Mushtaq misses decider on spinners' pitch
Posted: Wednesday October 21, 1998 01:48 PM
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Mushtaq aggravated a bruised knee in the drawn second test and is ruled out of the final match Mike Hewitt/Allsport |
KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) -- Pakistan will be without key leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed on what looks certain to be a turning pitch for the third and deciding test against Australia starting Thursday.
Mushtaq aggravated a bruised knee in the drawn second test at Peshawar and is ruled out of the final match in which a draw would give Australia their first test series triumph in Pakistan for 39 years.
Mark Taylor's team lead 1-0 after winning the opening test by an innings and 99 runs in Rawalpindi.
While acknowledging Mushtaq's absence was a big setback, Pakistan captain Aamir Sohail adopted a positive outlook with the return of all-rounder Wasim Akram, who missed the second test because of flu and a sore throat.
"It's definitely a blow. But instead of missing Mushtaq, we should think that Wasim is back. He is a match-winner and his performances are outstanding," Sohail said.
Both camps are convinced they face a spinners' pitch in the stronghold of Pakistan cricket -- the home country have not lost a test at Karachi's National Stadium in 44 years, winning 16 and drawing 16.
Pakistan coach and former skipper Javed Miandad said: "This is going to be a spinners' wicket. I don't know if two spinners would be enough."
His Australian opposite number Geoff Marsh said: "We are not surprised by the wicket. We knew that we will have to play at a spinning wicket. It is a good wicket but definitely would turn big."
Despite Pakistan's formidable record in Karachi, which includes five wins out of seven tests against Australia, Miandad sounded a note of caution.
"Past records only give you confidence, they can't save you from defeat if you play badly," Miandad said.
"This is perhaps one of the best Australian teams ever to visit Pakistan. It seems that they have worked hard and done their homework," he added.
Taylor said: "This series means a lot to me. Pakistan is a very hard and dangerous side to beat in their conditions but we have a lifetime opportunity to end their domination."
Australia has no fitness worries; their only problem is to decide between Ricky Ponting and Darren Lehmann for a middle-order batting place.
When injury kept in-form Lehmann out of the second test, Ponting took his chance by scoring 76 not out and 43. Lehmann scored 98 in the first test and then hit centuries in each innings of a four-day game against Rawalpindi Cricket Association.
"It's a real tough task. It's good to have players fit but very difficult to have everyone in form," Taylor said.
Marsh said: "The prospects are that we might stick to the same team that played at Peshawar."
Australia Squad
Mark Taylor (captain), Michael Slater, Justin Langer, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Ian Healy, Stuart MacGill, Damien Fleming, Glenn McGrath, Colin Miller, Gavin Robertson, Michael Kasprowicz.
Pakistan Squad
Aamir Sohail (captain), Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Salim Malik, Yousuf Yohanna, Moin Khan, Wasim Akram, Azhar Mahmood, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Akram, Shahid Nazir, Arshad Khan, Shakeel Ahmad, Saqlain Mushtaq.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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