Weather threatens first one-dayer

RAWALPINDI—The unabated rains threaten not only the opening game of five-match One-Day series between Pakistan and West Indies on Tuesday but may also result in unwittingly extending the suspension of the regular home skipper Inzamamul Haq till the second game.
The rains, continuing for almost two days and forecast to carry on till Wednesday evening, have jeopardised the chances of the first One-Day match being washed out altogether.
Should the toss be held between the two captains, it will count a match and hence the suspension of Inzie will end after this match”, said the Pakistan stand-in captain Younis Khan.
“On the other hand if the match is abandoned without toss, then it will not count and Inzamam will have to sit out for the second game at Faisalabad also”, said Younis who has been named to lead the side in the first One-Day, a day-night game at Pindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan captain didn’t play in the three Champions Trophy matches in India in October after International Cricket Council banned him for four matches after the Oval Test incident.
Younis said Pakistan team will be in high spirits after the thumping 2-0 win in the three-match Test series. “We are in good form and should win the One-Day rubber also”, he said.
The West Indies skipper Brian Lara, however, recalled that his team had reached the final of Champions Trophy in India and should prove a tough opponent in the One-Day series aginst Pakistan.
“Some of our players are in good nick in the One-Day cricket and could surprise the Pakistanis”, he said. “The One-Day series would be good warm-up for us before competing in the World Cup at home in March-April next year”. The World Cup will be held in the West Indies from March 6 to April 28, 2007.
He pointed out that the West Indies have won 17 of their last 25 one-day matches.
They play Pakistan in the opening match of the ninth World Cup in Jamaica on March 13.—Agencies