Back to Main Page                                                                       Archives

Tickets for Indo-Pak cricket series online: http://pcbtickets.cricket.org, http://pcb.cricket.org, www.cricinfo.com.

Sehwag gives India a flying start in Multan Test

          Multan: Opener Virender Sehwag scored a scintillating double century after giving India a flying start with the other opener Akash Chopra in the opening Test here on Sunday. Sehwag was 228 not out off 271 balls, with 30 fours and five sixes. Apart from being the third Indian to make a double century against Pakistani, he was next to Sanjay Manjrekar to have this honour on Pakistan soil. Besides, he is the highest scorer against Pakistan from India. Anshuman Gaekwad had made 201 against Pakistan in Jalandhar in 1983-84 and the second one came from the willow of Sanjay Manjrekar (218) in Lahore in 1989-90. The explosive batsman from Delhi savaged Pakistan's new-ball bowlers on a flat pitch after Rahul Dravid, leading the tourists in the absence of skipper Sourav Ganguly due to a back injury, chose to bat. Sehwag and Aakash Chopra (42 off 121 balls) looked comfortable against Pakistan's formidable pace battery of Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Shabbir Ahmed, who were wayward and bowled too short.

Inzamam disappointed at Multan's slow track (Go To Top)

          Multan: Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was not satisfied with the pitch prepared for the first Test against India in Multan. He reportedly said that he had been looking for a hard and bouncy track so that Pakistan could play to its strength - the fast bowlers. "We asked for a hard and bouncy track with some grass on it. But I don't know what they have in mind. This pitch is too dry and should break up and assist the spinners. We have to think on those lines now," the News quoted Inzi as saying on Saturday.

          Clearly, the pitch has now become a decisive factor in the Pakistan team's planning as home team pacers were looking to have a go at the Indian batting with its pace attack from the start. "It is always good to make a winning start to a series. I just think we will now have to forget about the pitch and try to perform to our best and try to force a positive result," he added. Sources in the Pakistan team said that Inzamam would be speaking to the Board officials about the preparation of pitches for the remaining two Tests as he was worried that Pakistan should not give away the home advantage to the Indians. "He is concerned because the Indians have a strong batting line- up and are capable of running up big totals on such dry pitches," the source reportedly said.

Multan Test: Dejected Pak fans keep away (Go To Top)

          Multan: Dejected by the defeat in one day series, cricket fans kept themselves away from the first Test venue. According to a report in the News, only 4000 could be sold by Saturday evening even as the total capacity of the stadium is around 28,000. The report said that if sales do not pick up during the five days of the Test, it would mark a stark contrast with the one-day series, which saw capacity crowds at all venues. The hometown of Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, Multan is otherwise considered a cricket loving town. "It is very hot here and it is going to be difficult to sustain the interest of the people for five days after the nerve-wracking one-day series," said Chaudhary Zafar Gadazi, a local leader and cricket fan. "Nobody likes to watch their own team losing, especially against India. The Pakistani players have disappointed the general public and I don't think the result will be any better (than the one-day series)," said Liaqat, a college student who lives close to the stadium. Meanwhile, according to the report, Inzamam is expected to be under pressure to perform. He has already won considerable criticism in the country after the ODI series defeat despite his two fighting hundreds. An unforgiving media at home has hounded him with uncomfortable queries.

Miandad has unique honour (Go To Top)

           Multan: Pakistan coach Javed Miandad will earn a unique honour and a triple celebration on Sunday when his team starts their 300th Test, a series opener against India, said a report in the Daily Times on Sunday. Miandad featured in Pakistan's 100th Test match as a player and then captained the side in their 200th. "It's something unique and quite an honour to have been player, captain and then coach of the team when they reached these milestones," Miandad said adding "It feels good to know you've been around for so long." He said: "It would be nice if we can cap our 300th Test with a win against India." Pakistan have won 92, lost 74 and drawn 133 of their 299 Tests. In Pakistan's 100th Test played at Melbourne in 1978-79 Miandad scored 16 and 19. However, he did better in Pakistan's 200th Test against England at Old Trafford in 1992, scoring 88 and 45.