Records could tumble at Karachi

Bob Woolmer and Mohammad Yousuf take a look at the Karachi pitch © AFP

At the risk of making Karachi sound like a tourist hotspot, the port city is bathing in sunlight, temperatures are idling in the mid-20s and a cool sea breeze is blowing across the National Stadium. For the important business of Test cricket, conditions are ideal.

The good cheer has slipped into the West Indian camp as they attempt to build on a draw in Multan with what would be a memorable, nay, historic win in Karachi. It's arguable whether they should be so cheery given their recent away record: It's been over six years since they won a Test abroad against a major Test nation, a harum-scarum innings triumph at Edgbaston.

During this period, they have only drawn six of their 44 away Tests against the upper cricketing echelon. They haven't even drawn a major series abroad since 1995. Precisely why, perhaps, Brian Lara attached such significance to the Multan Test. "We are very optimistic and the drawn Test is a great template for us," Lara told the media. "We can walk around with that Test in our back pocket."

History is not lost upon him. "One of the motivating factors on the last day in Multan was the fact that we hadn't won abroad against a major side for so long. First we have to start playing good cricket - that is the first step. But that record shouldn't affect us negatively and the guys are looking forward to the challenge."

His geography isn't bad either, correctly locating Karachi in the south, where the sun is out earlier and for longer. He might have added that the combination helps in producing what the local curator called "win-loss tracks." The last two Tests in Karachi, against India and Sri Lanka, have produced crackerjack Tests for everyone's tastes: fast bowlers have thrived (even Abdul Razzaq has a five-wicket haul here), spinners have prospered (Danish Kaneria's last ten-wicket haul was here in 2004), batsmen have been rewarded and officials and spectators have gone home smiling. And even if the pitch currently appears dry and grassless, it is worth bearing in mind that only one of the last ten Tests at this ground has ended in a draw.

A draw would be good enough for a series win for Pakistan, though probably not enough to assuage doubts that have gathered around them since the England series. Pre-series scripts didn't see West Indies dominating a drawn Test (though they probably didn't expect Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif to be out on drug charges). There are concerns aplenty, though some are greater than others.

Brian Lara is 96 short of 12,000 Test runs © Getty Images

Inzamam-ul-Haq's recent form - without a fifty in eight innings - is one such though it still seems inconceivable that he won't come good sooner rather than later. Of more concern is Abdul Razzaq's place. It says much about his career that even a pivotal 80 in his last innings isn't enough to remove uncertainty about his true worth to the Test side (only his third fifty in 26 Tests). But Karachi has been kind to him; apart from his only Test five-for, his most memorable all-round performance came here, in January against India, seven wickets and scores 45 and 90.

The other lingering question is that of Mohammad Sami. One of the problems of non-performing allrounders is the space they deny specialists but what Sami's primary occupation is remains open to question. It is suspected he is here as a tearaway. His form in domestic cricket has been good, though no-balls continue to plague him. "Sami brings pace if he plays and if he does, hopefully he will perform well. Our bowlers Gul and Nazir have done well for us but the pitch here supports fast bowlers usually so we will see."

Many things can be expected from this Test. Mohammad Yousuf might break one of the longest-standing batting records in international cricket (that of Viv Richards for the most runs in a calendar year). Inzamam might come back into form. Corey Collymore might receive the luck that is so emphatically his due and hustle out Pakistan. Brian Lara might become the first man to score over 12,000 Test runs (he needs 96 more runs). If he does, it is likely that he will move alongside Sachin Tendulkar as the top century-maker in Test cricket. Above all, a result other than a draw, can also be expected.

Pakistan (probable): 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Imran Farhat, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Mohammad Yousuf, 5 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Abdul Razzaq, 7 Shoaib Malik, 8 Kamran Akmal (wk), 9 Shahid Nazir, 10 Umar Gul, 11 Danish Kaneria

West Indies (probable): 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Daren Ganga, 3 Brian Lara (capt), 4 Runako Morton, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 Denesh Ramdin, 8 Dave Mohammed, 9 Darren Powell, 10 Jerome Taylor, 11 Corey Collymore