Tendulkar, Akram battle injuries ahead of second Test (3 February 1999)

3 February 1999

Tendulkar, Akram battle injuries ahead of second Test

AFP

NEW DELHI, Feb 3 (AFP) - Injuries to superstars Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Akram cast a shadow over arch-rivals India and Pakistan as they prepared for the crucial second Test starting here on Thursday.

Tendulkar, who suffered back spasms during his valiant knock of 136 in the Madras Test on Sunday, had a light workout on Wednesday after missing India's training session the previous day.

Akram, the Pakistani captain, was still hobbling after aggravating a recurring hamstring strain during the tense final moments of the first Test which his team won by 12 runs.

Both players were, however, determined to play the Test, which Pakistan needs only to draw to win their first series on Indian soil in 12 years.

"I am much better now after treatment and a few days rest," Tendulkar said. "I will play for sure."

Akram, hoping to emulate his mentor Imran Khan's feat of winning a Test series in India, said nothing would stop him from taking the field.

"This is the most important series of my life and there is no way I am going to sit out," the versatile all-rounder said.

Tendulkar's recovery is vital for skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, whose record of not losing a home series since 1993 is in danger of being eclipsed.

Indian coach Anshuman Gaekwad played down the defeat in the first Test, saying the narrow 12-run margin reflected the "wafer-thin" difference between the two teams.

"The match could have gone either way," he said. "We paid for not batting well against Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq. I am certain that will not happen again. "

Gaekwad stressed the new opening pair of Sadagopan Ramesh and Venkat Laxman, who managed a measely five runs in the crucial second innings at Madras, would not be disbanded.

It means India will once again field just four bowlers in a must-win situation. The only change being discussed is left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi making way for teenage off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Pakistan are also considering one change, bringing in veteran leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed in place of left-armer Nadeem Khan who went wicketless in Madras.

Both teams will name their playing elevens just before the toss after another close look at the bone-dry wicket, which was dug up last month by Hindu militants protesting the tour.

With unseasonal rains last week hampering curator Radhey Shyam's preparations, the usually run-filled pitch at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium sports thin cracks, raising fears it may not last the distance.

"I have done my best, but the rains have not helped," Radhey Shyam said. "It will be a slow turner with enough runs for the batsmen."

The Kotla was originally scheduled to host the first Test from January 28, but the match was later shifted to Madras to give the ground staff time to repair the damaged turf.

Hindu militants had threatened to disrupt the tour in protest against Pakistan's support for Moslem separatists in Kashmir, but the campaign was called off at the last minute.

Fears that the Madras Test would be disrupted proved unfounded, but officials are not taking any chances. More than 2,000 central paramilitary troops will join hundreds of Delhi policemen in securing the fortified stadium.

Their ranks will be swelled by the presence of 20 snake charmers, drafted in to counter a militant threat to release venomous snakes during the match.

Pakistan (from): Wasim Akram (capt), Shahid Afridi, Saeed Anwar, Ijaz Ahmed, Salim Malik, Inzamam-ul Haq, Yousuf Youhanna, Moin Khan, Waqar Younis, Nadeem Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Azhar Mehmood.

India (from): Mohammad Azharuddin (capt), Sadagopan Ramesh, Venkat Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Nayan Mongia, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Anil Kumble, Sunil Joshi, Harbhajan Singh, Laxmi Shukla, Hrishikesh Kanitkar

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies), A.V. Jayaprakash (India)

Source :: AFP