South Africa get acquainted to the conditions

South Africa's one-day squad got down to work this afternoon when they practised at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore ahead of Wednesday's floodlit match against the City Nazim XI. After a 36-hour journey from Johannesburg and the effects of jet-lag, it was a deliberately low-key session.

"They were probably between 70 and 80% of optimum capacity, which is fine at this early stage of the trip," said Eric Simons, the coach. "But it's going to be a really tough tour, so we will be winding up the pace over the next few days."

For some, like Boeta Dippenaar, the session offered a first taste of the conditions so peculiar to these parts. "The nets were superb, flat and a decent pace, the ball came on to the bat very nicely, I hope they are the same in the middle."

The bowlers all had brief spells of target bowling as they eased themselves back into the different lines and lengths demanded on pitches of such benign nature. Alan Dawson, who won the Man of the Series award in the ODI series in Bangladesh in April, enjoyed his first outdoor net since playing against England in July.

"The winter in Cape Town is good for business, but not great for outdoor practice," said Dawson, who is a professional landscape gardener. But with pace variation a prime weapon on the subcontinent, Dawson was pleased with his control. "Yes, it came out really well today - particularly the slower ball, which is good news."

Simons is hoping to get the go-ahead to use all 14 players on a rotation basis in the warm-up match. "It's not the best way to prepare for a major international game, but time and circumstances mean that we need to give everyone a fair crack in the middle so that they can all make the necessary adjustments in batting and bowling disciplines. These are very different conditions from those we experienced in England."

The City Nazim XI is made up of Lahore-based players with a sprinkling of international experience. Misbah-ul-Haq will captain the team, although the batsman Faisal Iqbal is the only member of the current Pakistan ODI squad who will play tomorrow. The opening match of the series is on Friday under the lights at the Gaddafi Stadium.