Sport

Injury worries for Pakistan

Kolkata: Eden Gardens is spirit-lifting. This is a stage where monuments have been built and classics scripted.

A side running out of time will seek inspiration from a venue with a sense of timelessness about it. A wounded Pakistan will take all it can from a ground steeped in history.

For the visitor, things have turned from bad to worse. Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, his ankle still sore, strode in limping and remained seated for most part of the training session here on Wednesday.

Pace spearhead Shoaib Akhtar, down with sore throat and fever, was in a city hospital when his team-mates practised. His recovery for the second Test would be a race against the clock.

Team manager Talat Ali was unwilling to rule out the two from the match. A clearer picture, he said, would emerge on Thursday.

This Pakistan team requires Akhtar like oxygen. His speed, full length, swing and chest high bounce troubled the Indians in the first Test. For a side down 1-0 in a three-Test series, the need to strike quick and hard with the ball is of great importance.

With Akhtar under a fitness cloud and Mohammad Asif unavailable, Pakistan is willing to risk Umar Gul’s back. The side has no other option.

Chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed told The Hindu at the Ferozeshah Kotla that Umar Gul had been ruled out of the second Test. However, compelling circumstances have forced the Pakistani paceman to make a rather miraculous recovery.

If Gul is indeed fit, he should add to the Pakistan attack with seam, swing and telling toe-crushers.

And if Ahktar eventually plays, batting first would suit Pakistan’s interests. This would provide the speedster more time to regain lost energy levels. The toss holds the key.

Paceman Mohammad Sami and batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, suffering from viral infection, have responded well to treatment. Sami could lose his place in the eleven though.

The surface for the second Test should be a slow turner. The soft nature of the soil here suggests the pitch will lack bounce. Of course, there is bound to be some movement in the air for the pacemen due to the breeze blowing across.

The pitch should suit India which is in the box seat. The team underwent an intense training session with Mahendra Singh Dhoni — his ankle is still under scrutiny — not showing any signs of discomfort.

Anil Kumble was a captain in control. There were loud cheers for Sourav ‘Dada’ Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar. Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman, old heroes at this venue, appeared relaxed.

Pacemen S. Sreesanth and R.P. Singh, recovering from shoulder and abdominal strain, will undergo a fitness test under physio John Gloster on Thursday. BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah had earlier ruled both pacemen out of the second Test.

Is there another twist in the tale? India, eventually, is likely to name an unchanged eleven.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu