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Bad weather hits Pakistan Test
preparations at Dharamshala
Pakistan
Times Sports
Desk
DHARAMSHALA (India):
Pakistan’s preparations for the first Test against India suffered a setback
as only 11.4 overs were bowled due to bad weather on the third and final day
of their drawn practice match here on Saturday.
Test-discard Mohammad Kaif and opener Dheeraj Jadhav were unbeaten on 49
apiece as an Indian Cricket Board President’s XI scored 120-1 in their first
innings in reply to the tourists’ 273 when the game was called off due to
poor light.
The bad weather disrupted play on all the three days in Pakistan’s only
warm-up match before the opening Test of a three-match series, starting at
Mohali on Tuesday.
Pakistan batted only once in the match, with only all-rounder Abdul Razzaq
giving a good account of himself with an aggressive 63. His team-mates
remained short of practice as none could score a half-century.
Pakistan now go into the first India Test without testing their bowlers as
only 34 overs were completed in the Board President’s innings.
Fast bowler Mohammad Sami, Pakistan’s strike bowler in the absence of the
injured Shoaib Akhtar, sent down just 11 overs for 37 runs.
Key Pakistani leg-spinner Danish Kaneria also got limited opportunities to
get into his rhythm as he bowled nine overs on a low, slow pitch. Seamer
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan was the lone successful bowler, finishing with 1-17 off
eight overs.
Kaif, dropped from India’s squad for the first Test, remained in contention
for the remaining two matches with a solid 80-ball knock which contained
seven fours. He put on 103 runs for the unfinished second wicket with Jadhav,
who hit seven fours in his 113-ball knock.
Pakistan will also play six One-day Internationals on their first tour of
India in six years.●
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