Pakistan will come out positively in Test match: Talat

New Delhi, Nov 20 (UNI) Pakistan today said that one-day series loss will have no effect on the outcome of the three-match test series against India which begins at Feroz Shah Kotla here on Thursday.

''One-day internationals and Test matches are different from each other, Test is a different ball game altogether. We are eager to perform well in the Test matches,'' he said.

Talking about his team preparation for the Test series, Talat said, ''Although we did lose the one-day series 2-3, but our performance was not bad at all. We made a comeback in the second match after losing the first one and we won the last ODI also.'' On India's new captain, Talat said, ''I wish him all the best for the future. I can't say anything beyond that.'' When reminded about Kumble's record feat of bagging all 10 wickets against the same opposition at the same ground in 1999, the 57-year-old Talat said ''Its a eight year old story. We are not much perturbed about his past performances.'' Speaking about Pakistan captain Shoib Malik, Talat said,''He is getting used to the burden of captaincy and has also shown confidence in his onfield decisions. The striking feature about his captaincy is that he does not lose his cool under pressure.

He further added that wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has recovered from his injury and is fit now. '' Young wicketkeeper Sarfaraz was called on for the tour of India as a backup for Akmal because playing in Test matches is always tough and an extra keeper would always be beneficial for the team.'' However, he refused to comment much on Feroz Shah Kotla pitch.

He said the final eleven will be selected only after they have a look at the pitch on the eve of the match.

Pakistan team practiced for nearly three hours in the nets during which former Australian fast bowler and coach Geoff Lawson himself bowled to the batsmen.

UNI