The forthcoming Pakistan-India series will be a real test for the young Pakistan team. Besides performance with the willow and the leather, mental toughness along with physical fitness are the basic ingredients to face a super-fit Indian cricket team, scheduled to arrive in Pakistan in the first week of March to play three Tests and five one-day matches.
Unlike the past, the present Indian team is capable to give tough time to Pakistan in the Tests and one-dayers.
Having a look at the Indian batting line-up and bowling, one may recall the performance of the Indian team in the just
concluded four-Test series against Australia, showing the depth and talent in the batting line-up.
Led by opener Virender Sehwag and backed by captain Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and V.V. S. Laxman, the Indian batsmen displayed their batting skills with acumen and solidity.
Tendulkar made his highest Test score of 241 not out and Dravid was declared Man of the Series, while others also displayed their batting prowess.
In the bowling department, performances of the fast bowlers like Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and young Irfan Pathan, who concentrate on line and length, are laudable and they will create trouble for Pakistani batsmen.
On paper and given their performance in Australia, the Indian side is definitely stronger than Pakistan.
As compared to the Indian side, Pakistan's young team, on paper, looked balanced, but no one can deny the fact that the Pakistan team always lacked consistency and a proper game plan.
SIGNS OF RECOVERY: However, the Pakistan team, after a traumatic period, started showing signs of recovery and it seems that the national team has no opening prob1ems, as Taufeeq Umar and Imran Farhat are simply the best and are capable of laying a strong foundation for the pack.
One may recall that Yasser Hameed and Imran Farhat have set a world record of century partnerships in four one-dayers.
Besides, Pakistan have a solid middle order, comprising Yousuf Youhana, skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq and wicket-keeper batsman Moin Khan, provided the openers lay a solid base for the middle and later order batting.
The national team is also blessed with young and promising fast bowlers in Mohammad Sami and Shabbir Ahmed and medium pacer Umar Gul and spinners Saqlain Mushtaq, Danish Kaneria and Shoaib Malik.
Besides, there are all rounders Abdur Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood, who will provide the required strength and support to Pakistan's batting and bowling.
SHOAIB AKHTAR FACTOR: It is repeatedly claimed that the key to Pakistan's success in the upcoming home cricket series against India will be paceman Shoaib Akhtar, but those pinning hopes on Shoaib should not forget that only speed does not help win the matches. It is the line and length, which shatters the nerves of a batsman. Unfortunately, Shoaib lacks accuracy and tries to terrorise batsmen with his speed, thus conceding a number of runs through wides and no-balls.
Similarly, young Mohammad Sami is also in the habit of bowling short pitch deliveries.
Though Shoaib Akhtar's withering pace may be too hot for the Indians to handle, but it depends on the fitness and even accuracy of the world's fastest bowler.
If he maintained line and length and avoided erratic bowling, there is no reason why Pakistan cannot shatter the nerves of the Indian batsmen.
Same is the case with lanky Shabbir Ahmed, who is erratic and wayward. In the process, he concedes too many runs as extras.
GUNS AT TOP ORDER: Both skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Javed Miandad should not under-estimate the Indian side, having guns at top of the order, who, despite losing five out of six One-day Internationals against Australian giants, had made a big impression in their outings Down Under.
They should keep in mind that their team will be facing a well-balanced team, equipped with inform batsmen, including experienced Sachin Tendulkar, and a combination of good pace and spin attack. They will really prove to be a hard nut to crack. If Pakistan shattered the top order Indian batting, Pakistan will certainly emerge victorious against the visitors.
It is, however, up to them to evolve a strategy to face the Indians in a better and effective way.
It all depends on an effective game plan, revolving around the young batsmen, making a good start and getting them through to 30 and 40-over mark with eight or nine wickets intact in the one-dayers.
PROBABLES NAMED: Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed a new selection Committee with Wasim Bari as chief selector, which announced 22 probables for the forthcoming series, ignoring fast bowler Waqar Younus.
It has been proved time and again that Shoaib Akhtar, who has a fitness problem, breaks down during the series, creating problems for the team. Hence the selectors should keep in mind this crucial factor and recall experienced Waqar Younus for the much-awaited series.
The bowlers like speed merchants Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami and spinners Saqlain Mushtaq and Danish Kaneria and Shoaib Malik are there to contribute positively to the success of the team.
LOBBY AGAINST WAQAR: Though a certain lobby is opposed to the inclusion of paceman Waqar Younus, arguing that he is now past his best, but they should not forget that his tally of wickets is next best to Wasim Akram, hence his omission from the team will be felt badly.
Finally, it is the ground fielding, which needs further improvement with a view to restricting the opponents from amassing big scores.
According to former Test cricketer Shafqat Rana, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has hired English curator Aitkinson to prepare wickets according to the needs of the Pakistani batsmen and bowlers, but he opined that there was no need to change the nature of the pitches as the Indians would come prepared for all kinds of pitches and it would be a futile exercise.
He was of the view that after the tough Australian tour, the Indians would be more confident for all kind of pitches.
However, Rana has advised the national selectors to select the best possible side from among the present team, which had performed well in the home series against South Africa and new Zealand to face the Indian challenge.
Despite all the plus points, including the advantages of home ground and crowd, Pakistan should not forget that the Indians will give them the toughest time.
While facing India, Pakistan need to maintain a pretty good strike-rate through the innings because bowling is one of Pakistan's strengths.
The batsmen, too, have to accept that they are unlikely to be as effective as they usually would be in the closing stages, hence they should bat well before death stage of the innings.
It is, however, up to the captain and the coach to advise the three pacers to concentrate on line and length and refrain from short pitch deliveries, which will provide ample opportunities to the middle order Indian batsmen to play strokes and pile up big totals.
It is hoped that Pakistan will maintain their winning graph in the Tests and one-day cricket.