Led by the mercurial Moin Khan, Pakistan start their current New Zealand tour with an ODI at Auckland, the first of a 5-match series and they seemingly reflect a never-say -die attitude in spite of that humiliating Test series loss to England at home. Despite that unwarranted loss under fading light, the hunger to succeed has not been diminished. And they will take the field in this D/N match with the same enthusiasm that categorizes every match involving Pakistan, either at home or away.

Bolstered through the presence of such tacticians, and experienced cricketers like Wasim Akram who made his Test debut against New Zealand in the 1984-85 series, having earlier being offered his ODI baptism against New Zealand at Faisalabad in 1984. Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Moin Khan and relatively new stars in Saleem Elahi, Shahid Afridi, Yousuf Youhana, Shoaib Akhtar, Azhar Mahmood, Imran Nazir, Abdur Razzaq and the stars of the future in Imran Farhat and Mohammad Sami, the team reflects the desired balance in bowling and batting.

Wasim Akram, the 'elder', has been in NZ in 1984-85, 1992 (WC), 1992-93 (a one-off Test), 1993-94, and in 1995-96, posting enviable bowling averages in most of the matches. Seniors, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Moin Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed were members during the 1992 WC and toured again in 1994 and 1995, the same years that Saeed Anwar played while Saqlain Mushtaq and Saleem Elahi follow their last visit in 1994-95. Waqar Younis, who missed the 1992 WC, tours a third time while the others make their maiden tours to New Zealand.

This is a different team from ones that toured previously, not in terms of promise and potential, but in terms of spirit and sensitivity. This, because a lot of consolidation work, off the field, has been done. This was necessitated due to many features in the media and poorly disguised rumblings that showed a team shorn of unity and purpose. Efforts by the players themselves, the coach and above all by the PCB, has helped strengthen team unity. Thus one feels that this team, under Moin Khan, would play as a collective unit than those combinations where individuality surfaced more often than not. Intensive physical conditioning has further added to the team's mobility in the field and gone, will be that sloppiness in the outfield that characterized earlier fielding. Consigned to the bin is that sloppiness and this togetherness, so lacking in the past, would surprise one and all with their new approach 'all for one and one for all' mentality.

Workouts together have also helped tame that bit of impetuosity that cost many a batsman a short lease at the crease. The whole bunch appears more mature and certainly promises the ability to come out of a dive.

It is possible that the team may perpetuate New Zealand discomforts with the same frequency that the departing Sri Lankans did. And it is not a distinct possibility, for in Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Abdur Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood and Shoaib Akhtar, supported through the raw talent of Mohammad Sami, Pakistan has a combination of fast-medium bowlers that endorse accuracy and bounce, with penetrating line and length and the ability to make good length balls leap back at the batsmen's ribs.

But that is not all; in Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed, they have spinners who can add to the discomfort and uncertainty of the batsmen through guile and turn. Both can bowl with different body actions and grips and all over the cricketing world, batsmen have been snared by their spin. Imran Farhat, Shahid Afridi and Imran Nazir promise that sustained flamboyance that can turn the result of any match while in Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saeed Anwar, Pakistan has batsmen of proven record. Add to this the charge of Abdur Razzaq, Moin Khan and Wasim Akram, and one has a team that can only lose if God, so ordains.

The 1st of the five matches is played at Auckland, the same ground that saw Pakistan beat New Zealand in the 1992 WC semifinals and has very happy memories for Inzamam-ul-Haq, Wasim Akram and Moin Khan. Even otherwise, Pakistan take the field hungry to succeed. In spite of those acrimonious fixing charges, it was here in 1994 that Pakistan won the 2nd ODI by 36 runs, bowling out New Zealand for 110, protecting a score of only 146. Wasim Akram's 4/23 was the right stuff to snuff out the New Zealand challenge. And it was here again, that Pakistan forced a 'tie' in the 4th ODI, bowing out New Zealand for 161 in 49.5 overs, the same score posted by them in 50 overs. Waqar Younis with 6/30 showing that exemplary line and length and speed in the air that gifted bowlers are blessed with. New Zealand, though, have a morale boosting win to their credit here, for in 1995 they restricted Pakistan to only 212 chasing 244 in a 45 overs match for a 32 runs victory.

Toss winning in this match, will be a factor and can help a team dictate terms. New Zealand can take some sustenance from the fact that they posted 282 against the Sri Lankans and then held them to only 269 - a reflection that given a true batting strip they have the bastmen who can score and bowlers able to contain the charge. Pakistan, on the other hand, take the field with the premise, that in Wasim, Waqar, Razzaq they have bowlers that can exploit any surface and have batsmen like Inzamam, Youhana, Afridi, Imran Farhat and Imran Nazir who can tear apart any bowling on their day.

But the result not withstanding, one feels it is appropriate to pen down what Justice Qayyum of the Lahore High Court opined in his Commission report. And this what the honourable judge recorded. "When they react to losses, the Public should be more tolerant in its criticism and remember that cricket is still a game of chance, and players are indeed human still. The other team is there to play too and Pakistan team is not that invincible, at least not all the times, that if they lose, or fail to come from behind there must be something amiss. Even most coaches need to take note of that. That, too, those disappointed with their fallen heroes, it be suggested that humans are fallible. Cricketers are only cricketers. Please maintain a sense of perspective when you react and criticize."

This, more or less sums up the Pakistan public's reaction to any match. And here is hoping the discerning followers keep this in mind when they follow this series. Pakistan, on paper, and through reputation and record, reflect an edge over New Zealand, but any unpalatable result should be taken in a sporting spirit.

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