Shoaib Akhtar remained in the limelight after apparently delivering himself into the record books ahead of Pakistan and New Zealand's first Test on Wednesday. Shoaib, 26, was clocked at 161 kph (100.04 mph) in the third and final one-day international at Lahore on Saturday, which, if confirmed, will eclipse Jeff Thomson's previous-best of 99.8 mph, recorded in 1975.

New Zealand coach Denis Aberhart admitted Shoaib, nicknamed the Rawalpindi Express, is bowling fast but played down the speed factor.

"Shoaib is bowling really quick but he is a bowler in our opposition and we know we have to counter him," Aberhart told reporters after his team's practice session on Monday.

Aberhart said his team could stage a comeback in the Tests after a 3-0 whitewash in the one-day series.

"Test cricket is different from one-day games and I hope the boys would regroup and give a good account of themselves in Tests," he said.

New Zealand have been plagued by injury problems since the start of this year.

Chris Cairns was ruled out of the tour due to knee trouble while pace bowler Shane Bond is nursing a foot injury.

Nathan Astle returned home with a knee injury after playing the first one-day match in Karachi, while captain Stephen Fleming, and allrounders Scott Styris and Chris Harris have all suffered stomach upsets, though have since recovered.

Batsmen Mathew Sinclair and Mark Richardson, and seamer Chris Martin have joined the team for the Tests.

Pakistan coach Mudassar Nazar hoped his side would finally scotch their reputation for poor performances on home grounds.

"We lost the Asian Test championship final against Sri Lanka last month and do not have a good home record so I hope my team overturn that in this Test," he said.

Pakistan has lost six of their last seven series at home since 1995-96.

"The fear of losing at home remains at the back of the mind but the Pakistan team is performing well and has won a tri-series in Sharjah earlier this month and won 3-0 against New Zealand," he said.

Nazar singled out Daniel Vettori as New Zealand's major bowling threat. "Vettori has been taking wickets in New Zealand where wickets do not take much spin," he said.

Both teams will announce their final elevens on the morning of the match, on May 1.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd