Former captain Moin Khan said the controversy surrounding Sourav Ganguly's comeback could put him under undue pressure against Pakistan who are better prepared to take on India this time around.
Moin said Pakistan are a "more mature and united" unit under Inzamam-ul Haq and the win against England had boosted their confidence for the upcoming three-Test series against the arch-rivals.
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"This is obviously not the right beginning of what is certainly a big tour for the Indian cricket team. On such a huge tour, the players want to be relaxed and like to be in the comfortable zone so that they can concentrate and stay focused rather being left pondering if they had been included in the side through the back door," said the 34-year-old.
"This is certainly not good for Sourav and the Indian cricket team. Sourav is an experienced campaigner and deserves respect. By questioning his inclusion, the critics are putting him under pressure for which the team might have to pay the price because if Sourav is in the team, he has to be in the playing line-up than being on the substitute bench," he said.
Ganguly made the headlines on his recall for the Pakistan tour after being controversially left out of the Ahmedabad Test against Sri Lanka.
Ganguly was preferred over Mohammad Kaif because of his experience.
Moin said he had been involved in several duels with Ganguly and he had found him a tough competitor.
"The Pakistan team has always respected Sourav because he is a tough competitor. But if you keep pinching him, like any toughest campaigner, Sourav will also crack and lose confidence.
"His morale and confidence is certainly down ever since the Zimbabwe tour and if the debate on his selection lingers on, he will be a shattered player even before he takes the field in Pakistan. I know Kaif and his supporters would feel let down by the selectors, but that's the name of the game."
Moin, who played four Tests and 49 one-dayers against India, also said the Indians should be ready for a big Pakistan surprise.
"To begin with, this Pakistan team is not the one that lost early last year. It is a more mature, experienced and united bunch of cricketers being admirably led by Inzamam-ul-Haq from the front.
"Secondly, the home team has a reborn Shoaib Akhtar who played all the matches against England and bowled the second most number of overs in the Test series after Danish Kaneria.
"Thirdly, to beat a team like England who had come here after defeating Australia for the first time in 18 years, has given this team the confidence that was required. I have had an informal chat with a few Pakistan boys and they just can't wait for the Test series to start," Moin said.
Moin disclosed he had exchanged notes with Inzamam regarding the Indian series.
"He has some very interesting ideas that can take the Indians by surprise. I was hugely impressed by the approach of Inzamam who has prepared a good master plan and if executed properly, I am sure the visitors will not have a clue what struck them.
"If the Indians can leave their opponents short of strategies by continuously shuffling their batting order, they should also be prepared to get a dose of their own medicine," Moin said.
Moin, who played a Test at Multan against India last year, said the Pakistanis are wary of Sachin Tendulkar.
"They know that Sachin has taken a lot of pressure off him by scoring the world record century against Sri Lanka. But the Pakistanis also know how frustrated Sachin became against Ashley Giles a few years back.
"I think the Pakistanis would target him as soon as he will take crease and if required, would try to frustrate him and pick him cheaply."
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