Saeed was the only one to read the Niaz Stadium wicket which deceived every expert. He was the only one who had predicted that the track is a turner while every expert - pseudo or real had forecast it to due a batting one. Sachin Tendulkar took the right decision of opting to bat first as the wicket was bound to deteriorate in the second session of the One-dayer.
Pakistan's speedster Waqar Younis, fresh from his county engagement where he led Glamorgan to county championship title, turned the balance in the very first over by dismissing Tendulkar and Ganguly. His effort was well supported later by Aquib Javed and Saqlain Mushtaq. In fact Saqlain was the main terror for the Indian batsmen as except for Azharuddin no one could face him with any degree of authority.
Saqlain now has emerged as one of world's leading off-spinners. But the very fact that he has some mystery balls, which turn the other way, buzzle the batsmen. Wicket-keeper Karim and off-spinner Chauhan got out while trying to sweep him on the delivery which was not an off-break. If it would have been so the ball would have gone to the square leg region all along the ground.
Aquib Javed's swinging yorkers were a beauty and he rightly emerged the highest wicket-taker and was adjudged Man of the Match.
Waqar Younis could not reproduce the pace of his first spell when he was summoned by Saeed Anwar. Saeed immediately sensed that Waqar has not yet fully acclimatised to the conditions here and brought in Ijaz Ahmad asking him to bowl the slow stuff instead of medium-pacers.
Saeed Anwar's handling of his bowlers and the field placements were admirable. India, after a disastrous start, managed to score 170 which was a fighting score on the Niaz Stadium strip. But except for experienced Azharuddin, Rahul Dravid and Ajay Jadeja other batsmen failed to come up to the required level. Dravid in particular impressed most by scoring 50 on this strip. This youngster has a long innings to play in his career.
Pakistan got a very good start as Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi got down to business in a very confident vein. They controlled their aggression, specially Shahid Afridi, who tried to stay at the wicket and played his shots on loose deliveries. I saw him for the first time applying himself which was a healthy change. Shahid as unlucky to be given leg before by Saleem Badar. It was a decision which almost brought the contest on an even keel.
Left-arm leg-spinner Kulkarni's delivery which pitched on the middle and off stump and was drifting outside the off stump. Shahid stretched fully even exposing his leg stump. It was a mystery how he could be given out. To my surprise, Indian cricket legend, Sunil Gavaskar, on PTV justified Saleem Badar's decision. I am a great admirer of Gavaskar but I cannot make out how a man of his stature can justify the decision of Badar. Gavaskar said that the ball struck Shahid Afridi's leg on the inside. Even so the ball was going away from the off stump.
During the day many run-out and LBW decisions given by the umpires and the third umpire were quite close but the benefit of doubt went in favour of the batsmen. It was not even a close call.
At one time Pakistan came under pressure when Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Ejaz Ahmad, Saleem Elahi and Hasan Raza were back in the pavilion. I cannot understand the logic of playing Saleem Elahi and Hasan Raza when Salim Malik and Aamir Sohail are established batsmen of world class and were available in the country.
Saleem Elahi is an opener and so is Aamir Sohail. There is no comparison between the two. The same applies to Hasan Raza and Saleem Malik. Saleem Malik is a world class batsman and an in-form batsman.
One would like to know on what ground Saleem Malik has been ignored. If it is on disciplinary grounds then Inzamam had committed a more grievous crime. And if there is some other reason then perhaps the PCB is trying to justify the accusations made by Australian cricketers.
The change of guards at the top-level has made the difference in the team. If the PCB compromises on dropping Rameez Raja it should show the same spirit and recall Saleem Malik, Aamir Sohail, Basit Ali and Rashid Latif and give them a fair chance to prove their potential.
We should not underestimate the Indians and try to improve the fielding which was not of international standard.