Rejuvenated Pak to take on India A
After pulling off a spectacular win at Bangalore, Pakistan would shift their focus to the shorter version of the game in an ODI warm up.
After pulling off a spectacular win at Bangalore to level the Test series, a rejuvenated Pakistan cricket team would shift their focus to the shorter version when they take on India A in a one-day warm up match at the newly built Visakha stadium on Wednesday.
The Pakistanis, scheduled to play a six-match one-day series starting at Kochi on April 2, would be keen to use the opportunity to test some of their one-day specialists, who were yet to get a chance to play on the tour so far.
In focus would be Shoaib Malik, an all-rounder who has been a cause of worry for the Indians in the one-dayers of late.
Malik, who is already in news for his marriage to Hyderabadi girl Aiyesha, would be keen to test his batting form ahead of the one-day series. The off-spinner is not allowed to bowl as he is under the International Cricket Council scanner for suspect bowling action.
The Lahore-born Yousuf Youhana, who had just one good knock in the Test series, would surely be the player to watch out for as he is very much in need of a good score while crowd favourite Shahid Afridi has always been the centre of attraction in Hyderabad.
Fresh from a memorable performance in the Bangalore Test, Afridi, who hails from the tribal belt of Khyber Pass, would be a main weapon of his team with his all-round strength.
The visitors are not likely to go for nets as they will be arriving only on Tuesday evening.
Skipper Inzaman-ul-Haq will be hoping to adapt quickly to the one-day format against a rather easy bowling attack. His deputy Younis Khan will be the other player to watch while all-rounder Abdul Razzaq will rehearse his role as caretaker should there be any crisis.
The match would also give a chance to some of the aspiring India A players to impress, as the national selectors have only announced the Indian squad for the first two matches of the ODI series.
