Shoaib's absence won't be fealt: Rhodes

Agreeing that his absence would be "dampener", the former SA cricketer pointed out that there were not "wickets in India which assist fast bowlers".

Former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes believes that the possible absence of paceman Shoaib Akhtar in the Pakistan squad will not make much of a difference as pitches in India do not assist fast bowlers.

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While agreeing that the Rawalpindi Express' absence would be a "dampener", Rhodes pointed out that there were not "too many wickets in India which assist fast bowlers".

"If they are playing in Pakistan, where there are a few hard, bouncy wickets, he would have been missed a bit more," he said on the sidelines of a press conference by eco-safari operator CC Africa, for which he is a brand ambassador.

The key to the Indian success would be their spinners and left-arm seamers, who are really bowling well, he said.

Rhodes, best known for his acrobatics in the field, said it is important for both India and Pakistan to get a good start to the series.

Pakistan has a few "confidence-boosting" wins during their Australian tour, while India has the home advantage.

Both have injury worries.

"If both sides get their best players on the field, it's going to be a very close game", he said.

Rhodes said, whenever there are matches between India and Pakistan, there is "so much political news off the field" that sometimes it's quite hard (for the players) to focus.

"The side that is able to put that aside and focus on the game will have the advantage."

Rhodes said Australia's current domination of world cricket might come to an end when four or five key players retire around the same time.