COLOMBO - Steve Waugh is not entirely sure whether he will know some of
the players who turn out for Pakistan in the first cricket Test starting
here on Thursday.
Pakistan has been hit by withdrawals and injuries to senior players
while others have been dumped, meaning a bevy of young and unproven
Pakistanis will take on the world champion in the first of three Tests
at neutral venues.
"I'm not even sure who's in their team to tell you the truth," Waugh
said.
"The young Pakistani players have got a lot of talent and I'm sure
they'll pull out someone who does very well at Test cricket without us
even knowing about them.
"With other countries you know what you're going to get but with
Pakistan, half the time they don't even know what they've got."
The changes include openers Imran Farhat and Taufeeq Umar, middle order
batsmen Hasan Raza and Faisal Iqbal, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and fast
bowler Mohammad Zahid, who have all played for Pakistan in Tests or
one-day internationals.
Those six have played only 28 Tests between them. Uncapped allrounder
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan also makes the squad.
Waugh said the injuries to middle-order batsmen Inzamam-ul-Haq and
Yousuf Youhana were a big blow.
"Inzamam's a big loss, particularly on the flat, low Sharjah wickets
where he likes to dominate.
"And Youhana's probably one of their better batters as well so that
leaves a big hole in their batting."
Waugh said Australia's line-up had not been discussed but said the pitch
conditions would dictate whether young Queenslander Nathan Hauritz
played his first Test.
"I think you'd have to consider two spinners if the wicket's like it was
for the (Champions Trophy) semifinal the other night, you'd be silly not
to look at it - but the word is the Test wicket will have a bit of grass
on it."