October 01 Tuesday 2002
Waugh uncertain about new Pakistan faces

COLOMBO: Australian Test captain Steve Waugh is not entirely sure whether he will know some of the players who turn out for Pakistan in the first Test starting here on Thursday.

Pakistan have been hit by withdrawals and injuries to senior players, while others have been dumped, meaning a bevy of young and unproven Pakistanis will take on the world champions in the first of three Tests at neutral venues.

"To tell you the truth, I'm not even sure who's in their team," Waugh said. "The young Pakistan players have got a lot of talent and I'm sure they'll pull out someone who does very well at Test cricket without us even knowing about them.

"With other countries you know what you're going to get, but with Pakistan, half the time even they don't know what they've got." The changes include openers Imran Farhat and Taufiq Umar, middle-order batsmen Hasan Raza and Faisal Iqbal, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and fast bowler Mohammad Zahid, who've all played for Pakistan in Tests or One-day Internationals.

Waugh said the injuries to middle-order batsmen Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana were a big blow. "Inzamam's a big loss, particularly on the flat, low Sharjah pitch where he likes to dominate.

"And Youhana's probably one of their better batters as well, so that leaves a big hole in their batting." He said Australia's line-up had not been discussed but the pitch conditions would dictate whether young Queenslander Nathan Hauritz played his first Test.

"I think you'd have to consider two spinners if the pitch's like it was for the (ICC Champions Trophy) semifinal the other night. You'd be silly not to look at it, but the word is the Test strip will have a bit of grass on it."