Pakistan hopes it can shake off rustiness and put off-field problems behind it as it gears up for a one-day series against the West Indies starting here on Wednesday. Shoaib Malik's side is woefully short of match practice, having played just five one-dayers against strong opposition this year - four against India and one against Sri Lanka. Pakistan was forced to host minnows Zimbabwe and Bangladesh for one-dayers after Australia, South Africa and New Zealand refused to tour the country due to security fears. And the chance to test itself against the world's best in September's Champions Trophy in Pakistan was denied as the tournament was postponed for the same reasons. The refusal of the West Indies to play in Pakistan, also over security fears, forced the choice of the neutral venue of Abu Dhabi for the three-match series. Cricket-starved Pakistan has also faced off-field problems, which led to the sacking of its Australian coach Geoff Lawson after just 13 months in the job. He was replaced last month by Intikhab Alam, a former Pakistan captain. And Pakistan's woes mounted when it lost prolific batsman Mohammad Yousuf, who was banned for joining the rebel Indian Cricket League earlier this month. He was initially named in the 15-member squad for this series. Alam though is not perturbed over the lack of match practice. “We may have played less cricket but I don't believe in such negatives. This is a very important series for us because after this we have India touring us and for that we need better rhythm,” said Alam. In contrast, a collection of West Indies players recently hit the jackpot when they thrashed the England Superstars in the Stanford Twenty20 finale in Antigua, earning millions of dollars in the process. West Indies coach John Dyson said he hoped the series against Pakistan would help the team's preparations for next month's tour of New Zealand. “Newcomers Brendan Nash, Leon Johnson and Shawn Findlay showed they are ready to perform against Pakistan,” he said. Pakistan will be looking for an impressive performance from star paceman Shoaib Akhtar, yet to play a ODI this year for fitness and disciplinary reasons. Asif seeks board help Suspended Pakistan pace bowler Mohammad Asif has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to support him in a legal battle against a doping ban after he tested positive for the steroid nandrolone. “The previous board didn't help me out at all in this doping offense. I have been fighting a lone battle,” Asif told Reuters on Monday. The PCB suspended Asif from all cricket in August after he tested positive in a dope test carried out during the semifinal of the IPL in June.
