Pak flash Greens, Indians use plastic

Dravid, quick on the uptake as usual, took team masseur Sohail Pappu aside to the cement wicket next to the nets and had Pappu pitch plastic balls really short, moving on to his backfoot each time, evidently with the notion that the Pak pacers are going to dish out nothing but. ‘‘Pappu, ek bouncer dal’’, Dravid shouted, and after Pappu did just that, Sehwag had a go bowling to Dravid.

Amazingly, Sehwag wasn’t half bad as a pacer, and managed to generate a fair amount of pace with the plastic balls. Laxman and Balaji too joined in the experiment and the four of them were evidently having a grand time.

One who wasn’t though, was Zaheer, who looked on forlornly and acted as an umpire, keeping a lookout for no-balls and such like stuff as the fit pacers went through their motions. Zaheer has been advised to return home after his injured right hamstring showed no signs of healing. Team manager Ratnakar Shetty informed the media that Zaheer has been ruled out for the rest of the series. ‘‘We had a chat with the specialist on the condition of Zaheer’s hamstring and he advised that the injury will take at least two more weeks to recover,’’ Shetty said.

Back with the Indian team is Ashish Nehra, who had to return home after the second ODI because of a split webbing in his left hand. His left hand still sports a plaster, but Nehra dispelled worries saying, ‘‘Everything is alright as I got the stitches removed last week. I have played two one-day games back in Delhi and am feeling good. There was never any problem with my bowling, only fielding was an issue, But now am confident I can stand the test.’’ The mood in the Pakistan camp, however, was a complete contrast. Adding to the existing mess are reports that Atkinson has written to CEO Rameez Raja on the ‘‘unfair way’’ in which he is being blamed for the Multan fiasco. ‘‘I am sick and tired of all this. I have been trying to meet the team management for a long time, but they just did not have any time. Even Shoaib was sick once he saw the wicket,’’ a part of the letter apparently said.

Sources informed The Indian Express that Raja has since had a closed door meetings with Javed Miandad and Inzamam-ul Haq on Friday. ‘‘He told them in clear terms that they have to win the Lahore Test,’’ said a source.