CALCUTTA, 10 March 2004 — India captain Saurav Ganguly promised yesterday his team would deliver the country’s maiden Test victory on Pakistan soil during their first full tour for 14 years.
India play five One-Day Internationals, starting in Karachi on Saturday, followed by three Tests after an improvement in diplomatic relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors. They have lost five and drawn 15 of their previous Tests in Pakistan.
“We’ll change that this time,” Ganguly told reporters after a three-day training camp. “International cricket is about pressure, whether it’s Pakistan or any other side.
“This is definitely a big series and we’re eager to do well.”
India drew 1-1 with the world’s number one side Australia last year but their bowling has been weakened by the absence of spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, who are both injured.
“I would like to look at the series as a great opportunity for our young bowlers,” Ganguly said. “If you think having sheer pace is strength, we are weaker than Pakistan.
“If you think taking wickets, bowling on a good line and winning matches is a strength, then we are not.”
Coach John Wright said India had a chance to create history in Pakistan.
“We’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain,” he said.
“We’ve started to win Tests overseas. We did well in the Champions Trophy and the World Cup and played a good series in Australia, so making some history is what this team needs now.”
Ganguly said India’s key batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who has a history of back injury, was suffering from a minor strain.
“It’s not an injury,” he said. “There is nothing serious at all, he had a knock in the nets today and he’s fit to play.”
In Karachi, Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq appealed for calm before the one-day series.
“This series is more than just cricket. It is about building bridges between Pakistan and India and promoting peace and fraternity,” he told Reuters.
“I would appeal to everyone in Pakistan to please make combined efforts to ensure the series is held in a peaceful manner without any major mishaps.
“One team has to lose and one has to win. We will surely play hard cricket in the series against a good team. But more than cricket, this series can help remove lot of misunderstandings between the people of the two countries.”
Meanwhile, Ganguly said his team was not worried at the prospect of facing speedster Shoaib Akhtar on their upcoming tour of Pakistan. “We are not worried about Shoaib and feel the pressure is on him since he is leading the attack against India for the first time,” Ganguly told reporters at the end of a three-day training camp.
Akhtar, known as the “Rawalpindi Express”, is feared by batsmen the world over but Ganguly said the speed demon would have his work cut out trying to single-handedly rip through India’s in-form batting line-up.
“With Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis not around any more, things will be different for him,” said Ganguly.
Ganguly conceded that India’s own bowling attack for the one-dayers looked depleted in the absence of injured seamer Ajit Agarkar and spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.
“It’s a good opportunity for other bowlers to show their capability and a challenge for me to handle them well,” said Ganguly.
“They have good talent and should come through like Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif and Zaheer Khan have proved themselves in the past.
Zaheer and Ashish Nehra are the only experienced bowlers in the one-day side, which also has other left-armer Irfan Pathan, seamer Laxmipathy Balaji and left-arm spinner Murali Kartik apart from the all-rounders.
Kumble and Agarkar are, however, expected to join the team for the Tests.
Ganguly said the inexperienced bowling attack would put into use some invaluable tips imparted by former captain Kapil Dev.
“Kapil helped us out during this short camp, not trying to rectify actions or technique but in attitude and thought process,” said Ganguly, who led India to the World Cup final last year.
The Indian captain said his team was well-equipped to cope with the pressure on their 40-day tour.
“International cricket is all about pressure and seeing the India-Pakistan scenario, additional pressure is only to be expected,” he said.
“Some people consider us favorites for the series, which is a good sign for Indian cricket.”
Indian coach John Wright felt it was a nothing-to-lose situation and a good opportunity for the players to prove their mettle once again.
“We are going to enjoy the tour and relish challenges,” said the former New Zealand Test player.
“If you don’t play good cricket you lose and one should remember that we are the touring side.”
