Inzamam, Youhana put Pakistan on top

By Ted Corbett

KARACHI, DEC. 7. The omission of Wasim Akram from the Pakistan Test side for the third - and decisive - match against England caused shock waves throughout the country here today. But why was he dropped? He is a great all-rounder, even compared with Imran Khan, and a former captain. I suppose that if Shahid Afridi can keep his place after being dropped from the squad 72 hours ago anything is possible.

Here are the 10 reasons I have been given. Wasim has a back spasm. Wasim has been dropped. He has not made runs. He has not taken wickets. His career is coming to an end. He has been ``holding us back for four years''. It's temporary; he will return after a rest for the New Zealand tour. It's politics; the match- fixing charge is still hanging over him. He took one look at the pitch and decided it was time Waqar Younis did some work. The higher-ups cannot tolerate him around the dressing room any longer. It must have been a surprise to Wasim. At breakfast he claimed ``I am lucky to be playing because it may be my last Test in Pakistan.''

They had much the better of the first day until lunch. Moin Khan won the toss and on another mudflat of a pitch chose to bat. The first few balls looked innocuous but Darren Gough found a beauty that trapped Saeed Anwar on the crease and when Hussain called Marcus Trescothick's medium pace into the attack he had Imran Nazir caught at backward point. At 63 Inzamam on four escaped a clear lbw decision, yet another example if ICC needed one that says there must be more help for the umpires. There have been far too many mistakes in this series when controversy with the umpires was so certain it might have been part of the sponsor's build-up.

At 64 Salim Elahi was bowled by Andrew Caddick with his bat and feet heading in different directions, and Alec Stewart made a swift attempt to stump Yousuf Youhana. Pakistan might have been five down at lunch; instead Inzamam-ul-Haq was waving his bat for fifty off 109 balls with eight 4s just before tea when Pakistan was level on points at 160 for three, or 91 in the session and Inzamam poised for another century of undoubted class.

What a difference that lbw decision made. It allowed us to see the big man at his best; light of foot, heavy of bat and a consummate craftsman. I have often been unconscionably rude about him but even I know that sometimes he has the grace of a sleepy jaguar and the power of a bull elephant. He treated the leg breaks of Ian Salisbury with disdain, Gough's non-swinging off- side half volleys with a crashing bat and even ran sensibly. At the other end Youhana was a picture of orthodox batsmanship, ignoring scoring chances for the greater good.

Youhana went quickly to fifty off 111 balls, the 200 came in the 64th over, and the 150 stand in three hours. Inzamam was majestic, although he went to his 12th Test century with two scrambled singles before his 15th four. Youhana completed his second of the series just before the close. Even when the 200 stand - the biggest for the fourth wicket by Pakistan against England here - was reached the England fielding did not wilt. But the stage is set for an England defeat if Pakistan makes good use of the 292 for three in the full 90 overs built from that uncertain start.

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