Moin bedridden with fever: Weather threatens start of 2nd Test

Peshawar, March 4: Wicket-keeper Atiq-uz-Zaman is set to make his Test debut but he might have to wait a little longer to get the prestigious green cap as weather threatens to disrupt the second cricket Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka starting here at the Arbab Niaz Stadium from Sunday.

Atiq, a 24-year-old from Karachi, will replace Moin Khan, who has been ruled of the match because of knee injury compounded by high fever.

Atiq is likely to be one of the four changes that Pakistan are expected to make in the team that lost to Sri Lanka in the first Test by two wickets at Rawalpindi.

Shahid Afridi will replace opener Wajahatullah Wasti but will bat at No 6, Saqlain Mushtaq will make way for local boy Arshad Khan and Shoaib Akhtar is also likely to pop in. However, it was still unclear as to who he will replace.

There was some good news in the Pakistan camp when former captain Wasim Akram gave himself a clean bill of health and informed the team management that he was prepared and fit to sustain the rigours of five-day cricket.

But all these changes will only be officially announced if weather permits any play on Sunday.

The northern city of Pakistan is in the grip of seasonal rains. It has been raining here since Thursday but intermittently. It rained in early hours of Saturday morning but hasn't rained since 9:30 a.m. However, there is a thick cloud cover which has prevented the sun making an appearance.

The MET office has forecast more rains in the coming week.

However, rains for the last two days was enough to leave the Arbab Niaz Stadium water-logged. The square is properly covered but it is the outfield which has been badly affected. It's all muddy and even if it doesn't rain anymore, there is absolutely no possibility of a timely start.

However, the groundsmen were working very hard to getthe ground in shape for play. The local administration hoped that the match would start sometime around tea.

Meanwhile, Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam confirmed that Atiq would be playing in tomorrow's game after Moin pulled out because of injury and fever.

"It is a great opportunity for the youngster to show thathe has the big match potential," Intikhab said.

Moin said he has been restricted to bed since Wednesday. He dispelled impressions that he was withdrawing because of knee injury.

"I have been told by the specialist that I don't need surgery immediately. But he was warned me to get it operated within the next four months. I am not playing this match because of fever. It has broken my back and I am feeling very weak," said the Pakistan vicecaptain.

Intikhab Alam said although Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar have given their fitness for the match, they still are required to undergo a fitness test on Sunday.

"The selection committee and the team management will check their fitness before deciding whether to include them in the team or not," he clarified.

Wasim limped off the ground on the first day after sending down a mere 13 deliveries because of groin injury while Shoaib suffered the same injury during the second One-day International at Gujranwala two weeks ago.

The coach said Shahid Afridi was being include because Pakistan were one bowler short during the first Test. He, however, said Shahid will bat down the order while Pakistan will revert to its old opening combination of Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail.

Regarding Saqlain Mushtaq, Intikhab said the bowler was still recovering from the sudden collapse because of dehydration. Headded that it was also felt that Saqlain was holding things too tight and deserved some rest after round the clock cricket last year.

Saqlain underwent knee surgery in England in September last year.

Asked if all the fast bowlers were available who will sit out, Intikhab admitted that it would take a lot of guts to leave out one bowler.

"Waqar Younis bowled beautifully in Rawalpindi while Wasim and Shoaib are equally good aggressive bowlers. It will be a really difficult decision but we will take the decide in the best interest of the team, " Intikhab said.

He said the boys were geared up and confident after their brilliant fightback in Rawalpindi. He said the players needed one good performance which could give them the boost. "I believe that we have achieved something out of that close defeat which could have gone our way."

The Sri Lankans stayed in their rooms and didn't even go to the venue for the required orientation. Sri Lanka don't have good memories of this venue. It was here five years ago they lost the match by an innings and nine runs inside four days only to bounce back to clinch the series 2-1.

But their Australian-based coach Dav Whatmore was confident that the players would continue the good job done on this tour.

"I am really glad the way we have played cricket. We have not only been competitive but disciplined," he said.

He said rains have not done any good to cricket. "It affects the momentum and concentration of the players. When two good teams clash, its rains that you don't want to disrupt the match."

Whatmore said the possible lineup would only be discussed when they have a lot at the wicket on Sunday.

But in the absence of Arjuna Ranatunga, Tillekeratne Dilshan is set to be named in the playing lineup. The right-handerscored a dazzling 163 in the second Test against Zimbabwe atHarare three months ago.

Pakistan: Saeed Anwar (captain), Aamir Sohail, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Atiq-uz-Zaman, Wasim Akram/Shoaib Akhtar, Abdur Razzaq, Waqar Younis, Arshad Khan.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, RusselArnold, Mahela Jayawardena, Aravinda de Silva, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, PramodyaWickremasinghe, Muttiah Muralitharan. 12th man: Upul Chandana.

Umpires: Mohammad Nazir Junior (Pakistan) and John Hampshire (England)

TV Umpire: Ikram Rabbani.

Reserve Umpire: Iqbal Butt.

Match Referee: Brian Hastings (New Zealand).