Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq on Saturday warned India not to underestimate his young and inexperienced team, declaring that it had the determination and ambition to do well in the upcoming "mother of all" series.
Although his team lacked the superstars of the 1987 and 1999 teams, Inzamam said what was common in the present squad and those match-winning sides was the commitment to do well in India.
"I hope India do not underestimate us on the basis that we have an inexperienced and young team as compared to it (India) or because we don't have same superstars or match-winners as we had on the 1987 and 1999 tours," Inzamam said in an interview shortly before leaving for India for a commercial shoot, also featuring his rival Sourav Ganguly.
"The common thing between the 1987 and 1999 teams and the present team is the spirit, determination, commitment and ambition to do well in India."
Pakistan, under Imran Khan, won the 1986-87 five-Test series 1-0 with victory in the Bangalore Test whereas in 1999, Wasim Akram guided Pakistan to victories in Chennai and Kolkata.
Anil Kumble's world record of 10 wickets in the second innings helped India win the Delhi Test.
{{/usCountry}}Anil Kumble's world record of 10 wickets in the second innings helped India win the Delhi Test.
{{/usCountry}}The survivors from the 1999 tour are likely to be Inzamam himself, Shoaib Akhtar, Yousuf Youhana and Shahid Afridi.
"My team has a lion's heart and that's what you require to excel in countries like India. We have also managed to find some positives in defeats in Australian which will help us in India," said Inzamam.
The Pakistani skipper, who has played just five Tests against India, said he would like to gain from the experience of the members of the 1987 team before planning strategies for the India tour comprising three Tests and five one-dayers.