LAHORE, Oct 21: Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq has declared England as favourites in the home series starting from Nov 12 with the first Test to be held in Multan. “England appear to be in better condition after winning the Ashes and we have to go all out to compete with them in all departments of the game,” Inzamam told reporters on the first day of the training camp which started at the Qadhafi Stadium.

The skipper pointed out that England, however, would miss medium-pacer Simon Jones in Pakistan.

Jones had posed problems for Australia in the Ashes with his reverse swing but misses the Pakistan’s tour due to an injury.

Inzamam, however, said that home conditions, however, would be in Pakistan’s favour.

“We will try to take maximum benefit of home conditions and that would be a key to success against the English.”

England are touring Pakistan after almost five years. In 2000, England beat Pakistan in the last Test at Karachi by six wickets to win the series 1-0.

Earlier, Pakistan had been winning against England from 1983 to 1999 both on home and away series.

Inzamam hinted that forgotten leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed could play against England.

“In case of spin tracks, we will use both spinners Danish Kaneria and Mushtaq Ahmed like Australia, who played with Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill in the six-day Test against ICC World XI”.

The Pakistan captain, however, stressed that the main problems with his side was a long five to six months lay-off from international cricket.

“To overcome this shortcoming, three trial matches are being organized and hopefully it will give much-needed practice to the players before taking on England.”

Two matches of four-day each had been completed with the first being abandoned in Peshawar due to Oct 8 earthquake in Pakistan, the second was played in Karachi and the third will be organized in Lahore from Oct 26 to 29.

Inzamam disclosed that paceman Shoaib Akhtar was likely to join the training camp from Saturday.

“I met Shoaib in Australia and he looked fit and keen to play for Pakistan.”

He said that all players of the Pakistan squad had agreed to donate five to 10 percent of their match fees to the earthquake victims, till their retirement from international cricket.

Except Shoaib, all other 24 players called for the camp were present on the opening day.

Misbah named captain

Middle-order batsman Misbahul Haq has been named captain of the Patron’s XI which will face England in the first three-day practice match at the Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi from Oct 31 to Nov 2.

The selectors gave a chance to the upcoming boys at the cost of missing front line players, who are badly needing competitive cricket since they are going through a long lay-off from international cricket.

Pakistan played its last international cricket some six months before against West Indies in May-June.

Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq and all-rounder Shahid Afridi failed to show any significant performance for the World- XI against Australia in the recently concluded Super Series, mainly due to being laid off from international cricket.

In the batting department, Test batsmen are Yasir Hameed, Bazid Khan, Asim Kamal and Misbah.

But Hasan Raza, the most successful player of the domestic season and the home series against Australia ‘A’ and the South African Academy team has been ignored.

Prominent medium-pacers included are Muhammad Irshad, Muhammad Asif and Najaf Shah.

England are scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on Oct 26 to play three Test matches and five One-day Internationals.

Team: Asher Zaidi, Yasir Hameed, Bazid Khan, Misbahul Haq (captain), Asim Kamal, Faisal Iqbal, Imran Tahir, Yasir Arafat, Zulqarnain, Muhammad Irshad, Arshad Khan, Muhammad Asif, Najaf Shah, Shehzad Malik.