AN injury to seam bowler Tanvir Ahmed marred the start of a gentle two-day workout for Pakistan against Leicestershire ahead of a hectic Test schedule that begins at Lord’s next Tuesday.
Pakistan play six Test matches in seven weeks – two against Australia and four against England – and warmed up for the challenge by having Leicestershire at 277 for six at the end of the first day’s play at Grace Road.
Tanvir took two of the wickets before leaving the field in the middle of his 14th over.
Mohammed Asif, expected to be part of Pakistan’s Test attack, bowled 17 overs in four spells during the day but remained wicketless.
For Leicestershire, Greg Smith, in his first game since returning from Durham University, scored 87 – his best for the club – and Wayne White also hit a half-century that included 10 boundaries.
There was probably a sense of disappointment among Leicestershire supporters that Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was rested for the game. He became a cult hero at Grace Road with his electrifying batting performances for the county in 2001 and the fans would have loved to see him in action again.
They were, however, able to watch another former favourite, Asif, look to push his claims for a place in the side against Australia next week. The paceman bowled well without much luck, beating the bat on several occasions during his four short spells through the day.
But Tanvir enjoyed better fortune before his injury, having opener Will Jones caught at slip fencing at a delivery outside off-stump after making 23 in an opening stand of 47 with Matt Boyce.
Boyce followed in the next over, however, run-out following a dreadful mix-up with Jacques Du Toit.
That brought in Smith, who took 28 balls to score his first run as spinner Saeed Ajmal and left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz reduced the runs to a trickle. Ajmal conceded six runs in eight overs and Riaz six in six, with Leicestershire reaching lunch on 70 for two.
It was no surprise when the impressive Ajmal picked up a wicket early in the afternoon session, with Du Toit driving a comfortable catch to mid-on.
Joshua Cobb, hemmed in by five close-in fieldsmen in the early stages of his innings, survived several appeals for bat-pad catches but battled through to forge a half-century stand with Smith.
It remained slow going, however, as Pakistan’s acting captain Salman Butt continued to ring the bowling changes, keeping the batsmen tied down. Smith finally cut loose with two boundaries off Riaz, and a couple more off the same bowler then took him to 50 off 100 balls.
But another fearful misunderstanding brought another run-out, with Cobb easily beaten by Ajmal’s throw to end a partnership of 65 in 15 overs.
Steve Adshead, on trial at his former club, scored only three before driving a catch to mid-off to give Tanvir his second wicket. But, on a slow pitch, Smith continued to show good technique and concentration and was joined in another half-century stand by Wayne White.
But the new ball, taken at 212 for five, finally accounted for Smith, who top-edged a short-pitched delivery from Riaz to square leg having made 87 off 198 balls with 14 boundaries.
White then took over and began to produce some fine hitting, including a six off Ajmal, and was still there at the close on 65.