Pakistan aiming for first home series win since 1998

Karachi, Aug 18: Pakistan, winless in a series at home since 1998, have a prime opportunity to start reversing that trend when the first of three tests against Bangladesh begins on Wednesday.
Bangladesh have lost 20 out of 21 tests, most of them inside three days or by an innings, and have never scored more than 160 against Pakistan.
Pakistan have batted just three times in their three tests against Bangladesh scoring 546-3, 490-9 and 465-9. But Pakistan captain Rashid Latif was still cautious.
''I don't want to look to history for confidence. The fact is we have not won a test series at home since 1998,'' said Latif.
''Bangladesh come here after some respectable performances in Australia when you had some critics predicting they would lose in one or two days.

''I would be surprised if this Bangladesh side is not more competitive against us.''

Pakistan have lost test series to Australia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and England since 1998.

But they have also seen several tours cancelled since the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States and the consequent conflicts in the region. Just two tests have been played at home since then and the last proper series was in late 2000 against England.

Bangladesh are fresh from a two-test whitewash at the hands of the Australians and coach Dav Whatmore said his side must use that experience in Pakistan.

''We just have to build on the confidence we gained in Australia. The batsmen have to do the little things right and we can be competitive,'' he said.

Whatmore, who guided Sri Lanka to two test series wins in Pakistan, the 1996 world cup final and the Asian test championship title, will be relying on Hannan Sarkar and Habibul Bashar for the bulk of his side's runs.

Bashar has been his team's most consistent and prolific batsman with 1,362 runs and has scored three half-centuries in six innings against Pakistan.

He has also faced Pakistani legspinner Danish Kaneria, who has 25 wickets in his three appearances against Bangladesh, with the most confidence.

Even if Whatmore does formulate a plan to Neutralise Kaneria, his bowlers face the prospect of tying down recalled batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq.

The 33-year-old was one of five Pakistani batsmen to score centuries in the only other test between the two sides in Pakistan, at Multan in 2001.

He also notched a record breaking 329 runs at Lahore against New Zealand, in one of the only two tests at home since the game in Multan.
Bureau Report