KARACHI, Nov 13: Fast bowling legend Wasim Akram said on Tuesday he was confident Pakistan's hotly-anticipated tour of India next month would pass off safely and urged the two sides to use threats by Hindu radicals as motivation.

Pakistan will meet their arch-rivals in three ODIs and two T20s in December and January but Indian Hindu groups have urged Delhi to cancel and threatened protests. Shiv Sena and Vishwa Hindu Parishad demanded India refuse to resume cricket ties until Pakistan brings to justice the masterminds behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

Wasim said he was hopeful of a trouble-free tour.

“I can't wait for this tour to happen,” Wasim said. “I am confident that the Indian government will make this tour a happy and safe one for our team because the whole world is waiting for this and want it to be series reviving one.”

Wasim said all threats should act as motivation for both the countries. “We toured India despite threats,” said Wasim, who led Pakistan on the India tour in 1999 despite Shiv Sena activists dug up the pitch at the Delhi stadium, forcing officials to move the first Test to Chennai.

“We had full confidence in Indian security and that tour came off very well and I am sure this time too India will make sure it go untroubled.”—AFP