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Proteas upbeat ahead of ODIs
17/10/2007 09:39 - (SA)
Lahore - South Africa are confident of carrying their Test form into the five-match one-day series against Pakistan starting at Lahore's Gaddafi stadium on Thursday.
Having won the two-match Test series 1-0, skipper Graeme
Smith and his men will be looking forward to maintaining a
tradition of impressive one-day performances in Pakistan.
South Africa won a one-day series against the hosts in 2003
and also triumphed in a Golden Jubilee four-nation event in
1997, beating Sri Lanka in the final.
"Planning is going to be key in this series as we have a
tough task ahead of us," South Africa coach Mickey Arthur told reporters.
"If we execute our plans like we did in the tests, we could win this series as well."
Arthur said his team was expecting a tough fight from
Pakistan as they had done well in recent one-day contests.
"But I am confident because we have a good mix of
experience and youth and most of the guys are in good shape," he added.
Top spot
"The pitches will be the same so we should carry the
momentum of the Tests forward."
Noting that South Africa were second in the one-day
rankings, Arthur said the side needed to keep winning to
challenge Australia for the top spot.
Veteran all-rounder Shaun Pollock is set to return for the
first match after being dropped for the Tests.
"He is an accomplished performer and we are backing him
completely," Arthur said.
South Africa's only fitness concern is fast bowler Vernon
Philander, who replaced Morne Morkel in the touring squad
during the Tests.
Philander had a hamstring strain that covered a large area
of the muscle, team physiotherapist Shane Jabaar said, adding
that it would be a "tight call" for him to make Thursday's
game.
Pakistan also await news on paceman Mohammad Asif, who is
struggling with an elbow problem.
"It is a touch-and-go situation with him. He has trained
but only he can tell us if he is 100 percent fit for the first
match," team manager Talat Ali .aid.
The home side's batting will be bolstered by the return of
the experienced Mohammad Yousuf, who was not selected for last
month's Twenty20 World Cup where Pakistan finished second.
Squads:
South Africa - Graeme Smith (captain), Justin Kemp,
Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Jean-Paul
Duminy, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Vernon Philander, Albie
Morkel, Johan Botha, Makhaya Ntini, Charl Langeveldt, Andre
Nel.
Pakistan - Shoaib Malik (captain), Mohammad Yousuf, Younis
Khan, Shahid Afridi, Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Nazir,
Kamran Akmal, Misbah-ul Haq, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Rao
Iftikhar, Yasir Hameed, Abdul Rehman, Sohail Tanvir.
- Reuters
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