Deadly Ws all set to torment Kiwis

Geoff Young

Pakistan pace bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis are raring to go on their New Zealand tour, Pakistan coach Javed Miandad said on Monday.

Speaking on arrival in Auckland for the tour, Miandad rejected a suggestion that the two elder statesmen of Pakistani cricket might be nearing the end of their careers.

"Don't let them hear you say that," Miandad said. "They can bowl as quickly as anyone else and their experience is immense. They are two bowlers who have done so much for Pakistan cricket with 700 to 800 wickets between them in Tests and one-dayers."

Pakistan play the first of five one-day internationals in Auckland on Saturday and will face the same New Zealand team that finally broke their duck with a 13-run victory in the final one-dayer against Sri Lanka in Christchurch on Sunday.

Sri Lanka won the series 4-1.

Pakistan will also play three Tests in New Zealand.

The side comes to New Zealand with one-day victories over England but a Test series loss against the same opposition and, before that, a home defeat to Sri Lanka in a one-day series.

The last time Pakistan and New Zealand met was at the semi-final stage of the ICC knockout competition in Kenya last year, when New Zealand won and went on to take the title.

Pakistan manager Fakir Aizazuddin said his side is disappointed they won't face all-rounder Chris Cairns, who is out for six months because of surgery on his right knee.

"He is a very fine player. A world-beater," Aizazuddin said. "I'm sure we'll have some very tight games here, but with him in New Zealand's side (it) would have added some extra spice."

Pakistan have an exciting mixture of youth and experience, Miandad said, adding that as well as Wasim and Waqar they also have Shoaib Akhtar who has been injured for nine months.

"He can't wait to get going," Miandad said.

Miandad said it would be hard to choose a side from players of the calibre of Mohammed Sami and Imran Farhat, two young fast bowlers, along with spinners Shahid Afridi, Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mustaq.

"It's a difficult question. Who do you leave out? We've got a squad who can beat anyone. We take nothing away from New Zealand, but we have so much talent. Selection meetings are going to be very interesting," Miandad said.

Mail Cricket Editor