BRIDGETOWN (Barbados), May 24: Pakistan’s stand-in captain Younis Khan is looking forward to leading his team in the opening Test against West Indies starting at the Kensington Oval here on Thursday. “We have beaten West Indies 3-0 in the one-day series and it has given us a lot of confidence and psychological advantage over the home team,” Younis said. “The team has developed a winning habit and the boys are eager to do well in the Test series.”

Younis said he had no ambition to lead the team but being the vice-captain he was fully aware of the responsibility.

“It is a coincidence that I also led the team in the last one-day prior to the Test match which has given good preparations and build-up as a captain,” he remarked.

Younis, who had scored 2,585 runs in 35 Tests, said it was interesting to see that his critics, who wanted him to be axed from the team were now favouring him.

The captain-in-waiting admitted that the team would miss Inzamamul Haq during the first Test because he was the heart of Pakistan’s batting.

Inzamam was suspended for one Test for excessive appealing and for showing dissent in the final Test against India at Bangalore. All-rounder Shoaib Malik will also sit out the match since he was handed a one-Test ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board for purposely throwing a domestic Twenty20 Cup match.

Meanwhile, coach Bob Woolmer said Pakistan have to really work hard in the absence of both Inzamam and Malik to achieve good result in the first Test.

“We have to work out the situation where we score as many runs and bowl really well,” he said. “We try to get the balance right in their absence.”

Regarding the role of spinners, especially Danish Kaneria, he hoped that the spinners will do well. “Our seamers have also to do well. It’s a team effort which counts in the end.

“The lads are working really hard since the tour of India. We also played one-day cricket quite well in Australia prior to that.

“Generally I am very much pleased with the performance of the team. But there was still a plenty of room for improvement in some areas.”

Woolmer did not agree that Pakistan bowling was exposed in the third one-dayer when Chris Gayle was full flow. “We bowled very well on a flat pitch,” he added. “Rana Naved took three crucial wickets with his reverse swing and Abdul Razzaq bowled well and Shabbir Ahmed coming back into the team after nine months did well.”—APP