West Indies face Pakistan spin threat even on neutral territory

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, January 30: Pakistan and the West Indies are unlikely to feel the difference when they clash from Thursday in Test cricket's first bilateral series on neutral ground.

The West Indians, whose refusal to play in Pakistan forced the series to be shifted to this desert venue, will continue to be haunted by spin in the absence of the injured Brian Lara.

Pakistan, an integral part of Sharjah's limited-overs tournaments since 1984, will not only feel at home in a familiar environment but also have the luxury of a tailor-made wicket prepared by Lahore-based groundsman Mohammad Bashir.

The two teams may as well have been playing in Pakistan.

"I am disappointed the series had to be shifted out, but this place is like a second home for us," Pakistani captain Waqar Younis said ahead of the first of two Tests at the Sharjah cricket stadium.

"My main worry is the wicket. It has never been prepared before to last five days."

Waqar, however, had bad news for Carl Hooper's West Indians, who were mesmerised by champion off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan during their 3-0 rout in the preceding series in Sri Lanka.

"Spin will play a major role here because the wicket may not last the distance," Waqar said.

If Muralitharan unnerved the West Indians single-handedly, Pakistan have three slow bowlers - versatile off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq alongwith leggies Danish Kaneria and Shahid Afridi - to tighten the noose.

Add to that the pace of Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar himself -- veteran Wasim Akram is nursing a hamstring injury - and it is evident the West Indies face a formidable challenge in the absence of their batting genius Lara.

The left-hander, who countered Muralitharan with an amazing aggregate of 688 runs in three Tests in Sri Lanka, dislocated his left elbow in a freak collusion with fielder Marvan Atapattu in a subsequent one-dayer.

Worse, promising middle-order batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan has been ruled out of the current series due to back injury.

The 21-year-old was the next best batsman after Lara in Sri Lanka, making 318 runs in that series.

Luckily, the seasoned duo of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Sherwin Campbell are back to lend experience to the line-up after battling injury and bad form.

"It's good to have them back," said Hooper, the 90-Test veteran who will have to lead from the front with both bat and ball if his young team is to do well.

"We are grooming young players and this process will take time. At the moment, we are just happy to be playing Test cricket, whether it is in Pakistan or in Sharjah."  

Both camps will name their playing elevens on Thursday morning.

The first Test in Sharjah, which has hosted a record 181 one-dayers has generated little enthusiasm among Asian expatriate. But officials are hopeful of a packed house on Friday, the weekly holiday here.

"Test cricket is not really a novelty for the people here, they see enough of it on television," an official of the host Emirates Cricket Board said.

This is the first bilateral series to be played on neutral ground in the 126-year history of the game.

Australia played South Africa in England as part of a triangular Test series in 1911 while Pakistan took on Sri Lanka in Bangladesh in the Asian championship final in 2000.

Pakistan (likely): Waqar Younis (capt), Taufiq Umer, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Abdur Razzaq, Rashid Latif, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Danish Kaneria.

West Indies (from): Carl Hooper (capt), Daren Ganga, Sherwin Campbell, Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Wavell Hinds, Marlon Samuels, Ryan Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Mervyn Dillon, Cameron Cuffy, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Darrel Brown, Dinanath Ramnarine.

Umpires: George Sharp (Eng) and Mohammad Riazuddin (Pak) Match referee: Mike Denness (Eng)