Kingfisher are the backers for the tourists but use their ``mineral water'' tag here in deference to local custom. However, there is some muttering in fundamentalist circles that the Pakistan Cricket Board have allowed West Indies to get round the ban on alcohol.

The law here proscribes alcohol-related products on religious grounds and one commentator has pointed out that ``Islam punishes a drunkard with a good number of lashes if proven guilty of taking liquor''.

Fortunately the present West Indies team would probably escape the cane because the majority are non-drinkers, shunning even the delights of Pakistan's only bar on the top floor of the team hotel - where non-Muslim foreigners find a haven on purchase of a special permit.

Both sides will be introducing spinners for their Test debuts. West Indies are including Rawl Lewis, a leg-spinner from Grenada, and Pakistan are bringing in locally-born off-spinner Arshad Khan as a surprise replacement for Saqlain Mushtaq.

Pakistan will also be using Shahid Nazir, 19, to share the new ball with their captain Wasim Akram in place of Waqar Younis, who has been dropped.

Pakistan (probable): *Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar, Aamir Sohail, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim, Azhar Mahmood, -Moin Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed, Shahid Nazir, Arshad Khan.

West Indies: *C A Walsh, S L Campbell, S C Williams, S Chanderpaul, B C Lara, C L Hooper, P V Simmons, -D Williams, R Lewis, I R Bishop, C E L Ambrose.