Pakistan wary of below-strength NZ

Pakistan coach Mudassar Nazar says that a below-strength New Zealand side will compensate with strong team work in the upcoming one-day and test series.

New Zealand's leading all-rounders Chris Cairns and Dion Nash as well as fast bowler Shane Bond will miss the Pakistan tour through injury while experienced wicketkeeper Adam Parore has retired.

"New Zealand has always been a side without star players. But their greatest strength has been their ability to support each other on the field," Nazar told Reuters on Friday.

"They are a very cohesive unit and this is reflected in the results they have achieved in the last six months in Australia and against England."

The Pakistan team are preparing for the first one-day international against New Zealand on Sunday after reaching the port city of Karachi late on Thursday evening from Sharjah where they humbled Sri Lanka in the Sharjah Cup final.

"I am happy with the way my boys responded in the last two matches including the final in Sharjah. But I would not like to take it easy in the coming series because we beat New Zealand twice in the pool matches," Nazar said.

"New Zealand are at a disadvantage having lost their key bowlers for this tour. But they have always had injury problems but still played competitive cricket in the recent months."

Nazar said he did not expect to make any changes to the side that beat Sri Lanka in the Sharjah final by 217 runs on Wednesday, although young all-rounder Yasir Arafat has been added to the squad to replace Azhar Mahmood who has left for England to take up a short term contract with Surrey.

Nazar said the three one-dayers and two tests against New Zealand would be tough as Pakistan had lost six series at home in the last six years.

Their latest defeat came in the Asian Test Championship final against Sri Lanka at Lahore.

LOSING TREND

"We would like to reverse this trend of losing at home and I think we can do it. As we have several advantages on our side. But we can't take anything for granted," he said.

New Zealand coach Denis Aberhart said that his team was capable of playing competitive cricket.

"Injuries have been a setback to our plans for the last 12 months. But we see this as an opportunity for the fringe players to make their places," he said.

Aberhart also stressed that he would like his team to lose the tag of being under-achievers in Pakistan.

"We are not under-achievers even though we could not win series in Australia and against England. We just have to be more consistent but that is difficult given the number of injuries to our key players," he said.

New Zealand were due to tour Pakistan last year but the September 11 attacks on the United States forced them to return home.

Mail Cricket Editor