100-Test Inzamam says Pakistan captaincy not on line by AFP

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Ground:	M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Scorecard:	India v Pakistan
Player:	Inzamam-ul-Haq
Event:	Pakistan in India 2004/05

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DateLine: 23rd March 2005

 

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has brushed aside suggestions he may be sacked if his team fails to secure a series-levelling victory in the third and final Test against India starting here on Thursday.

 

Inzamam finds himself under intense scrutiny ahead of his 100th Test with Pakistan trailing 1-0 following the 195-run defeat in the second match at Calcutta on Sunday. The opening Test at Mohali ended in a draw.

 

"Yes, it is a crucial match for us in a big series and we will try to win it," he said on Wednesday. "We will have to play positive and aggressive cricket to square the series.

 

"But I do not think my job is on the line. People always say such things whenever we lose. I am not worried about this."

 

Inzamam, 35, continued as captain even after Pakistan lost both the Test and one-day series against India at home last year.

 

Inzamam, who will become only the fourth Pakistani to figure in 100 Tests after Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram and Salim Malik, said he expected his team-mates to raise the level of their performance in his "special match".

 

"The 100th Test is always special but I will be happier if we win. I never thought I would play 100 matches when I started my career," he said. "It has not been an easy journey."

 

Inzamam wants an improved show from his batsmen, especially against leg-spinner Anil Kumble who led India to victory with a 10-wicket match-haul in the Calcutta Test.

 

"The row over Harbhajan Singh's bowling action may help us a bit. He is a good bowler, but don't forget it was Kumble who did the damage in the previous match," the Pakistan captain said.

 

Off-spinner Harbhajan is eligible to play even after being reported for a suspect action by English match-referee Chris Broad after the second Test.

 

Pakistan plan two changes, bringing in opener Yasir Hameed and off-spinner Arshad Khan in place of out-of-form batsman Taufeeq Umar and paceman Mohammad Khalil.

 

India captain Sourav Ganguly, meanwhile, is also under pressure but for different reasons.

 

Ganguly is struggling as a batsman, having scored just 45 in his last three innings against the tourists.

 

"I know I am not getting runs. I need to score big here and I will do my best," he said.

 

India have a chance to jump to second place behind Australia in the international cricket rankings if they clinch the series by a 2-0 margin.

 

"It will be a big achievement for the team, a great thing for Indian cricket. It will be very satisfying. Obviously, we will play to win, not draw," said Ganguly.

 

The Indian captain said the Harbhajan controversy had not affected the team's morale. "I don't think it is a major worry," said Ganguly.

 

"He was cleared only three weeks ago. I think the ICC (International Cricket Council) has to take a permanent stand. He needs to play without all these pressures. He is a fighter and a great competitor."

 

Likely teams:
India: Sourav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Dinesh Karthik, Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble, Laxmipathy Balaji, Harbhajan Singh.

 

Pakistan: Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Yasir Hameed, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Asim Kamal, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, Arshad Khan.
Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL) and Simon Taufel (AUS)
TV umpire: I. Sivaram (IND)
Match-referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)