Associated Press

Islamabad, February 8:

Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said on Tuesday his team was ready to face India in next month’s Test series after a battle hardened tour of Australia.“We have learnt a lot from the tour of Australia which will help us in more than one way when we tour India,” Inzamam said.

Pakistan not only lost the Test series 0-3, Australia beat them 2-0 in the best of three tri-series final which also featured the West Indies.

Pakistan is scheduled to leave for India on February 25 for its first tour of India in six years to play three Tests and five one-dayers. The first Test is starting from March 4.

“I hope the players will capitalise on what they have learnt in Australia and if they do not repeat the mistakes they committed in Australia, they can always do well,” Pakistan’s coach Bob Woolmer said. Pakistan has problems in the bowling department with three front line pacemen Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul and Shabbir Ahmed all struggling with injuries.

“We need a strong bowling lineup and I hope that all our injured bowlers regain their fitness to help us in India. We know India is a tough team in their den because they have a strong batting lineup and they catch their opposition through their spinners,” Inzamam said.

The Pakistan captain defended his team’s poor performance in Australia, saying that a dozen players were debutantes. “The conditions in Australia are always tough and you must take into account that 12 of our players were new to those conditions,” he said. “India will be a difficult and different tour but the pitches in India will be easier as compared to wickets in Australia. Indian pitches would be different and there will be no pitch like Perth in India and our batsmen would be more than ease,” he added.