Heat is on Pakistan

If playing conditions — mercifully, humidity is down to 15 per cent — are the same for both teams, the onus is squarely on Pakistan to come back in the series. As their vice-captain Younis Khan — back in the team— admitted. But he sounded bullish about the prospects. ‘‘We are used to it. We came back in the Tests, and we can do it here as well,” he said.

For that, Pakistan have made some tough choices besides taking their catches and converting the half-chances that come their way. Their late-night meeting today saw two changes to the team: Mohammad Hafeez makes way for Younis Khan, the vice-captain replacing a valuable bowling option. And Danish Kaneria comes in for Arshad Khan; a gamble given the ease with which the Indian batsmen play leggies.

They’ve also retained Shoaib Malik, who can’t bowl because of ICC restrictions, but, according to coach Bob Woolmer and skipper Inzamam, commands a place in the side on the strength of his batting.

Mohammad Sami is sitting out after bowling his heart out in the last two Tests and will be replaced by Rao Iftikhar — not as bad as it sounds for Pakistan, because an unknown quantity for Indian batsmen is always an advantage for the opposition.

But according to a member of the team, Pakistan’s main problem has been the emphasis that coach Bob Woolmer puts on all-rounders. ‘‘Look at Australia or India, two teams that went to World Cup finals without all-rounders. They have specialists to do the job and we should also do the same’’, the player added.

The biggest worry for Inzamam is Virender Sehwag, who has wreaked havoc in the last two one-dayers at Kochi and Vizag. What should worry him more, though, is the threat of Dravid. Each time India got off to a flying start in the two one-dayers, the innings was in danger of losing its way a bit but for Dravid’s reassuring presence.

At Kochi he came in at 2-4 and was the seventh man to get out at 265. In Vizag he came in at 2-122 and was dismissed with the score reading 300-5.

For India the only change will be Ajit Agarkar or a fully fit Irfan Pathan for the injured L Balaji. The other change that should happen is in the forms of the frontline batsmen who are struggling to spend time in the middle even in the shorter version of the game. A late-night rumour had it that Ganguly was battling a side strain; if that is true, the captain may be forced to sit out the match.

In the midst of all the commotion that a small centre like Jamshedpur is bound to create, the two teams had a two-hour practice in the morning. Understandably, Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the cynosure and he was one of the few who looked to be enjoying the limelight, though he has forbidden his family from attending the match.

And that augurs well for a youngster who is not letting success overawe him too much. Hopefully he — and his team — will reap the benefits of that decision tomorrow.