Pace the key, not spin, says Imran

Imran Khan says that Pakistan's pace bowlers hold the key to victory in the forthcoming series against India.

Imran claimed: "It's pace which can earn Pakistan a win in India, not spin," according to the BBC website. "The world's best spinner, Shane Warne has been a failure in India. India are very strong against spin, so we must depend on fast bowlers."

And he concluded: "I would like to see Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami firing on all cylinders." The problem is, Pakistan's first-choice new-ball pairing are both sidelined at the moment. Shoaib returned home early from the tour of Australia to have a leg injury checked out - and also faced questions about his attitude - while Sami also suffered a foot injury in Australia.

Imran, who famously played as a batsman when he had injury problems in the early 1980s and could not bowl, has been critical of the current Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who missed the end of the Australian series with injuries of his own. Imran said: "I criticised Inzamam for not playing the two Tests in Australia, because for me it was strange for a batsman to sit out, and now he needs to inspire the team from the front."