'Pak unprepared for Indian challenge'

Majid Khan feels India have proven match-winners, while years of selectorial apathy has left Pakistan unprepared for a tough challenge.

Former captain Majid Khan has made India the clear favourites in the forthcoming Test and one-day series, saying while the hosts had proven match-winners, years of selectorial apathy had left Pakistan unprepared for one of the toughest tours.

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"For the last four years, we have not been able to prepare a team that can consistently win matches... I am afraid, Pakistan's chances in Tests and one-dayers don't seem to be bright," Majid said in an interview.

"On the contrary, India has proven match-winners and when I say this, I mean they have bowlers who can take 20 wickets in a match and batsmen who can play long innings twice in a match," said the cricketer-turned-television journalist from Islamabad where he heads PTV's sports department.

Majid, a media shy celebrity who is respected and regarded world-over for his straightforwardness and upright personality, said although India's bowling could not be equated with that of Australia, Pakistani batsmen's own form was at a low after the battering they received Down Under.

"I agree that Pakistan will not face as hostile bowling in India as it faced in Australia, but the bottomline is that our top four batsmen failed throughout the tour which is not a good story to tell," he said.

"We all know that any batting lineup depends heavily on how its top four batsmen perform," Majid said.

"And when you look at India, historically they have produced great batsmen who become real heavyweights when they play in their backyard."

Majid, popularly known as 'Mr Majestic', who was born in Ludhiana in 1946, played 63 Tests for Pakistan between 1964-65 to 1982-83 and scored 3,931 runs at 38.92. He also represented Pakistan in 23 one-dayers, scoring 786 runs.

A 1970 Wisden Cricketer of the Year, Majid also captained Pakistan in three Tests.