South African skipper Graeme Smith said Pakistan’s controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was a match winner but also had been a disruptive influence on the team.

“Certainly he is a player who has won Test matches for them as a bowler, but certainly we have seen he has been a disruptive influence for them,” Smith said replying to a query about how Shoaib’s absence was influencing their ongoing Test series against Pakistan.

Smith, however, made it clear “my focus is on what we have to do best to win matches.”

The South African captain also felt his team had matured and improved its mindset and entire game plan for playing in the subcontinent.

Yousuf back
Meanwhile, Pakistan will be boosted by the return of premier batsman Mohammad Yousuf while former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is playing his final match before he retires from cricket.

Inzamam, 37, will play his 120th Test in Lahore and requires just 20 more runs to become the highest run-getter in Tests for Pakistan, a record held by Javed Miandad with 8,832 runs in 124 Tests. "Getting Yousuf back I think will offset the advantage of Kallis that they have. He is our answer to Kallis," Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik said said.

He rejected suggestions Inzamam's final performance could turn into a distraction for his side.

"In fact I can say with confidence that just having Inzamam back training with us has boosted the confidence level of myself and my team a lot. His inclusion is not a distraction but a boost for us. He has upped the morale of the team and we are hoping he has a good match," the Pakistan skipper added.

South Africa had defeated Pakistan by 160 runs in the first Test at Karachi.