Wasim Akram will miss First Test

by SA'ADI THAWFEEQ

Wednesday 16, April 1997


Pakistan may go into the first Test against Sri Lanka beginning at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday without their captain Wasim Akram.

The 30-year-old all-rounder arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday, nursing a recurring arm injury which is likely to put him out of action for some time.

``My bowling arm is not 100 percent fit. The ligaments in it have got weak by playing too much cricket. The only cure is rest. That's what the doctor ordered,'' said Wasim at the SSC nets Tuesday.

The Pakistan captain did not bat nor bowl but was a mere spectator as he watched the rest of his team members (two - Ijaz Ahmed and Saleem Malik have yet to arrive along with coach Mushtaq Mohammad) practice.

``The injury became quite bad in Sharjah and I am under treatment now. I can't bowl nor bat. I am taking my time and see if it improves in four days time. But my chances of playing are quite remote,'' said Wasim, who is the only bowler in the world to take over 300 wickets at both levels of cricket - Test and One-day.

Even if they miss their captain, Pakistan have very good back up bowlers to compensate, according to Wasim.

``That is one area we don't have to worry about,'' he said.

Apart from Wasim's injury, the Pakistan batting line up has been weakened by the absence of two established openers Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail. While Anwar is recovering from a stomach ailment, Sohail is serving a ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

``We are missing both of them. Their replacements are Rameez Raja and Saleem Elahi, who have been playing well and their recent form is good,'' said Wasim.

The Pakistan captain was confident his team would perform well against Sri Lanka in the short series of two tests.

``Sri Lanka played better than us in Sharjah and they deserved to win. But Test cricket is an entirely different ball game altogether. In recent times we have proved that we are a very good Test side winning both at home and away,'' said Wasim.

``Bearing in mind that we are playing in Sri Lanka, I am confident that we will give them a good fight and I have full confidence we will do well,'' he said.

Sizing up the opposition, Wasim said : ``Sri Lanka were an improved side before the World Cup. I think they now need some young blood in the side. They need a couple of young batsmen like Marvan Atapattu, who is a good player. Then they will be okay''.

Pakistan open their short tour of Sri Lanka with a two-day game starting Wednesday at Police Park against a Board XI led by Atapattu. The rest of the team comprises: Russel Arnold, Duleep Samaraweera, Sanjeeva Ranatunga, Naveed Nawaz, Ruwan Kalpage, Pubudu Dassanayake, Upul Chandana, Duleep Liyange, Ravindra Pushpakumara, Jayantha Silva. Reserves - Nimesh Perera, Indika de Saram, Mario Villavarayan.

The Pakistan team comprises: Wasim Akram (captain), Rameez Raja (vice-captain), Asif Mujtaba, Inazmam-ul-Haq, Saleem Malik, Mohammad Wasim, Moin Khan, Waqar Younis, Mohammad Zahid, Shahid Nazir, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq, Saleem Elahi, Manager Nasim-ul-Ghani, Coach Mushtaq Mohammad, Physio - Dan Kiesel.


Source: The Daily News

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Date-stamped : 25 Feb1998 - 15:03