Pakistan can dethrone Australia: Mudassar Nazar

Pakistan coach Mudassar Nazar said on Monday his team had the ability to dethrone Australia as the world's undisputed top side despite their current lowly international ranking of eighth.

"If there is any team in the world with the ability to beat Australia, it is Pakistan," Nazar told Reuters.

Australia are 2-0 ahead in a three-Test homes series against South Africa, ranked the world's second best Test-playing side, and head the International Cricket Council world Test championship rankings.

They play a return series in South Africa early next year with the winner taking top spot. The Australians are then scheduled to meet Pakistan in September in a three-Test series which the Pakistanis see as a great opportunity to beat the world leaders for the first time since 1994.

Nazar, a veteran of 76 Tests, said he had always believed South Africa would struggle against Australia as they lacked bowling power.

"Our bowling line-up is the best," he said. "Both our senior bowlers (Wasim and Waqar) are taking wickets, while there is ample back-up in Shoaib Akhtar, Muhammad Sami, Abdul Razzak and the spinners.

"I think we have a great opportunity of beating Australia next year if everything goes according to plan."

Nazar said despite the official rankings he would put Pakistan and South Africa level in the world rankings.

He said anything less than a clean sweep against Test newcomers Bangladesh, the bottom of the rankings following thrashings by Zimbabwe and New Zealand in consecutive series, would be disastrous.

Pakistan play two Tests and three one-day internationals on their first tour of Bangladesh begining on Tuesday.

"The tour to Bangladesh should be easy, but the memories of our World Cup defeat to them are still not erased from people's minds so we have prepared for this tour as we would any normal tour," he said.

Part of Pakistan's slide down the world rankings is the result of playing only one Test since last July, an innings win over Bangladesh inside three days.

The Pakistan schedule has been thrown into disarray because of the conflict in neighbouring Afghanistan and the reluctance of foreign teams to visit.

Pakistan-Bangladesh fixtures can also be tense. Bangladesh was known as East Pakistan until 1971, when it broke away following a bloody war.

"We are going to Bangladesh with open hearts and minds, just to play cricket," said Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed. "But on the field no one is our brother, they are our opponents.

"We are very happy to be going there. It is like going to home. But on the field we will be tough."

Also read:
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- Pakistan appoint Nazar as coach until Jan
- Pakistan coaching merry-go-round takes new turn

Mail Cricket Editor