Pakistan to play for pride

Road-weary Pakistan will look to salvage the series and what remains of their shattered pride when the second and final Test against South Africa starts in Cape Town on Thursday.

Waqar Younis' team have experienced the full gamut of emotions on their roller-coaster tour of southern Africa.

They strode unchallenged through Zimbabwe, winning both Test matches and all five one-day internationals, Inzamamul Haq in the process becoming the second Pakistani to reach 6,000 Test runs while Yousuf Youhana enjoyed a spell as the most prolific one-day batsman in the world.

Waqar, meanwhile, left Zimbabwe needing one wicket to join compatriot Wasim Akram as the only bowlers to take 400 wickets in one-day internationals.

He had since reached that mark but has had little else to celebrate. In South Africa, Pakistan were stopped in their tracks by a team that has regained their composure following the mauling they were dealt by Australia last season.

Under new coach Eric Simons and guided by a fresh selection panel led by Omar Henry, South Africa rediscovered the uncompromising approach and solid basics that had made them the closest rivals to the mighty Australians in recent seasons.

Shaun Pollock, never the most natural of captains, made significant progress towards coming to terms with his role. Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini matured into a consistent threat and, together with steadily developing opening batsman Graeme Smith, gave South Africa a glimpse of a future beyond veterans Allan Donald and Gary Kirsten.

South Africa's resurgence was sealed when they bounced back from losing the second one-day international against Pakistan to win the series 4-1

The chinks in Pakistan's armour were clear by the time they limped into Durban for the Boxing Day Test. The most glaring of these was the confusing status of express bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who had been ordered home by team management to recover from a knee injury.

Instead, Shoaib remained in South Africa and found the time to socialise with visiting Bollywood film stars.

There was little surprise when South Africa wrapped up a 10-wicket win just 90 minutes into the fourth day. The result would have been more embarrassing for Pakistan had 60 overs not been lost to bad light during the first three days.

"We played really well in Zimbabwe, but since we came here we haven't delivered what we are capable of," Waqar told reporters.

Coach Richard Pybus added: "South Africa have played better cricket than us in the last month.

"In defence of our boys, they will have been on the road for six months when we finish this tour. I think that has caught up with us."

South Africa, who will be crowned International Cricket Council Test world champions if they win the series, have named the same squad, bar pacemen Steve Elworthy, for the second Test.

Pakistan, always on the back foot in Durban after being dismissed for 161 in their first innings despite a long batting line-up, will need to perform with much more discipline in Cape Town.

Batsman Faisal Iqbal could make way for Hasan Raza towards that end. Pakistan may also have to find a place for fast bowler Mohammad Zahid after Waqar was struck a painful blow on the right forearm by Ntini during the first Test.

TEAMS

SOUTH AFRICA (from): Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Boeta Dippenaar, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock (captain), Nick Boje, Makhaya Ntini, Mornantau Hayward, Andrew Hall, Monde Zondeki.

PAKISTAN (from): Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamamul Haq, Taufeeq Umar, Shahid Afridi, Salim Elahi, Yousuf Youhana, Hasan Raza, Abdul Razzaq, Faisal Iqbal, Younis Khan, Fazle Akbar, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Zahid, Saqlain Mushtaq.