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Test time in Pakistan

REUTERS, Lahore
Pakistan launch their bid to end four years without a home series victory when they take on a depleted New Zealand in the first cricket Test from Wednesday at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Pakistan have lost to Australia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and England
in their last four series.
Though they beat the West Indies 2-0 in a home series in February, the matches were played at the neutral venue of Sharjah because of security concerns.
"The morale of the team is sky high," Pakistan captain Waqar Younis told reporters.
"But they are also wary of the fact that New Zealand are used to playing without front-line players and thus know they have to be on the top
of their game."
New Zealand arrived in Pakistan without world-class all-rounder Chris Cairns, pace bowlers Shane Bond and Dion Nash and spinner Daniel Vettori.
Their problems were compounded when several players went down with stomach problems before top batsman Nathan Astle flew home last week after suffering a right knee ligament injury.
Vettori, a left-arm spinner with 130 wickets from 30 Tests, has at least returned to bolster the tourists.
"He is a world class spinner," Younis said. "His inclusion will boost their fire power and I don't think the Tests will be runaway games for us like in the one-day series."
Pakistan won the just concluded one-dayers 3-0.
New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said his side took heart from the fact that one of New Zealand's only two victories in Pakistan in seven visits came in Lahore in 1996-97.
"It is a big motivation for us that we won at this venue last time," he said. "But it is a setback losing key players on the tour and before it. Nevertheless, we are prepared as well as we can.
"We have been here before and know what to do to compete with Pakistan who are full strength and playing well. It is a good challenge for us and the younger boys who
need to stamp their mark."
Fleming was concerned about the heat, though, with temperatures rising to 38 Celsius and even hotter weather forecast.
"We have to manage," Fleming said. "But it is getting hotter and hotter as compared to the conditions during the one-day matches when the weather was pleasant. I believe the heat is going to be one
of the factors in the outcome of the game."
Younis said even his team was not used to such conditions.
"We have played in tough conditions but it's very hot and is something we haven't experienced before. But that's part of the learning experience as nowadays cricket is being played round the calendar.
"Naturally in these conditions, there is more injury risk but that's
part of the package."
Both captains delayed announcing their teams, but with the wicket expected to be flat and the conditions difficult, both are likely to bank on spinners.
Pakistan are expected to leave out pacemen Wasim Akram and Mohammad Sami, who took a hattrick on his last Test here, and field spinners Saqlain Mushtaq and recalled Danish Kaneria, with
openers Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik available to help out the specialist slow bowlers.
New Zealand are set to name wrist-spinner Brooke Walker along with Vettori, with Daryl Tuffey and Chris Martin sharing the new ball.
The match will be of particular importance to West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor who will be standing in his 66th Test and will thus equal Englishman Dickie Bird's record for the highest number of Tests officiated.
SQUADS
PAKISTAN (from): Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Imran Nazir, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamamul Haq, Misbahul Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Rashid Latif, Waqar Younis (captain), Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, Saqlain Mushtaq.
NEW ZEALAND (from): Stephen Fleming (captain), Matthew Sinclair, Matthew Horne, Mark Richardson, Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Lou Vincent, Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey, Robbie Hart, Andre Adams, Ian Butler, Chris Martin, Scott Styris, Brooke Walker, Chris Martin.
Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies) and Rudi Koertzen (South Africa).