Pakistan confidence will not be affected by embarrassing loss

Pakistan might have suffered an embarrassing innings and 54 run loss to New Zealand A at Bert Sutcliffe Oval today, but coach Javed Miandad said the side's confidence was still strong heading into the National Bank Test series starting on Thursday.

NZ A took only 27 balls to take five wickets for 16 runs to end the game this morning. The injured Saeed Anwar did not bat.

It was a pathetic and limp response from a Pakistan team supposedly looking to get in some batting practice in preparation for the Test series after the disappointment of losing the one-day series.

Coach Javed Miandad, who missed the rout as he was working in the nets with players not involved in the match, shook the defeat off by saying there were no real batsmen left in the game.

"There were only bowlers left.

"Saeed Anwar has a problem, it is difficult to say anything about that yet, it is too early," he said.

Miandad said it was obviously disappointing to lose a game in that fashion.

"But you can't do anything about it except work hard for the next game," he said.

The lack of experienced players in the side was a factor. Saeed, Wasim Akram, Moin Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq were all missing from the game.

The fact that all but Moin have injuries has to be a concern going into the first Test starting on Thursday.

"They were all youngsters in this game. A few of them have just come from Pakistan. It is hard to adjust.

"It is difficult after playing one-day cricket but the young guys have to look after themselves," he said.

But Miandad warned that Pakistan could still be a force in the Test series.

"Everyone knows about the Pakistan team. In the 1992 World Cup we weren't doing so well but once we clicked we won the World Cup.

"We haven't lost any confidence. When you lost Test matches then you can say your confidence is affected.

"I'm not that disappointed, it was not a full-strength team.

"There is no need to panic, You will see what this team will do in the Test match," he said.

The injuries are clearly a concern and Wasim Akram was not at the ground today as he was seeing a doctor about his side strain which developed during the last one-dayer against New Zealand.

While Miandad admitted it was frustrating being so far from home and not being able to call up replacements quickly due to the 10 days required to process visas and the two-days of travelling.

Miandad said there were no players on stand-by at the moment but the side would be talking to the selection panel to tell them what they were facing in New Zealand.

"But the boys are confident. Wasim is confident and has said he will play. Saeed has said he will play and Inzamam has said he will play," Miandad said.

The NZ A players wasted no opportunity to complete the task.

Andrew Penn removed the biggest potential stumbling block by bowling Younis Khan in his second over. Next ball, Mushtaq Ahmed tried to fend off a short ball from Penn and hit the ball high towards slips where Lou Vincent, fielding at third slip took the catch.

Waqar Younis took the chance to hit out for six runs in the rest of the over and then from the first ball of Chris Drum's next over, Saqlain Mushtaq wound up an excessively extravagant shot and was bowled easily. Then four balls later Arshad Khan was well beaten and bowled.

Waqar took a single at the start of Penn's next over, which was about the worst that could happen as predictably Mohammad Sami was out to Penn's next ball, edging the chance to Glen Sulzberger at first slip.

Pakistan all out for 124, having spent only 26 minutes in the middle and losing five wickets for 16 runs.