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.

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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.

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.