'Pak hardened after Australia tour'

Pakistani captain Inzamam-ul-Haq on Saturday said that the pressure of playing in India would bring the best out of his largely inexperienced side.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq on Saturday said the tough tour of Australia had hardened his players and that the pressure of playing in India would bring the best out of them.

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"The boys know that it will not be easy in India but I am sure that after the Australian tour, the pressure will bring the best out of my boys. I am looking forward to a good, interesting tour," Inzamam said at the start of a brief training camp for the team in Lahore.

Pakistan were thrashed 3-0 in the Test series Down Under recently but the ragged outfit picked up the pieces to put up an improved display in the triangular one-day series in which they reached the final before losing to the world champions.

Pakistan go on their first tour of India in six years without key strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar and field a largely inexperienced side. Inzamam chose to look at the situation positively, though.

"Like the Australian tour, the India tour will be a huge learning place and I am confident that the team will benefit from this visit in a long term," said the burly batsman who was a member of the team that visited India in 1999.

Pakistan depart on Monday for India to play three Tests and six One-Day Internationals.

The camp at the Gaddafi Stadium began without leg spinner Danish Kaneria as he had to be with his wife who gave birth to a baby boy two days ago.