Pak were without intent or purpose

Throughout the day’s play as India were batting at Kolkata, it looked as though the Pakistan team were on the field with little or no purpose today.

The second day was almost totally India’s and it was pretty clear that Pakistan came to the field with no plan of action whatsoever and were only waiting for their opponents to declare.

Other than the occasional ball from Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami, they did not even try to test the Indian batsmen.

It was extremely defensive cricket and it was apparent that Pakistan had given up any thoughts of going for the kill.

Forget any fighting spirit, it looked as if Pakistan had resigned themselves to their fate — not at all bothered about taking wickets — and were there just because they had to be there, to make up the numbers at this Test match. I cannot put it in any kinder words.

In this connection, I must make mention of the fact that Pakistan’s chairman of selectors Sahaluddin has been here in India and associating mainly with members of the Pakistani press.

He has been making comments to the press that we have no other players back home who could have been here in India and that this is the best available side.

The point is if this is indeed the best available side — and I am not prepared to accept that at face value - and being so thoroughly outplayed by the Indians, then what is this man doing here in India?

Is it only to host dinners for his friends while Pakistan have lost the ODI series, the Kotla Test and now are in deep trouble at Kolkata?

The domestic season back home has started and matches are on. Simply making comments to the press that there is no other talent to choose from is not enough.

He should have been in Pakistan now, watching domestic matches and looking for youngsters to groom for the future. Instead, he has been trying to save his skin by camping in India and by pleasing Pakistani journalists.

The Pakistan Cricket Board pays its selection committee. So why is he not doing his job?

As far as the match itself is concerned, India played to a plan and executed it very well. I would like to congratulate Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman for their achievements as both scored their first Test centuries against Pakistan.

In fact all of the Indian batsmen have played quite beautifully.

This is also a reversal of history. In the old days, we used to play like this against India. Now the tide seems to have turned and history is, in a sense, repeating itself with the roles being reversed.

It also once again raises questions about the effectiveness of overseas coaches, who have now been in Pakistan for the last eight years.

Look at the performances that we used to get 10-12 years ago, and look at those we are getting now. Where do we stand, and how have we benefited from the overseas presence is still not clear to me.

If Pakistan are to make a match of this, and let me say it outright here, that I have grave doubts about this, they will have to bat extraordinarily well.

The wicket is starting to deteriorate and will deteriorate even further over the next couple of days.

It will be quite a different track from what it has been so far and I have a feeling that this Indian total is a bit too much for the Pakistan batsmen. Even their first target of 417 runs to avoid the follow-on looks to be a difficult one.

It is time for Younus Khan and Mohammad Younus to stand up and be counted.