May 31, 2002	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 18,1423

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LAHORE, May 30: Pakistan captain Waqar Younis said there was not much difference between Pakistan and Australia as far as indoor cricket was concerned.

However,  Pakistan coach Mudassar Nazar underlined the need of indoor practice essential for his team before it embarked on the Australian tour. He however, lamented that no such facility was available in the country.

 The first two of the three One-day Internationals are scheduled to be played indoors at Colonial Stadium in Melbourne, on June 12 and 15. The final game will take place at the Gabba in Brisbane on June 19.

The Pakistan squad departs for Australia Wednesday.

While talking to journalists at Gaddafi Stadium after the second day of the national training camp Thursday, Waqar said before next month’s matches the Australians had only played three matches against South Africa in the indoor stadium about two years ago.

The captain said that he was in no position to explain the difference between indoor and outdoor cricket, since he had not played indoors even once.

Waqar along with Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi joined the camp Thursday after arriving from England.

Mudassar said that Pakistan, however, would get two or three days practice at the indoor stadium in Melbourne.

The captain and coach agreed that the unavailability of all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq would not be felt much. Their absence would provide excellent opportunity  to Azhar Mahmood and Shoaib Malik to prove their mettle, they opined.