MULTAN, 27 March 2004 — Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq, who has scored centuries in his last two matches in his home town of Multan, wants to continue his good run in the first Test against India starting tomorrow.
However, the 34-year-old says there is an extra pressure on him because it will be his first Test here as captain.
“Playing in your home town always means more pressure but it can also be a big motivating factor to turn in a special performance,” Inzamam told reporters yesterday. “I’ve done (well) in my last two matches here and I hope it’ll be no different against India.”
Last September, Inzamam scored an unbeaten 138 to set up a dramatic one-wicket win to rob Bangladesh of their first real chance to win a Test match. His other hundred here was also against Bangladesh, in the inaugural Test at this ground in 2001. “I’m disappointed with the way we lost the one-day series 3-2 to India after leading 2-1,” Inzamam said. “But I believe Test cricket is the real thing and the real Test for both teams starts only now.”
Inzamam is in top form, named man-of-the-series in the one-dayers earlier this week after scoring two centuries.
Pakistan’s main strength is their strong bowling lineup and Inzamam said he wanted a wicket that would offer his pacemen some movement.
Pakistan will go into the Test with three fast bowlers and only one specialist spinner, either leg-break bowler Danish Kaneria or off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq.
10-Wicket Kumble
Back to Haunt Pakistan
India’s Anil Kumble, who once took all 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan, said yesterday he looked forward to renewing battle with the archrivals.
The 33-year-old leg-spinner, who missed the preceding one-day series due to a shoulder injury, will spearhead India’s bowling attack in the three Test matches starting tomorrow.
“It’s great to be back in the fold,” said Kumble, India’s most successful spinner with 382 wickets from 81 matches.
Kumble emulated Englishman Jim Laker when he grabbed all 10 wickets in an innings during the second Test against Pakistan at New Delhi in February 1999.
“I am on my first tour of Pakistan and look forward to playing here,” he said.
“It is going to be very challenging series. I think the boys were brilliant in the one-day series and we can take a lot of positives from that going into the Test matches.”
India came from a 1-2 deficit to win the one-dayers 3-2 following a 40-run win in the decisive fifth match at Lahore on Wednesday.
“It was a wonderful show by the team to win their first one-day series ever in Pakistan. I hope we can do the same in the Tests.”
India have never won a Test match in Pakistan on five previous tours comprising 20 Tests. The hosts won five Tests while the rest were drawn.
“It is an education for international cricketers to play in different conditions around the world,” Kumble said. “We had a very good tour of Australia where we held the world champions to a 1-1 draw in the Test series.
“The conditions will be different in Pakistan from what we had in Australia, but that tour gave us the confidence to play well anywhere.”
Kumble reckoned the pitch at the plush Multan cricket stadium appeared to be “a good Test wicket” and hoped he will be able to extract good bounce from it.
Kumble goes into the first Test without a first-class game since Jan. 6, the last day of the fourth and final Test against Australia at Sydney.
