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Rediff.com  » Sports » Inzy doubtful, Akhtar to play

Inzy doubtful, Akhtar to play

January 27, 2006 12:26 IST
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Under fire Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, who is being held responsible for bowlers' graveyard in Lahore and Faisalabad Tests, is 'pleased' with the pitch at the National Stadium in Karachi and hopes it will help seamers in the last match starting on Sunday.

"This is a typical Karachi pitch with fair bit of bounce for the seamers and at later stage, good for spinners," he told reporters on Thursday.

"The pitches look green. I am pleased to see the best square of the series three days prior to the Test match," he said.

Meanwhile, Woolmer played down injury worries for pacer Shoaib Akhtar and said the tearaway bowler will play the last Test.

"There aren't real fitness problems and he [Akhtar] is gearing up for third Test," the coach said.

A section of media on Thursday called Akhtar a doubtful starter for the match as the bowler had apparently sprained his ankle.

Woolmer, however, did not seem as confident on captain Inzamam-ul Haq's chances of making it to the Karachi Test.

"His chances of playing the third Test are 50/50. Inzamam is working very hard on his fitness and we are crossing our fingers," Woolmer added.

"If Inzamam fails the fitness test, Faisal Iqbal will be included in the team," he said.

He also said Imran Farhat or Kamran Akmal would be opening the innings with Salman Butt in the absence of Shoaib Malik, who will miss the third Test due to his father's demise in Sialkot recently.

 

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