone spinner.
Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje cut his right hand early in the one-day game and did not return to the field as the tourists reached the victory total of 193 in 35 overs.
Team officials, already grappling with injuries to captain Graeme Smith and all-rounder Jacques Kallis, said Boje would miss the three-day tour match starting tomorrow but would be fit for the first Test.
South Africa’s problems were highlighted when fitness trainer Adrian Le Roux was brought on to field for the tourists as they restricted the local side for 192 for 9 in the allotted 46 overs.
