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Dravid holds key for Scots
Scotland, June 07: Having made an excellent start to their first National League campaign, Scotland have a chance to really make a name for themselves in the unofficial one-day international.
Scotland, June 07: Having made an excellent start to their first National League campaign, Scotland have a chance to really make a name for themselves in the unofficial one-day international.
The game at the West of Scotland ground is the first of Pakistan's tour, which focuses on the three-match NatWest Challenge against England.
They arrived in Glasgow with a new-look squad, but with a string of encouraging results behind them, having won a four-nation tournament in Sharjah and reached the final of a triangular series in Sri Lanka.
The Scottish Saltires will find themselves facing up to the world's fastest bowler with Shoaib Akhtar able to play despite serving a three-match ban from one-day internationals for ball-tampering.
But the home side have their own ace in the pack with Indian batsman Rahul Dravid making his second appearance.
Dravid in good touch in last weekend's defeat by hampshire, even though his innings was cut short when he was caught behind after making 25.
"Saturday is a good opportunity for the Scottish players to gain invaluable experience against such a team.
"It promises to be a great match and we are all looking forward to it," Dravid commented.
The Scots will give 18-year-old Kyle Coetzer his first chance of the summer with opener Douglas Lockhart unavailable, along with seam bowler James Brinkley. The two sides last met at Chester-le-Street during the 1999 World Cup, a game Pakistan won by 94 runs, with Shoaib taking 3-11.
Scotland's hopes disappeared on that occasion when they were reduced to 19-5 and they will need greater resilience from their top order to have a chance of springing a surprise this time.
"It promises to be a great match and we are all looking forward to it," Dravid commented.
The Scots will give 18-year-old Kyle Coetzer his first chance of the summer with opener Douglas Lockhart unavailable, along with seam bowler James Brinkley. The two sides last met at Chester-le-Street during the 1999 World Cup, a game Pakistan won by 94 runs, with Shoaib taking 3-11.
Scotland's hopes disappeared on that occasion when they were reduced to 19-5 and they will need greater resilience from their top order to have a chance of springing a surprise this time.