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Cutain up on Pakistan tour

With the cloud of threats clearing, the Pakistan team seems determined to display some fascinating cricket as their historic tour on Indian soil, the first in almost twelve years, kicks off tomorrow with a three-day fixture against India A at the Roopsingh Stadium here, amidst tight security cover.

Soon after successful dry run of buses between Delhi and Lahore, another signal of renewed camaraderie between the two neigbouring nations was sent last evening, this time through the cricketing front. A cheerful Pakistan skipper, Wasim Akram, asserted on his arrival in Delhi that his team would would play positive cricket even as Federal Home Minister L K Advani, in an unprecedented gesture, later met the visiting team at their hotel.

''We are looking forward to the match and are going to take the three-day contest very seriously,'' Pakistan coach Javed Miandad commented, adding that the match would give his team a chance to gauge the touch of batsmen and bowlers and, more importantly, help them adjust to playing conditions.

Besides acting as a warm-up encounter, it will also enable both teams to shake off their mental fatigue which arose out of threats and vandalism by anti-tour activists in Delhi and Mumbai.

Regarding the pressure due to security arrangements and crowd reaction, Akram said: ''I know we are here under tight security and pressure but I have firm faith in my boys who could perform underany condition. I have told them to forget all that happened and just concentrate on the game.

''We are mentally tuned to do well in the current series which will prepare us for the World Cup as well," Akram added. "So far as crowd reaction is concerned, I have played here earlier and found Indian fans really sporting. They know how to enjoy the game of gentlemen. The suspension of (proposed) protests proves that cricket the ultimate winner.''

Miandad for his part argued that the pressure will be on the hosts because of large crowds and their expectations.

While expressing happiness over the composition of his 16-member team, Akram noted that it is more talented than the one which toured India in 1987 under his mentor Imran Khan, to finish with a 1-0 Test series win.

''I want to begin the dream tour in style as the team had a bad home series last year,'' said the 32-year-old all-rounder.

Pakistan last year lost to South Africa, Australia and even minnows Zimbabwe. Besides, match-fixing allegations were reported to have dampened the team's morale and spirit.

But Miandad seemingly has no worries at all on the team front and may decide to rest some seasoned campaigners in the crew with an idea of not taxing them in the initial stages and keeping them fresh for the first Test to be held in Chennai from January 28.

For Indian crowds, the prospect of seeing the likes of Anwar, Afridi, Inzamam, Ijaz and Malik could be what fills the stands. Not forgetting a pace attack spearheaded by the famed Akram-Younis duo, with the pacy Shahid Nazir in support.

Though positive on the batting and bowling fronts, Akram, who has 354 wickets and 2,109 runs in 83 Tests, seems to be worried about fielding. He considers it a grey area, to be improved upon in course of this tour.

India A skipper VVS Laxman, who goes in with the confidence of knowing he finally finds a settled place at the top of the Indian batting lineup, will have the confidence of some good outings with the bat in New Zealand backing him. Even though he failed to find a berth in the national squad there, the Hyderabad player appears to be optimistic, and quite happy with his lineup.

''My boys may not be that experienced, but they will play at top gear to give a tough time to the formidable Pakistan side,'' he observed.

Besides Sitangshu Kotak, Mohammed Kaif and H Ramakrishna, the remaining eleven players belonging to the 30-men probables list would not forget that the national selectors are eyeing this lot to find as many all-rounders as possible for the 1999 World Cup, the century's last big cricketing event.

Since India will not feature in any ODIs till end-February, these players will need to seize whatever chances come their way here to impress the selectors. Ajit agarkar, who graduated from the A side to cement a place in the national team, is a tangible instance of proving one's worth.

The three-day encounter will also be an opportunity for the fringe players either waiting to break into the national squad or players who are having a lean trot from the Indian side to work themselves back into form.

Being included in the 14-member Indian squad for the first Test match against Pakistan in Chennai, Bengal's teenage sensation Laxmi Ratan Shukla and dashing Tamil Nadu opener S Ramesh will have to be little more vigilant to live up to the faith and expectation of selectors.

Shukla, who was noticed last year during the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, also had a string of inspired performances in domestic tournaments. Possesing an ability to deliver the inswinger with adequate speed, he is also a good fielder with a strong throwing arm in the deep and a decent batsman with an aggressive bent of mind at the batting crease.

Others on parade will include Delhi all-rounder Virender Sehwag, who has been a consistent performer in domestic seasons, Deveng Gandhi, Jacob Martin, Amay Khurasia and Mohammad Khaif, all of whom have found themselves on the fringes of national selection at one time or the other.

Test discard Doda Ganesh gets an opportunity, at the top of the bowling lineup, to press his claims for a recall, while H Ramakrishna will be hoping to impress as a new ball bowler.

Delhi's Rahul Sanghvi, who made the West Indies A outfit dance to his left arm spinning tune with a career-best haul of seven for 68, and young punjab offie Harbhajan Singh, who was suspected of being a chucker last year and later cleared by the International Cricket Council after a brief stint with english spinner Fred Titmus, also have opportunities to test their skills against a Pakistan lineup that is more than capable of handling the turning ball.

Both captains are confident of a good showing, and neither wanted to name their final elevens till the morning of the game.

However, a lush green outfield and a pitch promising plenty of runs raise visions of a lively contest over the next three days, despite cold weather prevailing in this city of forts.

The locals and sportslovers here are interested in knowing if main players will figure in the playing eleven -- ticket sales will depend on the lineups, especially in the Pakistan ranks.

The district administration and Gwalior Division Cricket Association is confident that the match will go off ''incident-free''. More than adequate security measures have been put in place, the officials maintain.