At the time of filing this report late on Wednesday evening, things had not improved at all!
Suspicion continues to prevail about the absence of left-handed opener Aamir Sohail who failed to join the team. No body is sure about his absence nor any one has volunteered information whether he continues to be ``sick'' as had been claimed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) or he himself has chosen to stay away from the team for some ``other reasons''!
Both the teams reached Faisalabad on Wednesday. The Zimbabwe side did practice during the morning while the Pakistani players had their work-out from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm.
A good news is that the fine middle-order batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq has sufficiently recovered from his illness and is set to replace young Hasan Raza. However, Waqar Younis has not fully recovered as yet and the apprehensions are that he will not be playing in the third Test here!
Bad weather has also affected some other players but their problems are negligible!
The acting captain Moin Khan told 'Dawn' on Wednesday evening that he had developed sinus trouble because of he also developed which slight fever. However, he said that he should improve by tomorrow (Thursday) morning and will definitely be leading the side in place of Aamir Sohail.
Both the sides are expected to be finalised after a final look at the pitch on Thursday morning. The Iqbal Stadium pitch has traditionally been flat but their was some dampness in it on Wednesday. It is expected to assist the spinners and, in all probability, both the sides will rest a fast bowler, each from the elevens which played at Lahore and include an additional spinner. That should pave the way for the inclusion of the experienced right-arm leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmad along with off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who bowled brilliantly at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore and along with paceman Waqar Younis had demolished the Zimbabwe team for a poor total of 183 in the first innings.
The Zimbabwe one-the-tour selection committee is also expected to include their finest spinner, Paul Starng, in place of some medium-pacer or a batsman, who may help the left-arm spinner Grant Flower and the other right-arm leg-spinner Adam Huckle (a proto-type of the great Australian skipper Richie Benaud) in creating problems for the strong Pakistani batting Line-up, which has not played up to its potential up till now in both the series against Australia and Zimbabwe.
Aamir Sohail's 'mysterious absence'' from the team is unfortunate! However, return of Inzimam-ul-Haq is a happy omen for the side. Pakistan's batting, with the exception of Saeed Anwar, Ijaz Ahmad and Yousaf Youhanna, has not been coming off. Saeed Anwar played a fine knock at Lahore but none of the other top-order batsmen could deliver the goods. However, Ijaz Ahmad, who had been in consistent form in matches against Australia, is too good a batsmen to fail time and again. Yousaf Youhanna put up the most impressive show at Lahore and has the capability to play the role of ``backbone'' of the brittle Pakistani team in the mould of the great Javed Miandad (incidentally guiding the players as a) coach) and the reliable Salim Malik.
Unfortunately, Salim Malik was run out at Lahore and an excellent knock from himis long overdue which can play a decisive role in Pakistan's batting in the third Test here. Inzimam, Moin Khan, Wasim Akram and Azhar Mahmood (if got a nod of selectors) can all build up a big total for Pakistan.
Decisive role in a win or defeat is normally played by the bowlers, who must be backed fully by good fielding, especially catching. Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmad have the potential to skittle out Zimbabwe twice if weather showers mercy. But the fog may not allow the third cricket Test to get under way before lunch on Thursday.
A good feast of cricket is in the offing. Although the Zimbabwe batting failed at Lahore yet Neil Johnson, Grant Flower, Andy Flower, Captain Alistair Campbell and Murray Goodwin are too good batsmen to fail again en bloc. Andy Flower played a marvellous knock in trying circumstances at Lahore and he is experienced enough to repeat his performance here.
Heath Streak, Henry Olonga, Grant Flower, Paul Starng and Adam Huckle form a good bowling attack. The fielding of the Zimbabweans has been traditionally brilliant!
Saleem badar (Pakistan) and Doug Cowie (New Zealand) are the two umpires, who will supervise the Test while Javed Akhtar will be the TV replays umpire. The match will be telecast live. Ball-by ball running commentary will be broadcast on radio.
Both the elevens could be finalised on Thursday morning before the toss at 9:30 am. Crowd response is apprehended to be poor.
Teams (from):
Pakistan: Moin Khan (captain), Aamir Sohail, Saeed Anwar, Mohammad Naveed, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Salim Malik, Hasan Raza, Yousuf Youhana, Shahid Afridi, Wasim Akram, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis and Azhar Mahmood.
Zimbabwe: Alistair Campbell (captain), Grant Flower, Gavin Rennie, Murray Goodwin, Andrew Flower, Craig Wishart, Neil Johnson, Paul Strang, Adam Huckle, Everton Matambanadzo, Heath Streak, Andrew Whittal, Henry Olonga and Mpumelelo Mbangwa.
Umpires: Salim Badar (Pakistan) and Doug Cowie (New Zealand).
TV umpire: Javed Akhtar.
Match referee: Cammie Smith (West Indies).