MoYO not fully fit

[Guest Hiten.]

BANGALORE: The Chinnaswamy Stadium remains a significant, eventful and bitter-sweet venue for Pakistan. The Garden City hosted the first Indo-Pak Test in India after cricketing relations between both countries improved in the late 1970s. The 1979-80 Test between Sunil Gavaskar’s Indians and Asif Iqbal’s tourists a much-followed Test match. Not many gave India a chance after the 2-0 steam-rolling Bishan Bedi’s Indians got in 1978-79. But India shocked their more illustrious opponents with a 2-0 series win which kicked off with the drawn encounter in Bangalore. For followers of sub-continental cricket, who can forget India’s 1996 World Cup quarter-final victory over Pakistan which resulted in all-night celebrations in Bangalore. And nine years ago, Imran Khan achieved a cherished dream of winning a Test series in India when he put his spin resources of Iqbal Qasim and Taufeed Ahmed to optimum use to win the last Test of the series. Imran was bold enough to drop Abdul Qadir, who would fit into any Test eleven at that time. Sunil Gavaskar too made that Test special with his epic 96. No batsman from either side in their rich history had played a better innings on a rank turner before Gavaskar. So, to say Bangalore is history heavy is as obvious as saying Mohammad Yousuf is a prolific batsman, whom Pakistan will look to if they fancy their chances of saving this series. India went one-up in Delhi before a credible drawn show from Pakistan in Kolkata. A similar scoreline was experienced in the last series here in 2004-05 before both teams congregated in Bangalore where Pakistan ended up squaring the series thanks to some strange, overly-defensive batting from India. Back to Yousuf, who has added to Pakistan’s woes after Malik’s absence through an ankle injury. Yousuf revealed to MiD DAY last evening that his back is in no great shape to go through the rigours of another Test. “I have been experiencing stiffness and pain for a while now,†he said. Difficult times “The hot baths have helped but not to an extent where I feel perfectly well to bat. The stiffness is hard to conquer.†Off the field too, there are worries and heartburn. Shoaib Akhtar has not been a symbol of professionalism with his late night partying and the team management is at war with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Director — Cricket Operations Zakir Khan, who sent Iftikhar Anjum as a cover for the ill Akhtar and Mohammad Sami. Abdur Rauf is the man the think-tank wanted. Yousuf stressed last night that he would play with the back injury if the team management insisted but he would prefer to sit out. With Pakistan’s problems piling up, only heavenly intervention can save them. In that connection, Yousuf revealed that former and current stand-in skipper Inzamam ul Haq and Younis Khan will accompany him on a trip to Mecca on December 16. Indeed, Pakistan go into this Test match with a prayer on their lips and probably for Yousuf, a hand on his back to ease the pain http://mid-day.com/sports/national/2007/december/167810.htm

[MundaPakistani]

It was quite clear by the way he fielded in the 2nd test match.

[Predator_05]

What about Bendulkar ? Is he fit to play ?

[King]

Yet another top player out with injury. Man I'm fast losing interest in this test match.

[DesiChap]

I do not think he is out YoYo/MoYo will play thro his injury. Pakistan are toast without him.

[sm332]

I do not think he is out YoYo/MoYo will play thro his injury. Pakistan are toast without him.

MoYo seems permanently injured these days

[Mandrake]

MoYo seems permanently injured these days

yeah his beard doesn't seem to be good for his back:D

[Dravid]

cricket turning into NFL :hahaha:

[DesiChap]

yeah his beard doesn't seem to be good for his back:D

:hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

[guju24]

yeah his beard doesn't seem to be good for his back:D

:hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::haha::haha::haha::haha::haha: