India-Pakistan tie is real assessment of strength : Shoaib

Lahore, July 6 (UNI) Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik feels the India versus Pakistan match in Glasgow, which was washed out due to rain, would have provided the real assessment of the strength of the Pakistan side and could have helped to prepare better for the upcoming home series against South Africa.

''Had the match taken place, it would have helped us to assess our real strength before taking on the Proteas, now we will work hard in the next two phases of the training camp to keep ourselves fit before the home series,'' Malik told reporters.

South Africa will play two tests and five ODI series against the host Pakistan with the first test will start on October 1.

Meanwhile, Pakistan will undergo training camps at Quetta and Karachi till August.

Pakistan were scheduled to play against arch-rivals India on July 3 for the Prince Charles charity fund but the match was washed out by torrential rain. Their previous match against Scotland on July 1 was also washed out due to rain.

''We made fine preparations for the two matches against Scotland and India but rain put paid to all that. We will now focus on the South Africa series which will be a very tough one,'' Malik added.

UNI