12 February 2004	Thursday	20 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Feb 11: Former Pakistan great Wasim Akram on Wednesday called on India's cricketers to put aside security concerns and press ahead with their tour of Pakistan next month.

Wasim, who retired from the game with a world record of 502 one-day and 414 Test wickets in May last year, urged India to follow the example of his team which toured India in 1998-99 despite threats from fundamentalists.

"My request to Indian players is to hit security concerns out of their minds and tour Pakistan with open minds and smiles because people all over the world are anxiously waiting for the series," Wasim told AFP. "I know it's tough to overcome safety concerns and Indian players are concerned in the same manner we were before our tour a few years back," he said.

"But Indians must follow the Pakistan team's example which toured India despite pronounced death threats from fundamentalists, and the whole of India welcomed us on the tour," said Wasim. "I know the cultures of both Pakistan and India, people are mad about cricket and I see no problems for Indian players in Pakistan."

India is due to play a three-day game, three Tests and five one-dayers on the March-April tour but India's players including captain Saurav Ganguly have expressed fears over security.

"We are worried about the security and we all have to take the concerns of our families into account," Ganguly said on returning from Australia on Tuesday. Wasim acknowledged the Indian players' concerns but said a guarantee of security for the team by Pakistan's government could be relied upon.

"I know the families remain concerned, the same happened to our families but we toured just because of assurances from Indian government and here the Pakistan government has promised full security so the tour must go on," said Wasim, who expects a close series between the two teams.

"Indian batting is definitely superior but they would be tired after a hectic series Down Under while their bowling would struggle on good batting tracks and in comparison Pakistan's bowling can come up on any track," said Wasim.

Imran ready to give pep talk

Meanwhile, Wasim and Imran Khan agreed to bolster Pakistan's bowling arsenal with a one-day pep talk ahead of the series against India.

"The PCB had approached me for some coaching but since I am busy I have agreed to do a peptalk with the bowlers before their series against India," Imran said.

"There are two specific things: mental strength and technical aspects and for me mental strength will count more against India as on form India looks better," said Imran, who took 362 wickets in 88 Tests and 182 wickets in 175 one-days between 1971 to 1992.

"We were a weaker side on paper on our tour to India in 1987 but handled the pressure well and won the series and this forthcoming series will also be won by a team which is stronger mentally," said Imran, now a member of parliament.

Imran said India has shown vulnerability under pressure. "I agree to Sunil Gavaskar's assertion that Indians are chokers, the way they buckled under pressure proves they are vulnerable," said the former Pakistan captain, who took a record 40 wickets against India in six-match series in 1982-83.

"Pakistan's team has done well in New Zealand and I will give them an overall talk on how to handle mental pressure against India," he added. Wasim also believed Pakistani bowlers have an edge over the Indian attack.

"After what I saw in Australia I can say that the Pakistani attack with Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami has an edge over Indian bowling but it will depend how the home attack pressurises the Indian batting power house," Wasim said. "I am ready to pass any advice but it will depend on my commentary assignments," he added. -AFP