Pakistan Team for Indian tour likely to be finalized today (14 January 1999)

14 January 1999

Team for Indian tour likely to be finalized today

By Our Sports Reporter

KARACHI, Jan 13: A 15-man Pakistan cricket team for the forthcoming tour of India would be finalized and submitted to the cricket board on Thursday.

However, it would be upto the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) when it officially releases the squad to the media.

On Wednesday during the training camp, the three selectors - Wasim Bari (chairman), Salahuddin Ahmad and Shafiq Ahmad - held an informal meeting with coach Javed Miandad at the National Stadium. It is believed that a tentative squad has been finalized which would be discussed on Thursday.

Skipper Wasim Akram's consent would also be taken while finalizing the side.

The squad is unlikely to have any surprises barring the exclusion of Aamir Sohail who himself has stamped the end of his career by not attending the national camp. He is certain to be replaced by Wajahatullah Wasti who impressed on the New Zealand tour with Pakistan A. Wasim Akram was also full of praise for him saying he had a compact defence and good temperament.

Saeed Anwar and Mohammad Naveed Qureshi are the other two openers.

In the middle-order, Ijaz Ahmad, Salim Malik, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana are a sure bet while the fight for the fifth place might be between Asif Mujtaba and Shahid Afridi. According to sources, Mujtaba was enjoying a cutting edge because of his experience and additional qualification of being a left-hander. The only thing against him is his form as he scored only one half century in the Patron's Trophy for PIA.

The selectors have apparently decided to retain only three seamers, including skipper Wasim Akram. Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar are confirmed to be the other two. The logic behind three seamers in a squad of 15 is that the coach and captain expect to get slow and turning tracks in India.

In this background, three spinners are likely to be named. Mushtaq Ahmad and Saqlain Mushtaq select themselves automatically while the contest for the third slot is between Nadeem Khan and Mohammad Husain. Husain has played two Tests for Pakistan but has failed to leave any impression, including on the tour of New Zealand with Pakistan A while Nadeem Khan is bowling brilliantly in the camp. He also has a cushion of 35 odd wickets in the Patron's Trophy.

The selectors are unlikely to name two wicket-keepers and would bank on only vice-captain Moin Khan. Although two would have been a safe policy, the selectors feel that the flight to India was not more than 90 minutes and a replacement can be flown at the shortest possible time.

Saeed Anwar, Mohammad Naveed Qureshi, Wajahatullah Wasti, Ijaz Ahmad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Salim Malik, Yousuf Youhana, Asif Mujtaba/Shahid Afridi, Moin Khan (vice-captain), Wasim Akram (captain), Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmad and Nadeem Khan.

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)