The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Pakistan team arrives in city

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 30, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

Pakistan team arrives in city

By Our Sports Reporter

HYDERABAD, MARCH 29. Pakistan manager Salim Altaf predicts a tough and exciting one-day series even while making it clear that Test cricket is a different ball game altogether. "Yes, the victory in Bangalore Test certainly lifted the spirit of the young Pakistanis. But, I should stress here that the confidence level was very high after the way we saved the first Test in Mohali," he told newsmen on arrival here.

The former Pakistani Test cricketer felt that the young and inexperienced team that had been written off by quite a few critics had proved them wrong by pulling off something special in the Test series. "There is no doubt that the high-point of the tour so far has been the victory in the Bangalore Test which levelled the three-match seriies," he stressed.

Salim Altaf also reminded that the Indians were a much stronger and experienced Test side but things should be different for the six-match one-dayers commencing in Kochi on April 2.

Commenting on Wednesday's match, the Pakistan manager said they had not given any thought whether Inzamam-ul-Haq should lead in the practice match tomorrow. But, it is certain that some of the seniors would be rested even while observing that the quick switch-over from Test cricket to one-dayers will not drastically affect the performances of the players for they are now quite used to these things.

There is only one strategy in one-dayers and that it to win, he said to a query. "Every match will be different and should be evenly fought given the strengths of the two teams," he observed.

What really pleased him about this Pakistan team? "Well, the genuine commitment of the entire team to do well under trying circumstances. The best part is that the youngsters started believing in themselves," Salim Altaf remarked. "More importantly, the boys have really handled the enormous pressure remarkably well," he added.

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