Bangladesh will draw inspiration from the closely fought Test series when they shift their attention to the instant version of the game against Pakistan at the Multan Cricket Stadium today.

The first of the five-match one-day series between the Tigers and a wounded Pakistan will start at 10:30am. Bangladesh Television and satellite channel Ten Sports will provide live commentary of the 50-over contest.FROM PAGE 1

Though Pakistan start the match at Multan as favourites after their 3-0 victory in the Test series, Bangladesh for the first time will feel they have got what it takes to embarrass the hosts after that glorious one-wicket defeat in the third Test at the same venue on Saturday.

While Khaled Mahmud's men will try to put an end to their 39-match losing streak, new Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq will definitely be out to prove a point after that nerveracking third Test that cost their skipper Rashid Latif.

Inzamam, who scored a magnificent unbeaten 138 to save the blushes of the home side, yesterday announced that they have already dedicated the five-match one-day series to their disgraced captain. Latif has been slapped with a five-match one-day international ban for unfair play against Bangladesh in the final Test.

But a brave hearted Mahmud has taken up the challenge in his strides.

"I think, we never played with a plan in the past. But now we have a target and that is to win. We will give our 100 per cent to achieve that as we did in the Test series," said a confident Bangladesh skipper.

"There is no meaning if we go out there and hang around without hitting the ball. Instead of occupying the crease, we are going to score runs this time. I won't mind if someone gets out while doing what he has been asked to do," he said.

Mahmud's positive thinking is

reflected in the choice of Habibul Bashar and Mohammad Ashraful to open the innings. Both players are free scoring and aggressive by nature with Bashar fresh from the Test series, where he finished as the highest run scorer from both sides.

Talking to the reporters after the final training, Mahmud said that the composition for the first one-day had almost been finalised. And all that was left was whether to play Mushfiqur Rahman, one of the three players who joined the team after the Tests, or Sanwar Hossain.

Mushfiq played his last international match against Zimbabwe in April 2001. Sanwar on the other hand played only the Karachi Test.

Although team management wanted to include Mushfiq, but the state of the pitch has left coach Dav Whatmore in two minds on whether to bank on a seamer all-rounder or a spinner all-rounder.

Rajin Saleh, after a fantastic Test series, will make his one-day debut by coming in at number three.

Tushar Imran and Alok Kapali, who has recovered from a nasty cut above the right eye, will bat at number four and five while captain Khaled Mahmud is set to bat at number six. Wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud will come at number seven. Mohammad Rafique will act as the lone spinner while Hasibul Hossain will share the new ball with Mashrafee-bin-Mortuza.

SQUADS

BANGLADESH (from): Khaled Mahmud, Habibul Bashar, Mohammad Ashraful, Rajin Saleh, Tushar Imran, Alok Kapali, Khaled Mashud, Mushfiqur Rahman,

Mohammad Rafique, Hasibul Hossain, Mashrafee-bin-Mortuza, Sanwar Hossain, Alamgir Kabir, Tapas Baishya and Hannan Sarkar. PAKISTAN (from): Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Nazir, Yasir Hameed, Yousuf Youhana, Abdur Razzak, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Junaid Zia, Umar Gul and Shabbir Ahmed, Younis Khan, Danish Kaneria and Salman Butt.

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and Russell Tiffin (Zimbabwe).