Munaf may be unveiled

RAJKOT: If anything goes wrong during the execution of the Kiwis'' game-plan during their second and final warm-up game to be played during the next three days at the RMC ground here, lack of preparation will be the one factor that the visitors will find hard to blame it on.
Plenty of sunshine, practice pitches and local net bowlers had skipper Stephen Fleming joining coach Ashley Ross in singing hosannas about the facilities offered to them after rain had denied them valuable playing time against the Board President''s XI at Visakhapatnam last week.
This will be the fourth occasion when a Kiwi side will be playing a match at Rajkot. Former world record holder for the highest number of Test wickets Sir Richard Hadlee had a dream spell of 9 for 55 against West Zone in 1988 while the next was a warm-up game against the Board President''s XI in 1995.
The last time the Black Caps were down here was for the One-day International against India in 1999, a match which saw over 650 runs being scored and Nathan Astle blasting a big hundred.
"We are looking to get some batting practice, but the bowling will be under pressure," said Fleming, who later in the day announced the Kiwi line-up which has young pacers Ian Butler and Michael Mason along with Richard Jones.
As for the hopefuls filling the ranks in the India-A outfit, there would be nothing better than putting up a good performance with the bat or the cherry with the national selectors'' attention being focused on the match.
The likes of Sadagoppan Ramesh and Akash Chopra, who did well against Kiwis in the first tour game, should fancy their chances about opening the innings. Untried paceman from Bharuch, Munaf Patel, will most probably be given the opportunity to back up his potential.