'India Are The Favourites'

Former captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth said India havethe wherewithal to beat Pakistan in the upcoming one-day and Test series as thecricketers are on a high after an impressive showing in Australia.

"We are definitely the favourites to win both theseries. We have the wherewithal to do so as both batsmen and bowlers are at ahigher confidence level having proved themselves very well on the Australiantour," Srikkanth, who was the captain when India last played a full-fledgedseries in Pakistan in 1989, said in Chennai.

Srikkanth believes that despite the hectic tour ofAustralia, India can continue in the same vein against Pakistan, who would bekeen to emerge victorious at home.

"If I was playing now, I would have definitelyrequired rest to get mentally prepared for a tour like this to Pakistan. TheIndians have just completed their VB Series finals. But they have the commitmentand are responsible persons to keep themselves fit.

"Definitely Pakistan is not a great team,especially after the retirement of Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. But they havethe capabilities to build up playing on home soil," he said.

If Pakistan is known for its pace strength, Srikkanthfelt India also have quality fast bowlers to test the home team batting power.

"I hope Zaheer (Khan) and the others would be fit forthe Test series. Now we have enough fast bowling strength. Irfan Pathan is ournewest talent rated to be a prodigy and (Lakshmipathy) Balaji has also provedhis worth during the Australian tour.

Srikkanth, who was at the receiving end of crowd disturbances during the 1989tour, said Pakistan would definitely be keen to make the emotion-filled seriesincident-free.

"From the security point of view, the emotionalfeelings between Pakistan and India will always be there. Pakistan as a countrywould want to do a shade better than us like in the earlier Indian tours.

"They will also be eager to see that the tourpasses off without any hindrance, especially for the players," he said.

The former opening batsman was flummoxed the way theitinerary has been drawn.

India embark on the 40-day tour on March 10 and willplay five one-dayers from March 13 before the start of the three-match Testseries.

"It is rather strange to me. Though there is norule that we should play Tests before one day games, the aspect of preparednessof the players is to be considered.

"A player requires two different mental attitudesfor Tests and one dayers.

"Probably, this is one of the few occasions whenone-dayers are being played before the Test matches. I do not know as to how this isgoing to work out. However, the demands of the game also require one to beprepared for any eventuality," he said.

Srikkanth, however, said the just concluded VB series and security aspects couldhave prompted the cricket boards of both the countries to prepare such anitinerary.

"It may not be difficult for our players to adjustto these formats. After all, they must be fresh from the VB series in Australiaand will be able to combine well.

"Perhaps, it is also in the fitness of things andthe respective governments and the boards must have decided to have the one-dayersfirst.

"Both the governments and boards are confidentabout the security on and off the field but it might be easier for them toassess the situation during the one-day series," he said.

Srikkanth had mixed emotions associated with the '89tour, where India drew the four Test matches but lost the three-match one-dayseries 2-0.

Despite everyone being happy with the team'sperformance in Pakistan, Srikkanth was removed from the captaincy after theseries.

"Unfortunately, I was the captain that time. I usethe word 'unfortunately' because (Dilip) Vengsarkar opted out due to fitnessproblems and the senior cricketers were up against the board demanding gradationof payment and 13 of us proceeded to Pakistan without the tour money offered bythe board.

"Initially, the players refused to sign thecontract. But I was made a scapegoat and removed from captaincy on my returnfrom Pakistan," he said.

As told to R. Eswar

PTI