When Pakistan and the West Indies meet next, after the final ODI at Karachi tomorrow, it will be for the opening game of the 2007 World Cup in Jamaica in just under three months time. Signs emerged at Multan during the last ODI that cricket’s premier tournament is looming on the minds of both sides, as line-ups were changed, experiments made and players tested.
Pakistan went about the experiments with greater zeal, though ultimately paying the price for them and it is unlikely, injuries permitting, that they will do so again with the same gusto. “We experimented in Multan and we felt that it was right to do it then as opposed to in the final game,” said Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, at the National Stadium.
Pakistan were leading 2-0 in the series after the first match was washed out but West Indies pulled one back at Multan where Pakistan were without Inzamam, Younis and Yousuf to keep the series alive.
Shahid Afridi, whose poor form continued at Multan, could get another opportunity to come good at Karachi and Mohammad Sami was also likely to play. Bari hoped that Pakistan would be able to field their strongest team and said that no drastic changes were necessary at this stage of the series.
Probable squad: Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Sami, Rao Iftikhar, Abdur Rehman, Faisal Iqbal, Shoaib Malik, Danish Kaneria.
© Cricinfo
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