The Pakistan cricket team has landed on the shores of New Zealand for a 6 week trip comprising of 5 one-day internationals followed by a series of 3 test matches. The tour commences with the first one-day thriller in Auckland on February 17. After winning the ICC Trophy in Kenya, the good old Kiwis turned Black Caps appeared a force to reckon with. The victory raised their stature in world cricket with the team looking like a professional outfit capable of posing a danger to its opponents.

It was generally thought that under Stephen Fleming it was one of the most improved teams in the game, with a good deal of self-belief and national pride. Impressed with their performance, even a highly courageous player and Coach like Javed Miandad warned the team members not to take the tour easy and prepared the boys to face all eventualities. Even the vastly different playing conditions that could make the ball seam and swing more than Pakistan were kept in mind during the training sessions.

Although one cannot predict the result of a series with full confidence, one thing is sure that the Black Caps' miserable performance against Sri Lanka has removed to a considerable extent, the fears and apprehensions about their rejuvenated spirit and strength. By achieving a consolation victory in the 5th and final one-day international at Eden Park, they barely survived a whitewash. They behaved like under-dogs all through the series losing the 3rd ODI by 9 wickets. Even the advantage of home grounds and pitches was nowhere to be seen.

Sri Lanka succeeded in wrapping up the series 4-1, despite the fact that the giant of an off spinner and the usual match winner called Muttiah Muralitharan was not the chief wrecker. He only claimed 5 wickets for 25 runs in the 1st ODI at Napier and then let the other bowlers in the side use their mettle to rout the opponents. The wickets were almost equally shared by the group of non-fearsome bowlers who made short work of the hosts, clinching the series to the delight of people back home.

Humiliated by Sri Lanka, the Black Caps need to bounce back in revenge to revive their lost prestige and prowess, a spirit that may create some ripples among the visitors. In the circumstances that prevail, the Pakistan team, however, seems free of any psychological pressure with skipper Moin Khan fully confident of defeating the New Zealanders. He also feels that "playing away series has become easier for the team because the pressure of home fans is not there".

Recovered from the shock of defeat at the hands of England in the Karachi Test, the Pakistan team is an excellent blend of youth and experience. It has all the seasoned players who constitute the major strength to force a victory along with some brilliant youngsters. Since the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was working on a formula of overhauling the team, there was a fear that some of the old stalwarts may be shown the door. It is, however, heartening that super-stars like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmed are a part of the team. Despite doubts, apprehensions and illusions about their form, Pakistan has not yet found the suitable youngsters to replace them. They continue to remain the best in their trade and are expected to be the key factor in Pakistan's good performance.

Considering that the pitches in New Zealand offer relatively more seam and swing, the team is carrying the largest ever battery of pace bowlers comprising Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Azhar Mahmood, Abdur Razzaq and a young and upcoming pacer Mohammad Sami who has yet to show his caliber. The youngster having superseded a number of other pace bowlers to clinch a spot in the team, the tour will be a challenge for him. Not only that the presence of half a dozen speedsters will provide the Pakistan skipper a very wide choice to pick and choose, it will also ward off to a large extent the effects of the fast bowlers going 'off road' on account of injuries.

Shoaib Akhtar and Azhar Mahmood having remained out of the game for health reasons, however, lack match practice. While Azhar is said to have completely recovered, doubts arise about the fitness of Shoaib Akhtar. Those who saw him bowling in the trial matches held before the team's departure, are of the opinion that his performance left a lot to be desired. Not only that he could not bend his back and bowled with the shoulder power alone, gone was his flowing run up too. Shoaib who stunned the cricket fans with his bombshells during the World Cup-99, is certainly obsessed with the objective of bowling at 100 mph, so as to break Jeff Thomson's world record. In case he bowls with his eye on the radar gun, he may end up as a loser.

The Pakistan team has two world-class spinners in Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed with Shahid Afridi to act as a highly effective reserve. They will be good enough to usefully share the burden of the pace bowlers. There is no visible decline in the team's batting strength. All the gladiators are there. They only have to shrug off their very favorite element of 'uncertainty' and perform well consistently.

Imran Farhat, a very promising opening batsman has also found a place in the team after playing some brilliant innings in domestic cricket. Let us hope he becomes a source of strength to the team's batting line. With his weight loss and a trimmed figure, Inzamam ul Haq appears to have regained his speed and agility. Apart from improving his batting prowess, a lighter body frame cut to proper size, will surely reduce his chances of getting run out so often. Saeed Anwar who is without his magical touch with the bat for some time, needs to regain the same.

Seen in the overall perspective, the Pakistan squad is quite strong and well balanced to defeat the New Zealanders, provided the boys take every match seriously, apply themselves correctly and not become the victims of complacency under any circumstances. They have a psychological edge over their opponents, which must be exploited to its full range. For the first time in Pakistan's history, the team has been laced with a computer software program that would detect the opponents' weaknesses and help their own players in lifting performance. Let us hope the new technology adds up to the team's prowess and performance.

© CricInfo