Inzamam out of action

Pakistan batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq is unlikely to play any further part in the tour of New Zealand after injuring both his groin and a calf muscle during the recent one-day series.

"Inzamam is still sore and I don't think he will play again on tour," said Pakistan team manager Fakir Aizazuddin during the match against New Zealand A at Lincoln near Christchurch on Saturday.

Aizazuddin said Misbah-ul-Haq was due to fly to join the tourists before the first Test in Auckland on Thursday.

Misbah is a promising batsman and there was surprise he was not in the original tour party, nor even called on to join the squad when Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi and Imran Nazir returned home.

Meanwhile, Pakistan bowler Mohammad Sami showed some sharp pace on a helpful pitch the four-day match against New Zealand A.

Sami removed both of the New Zealand A openers as the home side chased just 100 on the first day of the match at Lincoln near Christchurch, reaching 66 for three at stumps.

Gary Stead (23) and Richard Jones (11) were both cleanly bowled in a spell of six overs which left the 20-year-old with figures of two for 21. "It is a good wicket to bowl on. It has lots of seam and I'm not too used to that," he said.

The young speedster could have had an even better day but had two catches dropped off him by third slip Imran Farhat.

"It was a bit frustrating, but that's cricket," Sami said.

Sami made his mark playing for Karachi in the Quaid-e-azam Trophy final against Lahore when he took seven for 61 in a Lahore innings.

He was picked for the tour but took no part in the just completed one-day series and was cautious when asked about his chances of a call-up to the first Test starting in Auckland next Thursday.

"I'm just trying to do my best. I was happy with today, but I have to keep going tomorrow," he said.

Mail Cricket Editor