Pakistani captain Inzamam-ul-Haq today said his bowling attack has got the measure of the strong Indian batting lineup and would pose a serious challenge to Sourav Ganguly and Company in the triangular one-day cricket tournament starting in Utrecht tomorrow.
Inzamam said the tight leash on which his bowlers kept the star-studded Indian lineup in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka recently was an indication that the mercurial Pakistani pacemen were beginning to show "new discipline and commitment", which they had lacked in the past.
"It looks like the contest would be between our bowlers and their batsmen," the burly middle-order batsman told the Press Trust of India as he marshalled the nets. "I was very happy the way they [the bowlers] picked up in Sri Lanka, bowling within themselves and in the right channels. This is the thing which we didn't do against the Indians at home."
India take on Pakistan in the opening match of the tri-series tomorrow before clashing with Ricky Ponting's Australians on Monday. Pakistan face off with the Aussies on Wednesday before the final on August 28.
Inzamam said the other areas in which his side had made considerable improvement since the arrival of Englishman Bob Woolmer as coach was fitness and fielding. "If we appear sharp and energetic in the field, it is because we are getting fitter," he said. "That's been the main area of thrust since the induction of Bob Woolmer as coach. We are not doing anything specific, but are just getting regular with the fitness routine we have been provided with. There is also no restriction on food as such."
Pakistan failed to make it to the Asia Cup final on August 1, which was contested by India and Sri Lanka. But Inzamam's men won four of their five matches in the tournament. They even beat the Indians convincingly by 59 runs in the Super League stage. Ganguly's men pipped them to the final only on the basis of points won.
Inzamam, however, refused to read too much into India's below par performance in Sri Lanka. "India have played very well in the last year and a half," he said. "Any team can't give top performance all year round. They were off-colour in Sri Lanka, but such things happen. In one-day cricket you cant predict winners."
He had little doubt as to what pressure teams face when they are up against India's batting might. "They bat till number seven and it is their main strength," he said. "It is good enough to bring any side under pressure."
The Pakistani skipper also raved about the qualitative difference Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif had made to the
Indian lineup. "I am a great admirer of Yuvraj and Kaif," he said. "They have generally been able to pick up the scoring when they come to bat at numbers six and seven. They also are livewires in the field. They have infused a new life in your team. The effort they put in in the field is tremendous."
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