MULTAN, 12 November 2005 — Pakistan — still undecided about the composition of their playing lineup for the first Test against England which begins here from today — do not have very happy memories of this city and the pitch on which the first of the three Test series is going to be played. It is here that they were humbled by India in the spring of 2004, which was also that country’s first ever Test victory in Pakistan.
And how can skipper Inzamamul Haq brush off from his memory Virender Sehwag’s triple century when a three pronged pace attack as well as their best spinner, Danish Kaneria, helplessly toiled for two days but failed to check the free-scoring by Sehwag, who became the first — and so far the only Indian to score a triple hundred.
The home team’s main problem is, and has always been, preparing a wicket that would suit them. Preparing a pitch to suit the hosts has always been the prerogative of the hosts and is considered an advantage for the home team. But not so in Pakistan where quite often this advantage has gone the other way round.
Agha Zahid, a former Test cricketer who is now serving the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as official curator, has promised “a good Test match pitch to last through the five days”. Zahid describes the pitch as “ firm and dry” and promises that it has good bounce. But past experience shows that it is always risky to predict the behavior of pitches in Pakistan.
The fact of the matter is that Pakistan cannot overly depend on spinners. They have only one genuine spinner in Kaneria. The other two-Shoaib Mallick and Shahid Afridi-— are in fact part timers and have been more effective in the shorter version of the game than Test matches.
Mushtaq has come to the national side after a gap of two years. He has not played any competitive cricket on home grounds for a long time and will need some practice. Also, he will be under pressure to perform which if he does not he may not get another chance to play for Pakistan.
Ultimately Inzamam will have to look towards his seamers to share the burden of bowling out England twice to snatch the advantage, which is so important in a three-Test series.
But much will depend on the home side batsmen and they will have to give their best if they want to take the lead. Pakistan has a good and dependable batting line-up where the skipper will have lead from the front.Mohammad Yuosuf(formerly Yousuf Youhana), vice-captain Younis Khan, Shoaib Mallick, Asim Kamal and wicket-keeper-batsman Kamran Akmal all have good scores to their credit.
The visitors will be definitely handicapped by the absence of their regular captain,who had to quit the first Test because of an injury. Vaughan is not only a very dependable batsman but has now proved that he is a shrewd leader.
Also, they must be very buoyant after the Ashes win and the setback they suffered just two days ago when they lost the second three-day warm-up match may not be taken as true indicator of their batting potential. Pakistanis should be well advised not to take that defeat to lull them into complacency.
