Dharamsala Tour Opener Cricket First Day
March 3, 2005
Start of the much-awaited three-day tour opener between the visiting Pakistan team and the Board President's XI was on Thursday delayed due to bad light.
At 10:30 am, The Pakistanis won the toss and decided to bat, trying to make most of the warm-up fixture.
At 10:40 am Rain stops play with Pakistanis at 9 for 0 (Taufeeq 4*, Butt 1*)
At stumps - Pakistan floundered at the start of their first test tour of India for six years, reaching 165 for five wickets on the rain-hit opening day against an Indian Board President's XI on Thursday. Almost four hours of play were lost to bad light and drizzle at this northern hilly venue to frustrate Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq after he won the toss and chose to bat. Pakistan's top order batsmen were soon in trouble against a set of Indian pace hopefuls, slumping to 83 for four on a flat pitch in the three-day match.
Inzamam, who turned 35 on Thursday, was among those who squandered a good start, trapped leg before for 35 trying to sweep part-time off spinner Venugopal Rao. At the close, left-hander Asim Kamal was 43 not out with all-rounder Abdul Razzaq on two.
Brief scores: Pakistan 165 for five wickets: (Asim Kamal batting 43, Abdul Razzaq batting 2, Taufeeq Umar 37, Inzamam-ul-Haq 35)
In Picture: Pakistan Pace Bowler Mohammad Sami at the nets