Will Younis inspire a weakened Pakistan at Eden?
Defeat in the one-day series and the first Test would have been hard enough to take, but now Pakistan face an injury crisis that could severely dent their chances of keeping the three-Test series alive. With less than two days to go for the start of the Kolkata Test, Shoaib Malik, the captain, appears certain to miss out with an injured right ankle. But it's the health of Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan's best player in Delhi, that's causing the most concern.
He should be discharged from the Apollo Hospital on Wednesday evening after being treated for flu, chest congestion and dehydration, but whether he's in any state to play a part over five days remains to be seen. Mohammad Sami has also been afflicted by the flu bug that struck down Misbah-ul-Haq in Delhi, and the only good news comes in the shape of Umar Gul returning to full fitness.
Malik was largely anonymous on the field in Delhi, and did little with the bat either over two innings. Younis Khan, who should lead in his absence, is a bit of a livewire on the field, and will have happy memories of the Karachi Test last year where he led Pakistan to a record victory while deputising for Inzamam-ul-Haq. As for the batting, the replacement for Malik should be Faisal Iqbal, who scored a classy century in that Karachi game.
You can't help but feel though that the fate of the series rests on Shoaib's shoulders. It was at Eden that he first announced himself as a fast bowler of genuine menace, and it was his lethal bowling in that Asian Test Championship game that pushed India towards their only loss in Kolkata over the past decade. If he's missing, a solid Indian batting line-up and the spin twins, Kumble and Harbhajan, could just prove too strong once again.
Akhtar or no Akhtar, India should sweep the series.
Pakistan has had a problem of adopting to the different formats of the game and, having lost the Test and ODI series at home and the first Test and the ODI series to India, it will take something superhuman for them to turn things around.
I expect them to go toe to toe with India for about 3 days before they give in, yet again.
India may be an ordinary ODI side, but we play tough, attritional cricket - the current Pakistan outfit don't look like they are itching for a scrap.
PS: There were news reports that Malik was not exactly onside with his team mates and unilateral in his decision making. In these circumstances, do you really expect him to hand over the captaincy ( even if for 1 test) and risk a positive result under Younis Khan?
Posted by: Homer | November 28, 2007 at 11:15 PM
Couldn't agree with you more
Afridi should have been in this test squad and probany should have been named captain too. He's twice toured India scoring a century in his first tour and blew India was at Bangalore on the last.
What I would lke to know is what is wrong with Asif? Is there a genuine injury or does Shoaib's inclusion have a part to play?
Tanvir though has been a very good find and someone who i think will go on to have a successful career.
Inida have got to be careful. Yousaf and Younis are due and Butt's found some form in this tour.
Posted by: Tan Pawar | November 28, 2007 at 08:14 PM
Afridi wasn't even in the Test squad, simply bizarre when you consider what a huge series he had against India in 2006. Again, Pakistan's selectors work in mysterious ways, even more so than their Indian counterparts.
Posted by: Dileep | November 28, 2007 at 02:46 PM
So much depends on Shoaib as usual. Do you think that rising from his sickbed to save his nation at Eden of all places may just suit his self-image perfectly? I hope so, because for all of his childish and selfish behaviour, what a sight he is.
No chance of Boom Boom Afridi getting Shoaib Malik's spot? Or is he in retirement again?
Posted by: The Tooting Trumpet | November 28, 2007 at 02:34 PM