Mushfiqur in double pain

Captain Mushfiqur Rahim was in pain all day yesterday. He injured the ring finger in his right hand the day before and sat out the third day's play. The on-field proceedings at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium did not give him any comfort either.

Pakistan reached stumps at 537 for five in the first innings on the day in reply to the hosts' 332 and the Tigers are already faced with the risk of another innings defeat in Test cricket.

The Tigers captain came out on the field after the day's play and was running from one end of the stadium to the other, may be to try and keep himself moving. A reporter then inquired about his finger and he replied: "So, so."

He then took the trouble of shaking hands with Mohammad Hafeez to congratulate him on his double-century as the Pakistan all-rounder was passing by to attend the post-day press briefing.

After another couple of sprints, Mushfiqur said about the injury that it was difficult for him to hold the bat now as he was still feeling the pain. And his subsequent words made it clearer that he was bleeding inside.

"We are already 205 runs behind with half of their side intact, thinking of a win is just unrealistic. We will have to bat out around five sessions to save the match. But impossible is nothing.

"They will try to score quick runs in the first hour tomorrow to give us enough time. But at the same time, if we can take a few quick wickets then we will be able to keep them under control," said the wicketkeeper-batsman.

But he was not all too down.

"Anything is possible on this wicket. As you can see from the first innings, scoring wasn't easy at that time. They bowled well, and our batsmen applied themselves on a par with them. Now it has eased up a little and if we can bat for five sessions that will do us a world of good."