Pakistan with their victory in the second Test at Kingsmead in Durban do not need to be reminded that another win here at St. George's in the decisive third and final Test starting here tomorrow (Friday) or even a draw will clinch them their first ever series against South Africa. Psychologically they are geared up for this and with Wasim Akram already amongst them they now seem to have new spring in their heels. Their spirit and the mood have been lifted and if they are able to cash on it and strike again with even more aggressive display of team work, there is every chance that Pakistan may come out of this series with their flags flying high.And that would indeed be a wonderful thing for the tourists.

In the last five Tests Pakistan have achieved the envious record of winning four of them if we take into account the 3-0 win against West Indies at home. That itself is a proud record.

Pakistan would not like to miss this opportunity to maintain that winning streak. In normal circumstances they would not have liked to disturb the winning combination but would have kept the team which won the second Test emphatically. But changes have been made and perhaps for the better.

Rashid Latif after being declared fit is back in the team and will lead the side. He will be playing in a Test for the first time after Lord's Test of 1996.

Inzamam-ul-Haq who had twisted his ankle while practising prior to the second Test is also in the side as is Wasim Akram who is back in the side.

The men left out are Mohammad Wasim, Fazal-e-Akbar, and Yousaf Youhana. Rashid Latif will keep the wickets while Moin Khan will play as a batsman.

The batting line-up if they do play to their potential will indeed be formidable and that itself will cause a lot of worry to the South African bowlers. Lately somehow despite a strong batting order Pakistan has not been able to make big scores but if St. George's pitch plays to its reputation, Pakistan may shrug of those jitters of recent collapses to make a respectable score.

``This is a very important game for us and having won the second Test we feel that we have a better chance on this wicket if we bat well. The bowling with Wasim Akram in the side is even more impressive and we must cash on it,'' says Rashid Latif who will be leading Pakistan for the first time in a Test.

Waqar younis who bowled effectively in the second Test and picked up those last two wickets on the final day to clinch victory for Pakistan thinks that the wicket will favour the batsmen. ``It is a type of wicket on which any side winning the toss should bat. It will seam a little and there will be movement early in the morning but it will settle down to help the batsmen,'' he says.

In the last Tests played here, however, both Australia and South Africa were unable to make big scores. But Australia did win the second Test here by three wickets, chasing about 270 odd runs as Mark Waugh made 116 scintillating runs. Bowlers like Jason Gillespie and Glen McGrath had bowled superbly in that match.

Like Australia, Pakistan too would have a fiery pace attack with Waqar, Wasim, Shoaib Akhtar and Azhar Mahmood in the team. But Mushtaq Ahmed who destroyed the South African batting could once again prove out to be as devastating as in the second Test. He has exposed the South African batting to such an extent with mesmerising spin that South Africa would find it rather difficult now than ever before to tackle him and the rest.

Saqlain Mushtaq too was in the reckoning but he has been named as the 12th man. It is surprising that Pakistan have named their team a day earlier. It has not been their tradition and it certainly has surprised everyone here. I will not be surprised that on the morning of the match the named team is changed and Saqlain is included if at all the wicket is mowed in the morning and only a little blade of grass is left.

South Africa are likely to play Fanie de Villiers with the off-spinner Pat Symcox as the 12th man. Left-arm spinner Paul Adams is also in the final eleven, for injured Klusener. Donald bowled in the nets without much discomfort and is a certainty. The home side now have a tough task ahead to level the series but their batting like Pakistan has been so far unimpressive and needs to be improved a lot to get out of that 90 for 5 syndrome and that is what Pakistan will be hoping to exploit.

Pakistan: Aamir Sohail, Saeed Anwar, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Moin Khan, Azhar Mahmood, Rashid Latif (captain), Wasim Akram, Mushtaq Ahmed, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq.

South Africa: Gary Kirsten, Adam Bacher, Jacques Kallis, Andrew Hudson, Hansie Cronje (captain), Hylton Ackerman, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Allan Donald, Paul Adams, Fanie de Villiers, Lance Klusener, Pat Symcox.

Umpires: Steve Dunne, Rudi Koertzen.

Third Umpire: Dave Orchard.

Match Referee: John Reid.