Managements of both the sides are doing a lot of thinking before naming their squads for the all-important clash because the result of this three-Test series hinges on this match. The first two Tests between Pakistan and South Africa at Rawalpindi and Sheikhupura had ended in stalemates, with unseasonal and unexpected rains emerging as ultimate winners.
The ground of Iqbal Stadium looks heavy because of the recent rains. Although it remained partly cloudy on Thursday yet sun came out for better part of the day. The pitch has been moved but there were traced of grass. The wicket seems to contain uneven bounce but the general impression is that it will be a slow turner with good spinners ``reaping rich harvest if they bowl intelligently and fielders provide good supports. The dropped catches may prove costly! The captain winning the toss is expected to bat first as both the teams will hate to bat on this pitch in the fourth innings.
The South African players did net-practice in the morning. The Pakistan team arrived in Faisalabad almost two hours late on Thursday. It was scheduled to reach here at 2 p.m. after a three-hour road journey. However, it reached at 3:30 p.m. and prove straight to the Iqbal Stadium to have two hours of net-practice. In the afternoon whatever grass had been left on the pitch w3as moved and only roots remained and there. A procession of a religious party disturbed the traffic in this city. Talking exclusively to this reporter, Coach Haroon Rashid said that the final team will be finalised after having a last look at the pitch. He hoped it could help both the pacemen and spinners.
``Presently we are contemplating whether to play with three pacemen and two spinners or three pacemen and one spinner. We are even deliberating upon playing with five batsmen to have more variety in our bowling attack said the former Test player and now coach of Pakistan team. He said that all the boys were fit.''
``Being the last match of the series, we are taking the Faisalabad's Test very seriously. We will go for positive cricket and try our level best to get result in our favour'', said the soft-spoken Haroon Rashid.
The Pakistan team is expected to play with two specialist spinners and three pacemen. Inclusion of Aamir Sohail can be an added advantage. He is not only a fine, top-order left-handed batsman but also a good left-arm spinner and an excellent fielder. His inclusion in the team will bring in variety in the bowling-attack of the Pakistan team. The South African management picked 12 for the final Test here late on Thursday night. however, the visitors will name the 12th man on Friday morning after watching the pitch carefully. The luckless out-of-form Jonty Rhodes, who is a class in himself as a fielder, will have to set out of this Test. A happy news for the South Africans is that the world-class paceman Alan Donald has recovered from his thigh-muscle trouble. The experienced wicketkeeper/batsman Dave Richards is also back in the side. Daryll Cullanin has also recovered. He had bruised finger. He had recurrence of the injury after the Peshawar match against Allied Bank while diving in the slips during the Sheikhupura Test. But Cullanin is back in the team.
A lot of interest has been generated by this Test in Faisalabad between two evenly-balanced side. Many people were seen roaming around the Iqbal Stadium. However, most of the visitors were in ``search'' of free-passes for entry into the ground. Still, the response of the cricket lovers will not be a;s disappointing as has been seen during Test matches at most of the venues in recent years. Despite rains in Faisalabad, the ground staff has done a good job to dry out the ground and make pitch and the square worth-playing. Still, there could be some moisture in the wicket and outfield is likely to be heavy.
Fielding of the South African side will be a spectacle for cricket enthusiasts. The South African team has good batsmen in Kirsten, Cullanin, Cronje and young Adam Bacher. Shaun Pollock, McMillan and Lance bowler. All in all, the visiting side is pretty good in all departments of the game. Pat Symcox is experienced off-spinner and Paul Adams is promising left-arm spinner.
Pakistan team seems better is bowling and batting. It has Captain Saeed Anwar, young Ali Naqvi, Aamir Sohail, Inzimam-ul-Haq, Ejaz Ahmad, Moin Khan and Muhammad Waseem to rely upon in batting department. Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Azhar Mahmood make good pace-attack. Mushtaq Ahmad and Saqlain Mushtaq are excellent spinners and may have the backing of Aamir Sohail. Moreover, Pakistan team will have the advantage of Wasim Akram and Azhar Mahmood because of their all-round ability. The two elevens will be picked out of the following players: Pakistan's 13: Captain Saeed Anwar, Aamir Sohail, Ali Naqvi, Ejaz Ahmad, Inzimam-ul-Haq, Muhammad Waseem, Moin Khan, Waseem Akram, Azhar Mahmood, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmad Saqlain Mushtaq, Shahid Nazir. South Africa's 12: Gary Kirsten, Adam Bacher, Brian McMillan, Daryll Cullanin, Captain Hansie Cronje, Shaun Pollock, Lance Kluesener, Dave Richards, Pat Symcox Alan Donald, Paul Adams, Jonty Rhodes.