Time to experiment

Bob Woolmer is preparing to mastermind Pakistan's attempts to gain one-day success over England © Getty Images

As if by rote, questions of psychological advantages began as soon as Matthew Hoggard was bowled in the final Test at Lahore. `Does Pakistan now hold a psychological advantage over England in the ODI series?' `Is England psychologically down already before the series starts?' `Psychologically, are Pakistan favourites?' No psychologist has been on hand to answer the queries, only Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistani captain. And, along with Bob Woolmer, he has only told us that one-day cricket is indeed a different game to Test cricket.

Psychology aside, there is little doubt that Pakistan is not lacking for confidence at the moment. That much, at least, Inzamam is willing to admit. "Obviously the team has been very confident after the Test win," before obviously adding, "but ODIs and Tests are a different game. We will have to work hard. In ODIs one player can change the match completely but yes we are confident."

Even disregarding the Test results, Pakistan's ODI record, recent and over the last 18 months, is impressive. They begin Saturday having won their last seven matches and 22 from 34 since June last year. Their success in that time has been moulded out of Pakistani and Woolmerian principles; allrounders (multidimensional if you're a psychologist) are not bits n' pieces, they are spectacular and a clinical batting line-up revolving largely around the bulwark of Inzamam but boasting cavaliers such as Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi at either end of the line-up. Spearheaded by the unassuming Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and backed up by Mohammad Sami (who does still cut it over ten overs) and a motley crew of spinners and medium-pacers, the bowling has also never lacked for options or incisiveness.

But for and from tomorrow, with Shahid Afridi missing ("He will definitely be missed as he is one our main players," said Inzamam) the line-up will float. With the World Cup now 15 months away and seven ODI series till then, mild experimentation, as Woolmer said, has begun. "This is part of the build-up to the World Cup. The start of getting our team together, getting the players together, making sure they know their roles, getting ideas together. We've got seven series leading up to the World Cup and we treat them all as a build-up."

Shoaib Malik, responsible for much of Pakistan's batting thrust from number three for the last year (947 runs from 22 matches at 45.09 from one down), might play tomorrow or he might not, depending on whether he has recovered from an exhausting three-day jaunt to Australia to have his action examined again. If he does, he might open, or he might not. No clue came from Inzamam either, who said only, "Inshallah, he will play."

If he doesn't, then it is understood Kamran Akmal might open. Then again, he might not. Younis Khan, somehow still to fit into Pakistan's ODI scheme of things, may move to number three, or he may come in lower down, a finisher in the making. With the bonus return of Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq and the possibility of playing Danish Kaneria, the final XI and its order is only more uncertain.

For the first time though, Pakistan will be taxed by the dilemma of the Supersub. When the rule first emerged, it was designed seemingly with Pakistan in mind: one wildcard who can come in and throw all plans out the window, preferably with bat and ball. Cards don't come much wilder than Razzaq, Afridi or even Malik. Not that Pakistan seem particularly disturbed by the prospect. Frankly, Inzamam said, "I can't say too much about it because I don't have experience of using it. From tomorrow I will get a clearer idea of it. We haven't decided yet who it will be." Woolmer offered only gentle criticism. "We haven't used it so it is unfair for me to criticise it. But there is an anomaly in it that you have to announce your Supersub before the toss and that is unfair on one side in particular."

Talk of pitches for ODIs borders on the irrelevant in any case and Gaddafi Stadium is unlikely to buck that trend. Runs will come off it and because of the 11.00am start, dew is unlikely to play such a factor later in the game. Inzamam psychologised, "Because of the start, dew might only play a part in the last hour or so of the match but I think the late start covers the effects pretty much. It is a batting pitch but there is nothing in it really that will give a decisive advantage to whoever wins the toss."

All of which brings us back, of course, to the only question: Who starts favourite? England, said Inzamam after much pestering and with a hint of exasperation, but as it was followed by laughs all around, are we to assume that Pakistan start favourites? Maybe not, Inzamam retorted: "They are a big team. They can come back at any time so we can't be overconfident." With Woolmer adding he never regards himself as favourite for anything, the only thing left to do is to call for the psychologist and ask him.

Pakistan (probable) 1 Salman Butt, 2 Kamran Akmal (wk), 3 Shoaib Malik, 4 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Mohammad Yousuf, 6 Younis Khan, 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, 9 Shoaib Akhtar, 10 Mohammad Sami, 11 Danish Kaneria. Supersub Yasir Arafat