All set for a unique Test (12 March 1999)

12 March 1999

All set for a unique Test

Hasan Masood

The final of the inaugural Asian Test Championship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka gets under way at the fourth strip of Bangabandhu National Stadium this morning.

The first ever Test match being played at a neutral venue starts at 9:30 pm (BST).

Star Sports pay channel and Bangladesh Television will telecast the match Live.

Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka had their final nets at the venue yesterday morning and looked pretty confident as per their body language. After the two-hour long practice, both the Pakistan and the Sri Lankan skippers, Wasim Akram and Aravinda de Silva, expressed their guarded optimism about the match, which will be played on the pitch where the world record breaking ODI match, the Independence Day Cup final between India and Pakistan, was played early last year.

"It's going to be an exciting match and, of course, there will be a lot of pressure as this is the final. The Sri Lankans have their two players, Aravinda and Vaas, back in the side and I think they will be geared up as much as we are geared up. We really have to work hard in this game. The weather conditions are not suitable but I believe it's for both sides. We can't take the game easy at all because they are a very good side," said Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram while talking to a crowded press immediately after the nets.

When asked about the pitch, Akram said that it looked to be a good Test wicket so far.

"There is grass. It's a bit soft but hopefully it will be harder by tomorrow morning. I think this is the best available pitch they have here and we have to play on that. It does not matter," said Akram.

"It will help spinners more than the pace bowlers. We are going to have a meeting in the evening and then we will decide whether to play three spinners or three seamers. I will still wait for the morning to see the pitch and then name the first eleven," said Akram. He however confirmed that young right-hander Wajahatullah Wasti would open the Pakistan innings alongside veteran left-hander Saeed Anwar.

"Wajahat has scored back to back centuries in the last match as opener and I think he deserves to remain at the position," Akram commented on the 23-year old new find.

He also revealed that new fast bowling sensation Shoaib Akhter was likely to open the bowling attack along with him.

When asked about his feeling on playing a Test match at a neutral venue, Akram said that he expects a good crowd to support both the sides.

"The ground looks beautiful, the facilities are very nice. We always get looked after well here in Bangladesh and it's like a second home to us," said Akram while praising the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

While Akram was stentorian, his Sri Lankan counterpart Aravinda de Silva was cool and composed when he talked to the press after their practice.

"The wicket is good and it will be an absorbing match," said Aravinda, who is leading the islanders in the absence of their regular captain Arjuna Rantunga, who is nursing an injury.

When asked whether the wicket will suit the pacers or the spinners, Aravinda replied indirectly, "I think you got to bowl well to get wickets and I think it will behave fairly with both nature of bowlings."

About his expectation, Aravinda said they came here to win. "We are going out there to try our best and win the game," he added.

Pakistan: Wasim Akram (captain), Saeed Anwar, Wajahatullah Wasti, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamamul Haque, Yousaf Youhana, Shahid Afridi, Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhter, Saqlain Mushtaq, Arshad Khan, Azhar Mahmood, Shahid Nazir and Imran Nazir.

Sri Lanka: Aravinda de Silva, Avishka Gunawardena, Russel Arnold, Mahela Jayawardena, Marvan Atapattu, Hashan Tillekeratne, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Chaminda Vaas, Promodya Wickremasinghe, Ruwan Kalpage, Upul Chandana Sajeewa de Silva and Ruchira Perera.

Umpires: David Shepherd (England) and Douglas Cowie (New Zealand)
Third umpire: VK Ramaswami
Match referee: Cammie Smith

Source :: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)