Pakistan coach Javed Miandad plans to exploit South African weaknesses following Australian Test captain Steve Waugh’s assertions that the Proteas are ”chokers”.
”We have seen their videos and have discussed their weak areas. As Steve Waugh put it, they are chokers in crunch matches,” Miandad said on the eve of South African’s arrival to play five one-day games and two Tests.
”We would try to capitalise on it,” Miandad told reporters.
Waugh tagged the Proteas as ”chokers” when they toured Down Under in 1997-98 and when Australia beat them in the last league game and tied the semifinal in the 1999 World Cup in England.
The South Africans under Graeme Smith flopped in the final of the Tri-Series challenge in England, bundled out for a mere 108, and then lost the Oval Test against England after scoring more than 400 runs to finish the Test series 2-2.
”We look forward to an exciting series after the uncertainty over the tour,” said the Pakistan coach.
South African cricket officials cancelled the tour after a bomb blast in Karachi on September 19 but later agreed to a revised tour after Pakistan dropped Karachi and Peshawar from the itinerary.
”We welcome them with open arms and its a big learning opportunity for our young team,” said Miandad.
He believed Pakistan’s strength lies in the bowling threat of pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami and leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed and off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq.
”Bowling is our strength, but we have to put enough runs on the board so that we could dictate terms,” he said.
Pakistan overcame a chaotic start to the series after captain Rashid Latif resigned and was replaced by Inzamam-ul Haq.
The five-match one-day series gets under way with a day-night match in Lahore on October 3. — Sapa-AFP