Pakistan say they are ready for the challenge that India pose

Both coach Javed Miandad and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq believe Pakistan's new-ball pair of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami can prove the difference.

"We will rely on our pacers and with Shoaib and Sami we have two match-winners," Inzamam said.

India's first tour to Pakistan for 14 years takes in three Tests and five one-day internationals.

"We are ready for the home series against India, which will be a really tough series," Inzamam said on his return from Pakistan's tour of New Zealand.

"Our young team played well in New Zealand and with a superior bowling attack we think we can stop the Indian batting which has been performing very well in Australia."

Kiwis grab narrow win

Pakistan beat the Black Caps 1-0 in the two-Test series but were humbled 4-1 in the one-day series that followed.

Miandad said Shoaib's absence from the first two limited-overs matches hurt Pakistan badly.

"We lost the one-day series to New Zealand mainly because of Shoaib's absence due to injury in the first two games and poor fielding," said Miandad, under whose coaching Pakistan won two out of three Tests on their last tour to India in 1998-99.

"It would be a tough series against India but if we play to our potential we can win the series."

Miandad admitted he was impressed by how well India have been faring in Australia, where they drew the Test series before proving formidable opponents in the ongoing VB Series.

"I have never seen the Indian team playing with such strength or confidence," he said.

"It is going to be an emotionally charged series because of the little cricket we have had against each other.