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CALCUTTA, Feb 17: Former Test stars on Wednesday expressed their surprise over Wasim Akram's decision to bat first after winning the toss in the Asian Test Championship opener against India at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday.

``I was surprised to note that Wasim Akram, having included three pacers in the side, opted to take first strike. Having gained an advantage, he should have exploited the freshness of the wicket by bowling first. For some reason he did not, and the Indians were not complaining,'' Dilip Vengsarkar, scorer of 17 centuries for India, wrote in his column in The Asian Age.

South African Graeme Pollock commented: ``It was very difficult to choose your priorities. Pakistan could have been better off if they had fielded. Even their fast bowlers would have come good on this lively track.''

Asif Iqbal, former Pakistan captain, however, remarked: ``Akram was justified in taking first strike. The pitch would have eased out after the first session. And that is exactly what happened. I think it was sheer bad luck that Pakistan lost so many wickets, though the Indian pacers bowled well.''

The Telegraph, in its lead story, said: ``By his own admission, Wasim Akram has, over the years, learnt from many mistakes as captain. But whether or not he learns from his latest, the decision to bat, will hang around his neck like the proverbial albatross.''

The paper added that probably Akram had more faith in his batsmen rather than the batsmen had in themselves. ``Batting first on a wicket known to offer juice in plenty, at least early on, definitely is a positive move. But doing so after disastrous outings in succession, at the Kotla, is pretty reckless.''

The Asian Age wrote: ``With at least half a dozen members in their squad (who) have led the country at various points of time, it would be foolish to assume that Akram's decision to bat first was a unilateral one.''

However, there was criticism from all the quarters for some spineless batting by the Pakistan top order.

``The Pakistani top order struggled with their footwork and played as if they were lost in the trance,'' observed former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja. He added: ``Lazy movement and poor technique, coupled with some ordinary half pushes and nudges outside the off stump led to the carnage before lunch.''

Vengsarkar felt that the visiting batsmen displayed poor technique in negotiating the new ball. ``Their footwork was faulty, as most of the time they lunged forward and pushed at deliveries, only to be gobbled up in the slip cordon.''

Javed Miandad, the Pakistan coach who is writing a daily column in a local newspaper, said India would have liked to have dismissed Pakistan under a hundred after some spirited bowling by Srinath and Prasad. ``I am also sure that Pakistan, after being in dire straits, were happy to make the total of 185 after two good partnerships.''

Miandad, in his column, admitted that at 26 for six he thought his team would touch its lowest. ``But Moin Khan saved us. No praise is high for Moin. In fact, every one of his centuries has come under pressure.''

However, Miandad diplomatically skipped to point out the mistakes committed by his batsmen. ``Moaning about our batting failure would take the credit off some fine bowling by Srinath and Prasad.''