Youngsters gave good account

After the 3-2 defeat in the one-day series against New Zealand the Pakistan team seemed extremely demoralised and depressed on top of that the sudden retreat of world class players Wasim Akram and Saeed Anwar owing to groin injury added to the acute disappointment.

I am particularly grieved at the return of Shahid Afridi and Imran Nazir also who have been branded as one-day players just as Saeed Anwar was similarly labelled.

Cricket observers, however have seen how Saeed proved his prowess and calibre as a Test stalwart. Shahid and Imran are not only good willowwielders but exceptionally excellent fielders. Imran Nazir specially is an outstanding fielder who can be classed with Jonty Rhodes and Nasser Husain. Afridi can be as useful in Test matches as in one-day contests. In fact his average in Tests is even better.

Fielding is our weakest department which renders this decision all the more regrettable. Imagine Arshad Khan as the 12th man in a Test. Can he cope with the cover point and slip position? I do not deny his potential but when a man doesn't fit in what was the need to send him.

This sort of selection gives rise to suspicions, more so when Saqlain is already there. Those who are today picking on his last eight-ball over that cost 24 runs forget that any team would hardly expose a spinner at such a stage. Thank God the management resisted his ouster by interested elements. This lobby unfortunately prefers selfish motives.

Shoaib Malik would have been on the basis of his record a much better alternative. While on this topic let me say that Ijaz Ahmed now called should have been in the original squad. Anyway better late than later.

On the second day of the Test - interrupted by rain our youngsters gave a good account of their talent and temperament. For once the home skipper misread the surface. The Pakistan team would probably not have given as creditable performance on the seaming wicket as they gave on a low-bounce track.

Although a conclusive opinion on the current Test at this time is premature but our spinners will have to show their mettle. Our batsmen have offered them room for that. They can confront the New Zealand batsmen with challenges. If our experienced players are injured so are Chris Cairns and Vettori. Thus the handicaps are evenly balanced. I must say Geoff Boycott's coaching is in evidence for which the PCB should also be commended.

The way Moin Khan is handling fresh stock is also praiseworthy. As a batsman too the skipper has come into his own with his breezy 47-run knock answers the call of the time. Younis Khan also deserves special mention although the team as a whole has demonstrated healthy approach with inspiration from the leader. Yousuf Youhana's innings bore the stamp of maturity yet Inzamam's absence is badly felt.

Manager Fakir Aizazuddin endearingly known by his pet name of 'Jaja Mian' could have controlled foot-and-mouth disease as a polo player and horse expert but groin complaints are beyond him. Discipline, on the whole, is maintained. After all he faced Charlie Griffith in his heydays our bowlers and players should not be a handful for him to manage.