Inzi, Lara throw down gauntlets
Bureau Report

LAHORE—Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistani cricket team captain has said that it would be an uphill task for Pakistan team to win the test and one-day series against the West Indies.
Addressing a press conference here Friday, the captain of Pakistan’s Cricket Team said that the absent of Shoaib Akhtar and Muhammad Asif would defiantly affect the performance of the team but we in the past except the recently held ICC Champions Trophy performed better without our key bowlers, he added.
Expressing his views on the winning chances of Pakistan’ Cricket team in the series, the great Pakistani batsman said that the best team would compete and we would try hard to meet the expectations of people.
Commenting on the behavior of the wicket, Inzamam-ul-Haq said that the team which would play better cricket would appear as victorious.
Answering a question, the Pakistani Cricket team captain said that both bowlers and batsmen would have to play with great concentration on Qadaffi Stadium wicket.
Inzamam-ul-Haq while answering a question regarding four one-day matches against him said that I was only out for two months.
Pakistan’s cricket team captain said that the series would work for us as preparations of World Cup 2007 and the series would build up the confidence among the players, added by Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Commenting on the inclusion of Yasir Hameed, Inzamam said that his performance from Patrons Eleven was excellent while Muhammad Hafiz and Imran Farhat also showed better performance.
Brian Lara, the West Indies cricket team captain while talking to reporters said that “It’s a very important Test as it is the first time back in Pakistan in nine years so we are looking forward to it.
West Indian captain said that “I can’t worry much about the past, we have to think about the future and we’ve got an opportunity to beat Pakistani team in its home ground which has happened only once before, Lara added. West Indies have won only one of their last fourteen Tests - against Pakistan.
 

‘Inzi inclusion to strengthen batting’ LAHORE—Pakistan Cricket team manager Talat Ali Khan said here Friday that captain Inzamam ul Haq’s return has strengthened Pakistan team in the test series a gainst West Indies. Talking to APP at the Gadaffi Stadium he said that Inzamam’s inclusion will be an added advantage as he is the regular captain and his services and guidance are badly needed by the team. “Inzamam is a great batsman and his inclusion in the team will boost our batting, as his absence was badly felt in the ICC Champions Trophy in India,” he said. Inzamam is serving a four-one-day international matches ban for bringing the game into disrepute for his role in the Oval test forfeiting. Talat said Inzamam is the most experienced batsman in the team and his handling of the team can lift the level of its performance.—APP

Pak & WI have 50-50 chances of success LAHORE—Pakistan cricket team coach, Bob Woolmer said Pak and West Indies have 50-50 chances in the test series which will be open for both the teams. “ No team has edge on each other,It is open competition in which both the teams have equal chances of success”,he told APP here on Friday at Gadaffi stadium ahead of the first test commencing tomorrow (Saturday). Woolmer said his expectations from his team is to beat West Indies,setting aside the saga that it does not have its two strike bowlers (Shoaib Akhtar and Muhammad Asif). He said, no doubt the absence of both the bowlers has taken away much of life from the pace battery but there is no choice in the given circumstances and team has to rely on its present strength and to unit in a way to beat the visiting team.—APP