``All the team-members will be flying to Peshawar on Saturday morning. We will have a good look at the pitch and thereafter finalise the eleven for the Test on morning of the game. Having suffered a shock-defeat at Faisalabad in the third Test against South Africa and performed badly during the Golden Jubilee Quadrangular Cricket Tournament at Lahore, chips are down and boys are under psychologically under pressure. Still, we will try our best to beat the West Indies side at Peshawar and in the following matches'', said the serene and calm-looking Wasim Akram.
While replying to a question from this reporter, the experienced all-rounder Wasim Akram said that a five-day Test is a totally different game from the limited-over matches. Of course, the West Indies side was also having a bad patch these days just like the Pakistan team. ``No one should forget that the West Indies team consists of world-class bowlers like Curtly Ambrose and Ian Bishop, who have the capability to change the complexion of the game at any stage. One can play them when bowling in limited-over matches. But they can be lethal in Tests. The West Indies side has world-class batsmen like Brian Lara and Carl Hooper. The fielding of the team has always been good. Whenever the Caribbean side will click, it will be very difficult proposition to beat. However, my assertions should not be misunderstood or misconstrued. We willgive away our best and leave the result to Allah!'' said Wasim Akram.
Wasim Akram looked satisfied with the composition of the team. He said that the team will play with three pacemen and three spinners. All-round ability of Aamir Sohail and Azhar Mahmood would be an advantage with the Pakistan team.
The 13 players announced for the Peshawar Test have three openers Aamir Sohail, Saeed Anwar and Ali Naqvi. Besides Wasim Akram and Azhar Mahmood, young paceman Shahid Nazir has been included in the team. The match-winning right-arm leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmad, who had opted to take rest during the Golden Jubilee Quadrangular Cricket Tournament, has come back into the side to make it more balanced.
``My knee has improved a lot. I hope that it will not bother me during the first five-day Test against the West Indies. I will try my best to play to the best of my ability'', said the diminutive spinner Mushtaq Ahmad, who has won many a Test for Pakistan single-handed and is considered one of the best bowlers of his type in the world today. Form of off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq is also a source of a worry for the Pakistan team and he may have to perform the duties of the 12th man. The selectors have also included the Peshawar-born off-spinner Arshad Khan. He may be preferred over Saqlain during the Test in his hometown. Young opener Ali Naqvi, who credited himself with a Test century on his debut against South Africa at Rawalpindi has been included among the 13 players but may have to miss the game at Peshawar. The tried and tested pair of openers Aamir Sohail and Saeed Anwar may eventually be chosen to perform the duties once again for Pakistan in a Test after a long time. The middle-order batting looks formidable in the presence of Ejaz Ahmad Senior, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Muhammad Wasim, Azhar Mahmood, Moin Khan and Wasim Akram.
The team looks balanced as it will have paceman Shahid Nazir to back-up Wasim Akram and Azhar Mahmood. The spin department is expected to be handled by Mushtaq Ahmad and Arshad Khan with Aamir Sohail also helping the team with his left-arm slow bowling.
The team named for the first Test is: Captain Wasim Akram, Aamir Sohail, Saeed Anwar, Ejaz Ahmad Junior, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Muhammad wasim, Azhar Mahmood, Moin Khan, Shahid Nazir, Mushtaq Ahmad, Arshad Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq, Ali Naqvi. Coach: Haroon Rashid. Physiotherapist: Dr Dan Kiesel.