Pakistan still game

St. John's Off-the-field events, which took up most of the spotlight before the Barbados Test, have once more held centre stage ahead of the third, decisive Test between West Indies and Pakistan starting here today. Judge Malik Mohammad Qayyum's long-awaited report into match-fixing and bribery in Pakistani cricket and the pitch at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) had tongues wagging not in all quarters in the build-up to a match which needs an outright result to produce a series winner.

The judge's report recommended fines for four of the players here Wasim Akram, Mushtaq Ahmed, Waqar Younis and Inzamam-ul-Haq, but the Pakistani camp yesterday opted to remain tight-lipped about it.

We cannot comment, said team manager, retired Brigadier Mohammad Nasir.

There are four players on the tour who have been named, but their preparations are not going to be affected by off-the-field happenings, he added during the team's net session at the Police Playing-Field. Just look at them out there practising hard.

No one, including West Indies coach Roger Harper, knows what effect the timing of the release of the report will have on a Pakistan team seeking to win their first Test series in the Caribbean.

I am not aware of the contents of that report, so I can't say it will boost our chances or negatively affect the Pakistanis, he said.

What was of more concern to Harper was the 22-yard strip in the middle of a lush green golf course-like outfield. He admitted that the pitch appeared dry although it was his understanding that more water would have been applied later in the afternoon.

The ARG pitch is well known for its batsman-friendly reputation and has often been a nightmare for fast bowlers, but chief goundsman Keith Frederick is promising something different this year.

It should be somewhat of an encouragement if there is to be a winner here. Should there be none, it would be the first time since 1972 that a Test series in the Caribbean would fail to produce an outright result in any match.

Frederick's prediction stems from what transpired in the three Busta Cup matches here this season when there were four totals of less than 160.

During the Busta Cup, all the fast bowlers who played here really enjoyed bowling, Frederick said. I personally think the West Indies fast bowlers in particular will enjoy bowling here.

If you look at it [the pitch] now, it's hard and there is moisture underneath.

As a result, if Frederick were the captain winning the toss, he would promptly ask the opposition to bat first. Mind you, he says they too can enjoy themselves.

There should be a little bounce, but if the batsmen apply themselves properly, they should get some runs, he said.

West Indies predictably made the switch between the fit-again Franklyn Rose and Nixon McLean, who bowled disappointingly in the second Test in which he conceded more than four runs an over.

As usual, Pakistan will finalise their 11 a few minutes before the toss, and once again everyone is waiting to see if Shoaib Akhtar will finally make his appearance.

If the Rawalpindi Express is not fit enough to take his place, it is felt that he will take the first available trip to London.

West Indies: Jimmy Adams (captain), Sherwin Campbell, Adrian Griffith,Wavell Hinds, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Ridley Jacobs, Franklyn Rose, Curtly Ambrose, Reon King, Courtney Walsh. Reserves: Chris Gayle, Nixon McLean, Mahendra Nagamootoo.

Pakistan (from) Moin Khan (captain), Mohammad Wasim, Imran Nazir, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Abdur Razzaq, Wasim Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Wajahatullah Wasti, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Akram.

Umpires: Billy Doctrove (Dominica), Doug Cowie (New Zealand). TV replays: Pat Whyte (Antigua). Match referee: Peter Burge (Australia).