Pakistan won't ring changes
Shoaib may feature if he can prove his fitness against West Indies A
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Wednesday, 09, Aug 2006 09:09
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer has insisted he will not be ringing the changes for the final Test against England at The Oval.
The home side claimed an unassailable 2-0 lead with a 167-run win at Headingley, meaning the fourth Test in south London is now a dead rubber.
However, Woolmer admits he isn't tempted to experiment and the team will remain fairly similar next week.
"Losing a series is not the end of the world and what we have to do is maintain our steady progress in terms of work ethic," Woolmer said.
"I shall resist changes as the team we have here has done well for the past 18 months to two years and it is important we remember that."
If Pakistan do make any changes, it will probably be in the bowling department as Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif are both close to returning from injury.
The pacemen have not featured in the series so far and Woolmer has been reluctant to risk either of them, especially Shoaib, who hasn't played for six months because of an ankle injury.
"We will have a look at Shoaib against West Indies A this week but to rush someone into a Test match at The Oval after six months of not bowling would make any bowler shudder at the very thought of it if they weren't fully fit," Woolmer added.
"Asif will come back for the one-dayers. Let's face it, the other day our three fast bowlers bowled superbly and to actually bring in two people from outside who haven't played for a month and six months would be wrong to those three people."
Pakistan have also appealed to the International Cricket Council to allow them to add Shahid Nazir to their Champions Trophy squad after his performance at Headingley.