Four changes in Pakistan team for second Test (10 October 1998)

10 October 1998

Four changes in Pakistan team for second Test

The Dawn

Pakistan cricket selectors dropped four players and included as many in the 14-member Pakistan cricket team that was announced on Friday for the second Test against Australia which will begin at the Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar, from Oct 15.

Those who have been axed from the 14-member side which crashed to an ignominious defeat by an innings and 99 runs in the first Test against Australia at the Rawalpindi Stadium are Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Husain, Saqlain Mushtaq, Aaqib Javed.

They have been replaced by Ijaz Ahmad, Arshad Khan, Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Zahid.

Wasim failed with the bat in both the innings of the first Test while left-arm spinner Muhammad Husain also could not bowl well. The experienced but unlucky fast-medium bowler Aaqib Javed has been dropped without being given a chance. Although, the off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq captured two wickets in the first Test, he had to rush England to be on the bedside of his seriously-ill father.

The chief selector Wasim Bari, along with his colleagues Salahuddin Ahmad and Shafiq Ahmad saw the cricketers practising at the nets at the Qadhafi Stadium on Thursday.

If the on-going three-day practice match at the Qadhafi Stadium could be taken as an indication, young Yousaf Yohanna (essentially a middle-order batsman) could be tried as an opener in the second Test at Peshawar.

Traditionally, the Arbab Niaz Stadium pitch offer little help to the seamers in the early part of the match. Retention of Shoaib Akhtar and induction of Mohammad Zahid among the chosen 14 suggests that the Pakistan team may include either of the two, whoever was found fully fit and more suited to the conditions. Either of the two can strengthen the pace-attack along with the two all-rounders Wasim Akram and Azhar Mahmood.

The team is likely to include the two spinners, the experienced right-arm leg-break bowler Mushtaq Ahmad and the Peshawar-born off-spinner Arshad Khan. The spin department will get assistance from captain Aamir Sohail (who is a useful left-arm spinner) and Salim Malik.

Ejaz Ahmad is also likely to stage a comeback. The Pakistan team may have to rely on the middle-order batsmen Salim Malik, Inzimam-ul-Haq, Azhar Mahmood, Moin Khan and Wasim Akram.

The 14 players picked for the second Test are:

Aamir Sohail (captain), Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Salim Malik, Yousaf Yohanna, Ejaz Ahmad, Wasim Akram, Moin Khan (wicket-keeper), Azhar Mahmood, Mushtaq Ahmad, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Zahid, Arshad Khan, Shahid Afridi.

Source :: The Dawn (www.dawn.com)