NEW DELHI, 17 April 2005 — Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq is confident the spirit shown by his players on the India tour would lead to a series victory following the sixth and final one-dayer today.
Pakistan arrived on their first Test tour of India for six years after a 3-0 Test series rout in Australia and without injured strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar.
The visitors, however, have silenced the critics by rallying to draw the three-Test series 1-1 and then coming back from 0-2 down to lead 3-2 going into the final one-dayer in Delhi.
“The Australia series was very tough but it was a learning opportunity for youngsters in the team,” Inzamam told reporters yesterday.
“This tour was very important ... The main thing on this tour is the way we have fought back. That is why we are in this position.”
Inzamam said leg spinner Danish Kaneria, who took 19 scalps in the Tests, and paceman Rana Naveed’s 14 wickets so far in the one-dayers had provided depth to the bowling.
“Our two-three good bowlers have not come and still these guys have done well. It is a good sign for the team our back-up bowlers are also good because injuries keep happening in sport,” said Inzamam.
“I won’t say our performances have been very good but it has been good.”
Today’s high-profile match will mark the tour’s climax with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf attending the game.
Musharraf’s trip, dubbed ‘cricket diplomacy’ by the media, is expected to add momentum to the peace process between the two south Asian rivals sharing the common passion for the game.
Inzamam felt the presence of the heads of state of both countries would add extra pressure on both teams to win. The stadium resembles a fortress due to extra security.
An untested pitch, however, could prove a dampener at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground where renovation work is still on.
Although many fear low bounce could mar the game, the ground staff are optimistic after holding many trial games and nets on the strip.
India’s stand-in captain Rahul Dravid said his team’s hopes lay on countering attacking opener Shahid Afridi and Naved Rana.
Afridi hit a 46-ball 102 to hand Pakistan a five-wicket victory on Friday after Rana’s triple strikes. “It is up to us to put up a good performance and square things,” he said. “Guys know if we get Afridi early and put up a good score we can do it.”
Wright Set for Departure as India Coach
New Zealand’s John Wright will end his 4-1/2 year reign as India’s first foreign coach today after a six-match one-day series versus Pakistan.
The former Kiwi captain, respected for his low profile in a cricket-mad nation and for his toughness within the dressing room, plans to return home to spend more time with his family. Stand-in captain Rahul Dravid said the players have planned a nice farewell after the series. The team would work extra hard to win and square the series 3-3, he said yesterday.
“There is always a motivation to win,” he said. “It has been an eventful journey for John. He has had his ups and downs but at the end of the day he probably had a few more ups than downs.
“We within the team will honor him in our own special and private way.”
Wright, 50, had not been the favorite for the job when he was appointed in 2000, but is seen as an unlikely success story.
He demanded more passion from his talented but inconsistent players and laid extra stress on fitness. Wright guided India to their maiden Test series victory in Pakistan in 2004, their first away victory against a major team since 1993.
India also drew their Test series 1-1 in Australia in 2003-4 following their second World Cup final appearance in South Africa.
