The Hindu : Pakistan captain's warning

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 02, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Pakistan captain's warning

The Pakistani captain is a worried man. — PTI

MULTAN, APRIL 1 Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq warned his seamers on Thursday to either show discipline in their bowling or be dropped from the team after India recorded a convincing innings and 52-run victory in the first Test.

``We have to make changes if our bowlers do not bowl up to their strength,'' Inzamam told reporters after India dismissed Pakistan for 216 in the second innings and posted its first ever Test victory on Pakistan soil.

``Bowling was our strength before the series started but our bowlers didn't bowl to the right line and length,'' said Inzamam, who lost in his hometown for the first time in three Test matches.

Speedster Shoaib Akhtar also came under fire from his captain after ``the Rawalpindi Express'' went wicketless in the match and conceded 119 runs off his 32 overs. Lanky seam bowler Shabbir Ahmed (0-122) also failed to get a wicket, while paceman Mohammad Sami grabbed two wickets but conceded 110 runs off his 34 overs.

``A star player is the one who performs in the field,'' Inzamam said. ``If we continued to perform like this, we have to make changes and those who are not performing we have to change them.''

Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq also disappointed in his comeback game after six months and was punished by both Indian strokeplayers — Sehwag and Tendulkar. He failed to bowl his famous ``doosra'' — a delivery which drifts away from the right-handed batsmen — and conceded 204 runs off his erratic 43 overs.

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