Kumble cool in the Multan heat

But coming as they do off an exhilarating one-day patch, they must think this is their best chance to rewrite some history. Under a blinding mid-day sun, as coach John Wright and trainer Greg King run laps of the Multan Cricket Stadium, the conditions are to their advantage.

Anil Kumble, back in the squad after a shoulder strain and a stint as commentator, is pleased. ‘‘It looks like a good wicket’’, he says, just about 24 hours after his arrival in Pakistan. ‘‘A good Test wicket. In this part of the country, it is likely to assist spin.’’

This winter psychologist Sandy Gordon taught this New India to count off positives, and even as the pitch is being prepared, the roller glowing benignly as the curator oversees his workers, Kumble is at it. ‘‘It is good to get into a winning squad’’, he notes.

And reminded about his 10 for 74 at Delhi’s Ferozeshah Kotla, in India and Pakistan’s second last Test encounter, he beams: ‘‘It is good to take that as a positive factor.’’

But the focussed enquiries that tend to dominate media briefings do not engulf the Karnataka legspinner for long. The occasion has to announce itself. This is the first full-fledged India-Pakistan series in 14 years, this is his first Test on Pakistani soil. His outing on Multani mitti cannot be circumscribed by mere stats.

When any international cricketer makes his debut, he says, he wants to play against all countries, in all countries. And then it’s back to a wisecrack: maybe he won’t be required to wheel in with his gentle demolitions, ‘‘hopefully the fast bowlers will have done the job before I come on!’’

But. But this is Multan, and its proudest son may have some say yet about how fortunes shift in the coming days. Just recently, Pakistan were actually on the verge of capitulating to Bangladesh, till Inzamam-ul Haq’s bulk and elegance rescued them.

In full view of the daintily canopied stand named after him, he could have Danish Kaneria’s skills at his disposal. Manager Haroon Rashid may hold that Pakistan will finalise their playing eleven only after having a good look at the pitch on Saturday, only upon assessing its moisture content and grass coating, but in Multan it could well be a contest between the two slow bowlers.

Kaneria has daunting figures at this ground, but, alas, he notes, against Bangladesh — India are an entirely different prospect.

No, the speculation is not about how many spinners will find their way to the field on Sunday. It is about Ganguly, and the mindgames began the moment he disembarked this morning. How’s it going, captain, shouted a motley group at the airport, but he only smiled.

India’s manager Ratnakar Shetty began the countdown to tomorrow’s story by announcing that Ganguly’s MRI is clear, that in Lahore he sustained no back injury and is only suffering muscular strain. Two more sessions with physio Andrew Leipus, and on Saturday we will know whether the Prince of the Offside will get his first Test in Pakistan this weekend.

The Pakistan camp is definitely interested.

Earlier Rashid admitted that in his reckoning, Ganguly has been an extremely influential captain and, if he is ruled out, India would miss a key player.

What a funny old game this is. Just this week, faint-hearted critics were urging Ganguly to sit out a few matches, to soberly reflect on his lukewarm run of late. And now the very idea that he may not be out in the middle on Sunday marshalling his men is the biggest if of this forthcoming contest.