Mudassar rules out a Shoaib-Brett Lee pace-war

"Australia are a fantastic side. You measure them by the fact that while any team can beat anybody on a given day, Australia stand apart.

"But I think with hard work and commitment, we can do well.

"Beating Australia will certainly be a big morale booster before the World Cup and also force people to start taking us seriously.

Mudassar said the absence of all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and spinner Saqlain Mushtaq would provide other promising cricketers a chance to prove their mettle.

"We have a very good player in Shoaib Malik. Azhar Mahmood, too, is coming back from a lean spell, but he's a quality performer.

"I think the series will allow us to expand our base for the World Cup."

He ruled out a pace war between Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee but said Shoaib would play an important role during the tour.

"I think he and Lee are equally good and it would be good for the game to have them pitted against each other.

"I have no doubt there will be a tough competition between them," Mudassar said.