Pakistan set sights on Test minnows

Holders Pakistan take on minnows Bangladesh to launch the second Asian Test Championship at the new stadium in Multan on Wednesday.

The ground is unknown territory to both teams and even Multan-born batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq knows little about the venue, which will stage the first Test in the central Pakistani city since 1981.

Pakistan have named five quick bowlers in their 16-man squad, including recalled former captain Wasim Akram, the only player in history to take more than 400 wickets in both Tests and one-day internationals.

Bangladesh, a new full member of the International Cricket Council, lost their previous three Tests to India and Zimbabwe without much resistance.

The grassy, bouncy pitch will suit Pakistan's pace attack, especially given Bangladesh's vulnerability to quick bowling -- in their three Tests to date 39 of the 60 wickets have fallen to pace bowlers.

Bangladesh coach Trevor Chappell said the match would be an acid test for his players.

"Pakistan is a formidable opposition and they have a stronger pace attack than India or Zimbabwe. But we will put in a hard and honest effort to prove ourselves at this level," he said.

"Our target is to score at least 250 runs in each innings and then take it from there."

But that may be a long shot for the minnows, who are playing their maiden Test against Pakistan and making their first appearance in the Asian Test Championship.

INDIA WITHDRAWAL

The championship, which also includes Sri Lanka, has lost some of its gloss after the pullout by India last week over a government refusal to allow its team to play arch rivals Pakistan in Lahore.

India played in the inaugural ATC in 1999. Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the final at Dhaka's Bangabandhu stadium -- the first Test on neutral ground since 1912.

Akram grabbed two hat-tricks in that competition to win the man of the tournament award, but the 35-year-old all-rounder has only taken seven wickets in his last four Tests.

Pakistan coach Richard Pybus said Bangladesh would be given the same respect as any other Test opponents.

"You can't take anyone lightly at this level. And it is a new Test pitch," he said.

Bangladesh captain Naimur Rahman said his team had one advantage.

"We have nothing to lose but everything to gain. They are very strong, still we'll not go down without a fight," he said.

Pakistan squad:
Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Saeed Anwar, Taufiq Umar, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Faisal Iqbal, Naved Latif, Rashid Latif, Wasim Akram, Muhammad Akram, Irfan Fazil, Abdur Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Danish Kanaria, Imran Nazir.

Bangladesh squad:
Naimur Rahman (captain), Khaled Mashud (vice-captain), Javed Omar, Mehrab Hossain, Habibul Bashar, Mohammed Ashraful, Mohammad Al-Sahariar, Aminul Islam, Akram Khan, Enamul Haque, Hasibul Hussain, Manjural Islam, Bikash Ranjan Das, Mohammed Sharif.

Mail Cricket Editor