Cricket: Miandad believes spin will do trick

FAISALABAD - Pakistan cricket coach Javed Miandad is confident his team will spin England to defeat in the second test, which starts in Faisalabad today.

"I am confident we will win and that the strip at Iqbal Park will turn," former batting great Miandad said yesterday.

England surprised Pakistan in the first test in Lahore, which was drawn, by posting a good first-innings total of 490 for eight declared against four Pakistan spinners.

"The pitch looks hard and I think it will take turn and we have quality spinners in the squad," Miandad said.

England's previous test trip to Faisalabad, 13 years ago, was marred by an on-field row between captain Mike Gatting and Pakistani umpire Shakoor Rana.

Pakistan have five spinners in their squad of 15 and are likely to play three - Saqlain Mushtaq, Arshad Khan and teenage leggie Danish Kaneria - and use Shahid Afridi as a spinning allrounder.

"Kaneria is a future prospect and has impressed me with his bowling," Miandad said.

The 18-year-old Kaneria has taken 34 wickets, including seven for 39, in five matches in the Pakistan domestic season.

The second test will be a special occasion for famed Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram, who will be playing the 100th test of his career. Akram took only one wicket in the first test and may again find himself out of the hunt on a turning track.

He is fourth on the all-time test wickets table with 409.

England are likely to keep the first test line-up intact.

* In Nagpur, Grant Flower scored an unbeaten 91 as Zimbabwe battled to within 51 runs of avoiding the follow-on against India on the third day of the second test.

Facing India's huge first innings of 609 for six declared, Zimbabwe were 359 for six at stumps.

Opener Guy Whittall began the fight with 84 and later Grant Flower and brother Andy (55) put on 96 for the fifth wicket.

India lead the two-match series 1-0.

- AGENCIES