Dhoni doubtful for today’s game as Misbah looks for strong finish

NEW DELHI: A buoyant Misbah-ul-Haq announced on Saturday that his team would go all out for its third consecutive victory over the hosts as India continued to sweat over the fitness of their under-fire captain MD Dhoni ahead of the third and final One-day International here at the Feroze Shah Kotla ground on Sunday (today).

Misbah has captained the tourists to two impressive wins in Chennai and Kolkata and could become the first Pakistani captain to inflict a whitewash on India in their own backyard by winning today’s encounter.

Pakistan have proved themselves as a much better side than India and are once again favourites to complete a series sweep today. But Misbah is taking nothing for granted.

“Every match is important for us and we always take the field to win matches. The approach will remain the same tomorrow and we will look to win the match,” he told reporters at Kotla where Pakistan had a training session under freezing conditions on Saturday.

“Fast and spin bowling is key to our success. Our pacers performed really well and exploited the conditions while our spinners have always won us the game. It’s a combined effort,” he stressed.

Misbah also hailed the role of former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who worked with the team’s batsmen in the lead up to this brief tour.

“We prepared well for the series under our batting consultant Inzamam-ul-Haq. The training camp back home really helped the team to perform well,” he said.

It’s really cold in the Indian capital and the mercury can swing between 4C and 15C during the course of the match today. But the Pakistanis are not concerned.

“It’s cold out here but Lahore has been the same for quite some time where our players practiced for the series. I think what we have experienced today will largely remain the same tomorrow,” Misbah said.

The Pakistani skipper doesn’t believe that toss would play any big role in the outcome of today’s game.

“Overall, the pitch is looking good. What I have seen today, it’s will assist the batsmen. The toss won’t be of much significance. In the first game, the toss played a crucial role. In the second, it wasn’t that important factor. So, I am not thinking on that line,” he said.

Agencies add: MS Dhoni’s participation in the final ODI against Pakistan is in doubt after he complained of soreness in his back during practice at the Kotla in Delhi. Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has been called up as back-up for the Indian captain.

“If at all somebody is doubtful, it’s me,” Dhoni said when asked about the absence of Yuvraj Singh at the practice session. “Since it was an optional practice session, Yuvraj did not come.”

The issue of who will take over the captaincy will come to the fore if Dhoni misses out on Sunday. Over the last year, India have had three alternatives: Virender Sehwag when Dhoni was out with over-rate bans in Australia, Virat Kohli was vice-captain in Asia Cup, Gautam Gambhir in Sri Lanka, and now there is no official vice-captain. When asked, Dhoni said, “Let’s hope that I play. We’ll see tomorrow.”

The final decision on Dhoni’s fitness will be taken on the morning of the match.

The news will be a setback for the Indian side who have already lost the series to Pakistan, and are looking to avoid their first home ODI series whitewash since 1983-84.

Dhoni was the only India batsman who showed form in the previous two matches. He has scored 167 runs - 106 more than Suresh Raina, who is second - in the series without being dismissed.

Only twice in his career before he has been ruled out due to injury. Both times, it was the back problem that kept him out - once against New Zealand in Napier and against Bangladesh in Chittagong. In 2012, Dhoni missed two matches because of over-rate penalties, but played every other series, including the IPL and Champion League Twenty20. Karthik, who has 1008 ODI runs against his name, last played for India in August 2010.

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