Latif - Shoaib Should Strike Fear](http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/030621/203/e2xmj.html)
Rashid Latif leads his Pakistan team into Sunday’s NatWest Challenge decider at Lord’s claiming England’s fear factor levelled the series.
After surviving a shaky couple of overs against speed merchants Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami at the AMP Oval on Friday, Marcus Trescothick’s adrenalin rush hurried his side towards a 186-run victory target which was breached with 28 overs to spare.
To the neutral, the emphatic seven-wicket nature of Michael Vaughan’s first win as England captain might hint momentum is with the home side.
Latif, however, suggests taking on cricket’s fast show, as Trescothick did with aplomb, highlights England’s dread of Shoaib and Co.
Shoaib, who took the brunt of Trescothick’s 16 fours and two sixes in a 55-ball 86, worked up a head of steam throughout his nine overs, which included the dismissals of Vaughan and Jim Troughton in quick succession but cost a staggering 69 runs.
Numerous deliveries whizzed past Trescothick’s outside edge in Shoaib’s first over of the chase, though, and Latif revealed: "I think England are very concerned about the Pakistan attack, that is why Marcus Trescothick tried to finish the game in 15 overs.
"It was a good tactic by Michael Vaughan and the England team to play like that because they only have Trescothick, Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff in their batting with experience.
“If Shoaib had taken his two wickets in his initial five overs it would have been a very different game because we have two very good spinners (Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez) and Azhar Mahmood and Abdul Razzaq, who are both good bowlers with the older ball.”
Shoaib proved a valuable run flow to England in their World Cup win over the Pakistanis in Cape Town four months ago, when he went at seven-an-over, but his determination to deliver a stellar performance when it matters most led the Rawalpindi Express to a voluntary net session at Lord’s today, where he worked one-on-one with coach Javed Miandad.
When he finds his rhythm, the speed generated is a potent weapon and means any score is defendable, which is handy given Pakistan’s recent form with the bat: Tuesday’s 208 for eight to win at Old Trafford is their highest score in their previous seven matches.
Not surprising, perhaps, having turned to a new-look top three of Imran Nazir, Hafeez and Yasir Hameed.
“In general our scores have not been good since the World Cup but our bowling has defended very well in recent games,” said captain Latif.
“The top three are crucial positions but the guys we have brought in are not experienced and had one bad game yesterday, otherwise they have played good cricket over two months.”
**Pakistan will keep faith with the same XI as they seek a second tournament success since their World Cup humiliation. Having sacrificed nine of the squad that returned from South Africa for new blood, they won a four-nation event in Sharjah. **
“It is a testing time for us because the young guys will have to handle the international pressure and that is something they are not used to,” said Latif.
"Tomorrow is all about mental toughness. But it will be good for them whatever happens because it is the first time they are playing under pressure at Lord’s on a big occasion.
"If we win the game it will be very good for the future of the Pakistan team but we are not worried about winning or losing, we just want to play good cricket and entertain the crowd.
“We are not going to win every game, we are just trying to develop players and get them to experience Test and one-day internationals.”
The third and final challenge match will provide a chance for individuals to cement their places for a hectic end-of-year schedule at home, which begins with three Tests and five one-dayers against Bangladesh in August.
South Africa tour Pakistan immediately afterwards for a three-Test series and three limited-overs matches and New Zealand have agreed to a best-of-five one-day head to head in November.
, i think will make a chance for Misbah-ul-Haq to show his ability.
