Fitness and fielding hold the key if Pakistan want to turn their huge potential into success in the World Cup in the Caribbean.

Pakistan have had a dismal build-up to their Cup campaign with key bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif as well as all-rounder Abdul Razzaq ruled out.

Umar Gul has struggled form fitness.

"The F-factor is crucial, the fitness of the players is concerning," said coach Bob Woolmer before he lost his three key men.

Akhtar battled a knee injury while Asif had a recurrence of an elbow problem.

The pair were also required to clear pre-World Cup dope tests. Both were banned for doping in November after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone but they had their bans controversially lifted on appeal.

Last week, on the day that the ICC said they would introduce target drug testing, Akhtar and Asif were finally pulled from the squad having failed to get over their injuries.

Gul, one of Pakistan's best bowlers over the last 12 months, has also been fighting a fitness battle after he suffered a fractured ankle.

Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was one of the flops of the last World Cup with just 19 runs in six matches, said gruelling schedules had taken their toll on the players.

"Even a batsman like me finds it hard to keep the level of fitness, so it is worse for the fast bowlers. We need to have the best and fittest players for the World Cup," said Inzamam, a member of Pakistan's only side to win the World Cup in Australia in 1992.

Without Akhtar, Pakistan struggled on their pre-World Cup tour of South Africa where they lost the Tests 2-1 and one-day series 3-1.

They showed their usual flaws of either failing to retain their intensity or succumbing to self-destructive frenzies - both of which Woolmer hopes will not haunt them in the Caribbean.

"I believe what happened in South Afica will not hurt us. We have to make sure we are confident and well prepared, and it is up to the players to show mental strength," said Woolmer, who took over as coach two years ago.

Woolmer, who coached South Africa in the 1996 and 1999 World Cups, managed to build the team yet the consistency factor is still missing.

Despite luring fomer South Afican fielding maestro Jonty Rhodes for a two-week training stint last year, the Pakistanis still lack agility and accuracy in the field.

Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal had a dismal period as he fumbled catches and erred in stumpings and needs confidence.

With continuous problems top of the order, Inzamam, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan will be under constant pressure to score.

Dashing allrounder Shahid Afridi can destroy any attack - on his day.

However, Afridi will miss the first two matches in the Caribbean after being hit with a suspension following an altercation with a fan in South Africa.

Pakistan are in the same group as the West Indies, Zimbabwe and debutants Ireland in the first round.

They are capable of crossing the first hurdle, but the round of eight will present the real test.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)