West Indies' Brian Lara (right) and Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq talk during a practice session in Multan yesterday. The second cricket Test match between Pakistan and West Indies will be played in Multan from today. – Reuters

MULTAN, (Reuters):

WEST INDIES skipper Brian Lara is hoping his side can help teammate Shivnarine Chanderpaul celebrate his 100th match with a win over Pakistan in the second Test starting today.

"It is a big achievement to play 100 Tests for your country. Hopefully we can make it a special one for Shiv by beating Pakistan and levelling the (three-match) series," Lara said yesterday.

Chanderpaul, who has scored 6,617 runs with 14 centuries, will register his landmark Test appearance against a buoyant Pakistan side after the hosts recorded a nine-wicket win in the first Test in Lahore.

"It is a significant achievement for Shiv and a great milestone for him. We are looking to celebrate it with a win," Lara said.

Chanderpaul struggled with a stomach bug in the first Test, but Lara said although he was still not 100 per cent fit he was a fighter and keen to play the match.

"We are confident he will be out there with us in the middle," Lara added.

Make amends

Lara said his players fully understood they had not been compe-titive in Lahore and wanted to put that behind them and make amends in the second match.

"Pakistan have always been a very good side at home and we are under no illusions what we have to do to come back in the series," he added.

The West Indies have not won a Test series in Pakistan since 1981.

They are not expected to make any changes in their line-up, but Pakistan are looking at playing uncapped left-arm paceman Samiullah Niazi in place of Abdul Razzaq on a pitch which the home side's bowling coach Waqar Younis said had juice in it.

"There is a bit of rain around and there is moisture in the pitch ... it will help the seamers but is a bit on the slow side," Younis said.

Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq said he was looking for more consistency from his players.

"The bowlers need to follow up on their good work in the Lahore Test. To become a good team we need to bring more consistency in our performances," he said.

Pakistan's reserve bowlers Umar Gul and Shahid Nazir shared 15 wickets in the first Test win.