Pakistan skipper Mohammad Hafeez said they would rely on their pace attack to win the upcoming one-day series in India.
Hafeez’s remarks come at a time when England crushed India by 10 wickets in the Mumbai Test with their spinners Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann sharing 19 wickets on a sharp turning track.
“Historically our pacers have always troubled the Indian batsmen in India and this time also we will be banking on them to do the same thing again,” Hafeez told reporters.
Hafeez said they have quality spinners as well but they have not been very successful against Asian countries.
“There is no doubt that Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi are world class bowlers but against Asian teams they have not had the same degree of success as opposed to other sides.
“The reason for this is that batsmen belonging to Asian teams tend to play spinners well. That is one reason why teams touring India always try to outgun the Indian team through their pace attack.”
Hafeez said Pakistani pacers selected for the tour will also have to be at their best. “If our pace bowlers bowl well and get wickets there is no reason why we can’t win the series in India,” he said.
The national selectors are said to be considering picking four to five pace bowlers for the India tour with a lot of focus on a 19-year old Ehsan Adil who has bowled outstandingly in the first class Presidents Trophy.
Left arm pacer Wahab Riaz, who took five wickets against India at Mohali in the 2011 World Cup semi-final, has also been in terrific form, taking 11 wickets in his last match.
Chief selector Iqbal Qasim said there wouldn’t be much experimentations for the Indian tour.
