vandemataram
Banned
ISLAMABAD: Former pacer Sarfraz Nawaz on Sunday said he feared India’s spin bowlers would whitewash Pakistan in their upcoming cricket tour.
"India will spin roll Pakistan on their turning tracks because they play with three regular spinners, with Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar as two added tweakers and have the habit of finishing a Test in three days," Sarfraz told AFP.
"Pakistan’s kitty is empty with just one spinner in Danish Kaneria while the other two spinners have been reported for illegal action and if they go without Shoaib Akhtar it would be a 3-0 win for India," Sarfraz reckoned.
Pakistan will play three Tests and five one-day games from February 25 to April 9 on their first tour of India in six years.
Sarfraz said Pakistan’s cricket hierarchy seemed indifferent to the all important tour.
"Pakistan is under pressure after their 3-0 defeat in Australia but it’s surprising there seems no planning, no vision and no preparation for the India tour," Sarfraz said.
He criticised coach Bob Woolmer, who is having knee surgery in South Africa, and the Pakistan trainers for going on holiday ahead of the tour, and ridiculed skipper Inzamam-ul Haq for appearing in an Indian advertisement.
"How would foreigners be interested in Pakistan’s progress, they would muster the wealth and go away. Our captain doesn’t act on the field and is acting in Indian advertisement which is a mockery of the preparation and no one is bothered what they are doing," he stated.
Sarfraz, acclaimed as the pioneer of reverse swing during a career of 55 Tests for Pakistan, taking 177 wickets, said only seamers could turn the tables on India. "If Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami are fit then we must select them and two more swing bowlers and only they can turn the tables on India because we have not produced quality spinners, no one had bothered to in the recent past," he said.
Pakistan won 1-0 on their 1987 tour with left-arm spinner Iqbal Qasim and off-spinner Tauseef Ahmed sharing eighteen wickets between them in the Bangalore win where the ball spun alarmingly almost throughout the match.
Sarfraz said India without an injured Sachin Tendulkar would still be strong. "Tendulkar would not be missed if he doesn’t play because their real star is Rahul Dravid and other batsmen are capable enough to guide India to big totals," he said.
Pakistan are likely to announce their squad for the India tour on Friday.
"India will spin roll Pakistan on their turning tracks because they play with three regular spinners, with Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar as two added tweakers and have the habit of finishing a Test in three days," Sarfraz told AFP.
"Pakistan’s kitty is empty with just one spinner in Danish Kaneria while the other two spinners have been reported for illegal action and if they go without Shoaib Akhtar it would be a 3-0 win for India," Sarfraz reckoned.
Pakistan will play three Tests and five one-day games from February 25 to April 9 on their first tour of India in six years.
Sarfraz said Pakistan’s cricket hierarchy seemed indifferent to the all important tour.
"Pakistan is under pressure after their 3-0 defeat in Australia but it’s surprising there seems no planning, no vision and no preparation for the India tour," Sarfraz said.
He criticised coach Bob Woolmer, who is having knee surgery in South Africa, and the Pakistan trainers for going on holiday ahead of the tour, and ridiculed skipper Inzamam-ul Haq for appearing in an Indian advertisement.
"How would foreigners be interested in Pakistan’s progress, they would muster the wealth and go away. Our captain doesn’t act on the field and is acting in Indian advertisement which is a mockery of the preparation and no one is bothered what they are doing," he stated.
Sarfraz, acclaimed as the pioneer of reverse swing during a career of 55 Tests for Pakistan, taking 177 wickets, said only seamers could turn the tables on India. "If Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami are fit then we must select them and two more swing bowlers and only they can turn the tables on India because we have not produced quality spinners, no one had bothered to in the recent past," he said.
Pakistan won 1-0 on their 1987 tour with left-arm spinner Iqbal Qasim and off-spinner Tauseef Ahmed sharing eighteen wickets between them in the Bangalore win where the ball spun alarmingly almost throughout the match.
Sarfraz said India without an injured Sachin Tendulkar would still be strong. "Tendulkar would not be missed if he doesn’t play because their real star is Rahul Dravid and other batsmen are capable enough to guide India to big totals," he said.
Pakistan are likely to announce their squad for the India tour on Friday.
