By Paresh Soni

Pakistan's Test series with India, which begins on Friday, is expected to be a tight and tense affair between two evenly-matched sides.

A revitalised Sami could give Pakistan the edge

The similarities between the teams are uncanny: both have astute foreign coaches, formidable middle-order batsmen and one world-class pace bowler.

They also share two key problem areas, and the matches in Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi could well be decided by how the sides cope with them.

Salman Butt was a revelation against England, combining watchful defence with aggressive strokeplay.

PAKISTAN'S OPTIONS Salman Butt (age 21): 611 runs in nine Tests at 35.94 Imran Farhat (23): 841 runs in 15 Tests at 30.03 Shoaib Malik (23): 187 runs in four Tests as opener at 26.71

But finding two reliable openers has proved virtually impossible for Pakistan in the last five years.

Off-spinning all-rounder Shoaib Malik was paired with Butt as the 22nd combination during that period but lacked the necessary discipline and shot selection.

Imran Farhat, like Butt a left-hander, has been recalled after a year and has been tipped to get the nod ahead of Malik in Lahore.

However, he also has a penchant for cavalier shots, which could land him in trouble against India's wily opening bowler Irfan Pathan.

For India, Virender Sehwag has regularly provided blistering starts and sensationally big scores, like the 309 he made against Pakistan in Multan in 2004.

INDIA'S OPTIONS Virender Sehwag (27): 2,986 runs in 34 Tests as opener at 54.29 Gautam Gambhir (24): 684 runs in 13 Tests at 36.00 Wasim Jaffer (27): 261 runs in seven Tests at 20.07

Finding a foil for him has proved a headache for the Indian selectors, though, with Gautam Gambhir the latest to have an extended run in the side.

He was woefully out of sorts against Sri Lanka recently and, like Farhat and Malik, tends to play loosely early on.

Gambhir is under further pressure after Wasim Jaffer's three-year exile from the national squad was brought to an end.

The wristy and stylish right-hander has been prolific domestically but unable to make the transition to the Test arena after running into difficulties against quick bowlers.

If Jaffer is selected on Friday, Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar will soon show whether he has learned much in the past three years.

Shoaib was undoubtedly the star of the series against England, mixing up cleverly disguised slower balls with 90mph bouncers and inswinging yorkers.

PAKISTAN'S OPTIONS Shoaib Akhtar (30): 161 wickets in 39 Tests at 24.76 Mohammad Sami (24): 65 wickets in 24 Tests at 46.12 Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (27): 15 wickets in seven Tests at 55.79 Mohammad Asif (23): 0-88 in only Test

The "Rawalpindi Express" did that without any great support from the other pacemen, however.

Mohammad Sami was particularly innocuous and wayward but the selectors have kept faith with him in the hope that a few tips from the legendary Imran Khan can help fulfil his potential.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan is vastly under-rated and is highly effective at generating late swing but can be expensive.

With quick surfaces on the cards for all three Tests, there could be room for both but Mohammad Asif, who was impressive in the final one-dayer against England, will fancy his chances of breaking into the team.

If Shoaib is Pakistan's pace lynchpin, Irfan Pathan arguably carries a greater burden for India.

INDIA'S OPTIONS Irfan Pathan (21): 73 wickets in 18 Tests at 26.13 Zaheer Khan (27): 111 wickets in 40 Tests at 36.25 Ajit Agarkar (27): 56 wickets in 25 Tests at 46.83 RP Singh (20): Yet to play in a Test

Fast becoming one of the world's premier quick bowlers, his batting is improving at such a rate that he will soon be regarded as a genuine all-rounder.

India have grown to rely on his ability to take early wickets, particularly in the absence of any credible support since Lakshmipathy Balaji's rib injury last August left him struggling for form.

Despite their success in one-dayers, Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar lack the searing pace to trouble top batsmen in the longer games.

Rudra Pratap Singh could be the long-term solution after an encouraging start with the one-day team.

He can swing the ball both ways and has been listening patiently to Pathan - if he can emulate him, India will have a decent pairing on their hands.

Farhat and Jaffer are both in form, but much is expected to depend on Butt and Sehwag.

Pathan's heroics may not be enough to win the series for India

Butt was impressive against England, but Sehwag has a superb record against Pakistan - 982 runs at 98.20 in six Tests.

If he can deliver in the explosive fashion India supporters have become accustomed to, it will take some performance from his opposite number to shade that particular battle.

As for the pacemen, the hosts have come off second best in the last two Test series, with Sami particularly dreadful in both encounters.

But thanks to Shoaib's efforts against England, and the absence of Balaji - who has claimed 26 wickets in six Tests against Pakistan - the hosts appear to have a slight edge.

Overall, both sides' chances of winning any of the Tests could be negated by the winter weather and their strong batting line-ups.