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Moin discovers a weak link 28 October 2000
Pakistan captain Moin Khan admitted that he has found a weak link in the England team which might help the home team in the forthcoming Test series. In a post-match conference after Pakistan won the second one-day international by eight wickets, Moin said he was delighted with the way his spinners bowled. "We always knew that they (Englishmen) are not very good against quality spinners. On the contrary, we have a world-class pair of Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmad. It is very encouraging for the bowlers as well as for both of them," Moin said. England's eight out of nine batsmen crumbled to spinners with Shahid Afridi finishing with five for 40. "The advantage the home team is to prepare wickets according to their strength. There is no hidden secret that we have quality spinners," he said, adding: "But I am not sure what wickets we will get for the Test." His opposite number Nasser Hussain said he and his men knew that they will have to face excellent spinners on the tour of Pakistan. "When you come to Asia, you come face to face with champion spinners - Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmad in Pakistan, Anil Kumble and others in India, and Muttiah Muralitharan in Sri Lanka. "But we are trying to improve our batting skills in the nets. We are learning but we will have to learn quickly." Moin said he had nothing else in mind since morning but to win the toss. "We had decided that we would field. I was expecting that my bowlers will curtail them on dry wicket. I am delighted with the way they bowled and fielded. "I think we are on a roll now and might have found the winning combination." Nasser Hussain said he was hoping for a total of around 250 "because Pakistan are not good chasers. But after we scored 211, the pressure was off them (Pakistan)." Shahid Afridi, Man-of-the-Match, attributed his performance to his recent marriage. "I think it is a wedding gift and it is probably the best of the gifts I have received. "I don't know if I will take the car home or it will be pooled. But the bottomline is that I performed well. I needed a good show to reclaim my lost place." Moin said Shahid's performance doesn't guarantee him a place in the Test side. "I will cross the bridge when it comes. But at this stage, I cannot promise him a place in the (Test) team. For us, one more match is remaining and we are concentrating on it." Both the teams fly to Rawalpindi on Saturday morning where the third and final one-day international will be played on Monday next. © Dawn
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