The tired South Africans, after a long flight, however, didn't show any signs of fatigue when they responded positively to the requests of the autograph seekers to immediately leave a very good impression. Whether the South Africans win or lose here, they are certainly going to make a lot of friends with the flexibility of accommodating everyone with good manners.
Skipper Hansie Cronje, while talking to this correspondent, admitted that he had bitter memories of the last visit to Pakistan. ``We lost the quarter-final to the West Indies which certainly hurt us. It was quite bitter to lose. ``In 1994, it was even harder because we lost all the six league matches - three each to Pakistan and Australia. ``Nevertheless, we have pleasant memories as well because we beat Pakistan here in the World Cup to remain the only unbeaten team from our group,'' he said. Cronje, who turned 28 on Thursday, added that he also enjoyed and loved playing here when he came during the last two times because the wickets were sporting and hospitality marvellous. ``Here is a great cricketing atmosphere.'' ``Pakistan is really one of the top countries to come and play cricket. You have got the challenge on-the-field and then you also enjoy off-the-field. ``We like to be Pakistanis for the next six weeks,'' said Bob Woolmer, the South African coach.
Commenting on the forthcoming Test series, Cronje said Pakistan had a very good record at home. ``We have prepared ourselves very well and have come here to win the Test series. ``It may be a big challenge but that's why we are here for,'' said Cronje. Cronje opined that the Pakistan team had a well-balanced bowling attack with experienced batters to make a good set-up. ``If we want to beat them, we have to get them out for lesser runs than we score. And that's what we are going to concentrate on. ``When we are bowling, we have to keep them (Pakistan) under pressure and when we are batting, we have to get quick runs,'' Cronje said. Asked if he was anticipating a golden opportunity to beat the hosts at home when its morale is down and Ramiz Raja and Salim Malik presently not in the side, Cronje said: ``I think its dangerous to write Pakistan off. If you add Wasim (Akram) and Waqar (Younis) to the Pakistan side, they are a different set.''
Cronje said he hasn't planned any specific strategy for the series. He said his players were returning after a four-and-a-half-month break and all the players were fresh. He added that he would try to ensure that all the players remain fit by the time the Test series starts in another 11 days. ``We haven't concentrated in any sub-continent conditions. We have got four days of practice and then the three-day match. We want to make sure that we make full use of the available time,'' said the skipper.
Bob Woolmer said his side had been working very hard for this series, not necessarily as a team but as individuals. ``Every player was given certain goals to achieve for fitness and practice point of view. They have all done it and more. And now we are going to get used to Pakistan conditions where there is a different soil then we have.''
About the type of wickets he was expecting in the Test series, Cronje said they might be different from the ones on which he played previously. ``Previously, the wickets were superb. Batting was a great pleasure on them but those were for the one-day cricket. ``For the Test matches, the wickets prepared might take a little more turn and we are bargaining on the ball getting scuffed up and swing a little bit more by the end (of the day's play).''
When asked if his batsmen were vulnerable to spinners and if they would be able to cope with bowlers like Mushtaq Ahmad and Saqlain Mushtaq, Cronje said: ``Mushtaq and Saqlain are high-class spinners and we see it a tremendous challenge to play against them. Hopefully by the end of the tour, we would have mastered them.''
About left-arm spinner Paul Adams, popularly known as frog-in-a-blender because of his unorthodox bowling action, Cronje said he was having a couple of tricks under his sleeves. ``We had a couple of injuries last year but the break would have helped him regain full fitness. He has learned a lot from people like Shane Warne, Anil Kumble and Mushtaq Ahmad.'' Referring to the quadrangular tournament, Cronje felt it would be a great challenge because his team would be playing against two former world champions and the current world champions. ``Sri Lanka are presently the best one-day team. A lot of us, however, are feeling nice to face the West Indies, particularly after they beat us in the World Cup.'' Cronje said changes would be made in the team for the quadrangular event but he was unsure which players might to have return after the Test series. ``I don't know what to say. It's pretty premature but changes will be made.''
Asked if we agreed with the excessive cricket being played nowadays, Cronje said: ``The only thing I have to do is to ask people like Barry Richards, Peter Kirsten, Jimmy Cook, Graeme Pollock etc about what do they think. They will tell you they would give anything to play. And if any of our players complain of excessive cricket, that would be the message for them.''
The South African team, that arrived this morning is: W.J Cronje (captain), G.Kirsten (vice-captain), P.R Adams, D.J Cullinan, A.C Hudson, A.M Bacher, A.A Donald, J.H Kallis, S.M Pollock, L.Klusener, D.J Davidson (wicketkeeper), B.McMillan, J.N Rhodes, P.L Symcox, B.N Schultz.
Coach: Bob Woolmer. Manager: S.K Reddy.