Pakistan on a high ahead of second India Test by AFP

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Ground:	Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Player:	Inzamam-ul-Haq, SC Ganguly
Event:	Pakistan in India 2004/05

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DateLine: 14th March 2005

 

Pakistan plan to give India yet another shock treatment by raising the level of their performance in the second cricket Test at the Eden Gardens here.

 

The tourists defied the odds by salvaging a creditable draw from a losing position in the opening match of the three-Test series at Mohali on Saturday, frustrating India with their resilient lower-order batting.

 

Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq said his team would not rest on the Mohali laurels, but raise their performance further to win the Test series.

 

"I think we can win this series, but we need to improve our catching and our top-order batsmen should also deliver," said Inzamam, whose team dropped five catches in the first Test.

 

Pakistan's main worry was their top-order batting after Salman Butt, Taufeeq Umar and vice-captain Younis Khan all failed in the previous match, putting pressure on their team-mates.

 

Inzamam led from the front with two successive half-centuries before finding a saviour in wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, who denied India victory on the final day with a maiden Test century.

 

Pakistan were just 53 in front with their last four wickets in hand when Akmal put on a record 184 for the seventh wicket with all-rounder Abdul Razzaq (71) to steer his team to safety.

 

"The fightback will help us in the series. It was a great morale-booster," said Inzamam.

 

Pakistan not only silenced their critics who had called the team "weak", but also infused new life into the series which was initially considered a contest between two unequal teams.

 

The inexperienced Pakistani side gained a big psychological edge with their resolute show after being on the ropes on the first four days before coming back strongly on the final day.

 

But Pakistan will have to solve their pace bowling problems before nurturing hopes of gaining the lead in the series.

 

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria alone put in a disciplined performance against a strong Indian batting line-up in the last match, finishing with six wickets.

 

He, however, lacked support from the other end as pacemen Mohammad Sami, Razzaq and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan failed to keep pressure on the Indian batsmen.

 

India will also be looking forward to a tidy performance from their bowlers in the second Test starting on Wednesday, especially after their failure to complete the job at Mohali.

 

The hosts sorely missed the services of off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was dropped to accommodate the third seamer. He may be included for this match to give support to Anil Kumble.

 

The toss-up is likely to be between Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan as Laxmipathy Balaji is sure of his place after a nine-wicket performance in his comeback match at Mohali.

 

"It is never easy to leave out a bowler of Harbhajan's class, but I am sure he will be back in business soon," said Indian captain Sourav Ganguly.

 

"Pakistan emerged with great credit at Mohali, but I am confident we can win here.

 

Pakistan (from): Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Salman Butt, Taufeeq Umar, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Asim Kamal, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Danish Kaneria, Yasir Hameed, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Khalil, Arshad Khan.

 

India (from): Sourav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Dinesh Karthik, Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Laxmipathy Balaji, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh, Ashish Nehra.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)