22 February 2005	Tuesday	12 Muharram 1426

LAHORE, Feb 21: Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer on Sunday said India are beat able at home and his young team can take inspiration from Australia and South Africa who won a series in India.

"It would be a challenging tour to a country which is regarded as one of the second best teams in the world but in recent years Australia, Pakistan and South Africa have beaten them and that would be an inspiration," Woolmer said as Pakistan prepare for their tour of India.

"A home team always starts as a favourite but this Pakistan team is maturing and is ready for the India challenge." Australia won their first series in India since 1969 last year while Hansie Cronje led South Africa to a 1-0 win in their series in India in 2000.

Pakistan under former captain Wasim Akram beat India in two of the three Test matches in their last tour of India in 1999. "They (India) are an all-round team now than in 1999 and 2000 and it would be a challenge to confront the likes of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh," said Woolmer, who played 19 Tests for England and coached South Africa between 1994 and 1999.

Woolmer took over as coach in June 2004, replacing Javed Miandad after Pakistan lost the home series against India. "It would be as challenging as Australia in a different sort of way but we won't be confronted with the same sort of fast bowling attack like Australia but Indian spinners would also be challenging," Woolmer said.

Woolmer agreed Shoaib Akhtar's absence would be felt but hoped other bowlers would come and fill the gap. "Obviously a bowler of Shoaib's pace is very useful and we can't replace him because we don't have bowlers of his quality and so we will have to play a different type of cricket but in adversity others get a chance to do well."

He disagreed Pakistan's pace attack was depleted with fit-again Mohammad Sami under more pressure. "I don't think it would put Sami under pressure, it will give him a chance to become the strike bowler, he is due for some luck and hopefully take wickets when it matters."

Woolmer agreed with former Pakistan great Imran Khan that India were vulnerable on pace. "Don't think about getting India out on spin, they played Australian Shane Warne with consummate ease and I tend to agree with Imran that they are more vulnerable on pace, people bowling in the right areas."

The Pakistan coach said scoring big in India would be vital. "We haven't been convincing with the bat in Tests in the sense that we have not played long innings, something we must do in India and obviously India has the edge as they are very dangerous in batting.

"They can score big and in India if you score big the pitches deteriorate as they do there and assist spin so big scores are vital there." Meanwhile, fiery Pakistan pace man Shoaib Akhtar on Sunday denied suggestions that he pulled out of the tour of India due to fear of failure, saying he was genuinely injured and still wants to play in the one-dayers.

"I have not run away from the tour, why would I?" Shoaib said. "I am disappointed to be missing the tour but people saying I have run away is more disheartening. If I get fit and the team needs me I will play the one-day series."

The 29-year-old, dubbed the Rawalpindi Express for his pace, withdrew from the tour on Friday. He said it would take him at least a month to recover from a hamstring injury. His pull-out has further weakened a depleted Pakistan bowling attack with two other frontline pacemen - Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul - already out due to injuries.

The pace attack of the team, announced on Saturday, will now be led by Akhtar's new ball partner Mohammad Sami. He will be assisted by Rana Navedul Hasan, left-armer Mohammad Khalil and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq. -AFP

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