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Inzy doubtful, Akhtar to play
January 27, 2006 12:26 IST
Under fire Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer [Images], who is being held responsible for bowlers' graveyard in Lahore [Images] and Faisalabad Tests, is 'pleased' with the pitch at the National Stadium in Karachi and hopes it will help seamers in the last match starting on Sunday.
"This is a typical Karachi pitch with fair bit of bounce for the seamers and at later stage, good for spinners," he told reporters on Thursday.
"The pitches look green. I am pleased to see the best square of the series three days prior to the Test match," he said.
Meanwhile, Woolmer played down injury worries for pacer Shoaib Akhtar [Images] and said the tearaway bowler will play the last Test.
"There aren't real fitness problems and he [Akhtar] is gearing up for third Test," the coach said.
A section of media on Thursday called Akhtar a doubtful starter for the match as the bowler had apparently sprained his ankle.
Woolmer, however, did not seem as confident on captain Inzamam-ul Haq's chances of making it to the Karachi Test.
"His chances of playing the third Test are 50/50. Inzamam is working very hard on his fitness and we are crossing our fingers," Woolmer added.
"If Inzamam fails the fitness test, Faisal Iqbal [Images] will be included in the team," he said.
He also said Imran Farhat [Images] or Kamran Akmal would be opening the innings with Salman Butt [Images] in the absence of Shoaib Malik [Images], who will miss the third Test due to his father's demise in Sialkot recently.