MULTAN, March 26: Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq goes into Sunday's first Test against India hoping to notch up a third consecutive match-winning century on his home ground.

The Multan-born Inzamam scored hundreds in both previous Tests played at the plush cricket stadium on the outskirts of his home town against Bangladesh in 2001 and 2003.

The 34-year-old knows he needs to make another tall score against the Indians if Pakistan are to win the first Test and take the lead in the three-match series.

"It is always a special motivation while playing before my own people and this is a very special occasion," said the Pakistan captain, the son of a renowned cleric in Multan.

"Probably the pressure is a bit more because the people expect a lot from me, but that will always keep me on my toes. "I will be very happy if I can get runs here and inspire my team to win."

The middle-order batsman is the mainstay of Pakistan's line-up after scoring 6,680 runs from 91 Tests with 18 centuries. Inzamam hopes to put aside the disappointment of the 3-2 defeat in the one-day series against the tourists and wants his team to make a fresh start in the Test matches.

"India may have gained the edge by winning the one-dayers, but I am confident we can regroup and stage a comeback in the Tests," he said. Inzamam hit centuries in the first match at Karachi and the fourth in Lahore, but Pakistan lost both games as India drew level 2-2 and then won the decider on Wednesday.

"My two Test hundreds in Multan against Bangladesh helped Pakistan win both times and I hope the same will be repeated against India," he said. "The wicket here is usually very sporting, helping both the bowlers and the batsmen. It should be a great start to the Test series." -AFP