Nothing is simple where Pakistan team matters are concerned, and their side for the second Test against New Zealand at Wellington (starting on Friday) is no exception.
Early reports indicated that Shoaib Akhtar could be fit for the match. He missed the Hamilton Test because of a hamstring injury, but it was said that he was on the mend and faced a late fitness test before a final decision.
Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan's captain, pronounced Akhtar fit and ready to go, insisting the team doctor had given him the all-clear. But then Javed Miandad, the coach, clouded the waters by saying that the matter wasn't that straightforward. "I can't say at the moment but he's working hard," Miandad told bemused reporters. "We have to see … it depends how he goes."
What Miandad was sure about was that New Zealand's defensive tactics in the field were somewhat mystifying. "In my opinion, when you are defending 563 you have to attack more," he said. "I feel the bowlers didn't attack the stumps enough and they bowled a line just waiting for our batsmen to make a mistake and that was to our advantage. They didn't try to make our batsmen play. Had that been my team, I would have said we must attack and make sure the other team didn't make the follow-on."
Stephen Fleming explained that he believed the way New Zealand bat in the opening session of their innings could decide the outcome of the match. "No doubt about it, the first two hours we bat against them is going to be very important," he said. "Shoaib hasn't had a lot of overs so the more we deny them the better chance we've got of posting a big score again."
New Zealand made one change to their Test squad for the match. Richard Jones, the 12th man at Hamilton, was replaced by Paul Wiseman, the offspinner. Wiseman had been included in the squad of 13 named for the first Test, but was released to play State Championship cricket for Canterbury.
New Zealand (from) 1 Mark Richardson, 2 Lou Vincent, 3 Stephen Fleming (capt), 4 Scott Styris, 5 Craig McMillan, 6 Chris Cairns, 7 Jacob Oram, 8 Robbie Hart (wk), 9 Daniel Vettori, 10 Paul Wiseman, 11 Daryl Tuffey, 12 Ian Butler.
Pakistan (from) 1 Imran Farhat, 2 Taufeeq Umar, 3 Yasir Hameed, 4 Yousuf Youhana, 5 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Abdul Razzaq, 7 Moin Khan (wk), 8 Mohammad Sami, 9 Shabbir Ahmed, 10 Umar Gul, 11 Danish Kaneria, 12 Shoaib Akhtar.
Shoaib Akhtar unwinds in the nets - but his fitness remains a doubt
