The Hindu : Sport : Can Younis Khan do it again for Pakistan?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 09, 2005

Sport

Sport

Can Younis Khan do it again for Pakistan?

By Sanjay Rajan

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING: Skipper Sourav Ganguly would rather let his bat do the talking in the third One-day International. — Photo: S. Subramanium

JAMSHEDPUR, APRIL 8. Younis Khan's return is expected to lend the much-needed stability to Pakistan's batting department, and the visiting team hopes its Bangalore Test hero will fashion a turnaround in its fortune in the six-match Pepsi Cup limited-overs series as well.

Down 0-2, every clash, beginning with the third contest at the Keenan Stadium here on Saturday, is virtually a do-or-die battle for Pakistan.

"We've been through situations like these before, and we've staged a comeback from there. Why, we came back to win the Bangalore Test and draw the series," said Younis, whose double century laid the base at the Garden City.

The vice-captain had missed the first two clashes owing to indisposition. And among the first things that he did on arriving at Jamshedpur was to practice against leg-spinners who were asked to relentlessly attack the leg-stump from around the wicket.

Trump card

It is pretty evident that Sachin Tendulkar, the bowler, is on the opposition's mind. The Mumbaikar has had a pretty ordinary series with the willow so far, but has bowled exceptionally well, to the extent that he is India's trump card.

Tendulkar claimed five for 50 off 10 overs at Kochi and none for 44 off seven overs at Visakhapatnam, both efforts playing key roles in the victories.

In the last match, Tendulkar was introduced in the 16th over with Pakistan on 102 for two and the stand between Abdul Razzaq and Inzamam-ul-Haq looking every bit ominous. Tendulkar operated from around the wicket almost immediately and displayed tremendous control at a time when Pakistan was looking for runs.

It calls for accuracy from a leg-spinner to operate from around the wicket and attack the leg-stump, especially in the one-day game where umpires are quick to call wide. Tendulkar bowled just three wides.

Younis, who averages 31.67 in the shorter format of the game at a high scoring rate of 73.12, could occupy the No. 3 slot. Shoaib Malik had batted — lasted just five deliveries though — at the crucial position in the first ODI while Abdul Razzaq, promoted to one-drop, had orchestrated the chase in the second match.

While the logical move would have been to replace an out-of-form Malik with Younis, he will in fact replace all-rounder Md. Hafeez. The other two changes to the side would be that of mediumpacer Rao Iftikhar for Md. Sami and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria in place of off-spinner Arshad Khan.

Addressing the media, Younis said the XI would be decided only during the team meeting later in the evening.

Arshad not incisive

Arshad took six wickets in the two matches, but has not really been incisive. His wickets came in the slog overs, by which time India was well on way to a dominating total.

Kaneria has played in only 10 ODIs — Pakistan relies on all-rounders in the abridged version of the game — but considering the fact that he had taken 19 wickets in the Test series, and given Tendulkar's success in the two ODIs, it is only logical that he be given a go.

"If he is selected, I would think he'll play a key role," said Younis. "We should try out combinations, I'd say," added the vice-captain.

Iftikhar is a mediumpacer who has played eight ODIs. He possesses a lethal out swinger and reverse swings the old ball as well. With the Jamshedpur pitch promising to be a flat-bed, thus unresponsive for a paceman like Sami, Iftikhar is being considered as an option.

Meanwhile, India is keen to pin down the opposition. "We spoke about it this morning. There is absolutely no room for complacency. We are aware of what happened in the Test series," said Rahul Dravid.

Lucky with toss

India has been lucky with the toss on both occasions. "I do not think the toss would be crucial here, but then again, it is always an advantage to bat first in one-dayers, as you can rattle up a good total and apply pressure on the opposition," said the Indian vice-captain.

With Balaji rested due to a rib strain, Ajit Agarkar, the only other right-arm seamer in a predominantly left-arm pack, should replace him automatically, considering that the skipper Sourav Ganguly is all for a three-paceman formula. And Agarkar is a useful lower-order batsman to boot.

"As I've said earlier, we have options in the spin department in terms of support bowlers. Logic does not permit us to make changes to a winning combination. Similarly, Dhoni would bat at No. 3. He scored a century in the previous game batting at that slot," said Dravid.

The teams (from): India: V. Sehwag, S. Tendulkar, S. Ganguly (captain), R. Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, M. Kaif, D. Mongia, M. Dhoni (wicketkeeper), I. Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, M. Kartik, A. Nehra, A. Agarkar, Zaheer Khan & L. Balaji.

Pakistan: S. Butt, K. Akmal (wicketkeeper), S. Malik, Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Y. Youhana, A. Razzaq, S. Afridi, Naved-ul-Hasan, M. Sami, A. Khan, A. Kamal, M. Hafeez, S. Nazir, D. Kaneria, Iftikhar Anjum & Younis Khan.

Umpires: Billy Bowden & Hariharan. Third umpire: A.V. Jayaprakash. Match referee: C. Broad. Hours of play: 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. & 1.15 p.m. to 4.45 p.m.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport