Inzamam laments Shoaib and Afridi's absence

Inzamam-ul-Haq acknowledged that the absence of Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi will hamper Pakistan's chances in the remaining two one-day internationals against India.

"The Pakistan team is poorer due to the absence of players like Shoaib and Afridi," he wrote in his column for The News. "Both have very important roles to play as bowlers. Because both Shoaib and Afridi won't be playing in the next two one-day internationals, this would surely have an adverse effect on the team's combination. But in this time of crisis we really are helpless. Still, we'd try our best to win the last two one-dayers."

Inzamam also chose to clear the air about Shoaib's injury, maintaining that the fast bowler had been ruled out purely on a fitness basis. "Shoaib has been ruled out of the Pakistan team because of his fitness problems," he said. "His injury has given rise to a new controversy within the country as well as internationally. Almost everyone has termed his injury as something `mysterious' and rumours have started to fly around in a sickeningly rampant manner." Inzamam remained skeptical, however, about Shoaib's chances for the immediate future. "Shoaib's stress fracture of his left ankle is infinitely more serious and I have a feeling that he won't be able even to make next month's tour of Sri Lanka," he added.

Refuting calls for himself and Younis Khan to bat higher up the order, Inzamam said that Pakistan's gameplan would remain the same. "In the series against India, we have been playing our matches with a long batting line-up," he said. "We took a chance with Shahid Afridi by sending him to open the innings. Unfortunately, this decision back-fired. In the remaining matches, we plan to send Shoaib Malik at one-down, Mohammad Yousuf at number four, I will come in at the fifth spot and Younis will bat at the number six position."

Lamenting Pakistan's poor performance in the field, Inzamam called on his players to step it up. "Both matches at Multan and Karachi are going to be crucial for us. Where the last two games were concerned, I would lay the blame on our sub-standard fielding for our defeats," he said. "In Lahore, our fielding was so pathetic that the players couldn't even block straight fours on eight occasions. We have been trying during our practice sessions that our fielding ability improves. If we are unable to manage that, then I'm afraid we won't be able to defend the series."

The remaining fixtures are at Multan on Thursday and on Sunday at Karachi.