BANGALORE: Pakistan head-coach Mohammad Shamlan Al Mubarak expects his charges to bounce back from their 1-0 loss to India in the opening game of their two match friendly football series when the arch-rivals meet again on Wednesday.

Sunil Chettri’s goal proved decisive in the opening match on Sunday where India were made to work hard by Pakistan with the hosts being reduced to ten men following Robin Singh’s sending off with twenty minutes to go.

And Shamlan believes Pakistan will come back stronger in the second match.

“Now that we have had a look at India, we will strategise accordingly in the next match and believe we can beat India,” said Shamlan, who is expecting explosive winger Mohammad Adil to be back for the game after missing out Sunday’s clash due to injury.

Adil will add depth to a Pakistan attack led by his Dordoi Bishkek team-mate Kaleemullah who was guilty of squandering a gilt-edged chance in the second-half of the first game when he had only Indian keeper Amrinder Singh to beat .

Pakistan captain Kaleem also saw a header come off the crossbar in the closing stages.

“Before Sunday’s match, we played India in the [2013] SAFF Championship, and they have not changed their approach at all. They are still largely dependant on Chhetri and Robin up front,” Shamlan said.

Wim Koevermans’ India, meanwhile, would be banking on their wing play but at the same time looking to improve on their final pass.

India would also continue to work hard on employing counter-attacks, which according to Koevermans is the greatest quality of the Indian team.

“I think one of our greatest quality is the manner we counter-attack. There’s great balance on that front and we are working hard on it,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2014