da 888： COLOMBO – Steve Waugh is not entirely sure whether he will know some ofthe players who turn out for Pakistan in the first cricket Test startinghere on Thursday.
Michael Donaldson30-Sep-2002COLOMBO – Steve Waugh is not entirely sure whether he will know some ofthe players who turn out for Pakistan in the first cricket Test startinghere on Thursday.Pakistan has been hit by withdrawals and injuries to senior playerswhile others have been dumped, meaning a bevy of young and unprovenPakistanis will take on the world champion in the first of three Testsat neutral venues.”I’m not even sure who’s in their team to tell you the truth,” Waughsaid.”The young Pakistani players have got a lot of talent and I’m surethey’ll pull out someone who does very well at Test cricket without useven knowing about them.”With other countries you know what you’re going to get but withPakistan, half the time they don’t even know what they’ve got.”The changes include openers Imran Farhat and Taufeeq Umar, middle orderbatsmen Hasan Raza and Faisal Iqbal, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and fastbowler Mohammad Zahid, who have all played for Pakistan in Tests orone-day internationals.Those six have played only 28 Tests between them. Uncapped allrounderRana Naved-ul-Hasan also makes the squad.Waugh said the injuries to middle-order batsmen Inzamam-ul-Haq andYousuf Youhana were a big blow.”Inzamam’s a big loss, particularly on the flat, low Sharjah wicketswhere he likes to dominate.”And Youhana’s probably one of their better batters as well so thatleaves a big hole in their batting.”Waugh said Australia’s line-up had not been discussed but said the pitchconditions would dictate whether young Queenslander Nathan Hauritzplayed his first Test.”I think you’d have to consider two spinners if the wicket’s like it wasfor the (Champions Trophy) semifinal the other night, you’d be silly notto look at it – but the word is the Test wicket will have a bit of grasson it.”