Inzamam can't wait for India series

With a tour of India to look forward to next February, Inzamam-ul-Haq has revealed that he and his players can't wait to even the score after India had triumphed on Pakistani soil last April. Speaking to AFP, Inzamam said, "I look forward to the tour and every player in the team anxiously waits for the tour. Since we are playing better than we did against India at home I think we will be in a better position to settle the score."

It was announced on Monday that Pakistan's tour - their first to India since 1999 - would consist of three Tests and five one-day internationals. India had played the same sort of schedule a few months ago, winning the Test series 2-1 and edging the ODIs 3-2, thus registering their first successes on Pakistani soil.

"Cricket between Pakistan and India is the most sought after and is watched by billions and with it the quality of cricket improves," said Inzamam. "The competitive level is very high when we play India."

Inzamam is one of only four players - Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi the others - who were part of the last tour when Pakistan drew the Test series 1-1, won an Asian Test Championship match against India at the Eden Gardens, and also won a triangular tournament featuring Sri Lanka.

"It's fantastic to play against India and cricket is followed like a religion there so it doubles the rivalry," added Inzamam. "We looked after them well and we are also welcomed like heroes in India so it's a reciprocal feeling on both sides which is very heartening."

First though, Pakistan have to negotiate a home series against Australia, and then ponder the mother of all cricket tours, to Australia in November. With the Indians likely to schedule Test matches first, Inzamam reckoned that the trip to Australia would stand his team in good stead.

"India came to Pakistan after their tour of Australia so they were well prepared," he said. "In the same way we will also be going to India after the Australia tour, which will help us a lot on the India tour."

Pakistan, who have won four Test matches in India and who hold a 10-4 lead in ODIs played across the border, have also agreed to a one-day game on November 13 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.