Arafat leaves India reeling

Yasir Arafat took three wickets as India struggled in the opening session of the third Test against Pakistan, reaching lunch at 65 for four.

After opener Gautam Gambhir had fallen to Mohammad Sami, the 25-year-old took charge, dismissing Rahul Dravid, Wasim Jaffer and VVS Laxman to put the tourists in a strong position.

India skipper Anil Kumble elected to bat first after winning the toss but that decision appeared to backfire as the Indian top order went cheaply.

Only eight runs were on the board when Gambhir, one of four changes to the India side that drew the second Test in Kolkota, was dismissed for five after edging a Mohammad Sami delivery that was taken by a diving Kamran Akmal.

Arafat snared his first wicket of the day with the Indian total at 44 when Dravid got a thick edge on an attempted cut, which carried to Misbah-ul-Haq at first slip, dismissing the ex-India captain for 19.

Jaffer, who hit a double century in Kolkota, survived a dropped catch by Mohammad Sami while he was still on two but he failed to make the most of his escape as he was dismissed lbw for 17 after failing to offer a stroke on a full Arafat delivery that swung in sharply on his pads.

Laxman then became Arafat's third victim shortly before the lunch break when he was bowled for five to leave India floundering at 61 for four.

Sourav Ganguly was on 12 and Yuvraj Singh had yet to score at the lunch break.