India under pressure

Shabbir Ahmed's hard work, Yasir Hameed's determination and Abdul Razzaq's big heart combined at a crucial time to give Pakistan the edge in this five-match one-day series. The trio turned in sterling performances to put Pakistan 2-1 up, leaving India under extra pressure in the fourth one-dayer at Lahore (which starts at 0900 GMT on Sunday).

This series, like most modern limited-overs tournaments or series, has been underscored by the amount players have had to travel in a short span of time.Between March 11 and 24 - just 13 days - India will have played six matches in four cities. Now, though, it's crunch time, and both teams settle down in Lahore for two day-night clashes.

In the warm-up match here against Pakistan A, the Indians got a taste of what was in store. On a flat pitch, they piled on a massive 335, only to see it easily overhauled by some brash youngsters. This time around, though, they go to Lahore in a much better frame of mind. At Peshawar the bowlers got some much-needed respite from the monotonous thrashing of earlier matches.

Zaheer Khan, who started the series as India's spearhead but quickly became a liability, is rediscovering the rhythm that brought him so much success at home and away. Irfan Pathan showed he was not overawed by the big occasion. And Lakshmipathy Balaji, after beginning well and then fading a touch, rediscovered his line and length.

What's more, Balaji has contributed with the bat on the two occasions he has been called to do so. His 21 from 12 balls at Peshawar included a flicked six that landed in the press box, and prompted John Wright, the coach, to say he was "more than pleasantly surprised" by Balaji's batting.

Murali Kartik has not had the best time of it of late, and was replaced by Ramesh Powar, who is yet to take a backward step. Amit Bhandari's arrival in Lahore gives the team an extra option they're unlikely to exercise immediately.

Most batsmen in the top order have runs under their belts. Sourav Ganguly has twice looked good for big scores and thrown it away. VVS Laxman is back in business, and was unlucky to be given out lbw at Rawalpindi. Mohammad Kaif is yet to show the form that makes him India's preferred No. 7 batsman, but the team has adequate cover in Hemang Badani.

Pakistan have it a touch easier than the Indians at this stage. Their bowlers are firing on all cylinders. Shoaib Akhtar has bowled far better than his figures indicate. Shabbir Ahmed's return to the team, and wicket-taking form, has given Pakistan the luxury of bowling Mohammad Sami at first change. Sami is far more comfortable bowling with an older ball, and is lethal when he gets it right.

Before the tour started, Pakistan's major worry was their batting. So far, though, things have gone well in that department. Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana, the captain and vice-captain, have shown the way, but the others have picked up the gauntlet magnificently. Hameed has provided the solidity up the order that allows Pakistan to unleash Shahid Afridi on hapless bowlers.

In Peshawar, Razzaq showed that he still believed in himself enough to change the course of a match. Every time India threatened to crawl their way back into the match, Razzaq stamped on them.

This series has provided three close finishes so far, and for it to remain alive to the end, India must win this fourth one-dayer. History does not favour the Indians - they have never won at Lahore - but, Ganguly insists he has no interest in reading about history. He is more concerned with rewriting it.

Pakistan (probable): 1 Shahid Afridi, 2 Yasir Hameed, 3 Yousuf Youhana, 4 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Younis Khan, 6 Abdul Razzaq, 7 Moin Khan (wk), 8 Shoaib Malik, 9 Shoaib Akhtar, 10 Mohammad Sami, 11 Shabbir Ahmed.

India (probable): 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 VVS Laxman, 4 Sourav Ganguly (capt), 5 Rahul Dravid (wk), 6 Yuvraj Singh, 7 Mohammad Kaif, 8 Ramesh Powar, 9 Irfan Pathan, 10 Zaheer Khan, 11 Lakshmipathy Balaji.