Latif's worry, and Tendulkar's flaw

Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan wicketkeeper, reckons that the Indian batsmen won't crumble against reverse-swing the way some of the other teams do. Writing in The Sunday Express, Latif says: "The way they played in Australia it was apparent they knew what the ball would do. It [Reverse-swing] might still be a mystery for teams like England and South Africa. But that doesn't seem the case with the Indians."

However, he then goes on to suggest that Pakistan's bowlers should study the Indian batsmen in detail, and work at exploiting their weaknesses. Sachin Tendulkar, says Latif, "does not have a long stride forward and any delivery which comes in quickly from a good length spot, he tends to inside edge on to his stumps". Hmm, food for thought for Tendulkar?

* * *

The Indians begin their three-day preparatory camp in Kolkata's Eden Gardens from Sunday. There had much speculation about whether a camp would be necessary, but the Working Committee of the Indian board finally decided in favour of conducting one. "It will enable the entire team to spend three days together before the tour," a board member told Press Trust of India. "Most of the leading players have been enjoying the break since their return from Australia. So, the hard grind of the conditioning camp would be beneficial for them."

* * *

There were plenty of disappointed and angry fans in Karachi on Saturday when it was revealed that sale of tickets for the first one-day international, to be held there on March 13, had been postponed to Sunday. According to Dawn, about a thousand people had turned up early on Saturday at the National Stadium to ensure that they didn't miss out on the tickets, but were asked to return the next day. The daily also reported that the situation soon got ugly and several people were injured in scuffles with the police, which lasted several hours. The PCB officials at the stadium didn't comment on the incident.

"The cricket board should have planned things accordingly," the daily quoted a fan. "In the first instance, we came to know that the tickets will be put up for sale on March 4. Then it became March 6 [a Saturday]. Why did the [PCB] officials take so long to advertise the sale of tickets?"

* * *

If getting tickets is a worry for fans in Pakistan, then obtaining visas for the travel to Pakistan is turning out to be the main problem for their Indian counterparts. The Times of India reports that many enthusiasts from Hyderabad, situated in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, travelled to the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, only to be told that they needed to furnish a letter from the PCB and a PIN number confirming the validity of their tickets. "I was very enthusiastic about going to Pakistan for the series and I approached a tour operator," said Syed Basharat Ali, an engineer. "The agent told me he could do nothing to get me a visa. I'd have to go to the Pakistan High Commission myself." Ali finally dropped the idea of going to Pakistan.

* * *

Javed Miandad has expressed his satisfaction with the number of allrounders included in Pakistan's squad for the five-match one-day series. According to a report by PTI, Miandad said: "The availability of a maximum number of allrounders was necessary, keeping in view the strong batting line-up of the rivals." Pakistan have named five allrounders in the 16-man squad.

Of the five, Miandad was particularly pleased about the inclusion of Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan, a right-hand batsman and a medium-fast bowler. "He is a good prospect and is in great shape at present." About the selection of Iftikhar Anjum, a fast bowler with a impressive haul of 210 first-class wickets in 47 matches at an average of below 23, Miandad opined that Anjum was the best choice after Umar Gul was sidelined due to injury three days earlier.

* * *

Meanwhile, the PCB has allowed four of Pakistan's players to shoot a commercial with Pepsi India, but it has insisted that the commercial be shot in Lahore, not Mumbai. "From what I know the shoot will now take place in Pakistan before the series. And I don't know if the Indian players would be involved in it," a senior PCB official said, according to PTI. Shaharyar Khan, chairman of the PCB, had earlier refused permission for the commercial after learning that the shoot was not for Pepsi Pakistan.

* * *

Security arrangements have been suitably beefed up at Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan for the forthcoming matches there. A report in The Nation quotes Syed Masud Shah, the provincial police officer, as saying: "We have finalised the routes of the teams from hotels to stadium and places of practice", the PPO said. "Extraordinary measures will be taken during the cricket matches with our arch rival." He also said that special arrangements had been made for the foreign dignitaries and guests who will be flown in for these matches.