Pakistan gear up to scale first peak

Admitting that the absence of strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar would make a difference to the team, Inzamam expressed the hope that his fast bowlers would compensate for his absence. ‘‘Inshallah, meri team kabil hai aur hame poori umeed meri team yeh series jeetegi.’’

Senior team member Abdul Razzaq echoed his words. ‘‘We will miss Shoaib. He is a match-winner, but we are here to play and win. Was he under pressure to perform since he was the most experirenced player? ‘‘I have played many matches against India. I am under no pressure’’, he said.

However, the players were let down by the weather, a light drizzle delaying their practice. It didn’t dampen their spirits and they celebrated Shahid Afridi’s birthday with the help of a cvake from the hotel they are staying in.

Tomorrow is Inzamam’s birthday so more celebrations are expected then. And on Thursday it’s down to the serious stuff.

Quakes hit region

The cricket match was overshadowed to some extent by two tremors late on Monday night. They occurred within two hours of each other and measured 3.5 and 4.6 on the Richter scale, forcing panic-stricken residents out of their homes.

The first tremor, at 9-35 p.m., had its epicentre in Chamba; the second, at 11-40 p.m., had its epicenter in the Dhauladhars ranges, according to local administration. The region lies in Zone V, highly prone to earthquakes; the last major quake, in 1905, killed over 10,000 people.