'Don't rule us out before start of the series'

Pakistan cricket team manager for this month's tour of India, Saleem Altaf, has said nobody should discount his team.

Pakistan cricket team manager for this month's tour of India, Saleem Altaf, has said nobody should discount his team before the start of the tour that includes three Tests and six one-dayers.

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"I think it is going to be an evenly and closely contested series. The Pakistan team has shown good performance on the second half of the Australian tour which would have definitely given them plenty of confidence for the Indian trip," Altaf, a former Test fast bowler who is also PCB's Director (Cricket Operations), said.

Pakistan cricketers leave for India on Monday on their first Test tour of India in six years. The first Test begins in Mohali from March 8 while the one-day series gets under way in Kochi from April 2.

"While Pakistan has done well in the one-day series (in Australia), India lost the home series to Australia. I agree that India have an experienced and matured team and we will need to play out of our skins to beat them.

On the availability of Shoaib Akhtar for the Indian series, Altaf said: "At the moment, Shoaib Akhtar is under the treatment of Grant Compton. Let's see how quickly he gets a clean bill of health from the trainer."

Asked when he expected Shoaib's return, Altaf said: "He will have to appear in a four-day first-class match to show match fitness before he is considered for selection.

Meanwhile, PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan said unity and team spirit would be the key to success in India.

"The team has to stay united, support each other and show fighting spirit. This is a talented bunch of cricketers fully capable of producing good results," he said.