Pakistan confident
The Pakistan cricket team will step into the Roop Singh Stadium for their only warm-up match before the Test series without even a look at the ground the day before. It is either a statement of supreme confidence or an indication of the price they have to pay for agreeing to this tour. Anyway, they did make it for a press conference late in the evening today, with captain Wasim Akram asserting that they are "quite serious" about this three-day affair against India A.

Suresh's mark
Two National debutants struck gold while one veteran found his golden touch after five years as the 42nd National rifle/pistol shooting championships (national rules) began with a bang here on Friday. All three gold decided on the day were in the men's 25 metre standard pistol event which had 30 rounds.

Heavy toll
It was interesting to read Anshuman Gaekwad's statement the other day that neither the players nor the team management advocated a staggering of the Pakistan tour, so that the players could get some well-earned rest.