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India tour Pakistan
- Samsung Cup 2004 |
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Sami doubtful starter for Pindi Test
ISLAMABAD: An already depleted Pakistan bowling attack suffered yet
another blow when Mohammad Sami was ruled a doubtful starter with
back pain for the series-deciding third Test starting in Rawalpindi
on Tuesday.
"Sami has been complaining of back pain since the series started.
Though he has braved it so far, he is in more pain since Friday,"
Pakistan coach Javed Miandad said Saturday.
"He is getting treatment and there is still time before the match.
So, we remain hopeful."
In case Sami is ruled out of the match, the hosts will have just one
regular paceman in Shoaib Akhtar.
Besides Shabbir Ahmed, Pakistan's hero of the Lahore Test Umar Gul
has also been ruled out of the third Test with a back injury.
Shabbir, suffering from shin injury, missed the second Test along
with all-rounder Abdul Razzaq (back) and wicketkeeper Moin Khan
(groin strain).
Pakistan have included four pace bowlers -- Fazl-e-Akbar, Abdul
Rauf,
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Rao Iftikhar -- in a 17-member squad named
Friday
for the final Test.
Miandad sought to put up a brave front saying "Injuries are a big
problem. But I have confidence in the ability of our back-up bowlers
to give the Indians a hard time. We believe we still have the
bowling strength to bowl them out."
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