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Last chance for India

India get last chance to restore cricketing pride Sachin Tendulkar's beleaguered India play four one-dayers in the next six days from Tuesday in a last-ditch attempt to salvage the dismal Australian tour.

The Indians have lived up to their reputation as the worst tourists in world cricket - they have won just one Test abroad since 1986 - by losing all three Tests and the first four games of the limited-overs tri-series. They must not only beat Pakistan and Australia in back-to-back matches here on Tuesday and Wednesday, but repeat the sequence on the fast Perth wicket later in the week to qualify for next month's finals.

World champions Australia have ensured their place in the finals with 10 points from six games. Pakistan, with six points, need one win to join the hosts in the play-offs.

Tendulkar, frustrated at his team's inept display so far, was under no illusion about the gravity of the task at hand.

"It's going to be very, very difficult to play - and win - four matches in six days," he said. "But it's a situation we have created ourselves, and now it's our job to get out of it."

Pakistan, whose loss to Australia in Melbourne on Sunday resurrected India's slim hopes, are in no mood to show their arch-rivals any mercy.

"We may be better placed than the Indians, but that does not mean we will be taking it easy," Pakistani captain Wasim Akram said.

"An India-Pakistan match is always special for players from both sides. We are determined to win here."

A win for Pakistan on Tuesday night will knock India out of the series and make the last three matches meaningless.

The Indians have more than just a place in the finals at stake. The team's failure in Australia could see heads roll in the upcoming home series against South Africa.

Apart from the big three in batting - Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly - and bowlers Javagal Srinath, Anil Kumble and Venkatesh Prasad, the rest have contributed little.

Venkat Laxman, a last-minute inclusion for the one-dayers after a brilliant century in the final Test, has managed just 20 runs in four innings.

Jacob Martin (0 and 16), Devang Gandhi (six) and Hrishikesh Kanitkar (zero) have not convinced critics they are better batsmen than the experienced duo of Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja, who were left behind at home.

Azharuddin, who has played more one-dayers (323) and scored more runs (9,111) than anyone else in the world, was reportedly not wanted by both coach Kapil Dev and Tendulkar.

Jadeja, a former vice-captain, was not considered after a shoulder injury, although the South African doctor who treated him passed him fit for the tri-series.

"I am surprised Jadeja is playing domestic cricket when he should have been here," Kapil said.

Injury-prone seamer Ajit Agarkar let the tourists down again by straining a hamstring which kept him out of the last two matches, and will also not be fit for the double-header here.

"He may be fit for Perth, but it may be too late by then," said Kapil, whose request to fly in an extra seamer was turned down by the Indian board.

Meanwhile, two of the three spinners selected, Nikhil Chopra and Sunil Joshi, find themselves cooling their heals on wickets not suited for the slow bowlers.

"It's not been a good tour," Kapil admitted. "We will not improve till we forget the turning wickets at home and play our domestic cricket on green tops."