Sport
We're ready to tackle Kumble: Pakistan

New Delhi (PTI): Nine winters back, Anil Kumble wreaked havoc with his 10-wicket haul against Pakistan at the same venue but this time around, the visitors are in no mood to oblige him again.

Team manager Talat Ali gave enough indications that Kumble's 'Perfect 10' feat on Kotla still rankled the Pakistanis but he ruled out an encore when the teams meet here for the first Test starting on Thursday.

"Well, he is the new captain and I wish him all the best. He has produced some outstanding performance in the past but all I can say that we are ready to face him," he said.

Kumble had claimed all 10 wickets in Pakistan's second innings in the 1999 Test.

He said Kamran Akmal's finger injury had healed and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria would play a key role in the first Test.

"Danish has been a regular member of the Test side and he would bolster the attack," he said.

The Shoaib Malik-led side arrived at the Ferozeshah Kotla in the morning for practice session and they seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Coach Geoff Lawson turned an enthusiastic bowler, who pumped his fist in mock celebration after castling Yasir Hameed. Akmal, who has been dropping catches like hot potatoes throughout the series, prompting team think-tank to fly in rookie stumper Sarfraz Ahmed, had a special catching session aimed at helping him wriggle out of the morass.

Shoaib Akhtar, the entertainer ever, sweated and then turned a photographer, borrowing a camera from one of the shutterbugs. And he looked quite amused when Talat Ali also rolled his arm, sending down off-spinners.

Sport

---

---