LONDON, April 26: Paceman Mohammad Asif says his stint with English county Leicestershire will be ideal preparation for Pakistan's Test series in England later this summer.

Asif is expected to be a key player for the tourists in the four Tests, first starting at Lord's on 13 July.

“I want to learn English conditions because after three months we have the tour,” he told BBC Radio Leicester.

“England in England will be a very tough side because they know the wickets and weather conditions.”

The 23-year-old came to prominence after taking 10 wickets for Pakistan ‘A’ against England last winter.

“It was almost same England team that had won the Ashes and when I started I was under pressure bowling to some big names,” he recalled. “But the ball started swinging both ways and after that I was okay.”

He played no part in Test series, which Pakistan won 2-0, but came in for the last game of one-dayers against England.

Since then Pakistan and Asif have gone from strength to strength – he has taken 24 wickets in his three Tests against Sri Lanka – but insists England will prove difficult to overcome this summer.

“You only have to look at the last Ashes, and they were playing well even before that in England,” he added.

“They are a good side and will give us a tough time.”—Agencies