Pakistan a better side than India, says Pakistan Manager

Lahore, June 26 (UNI) Bolstered by the return of tearaway fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and batsman Younis Khan, Pakistani manager Talat Ali is talking big, claiming his side will begin as favourites against arch rivals India in the one-off one-dayer in Glasgow next week.

''India are a good team but we believe ours is a better side at the moment,'' Talat said.

''We now have a very potent bowling attack that is certainly among the best in the world and that should give us an edge over India,'' said Talat, a former Test cricketer.

The Pakistan team, which just underwent army-type training at Abbottabad, is scheduled to meet Scotland in a one-dayer on July 1 and then clash against India two days later during a brief tour of Scotland starting tomorrow.

Saying that Pakistan had recoved from the World Cup debacle, Talat says ''We have managed to overcome our injury problems and almost all our frontline players are back in the side.'' Talat pointed out that Pakistan have become a stronger side than the side that beat World Cup finalists Sri Lanka 2-1 in a ODI series in Abu Dhabi last month and now with Rawalpindi Express Akhtar and senior batsman Younis Khan's return has strenthened the side further.

Talat told 'The News' that a match against India is always an important one for Pakistan, adding that his team would go all out to win it. ''We are currently in the process of regaining our confidence and that can be achieved through positive results. That is one of the reasons why we are treating the forthcoming games against Scotland and India as important matches,'' he said.

Both Pakistan and India crashed out of the World Cup in West Indies before the Super Eight stage itself.

UNI