Away advantage for Pakistan

Both India and Pakistan head into the five-match ODI contest on the back of losses - Pakistan lost to South Africa in the Test and ODI series while India were beaten by Australia in the seven-match ODI series. Although the only ODI this year between the two sides was washed out in Scotland, India will have the confidence of having got the better of the opposition twice in the ICC World Twenty20, including the final in Johannesburg.

Though Pakistan hold the advantage in the overall head-to-head records, it's been an even contest in recent years. However, Pakistan have been exceptional in upsetting India in their own backyard, winning 15 of the 21 matches held here, including a 4-2 result on their previous tour to India.

Things have changed a lot for both teams from the previous bilateral ODI series in Abu Dhabi. New captains are at the helm - Shoaib Malik and Mahendra Singh Dhoni - with Inzamam-ul-Haq, Malik's predecessor, having retired and Rahul Dravid, who stepped down from the India captaincy recently, being omitted from the squad for the first two ODIs.

In the absence of Inzamam, it will be up the Malik and Mohammad Yousuf to hold together the batting for Pakistan. The duo have been the leading ODI run-getters for the team this year.

Malik has also been Pakistan's leading run-scorer against India in ODIs between the two teams since 2003, averaging nearly 50.

For India, Sachin Tendulkar has been the leading batsman this season, followed by Sourav Ganguly. However, both average in the high 30s against Pakistan, a tad lower than their career records. But the man who leads the run-charts against Pakistan since 2003 is the one who has been left out of the line-up this time, Dravid.

Ganguly and Tendulkar have also been able to provide the team with solid starts at the top of the order, something which Pakistan have sorely lacked this year. In the 15 innings they have batted together, the two have managed five century stands. Pakistan's average opening stand has been 17.50 this year, the worst among all teams.

India's worry will be more in the bowling department, with none besides Munaf Patel - unlikely to play in the series - and Murali Kartik managing to prise wickets at less than 30 apiece this year.

Irfan Pathan tops the bowling averages among the Indian bowlers in the current squad against Pakistan, with Zaheer Khan, India's spearhead, going at over 40 against them.

For Pakistan the bowlers have done well this year, with the surprise being Rao Iftikhar Anjum, who has picked up 20 wickets at under 18 in 2007.

However, their bowlers have struggled against India in recent years, with the exception of Naved-ul-Hasan, who is not part of the squad.

The fast bowlers not mentioned in the above list - Mohammad Asif, Anjum and Umar Gul - fare no better, averaging 44.83, 65.66 and 126. And with an average total of 282 when India and Pakistan have faced each other since 2003, it won't be surprising if the bowlers are at the receiving end again over the next couple of weeks.