BBC SPORT | Cricket | Confident Pakistan off to Australia

Pakistan captain Waqar Younis has said his side is fully capable of defeating the world champions Australia on their home ground.

"We are confident that we can beat them and our pace attack is our trump card," Waqar said before leaving for Australia on Tuesday.

The Pakistan skipper left separately along with his family from Lahore while 12 other players and five officials left Karachi for Melbourne.

Pakistan team is to play three one day games in Australia on 12, 15 and 19 June - two of them indoor at Melbourne's Colonial stadium.

Seeking a whitewash

Waqar Younis said the series would be a definite morale booster for the winners and his side would go all out for a 3-0 win.

"Australia are mentally very tough but we are also gaining strength and consistency. I am sure we can defeat them.

Wasim Akram tours Australia for the last time

Waqar denies that the series will be a contest between Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee.

"It won't spark a pace war between Shoaib and Lee. Performance of other players will also be extremely important," he said.

Shoaib himself endorses the captain's view.

"I am not going to Australia to compete with anyone for the title of the world's fastest bowler," he told Pakistan's daily The News.

"I would be a fool to go there thinking about competing against Brett Lee or a pace war. I just want to take wickets and see my team win.

"Playing against the Australians is a big challenge. I am going to enjoy bowling at them.

County duties

Pakistan will be performing without their star spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and all-rounder Abdur Razzaq.

Both are playing English county cricket for Surrey and Middlesex respectively.

Coach Mudassar Nazar said the pace trio of Wasim, Waqar and Shoaib would be Pakistan's strongest point although the absence of experienced spinner Saqlain Mushtaq will be felt Down Under.

Australian fast bowler Brett Lee
Brett Lee will be compared to Shoaib

"But it also provides a good opportunity to Shoaib Malik to prove his mettle as a quality spinner and an all-rounder," Mudassar said.

Veteran paceman Wasim will be visiting Australia for the last time as he has already announced plans to retire after the World Cup.

The 36-year said he wants to give a last memorable performance in Australia.

"Australia is great place to play cricket and I hope to give an impressive performance during this tour," Wasim said.

The left-handed all-rounder has 414 Test and 456 one-day international wickets to his credit and is the only bowler in cricket history to have bagged 400 wickets in both forms of game.

Wasim played a key role in Pakistan's 1992 World Cup victory in Australia and also led his team in 1995-96 and 1999-2000 tours.

He said the Aussies had always been formidable opponents.

But he added: "We have the strength to beat them and reports about the absence of Steve and Mark Waugh are good for us."


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