The Tigers will be looking to at least draw the Test having lost the series opener in Karachi by seven wickets and the second Test in Peshawar by nine wickets.

Mashrafee, Bangladesh's lone strike bowler, has been left out as a precautionary measure, while fellow quick Alamgir Kabir was dropped after an ordinary outing in the second Test in Peshawar.

Tapas Baishya and left arm paceman Monjurul Islam will lead the new-ball attack in Multan..

However, there could still be some last minute adjustments before the final line-up is decided.

"Mashrafee is potentially a very good player for Bangladesh. But given his tender age and the toughness of the tour, he has to be managed in a way so that he can play for the next ten years," explained coach Dav Whatmore. "So, if Mashrafee is not playing in certain selected matches, it's nothing other than serious consideration in managing a young fast bowler who is vulnerable to injuries," added Whatmore.

Pakistan have also made two changes designed at making their batting lineup stronger.

Experienced campaigner Younis Khan is in to bolster the batting. According to sources, veteran middle order Yousuf Youhana might be rested, giving way for either Salman Butt or Farhan Adil to make their debut.

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhter, who tormented Bangladesh in Peshawar, is off to England to honour his contract with county side Durham but off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq makes a comeback after six months. With the pitch expected to be slow and turning, Saqlain and leg-break bowler Danish Kaneria could prove a handful for the Tigers.

Kaneria has been Bangladesh's nemesis with a tally of 34 wickets in five Tests. Incidentally, his best performance came at this very venue two years ago when he took twelve wickets (6-42 and 6-52) against Bangladesh in an Asian Test Championship match.

The home side will also go in with two pacers Umar Gul and Shabbir Ahmed.

Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has already launched a psychological attack on Bangladesh in a bid to smother the much- improved Tigers.

"Bangladesh have played negative cricket so far in Pakistan by changing the fielding positions after each and every delivery. If they continue with that tactics, they will never learn and won't improve," said Latif during a media briefing yesterday afternoon.

He also claimed the pitches in Karachi and Peshawar aided Bangladesh more than Pakistan and dismissed the tourists as a worthy opponent in the final Test.

"We will try to finish the match within three days," said Latif. His brash remark surprised both the Bangladeshi and Pakistani journalists.

SQUADS

Bangladesh: Khaled Mahmud (captain), Javed Omar, Hannan Sarkar, Habibul Bashar, Mohammad Ashraful, Rajin Saleh, Alok Kapali, Khaled Mashud, Mohammad Rafique, Tapas Baishya and Monjurul Islam.

Pakistan: Rashid Latif (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq, Danish Kaneria, Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul.

Umpires: Russell Tiffin (Zimbabwe) and Ashoka de-Silva (Sri Lanka).

Match referee: Mike Procter (South Africa).