Draw a morale booster for team, says Inzy

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March 12, 2005 19:28 IST

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq said the brilliant fightback by his lower order batsmen to salvage a draw in the first Test against India would serve as a "huge morale booster" for his team for the rest of the series.

Inzamam, however, said the team needs a lot of improvement in fielding and catching and even hinted that there could be some changes at the top of the batting order.

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"Definitely, it has given us a huge morale boost and will help us in the whole series. With just four wickets left, Abdul Razzaq and Kamran Akmal staged a tremendous fighback; it will certainly help us," the Pakistan captain said after play on the fifth day.

Admitting that Pakistan had little hope of saving the opening Test after being dominated by the Indians for the first four days, he said, "We thought if we make 200 runs we can fight. Then we could have a chance in getting the Indians out. But I must praise my boys who put up a tremendous fight."

Asked if there could be some changes in the batting order at the top, he said, "Ho sakta hai [it could happen]".

"We will see what combination to play with [at Kolkata]," he said.

The 35-year-old captain believed the match could have been rather interesting had his side not missed chances and mis-fielded on many occasions.

"The team will have to improve on its weak areas. We mis-fielded and left many chances and we need to set things in order. If we had taken our chances the Test could have been even more interesting," Inzamam said.

Commenting on the criticism his team faced, with some critics even dismissing it as a "club level team", he said, "I would like to thank those who criticised us. But I am happy the way the boys have performed today and proved themselves."

Inzamam said he considered the fight put up by his lower order batsmen as the highpoint of the Test for Pakistan.

"The way Razzaq, Akmal played and even Sami and Rana showed determination and character, it was commendable," he said.

Inzamam also defended his pace attack, which faced the wrath of Virender Sehwag on the first day, saying he was satisfied with their performance.

"They contained the Indian batsmen on third day and I am satisfied."

Asked if Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh could trouble them if included in the team in the forthcoming Tests, he said, "We have played him earlier in Tests and ODIs. It [his inclusion] should not be much of a bother."

On whether playing before a packed Kolkata stadium, which might have even fewer Pakistani fans, could put some pressure on the team, he said, "We are used to playing before packed houses."

Man of the match Akmal, who was also present at the press conference, said, "I had thought that I will wait for the bad ball and take it from session to session.

"The coach had planned it that way and asked me to take it from session to session and wait for the bad ball," the 23-year-old Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman said.

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