It's advantage Saqlain in battle of Pakistan spinners

Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed, two of the world's top spinners, know there is room for only one of them -- at most -- in Pakistan's team for the first test against England.

The two are in a head-to-head battle after being selected to play against Kent in the final warm-up match before the Lord's test starting on Thursday.

The 24-year-old Saqlain took the initiative on Saturday by taking two wickets, while Mushtaq went unrewarded.

If the players feel under pressure, however, team manager Yawar Saeed is delighted.

"It's a nice problem to have, the sort you want as a selector. We decided to have another look at both of them," he said.

"It's one or the other. I can't see us playing two spinners at Lord's."

Leg-spinner Mushtaq -- with 183 wickets in 50 tests --- began the tour by taking eight for 49 in the second innings against British Universities at Trent Bridge.

Off-spinner Saqlain -- with 145 victims in 34 games -- responded with six for 34 in the first innings of the next match against Derbyshire.

Both would surely walk into the England team, whatever the pitch conditions, such has been their effectiveness in the country.

Saqlain, immensely proud of his association with Surrey, took 66 wickets in the 2000 season at 15.39 apiece to earn the accolade of one of Wisden's five cricketers of the year.

Mushtaq's best years at Somerset, meanwhile, came in 1993, when he took 85 wickets at 20.85, and in 1995, with 95 at 29.69.

Coach Richard Pybus said he did not want to guess what team Pakistan would put out at Lord's, adding that an all-seam attack was still an option.

"It will all depend on the pitch," he said. "There have only been two games at the moment so it's not easy to gauge. This match against Kent is going to be pretty crucial to see which players have adapted best."

Mail Cricket Editor