Despite Sachin Tendulkar being a doubtful starter and a depleted pace attack,
India will try hard to pull off a series win against Pakistan, which just
managed to come out of a leadership crisis ahead of the crucial third and final
cricket Test beginning here tomorrow.
That Tendulkar has hurt his knee and vice captain Mahendra
Singh Dhoni is reported to have suffered an injury on the webbing of his
left hand during the Kolkata Test could make things difficult for the hosts
who are already missing services of their best pacers Zaheer Khan, RP
Singh and S Sreesanth.
Both the sides are struggling to field their best players on
the field with Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik, who sprained his ankle
while playing football in Delhi after the first Test, ruled for the final match.
A draw would be suffice for the hosts to seal the series but
Pakistan, to be led by Younis Khan, are in a do-or-die situation as they
must win this match to draw the series.
Adding to the pressure is their internal crisis, which roared
its head late last night when Younis refused to don the skipper's role protesting
over Board's non-supportive stance on the selection matters.
Mohammad Yousuf was also reluctant to lead the side
and it was only after PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf's persuasion that Younis agreed
to the captain the side.
The match will be played on a virgin track, which has been laid using black
soil.
"It is a 'typical' Test wicket where there will be a lot
of movement early on," said chief curator Narayan Raju.
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