I thought I'd run through the Pakistan tourists  that  have  been
exposed  to  us  on TV during the NZ test series and say a little
about how each has impressed me (or otherwise). This is the first
time, really, I've watched any of them so closely and so what I'm
writing is not coloured by previous impressions. It would be  in-
teresting  indeed  to  hear the opinions of those of you who have
seen these players in other series.

Saeed Anwar: It is difficult to believe that  someone  with  this
talent  will  not  make  it  at  test level. He has all the shots
square and in front of the wicket, but his main  asset is   *tim-
ing.*  For  me,  his  two  best  shots are the push back past the
bowler which races away for four, and that wristy flick  to  leg.
Additionally.   he   drives  and  cuts  well.   Unfortunately  he
doesn't seem to want to play himself in before  he  starts  look-
ing   for  runs.  In particular, he favours the cut and back foot
drive with a cross bat far too  early  in  his  innings  to  wide
balls.   Against  the  best attacks  this  could lead to a run of
outs. It is o be hoped for Pakistan's sake he can  overcome  this
problem.   Being  a good timer,  he can look horrible when out of
touch, fortunately very rarely.

Aamir Sohail: A very similar style to Anwar,  but  without  quite
that same natural ability. Essentially a hooker and a cutter, he,
too, gets out chasing wide ones at times, but looks more   solid.
His  innings  in  the  1st  test, 2nd innings, which won the game
really for his side marked him down as an *intelligent* man. Pak-
istan  were in trouble, two down with the bowlers on top and with
no runs being scored. Sohail realised that he had to  break  that
stranglehold   or  his team  would  have folded up. He picked the
right ball to hook, and took a number of quick singles  to  break
the  field up. He all but saw it through for the win. Useful slow
left armers weren't used as much as they might have been.

Salim Malik: Batting wise, a bit of a disappointment.  He  always
showed  what  he  was  capable of but, just as he was getting his
front foot drives working, he'd aim a waft outside the off  stump
without  moving  his  feet. Scored well in the 2nd test, but only
after Saeed Anwar had demoralised the attack.  Has this  tendency
to walk across to the off side before the bowler bowls, sometimes
leaving his leg stump exposed. He   wouldn't  do  that  to  Shane
Warne  for very long.  As a captain he was an amiable fellow with
a zany sense of humour who, I'm sure,  contributed   greatly   to
the  happy atmosphere, generally, in which the games were played,
AND also to the off the field impression the tourists  made  with
us all.

Basit Ali: Scored a lot of runs, but I thought he got  more  than
he was entitled to. If he could learn to respect the opposition a
little more he would tighten up his play considerably. Benefitted
fron   dropped   catches  more than most.  Not that this is meant
to belittle his ability of course.  When well  set,   he   looked
as  solid as anyone and *very* dangerous.  More of a power player
than a timer, really, and certainly  in  comparison   to   Anwar.
Plays drives of either foot and also favours the cut.

Inzamam-ul-Haq: Not at all what we were led to expect. In the 1st
test, on that difficult Eden Park wicket, he was indisputably the
best batsman on either side. He was the only player who looked in
no  trouble during the playing in period, and he did that in both
innings. At Wellington he had a joy ride together with Malik  and
was  able  to get his shots over mid wicket going with monotonous
regularity. Prepared to play himself now in before  bringing  out
the  big  stick, the selectors may decide to give him a second go
up the order. Looks the goods at test level for sure.

Rashid Latif: One of the better keepers in the world game  today.
He is a vital part of the Pakistani fielding effort, particularly
with the W plan bowling. Can't recall that he put down  a  catch,
and  he  took  heaps.  So much so that he set a Pakistan keeper's
record in that 1st? test. Tidy enough to  the spinners  and   did
well  enough  keeping to the leggie at Auckland. As a batsman, he
is basically a front foot driver with a very wide,  low,  stance.
Not easy to get out coming in at number seven.

Wasim Akram: Bowled at a reduced pace for  most  of  the  series,
coming  through  generally,  at  a round 120kph. He is capable of
much more and got up to 132 very occasionally. Has the  most  un-
believable  variation of any opening bowler you care to name and,
on NZ wickets, was just about unplayable with the new ball.  From
an  opening  bowler  you want swing and seam both ways, accuracy,
bounce, and the ability to come back for two  and  three  spells.
Normally pigs might fly, but Wasim, believe me, can do *the lot.*
Not as devastating as Waqar during the reverse swing overs.  With
the  new ball, the batsmen very seldom got *any* of Wasim's stuff
in the middle of the bat. His fielding was a joke at times.

Waqar Younis: Good new ball bowler but relies on swing only rath-
er  than  swing and seam. He also cut his pace down on this tour,
coming off an injury. Even then he was between 130-135kph,   with
the   odd   one  at  up to 138 when he was riled.  With the older
ball shined up on the one side he was devastating being  able  to
swing  it   either  way late at great pace. His best ball is that
inswing- ing yorker. This ball can be delivered at any time,  not
just dur- ing  the reverse swing overs, but he finds it harder to
bowl when tired. He is the one bowler about whom you  feel  "this
guy  is   ca-  pable of running through us completely despite our
best efforts." Unusual for two reasons.   Firstly  he  gets  such
swing  at his  pace.  Secondly,  for  such a swinger of the ball,
he has that knack of knowing where to put it, and to do  it  con-
sistently.

Akram Raza: Better, I thought, than our TV commentators gave  him
credit  for.   Right  arm off-break bowler who was capable of de-
ceiving the batsman not only with variable flight, but also vari-
able  length.  Reasonable  back foot batsman who scored some good
runs when they were needed.

Ata-ur-Rehman: There is a bit of controversy over Ata's age,  but
we  are led to believe he is 19. Accepting that at face value, he
is very promising indeed. Bowls at the mid-to-high 120kph   range
and  can  move it both ways through the air. Has nowhere near the
consistency of the Ws but still very much has the makings. A good
batsman  can  get on to him at this stage of his development, but
he is capable of getting wickets with his swing.

Aamir Nazir: Only played in the last test. Was capable of getting
prodigious  banana  swing  during  the  reverse  swing overs, but
couldn't control it and didn't know quite where to bowl.  Reason-
ably  pacey  at  high 120s, but not anywhere near as promising as
Ata.

Mushtaq Ahmed: Unfortunately we only saw him bowl  in  one  test.
Even  then  he probably wasn't fully fit. Has all the traditional
orthodox leggie skills and bowls a good googly and toppie.  Bryan
Young   had   no idea which ball he was bowling.  Capable of get-
ting anyone out, but a bit inconsistent.  Bowls  too   many   "4"
balls, particularly when under siege.

Asif Mujtaba and Atif Rauf,  we  didn't  see  enough  of,  whilst
Shoaib Mohammed, Ashfaq Ahmed, and Shakeel Ahmed we didn't see at
all.