Date-stamped : 30 Nov96 - 10:15 28 November 1996 2nd Test victory depends on Pakistan batting By Farhana Ayaz RAWALPINDI, Nov 27: Pakistan`s batting will be required to come good if the home side wants to square the two-Test series as the second and last Test commences on Thursday in Rawalpindi. With Kiwis gunning to extend their Lahore triumph further with a second win at Rawalpindi, Pakistan need to solidify their batting effectively to achieve balance and restore their image. Pakistan started the series against the Kiwis having the advan- tage in all departments of the game over the visitors, even though skipper Wasim Akram got sidelined due to injury. But the setback due to the batting collapse shook the team`s confidence under home conditions. New Zealand skipper Lee Germon was quite confident when he stated that they want to round off the series with another win. "After a very satisfying and historic win against a very good Pakis- tan side we aim to win the second Test at Rawalpindi. We are pretty much focused on the game after what we achieved against the home squad at Lahore," Germon said. Compared to other pitches in Pakistan, the one here may give as- sistance to the seamers. Whoever wins the toss the will be in a better position to set the stakes as the seamers will definitely be getting help and as the wicket wears out the spinners can show their magic. Pacer Simon Doulle will be a hard customer for Pak- istan as he can swing the ball both ways while Chris Harris, who performed well at Lahore, will also be heavily utilised by the tourists. In Steve Fleming, Adam Parore, J. Vaughan, Bryan Young and the vibrant Chris Cairns, the Kiwis have a firm batting line-up. The home team, currently struggling with their batting, need to upgrade their performance to even the scores in the series. Pak- istan rest their hopes on the line-up that failed at Lahore being led by opener Saeed Anwar. A lot depends on how the open- ing pair performs in the second Test. As a captain and opener Saeed Anwar has many-sided responsibilities on his shoulders to bring out the best from the team which has failed as a unit so far. The home team require to find youngster Muhammad Wasim, the century-maker at Lahore under adverse conditions, in the same fine form while Salim Malik and Ejaz Ahmed have to boost the bat- ting and hold their stay at the wicket. Pakistan are expected to try out new seamer Muhammad Zahid. The debutant along with speed- ster Waqar Younis, who seemed fit at the nets, needs to pass a check-up early morning before the Test, and Shahid Nazir will have an awful lot of work to do. Mushtaq Muhammad will be the ma- jor threat for the tourists. New Zealand have retained their victorious Lahore squad. Announc- ing an unchanged team, skipper Lee Germon stated that they dis- cussed including another pacer in the side but the idea was aban- doned after viewing the pitch. "We believe that the conditions will be much the same as was in the first Test, although there was some grass on the pitch when we came here on Tuesday," the skipper said. On retaining the winning squad, Lee Germon did not agree that it had anything to do with that notion, "Although we believe that it was a great triumph under the conditions and the team worked hard for it but we could have made the changes if we had not faced similar conditions here." Sitting on a 1-0 lead, Germon said that they have the advantage of putting extra pres- sure but he added that it was vital that their batting performs well. The skipper ruled out any change in the batting order, when asked about the Lahore per- formances. "We do not plan to make any changes in the batting order. Even though Chris Cairns and others have come good we are satisfied where they play." About Nathan Astle, the skipper said there are times when a batsman goes into these slum periods but one can always come back up. "And at the moment Nathan`s own confidence is pretty high and we are hoping that he will shape well, but we are promoting no one in the bat- ting order. There will be no change in that," Germon said. The skipper further added that after the they expect Pakistan to play a lot better and tougher. "But, we are pretty focused, and it is impor- tant for us to round off the series with another win here." The New Zealand team is: Bryan Young, J. Vaughan, Adam Parore, Steve Flemming, Astle Nathan, Mark Gratbatch, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Lee Germon, Deepak Patel, Simon Doull. Meanwhile, the Pakistan team will be announced on the morning of the match on Thursday. Out of the 13 already named for the second Test, it is likely that Muhammad Zahid will be making his debut for Pakistan. The pacer has impressed the selection committee with his performance during the domestic season. Zahid, who plays for PIA, is capable of generating a lot of pace although, it remains to be seen whether the youngster would find the rhythm to topple the confi- dent Kiwi willow-wielders. The final word against Waqar Younis will be known tomorrow morn- ing when the speedster will undergo a final check-up. Muham- mad Akram, the local lad, has yet again failed to get the nod from the selectors to be in the first eleven. Akram has been strug- gling to win back a place in the national side since he got in- jured during the Test at the Oval. He has appeared in five Tests and seven one-day internationals for Pakistan. The Pakistan team is likely to be chosen from the following: Saeed Anwar, Zahoor Elahi, Inzamamul Haq, Ejaz Ahmed, Salim Malik, Muhammad Wasim, Moin Khan, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmed, Muhammad Zahid, Shahid Nazir, Muhammad Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq. Loyld Barkar (West Indies), Javed Akhtar (Pakistan) have been ap- pointed umpires for the 2nd Test. Mehboob Shah (Pakistan) will be the third umpire. Source :: The Dawn (http://xiber.com/dawn) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)