Wasim Bari feels conditions in England favour Pakistan

Insisting that the conditions in England were favourable for pace, Wasim Bari feels that his team would start favourites against India.

Insisting that the conditions in England were favourable for his pace battery, Pakistan's chief national selector Wasim Bari feels that his team would start favourite in the all important ICC Champions Trophy clash against India here tomorrow.

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"The conditions favour seam and swing and we have abundant firepower in this department," said Bari, a distinguished Test player himself, who played 81 matches for Pakistan in the 70s and 80s and is now following his team's progress in England.

Bari has little doubt that if Shoaib Akhtar, the spearhead of the attack, was able to bowl at his known rhythm he has the ability to make a sizeable dent in the Indian batting line-up.

"If Shoaib is able to find his rhythm and bowls with fire, he would get enough assistance from the pitches to inflict damage on Indian batsmen," Bari remarked.

Bari, who played county cricket for over a decade in the 70s, knows enough about the conditions in England in September to suggest that toss would play a critical role in Sunday's match.

"Early morning conditions in September greatly help seam and swing bowlers. Toss in my view would play a critical part on Sunday."

"I have received a letter from the ICC which is in spirit of apology. They have regretted the fact that what has been a private letter was leaked to media," he said.