Former Pakistan skipper Rashid Latif has termed the Indian cricketers as "chokers" and said they would find it very difficult to beat the hosts in the upcoming series.
"To me they are not the favourites for this series. Simply because, you look at their recent record. They have not achieved anything notable in Test cricket and in one-day internationals they have choked in the big matches," Latif was quoted as saying by the local media in Pakistan on Friday.
| |||||||||||
The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, who lost his place in the squad to Moin Khan, said the Indians had struggled to bowl out the opponents twice in a Test in recent years.
"You can count the occasions when they have bowled out sides twice in a Test. Which is why they have not won many Test or series. Plus they are prone to playing negative cricket.
"Even in Australia, the Indians did not have the confidence to enforce the follow-on after scoring 700 runs in the deciding Test despite the fact that Australia was struggling with its bowling," the veteran of 37 Tests and 164 ODIs said.
On the contrary, Latif said Pakistan had the bowling attack which could take 20 wickets in a Test and have many match-winners.
"In comparison you look at Pakistan's record. It may be an unpredictable team but it has won more Tests and ODIs in the last four to five years simply because it has had the bowling to bowl out sides twice.
"Secondly, Pakistan has no big superstars but the team plays like a unit with every player capable of turning in a match winning performance," he said.
Pointing to the recent lack-of-form of Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, Latif said "another advantage Pakistan has is that Inzamam-ul-Haq commands his place in the team on pure performances alone and not simply because he is the captain.
More from rediff