The people of the ancient city of Peshawar eagerly watched the first day of the second Test between Bangladesh and Pakistan yesterday. Nearly 2,500 turned up at the Arbab Niaz Stadium. That is a vast improvement from the barely 500 that visited the Karachi National Stadium for the opening four days of the first Test that ended last Sunday.

According to Ghaniur Rahman, a sports reporter of local Daily Surkhab, there will be even bigger crowds on Friday and Sunday.

The interest in the sport stems from having as many as 50 clubs in the region. But they don't play in a league. However, there are some tournaments played in the winter, which are being organised by the Sarhad (Hill) Cricket Board, the regional Board of North-West Frontier Province.

The region has produced many international players. The list includes Wajahatullah Wasti, Akhter Sarfraz, Zakir Khan, Kabir Khan, Arshad Khan, Younis Khan and two who are playing against Bangladesh -- Yasir Hameed and Umar Gul.

DAUDZAI THE REAL FANThe Information Minister of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) Asif Iqbal Daudzai is a keen follower of cricket.

The 35-year-old bearded minister came to the press box and met all the journalists including the six from Bangladesh.

When approached, the young politician from Khazana area in Peshawar said that cricket was his favourite game and he enjoyed watching matches whenever he got the chance.

"I was captain of my village team," he joked when this correspondent asked him whether he had played the game.

GRUMPY SOHAIL! Pakistan chief selector Aamir Sohail was visibly unhappy when confronted by local reporters of Peshawar during the tea break with Bangladesh comfortably placed on 166 for one.

When a reporter wanted to know why the pitch was no| helping the home team, Sohail advised them to ask the curator. And when he was asked what strategy the Pakistan team was following in the second Test, Sohail replied; "why don't you talk to the Pakistan captain?"

The former Pakistan opener also declined to comment on why the home team's bowlers were struggling.

He was clearly irritated and suggested that in future, questions directed at him should be more relevant.

But when a reporter wanted to know why Wajahatullah Wasti was not being considered in the Pakistan team the chief selector was ducking again: "You should ask Wajahatullah and not me. He knows why he is not in the team."