MELBOURNE: Pakistan are hoping that the return of spinner Danish Kaneria will give their chances of achieving a series-leveling win in Sydney a big boost.
Kaneria, who was touted by Pakistan as one of their key players after picking up 13 wickets from two Tests in New Zealand, missed the first Test in Melbourne because of an injured finger. Pakistan lost the Test by 170 runs with Aussie off spinner Nathan Hauritz completing a five wicket haul on the final day.
Kaneria has been bowling in the nets and will be attending strenuous training sessions here at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday and Saturday to get hundred per cent ready for the second Test starting from January 3.
“Kaneria has recovered from the injury and is expected to play in Sydney,” team manager Abdul Raqeeb told ‘The News’ on Wednesday. “We hope that he will play and do well in Sydney.”
Mohammad Yousuf, the Pakistan captain, has also confirmed that Kaneria is certain to play in Sydney and has not ruled out the possibility of fielding another spinner – Saeed Ajmal – for the second Test.
Ajmal played at the MCG but failed to impress much.
Meanwhile, pacer Abdur Rauf is facing the axe after flopping in Melbourne. Rauf will make way for Kaneria. The team management is not ruling out the possibility of fielding either Umar Gul or Mohammad Sami in the second Test in a bid to strengthen the bowling attack that was quite below-par in the first innings in Melbourne, allowing Australia to reach 454 quite effortlessly.
Gul, one of Pakistan’s most successful fast bowlers in recent years, was surprisingly dropped from the playing XI for the Boxing Day Test as the team management opted for Rauf. The decision raised question marks over Gul’s fitness as the pacer has faced injury problems in recent times. But Raqeeb once again rejected this impression, saying that Gul was one of the fittest players in the Pakistan camp.
