ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: Indian rightarm pacer Ajit Agarkar dazzled with the ball snatching 5 wickets for 34 to choke Pakistan 'A' first innings at 112 all out on the first day of the first unofficial Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan's fightback was well on target, reducing India 'A' to 43 for 3 in 12.3 overs when bad light stopped 79 minutes from scheduled time. A total of 45 overs were to be bowled.
Play started at 10:15 am, the timings for Friday due to prayer/lunch break taken at 12.30 pm. Just before the start of the match, the visitors management inquired from match referee, Anwar Masood, why ICC approved cocoburra or other brand balls were not being used for the 'Test'. The match referee maintained that the balls being used in the match were approved by Pakistan Cricket Board.
However, Indian management stated that they were playing the match under protest.
``You see if we claim that these cricketers are to don their country's colour in future, and when all other facilities are being provided to them, then why make them play with a local ball which is very hard and can be dangerous to the players. It may be approved by the Pakistan Cricket Board,'' the Indian coach Krishnammachari Srikkanth said that the ball issue would be taken up with the PCB and that he would ensure that the ICC brand balls were used in second innings.
Earlier, Pakistan management preferred left-arm pacer Naeem Ashraf over promising Jaffar Nazir in the playing eleven.
Under heavy conditions and a green top wicket, Indian skipper Gagan Khodda didn't lose a second to ask Pakistan in after winning the toss. Soon Pakistan was placed in a precarious position with the first hour producing 30 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in 13 overs.
Pakistan opened with Saleem Elahi and slogger Shahid Afridi. The big hitter was surviving dangerously as Debashish Mohanty, tourist's only Test cap in the side, and Ajit Agarkar bowled to an attacking field. Apart from a four off Agarkar, Afridi (12 off 21 balls). He lofted Agarkar's first ball of fifth over that went straight to Mohanty, standing on the boundary at fine leg. The total was 24. In the next over, Mohanty sent back all rounder Azhar Shafiq at duck. He was caught in the third slip by Abbas Ali.
Basit Ali joined Ellahi and the two started to push score in a confident manner. Both Basit and Ellahi played crisp shots to collect boundaries. Especially, Test discard Basit who struck 133 in the side game at Karachi, timed the ball well. In the 17th over, Basit punished Agarkar with three punching strokes to the fence that led Khodda to bring about the first bowling change and in the space of three runs Pakistan lost three batsmen.
The change also brought an end to the vital third wicket 65-run partnership when Basit (29- 6x4s) driving a ball on the foot mistimed to give a straight catch at gully to Wasim Jaffer at the total of 84.
Just at the stroke of lunch, Pakistan got another blow, lost its fourth wicket when youngest Test player Hasan Raza was caught behind by keeper Mannava Prasad off Mohanty without opening his account.
Misery followed Pakistan, strike bowler Agarkar removed opener Ellahi (39) also caught behind without adding a run after the break. Ellahi, the highest run getter of the innings played 92 balls spanning 138 minutes and struck six exquisite drives to the fence.
Any hopes resting on Rana Qayyumul Hassan (10) were soon dashed, as he was caught in the first slip by Jatin Paranjpe off Mohanty and spinner Muhammad Hussain was caught at first slip off Madhukar at duck. Pakistan's last four batsmen got out in a space of two runs. Keeper Humayun Farhat (10) while left-arm pacer Naeem Ashraf and skipper Aaqib Javed were sent back to the pavilion at naught. Pakistan was all out for 112 in 42.3 overs, 73 minutes after lunch.
India's promising pacer Ajit Agarkar who claimed a haul of 6 for 75 and an unbeaten 109 in the side games, finished with figures of 5 for 34 in 14 overs with five maidens. Mohanty claimed 3 for 47 while Madhukar grabbed 2 for 16 in 11 overs. Spinner Murali Kastik was given one over to allow Agarkar change ends.
The visitors opened their first innings with Wasim Jaffer and skipper Gagan Khodda. Pacer Aaqib led the fightback when he clean bowled highly rated Jaffer (2 off 22balls) at the total of 3. Pakistan was brought back in the game with a bang when attack bowler Fazl-i-Akbar removed centurion of last game Jatin Paranjpe (2) and keeper Prasad (duck) at the total of 13.
Skipper Khodda (25) with the help of three boundaries and Abbas Ali were batting when bad light stopped play.
Day 4: Rain-marred Pindi 'Test' ends in draw
By Our Sports Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: Rain marred first unofficial Test between Pakistan 'A' and India 'A' ended in a draw here at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Of the four-day fixture only first day's play was possible. Intermittent rain, which started at 7.00 am on the second day, left the outfield flooded with water. Team management of both sides today were looking forward to resume match on the fourth and last day as the MAT office had announced a clear day. However, predictions turned out to be wrong and thickly overcast sky never faltered in showers.
Pakistan were all out for 112 in their fresh innings that exposed the overall weakness in batting department. Pakistan Hit Back to reduce the touring Indians to 43 for three at the end of the first days play.
The Indians are scheduled to play their third three-day game at Rawalpindi Stadium from Feb 19th against the local side.