Pakistan skipper Inzamam not afraid to face India, Australia](Yahoo is part of the Yahoo family of brands.)
LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) - Pakistan cricket captain Inzamam-ul Haq said he and his young team would not shrink from facing India and Australia in the season ahead.
“We are not wary of India or Australia and if we meet them in the hectic season more than once it’s better for my young team’s grooming because you learn while playing better opponents,” Inzamam told AFP on Monday.
Pakistan began training here Monday for a season in which they are due to play India at least three times. They will also face Australia at least twice in one-day games at neutral venues before their tour Down Under.
“We lost to India in our home series but it was a closer fight than projected. The team has to put that behind them and resolve to start afresh,” said Haq, who is next in the firing line after coach Javed Miandad’s contract was terminated.
Five of Pakistan’s main players – Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria and Shoaib Malik, who all play county cricket in England – are set to join up with the training camp in the next couple of days.
The team’s new coach, Bob Woolmer, a former England batsman who coached South Africa, flies in on July 2.
Also due to join the camp is South African physical trainer Murray Stevenson, who has been hired to check a recent spate of injuries to Pakistani players.
Besides Pakistan and India, hosts Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and qualifiers the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong feature in the Asia Cup to be held in Sri Lanka from July 16 to August 1.
Pakistan also square off with world champions Australia and India in a tri-series in the Netherlands from August 20 to 27.
They then meet India again in the ICC (International Cricket Council) Champions Trophy in September before hosting Zimbabwe in a proposed tri-series of one-day matches, with Sri Lanka likely to be the third team.
Pakistan then tour Australia for three Tests and a tri-series involving the West Indies from December 2004 to February 2005.
Their season culminates with a tour of India in February-March next year.
“We know the outings against India and Australia are difficult but I believe on the saying that when its tough, the tough get going and this will have to be learnt by the boys,” the Pakistani captain said.
Inzamam added that Woolmer’s introduction was a positive step. “Miandad worked a lot on batting techniques and the management felt that there is a need to bring in more discipline and professionalism, so we now have Woolmer who transformed South Africa into a good unit in 90s.”
Haq brushed aside differences with his fast bowler Akhtar, saying if he was fit Pakistan would need him.
"I have never said anything against Akhtar and the media reports that I refused to agree that Akhtar is a match winner are incorrect.
“I would be happy if a fit Akhtar is a part of our team in the Asia Cup and other assignments.”
Akhtar, who made news for allegedly faking an injury in the last match of the 2-1 series loss to India, has yet to made up his mind whether to join the camp.