I am tempted to play six bowlers

People who are talking about India being rusty coming into the Asia Cup should also spare a thought for us, writes Inzamam-ul-Haq.

People who are talking about India being rusty coming into the Asia Cup should also spare a thought for us.

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Pakistan too have not played any competitive cricket for the past two-and-a-half months. So, it will not be easy for us when we take on Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Hong Kong and Bangladesh games gave us a bit of match-practice, but our real test will come against the battle-ready Lankans.

Sri Lanka have always been tough to beat at home. It will be even more difficult for us as they are quite upbeat after having beaten India quite convincingly in the group league. What I like about Sri Lanka is their varied and balanced bowling line-up which has two left-arm pacers Nuwan Zoysa and Chaminda Vaas, the new addition Mehroof and the two spinners Muralitharan and Upul Chandana.

And any side that can leave out Sanath Jayasuriya and still beat India deserves utmost respect.

I have always pondered about what an ideal combination in a modern one-day game should be. In my opinion, the playing XI should comprise at least six bowlers and six batsmen! No, I haven't got my numbers mixed up. This is possible if two of the frontline batsmen also double up as bowlers and your wicketkeeper is a batsman of calibre.

Why do I need six bowlers? Look, life as a one-day bowler is not getting easier with the rules being changed all the time in favour of batsmen.

Scores of 300 are commonplace and when that happens you can rest assured at least two of your regular bowlers will go for more than 60 runs each. In such a scenario, a captain needs support at one end, if not both. However, when I look at Australia, arguably the most successful team in the world, I feel my theory is flawed. Their top batsmen can lay no claims to bowling fame. They have specialists for specific jobs who usually deliver. Then there is India. Like Australia, they go in with four specialist bowlers, but of the seven batsmen they play, four can turn their arm over.

Pakistan's case is a bit different. We have five frontline bowlers. Shoaib, Shabbir, Sami, Razzaq and Malik. I am looking for a sixth bowler, but I can't accommodate him without sacrificing a batsman which is not a very comfortable feeling.

I am tempted to use Moin Khan as an opener, but of late Shoaib Malik's stock as a batsman has been on the rise.

Malik has centuries to his credit against New Zealand and the West Indies even if I discount the one he scored against Hong Kong the other day.

If Malik fills that role, then I can safely play another spinner and get some cover for my frontline bowlers. (Café Cricket)