Shoaib Akhtar could cause India problems on lively wickets

Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq wants bouncy tracks to help his strong pace attack trouble India's formidable batsmen.

But Lahore and Faisalabad - which will host the first two Tests - have had particularly wet weather recently.

"We are trying our best but the conditions are not ideal for bouncy tracks, because a pitch takes time to dry," chief groundsman Agha Zahid said.

"We need three days of sunshine to dry the pitch. It could be a problem in Lahore and Faisalabad, but the clear weather in Karachi will help us prepare a suitable pitch."

Pakistan Cricket Board general manager Zakir Khan said the weather was not unusal for the time of year and insisted that India had asked to play the first two Tests in the Punjab province.

"Traditionally, after mid-december it's foggy and there was drizzle yesterday," he told BBC Sport.

"Hopefully that will clear the fog and by the time the Indian team arrives the weather will settle down."

India fly in onThursday for their second tour of Pakistan in two years, with the first Test starting on 13 January.

The weather at this time of the year in Punjab is not ideal for cricket Younis Khan

Pakistan used English groundsman Andy Atkinson for the 2004 series, which they lost 2-1, but the surfaces for the recent 2-0 triumph over England were laid by Zahid.

Inzamam is wary of the threat posed by India spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh and wants the wickets to favour quicker bowlers.

However, vice-captain Younis Khan believes the overhead conditions could prove to be Pakistan's toughest obstacle.

"The weather at this time of the year in Punjab is not ideal for cricket," the batsman said.

"In the morning, lingering fog can hamper a normal start while the light fades rapidly in the evening hours. I just hope we can have proper Tests against India.