Sachin Tendulkar will be the difference between winning and losing for Pakistan when they tour India later this month, says former Pakistan captain Saeed Anwar.
The world-record holder for the highest One-Day International score says even a half-fit Tendulkar would pose a threat to the prospects of the Pakistani team, which will play three Tests and five one-dayers against their arch-rivals.
"I know every Pakistan supporter will be hoping that Sachin doesn't play while the Indians must be praying for his speedy recovery," Anwar said on Tuesday.
"I mean that's natural. A half-fit Sachin is also a threat to the opponents. He is such a big influence that his presence in the dressing room motivates his team and keeps the opponents under pressure.
And if Sachin is not fit for the series, then I think Pakistan will certainly be favourites," the former left-hand batsman said.
Tendulkar is nursing an elbow injury but is expected to be fit in time for the tour, beginning on February 25.
Anwar also had some other valuable tips for the Pakistanis, who he said must target India's top-order batting line-up as their middle-order is not capable of staging a recovery in case of a collapse.
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"India no doubt has the greatest batting line-up. But the fact of the matter is that India is not capable of staging a recovery like the Australian team in case of a top order collapse," Anwar said.
"I think the Pakistanis will certainly fancy their chances in India because they have shown the world that with or without their frontline bowlers, they have the potential to throw any top order batting on the canvas.
"The only drawback [in the just-concluded series against Australia] was that they [Pakistan bowlers] were denied a run-through because of the depth in their [Aussie] batting and awareness of conditions," he said.
The 37-year-old's world record of 194 had come against India in Chennai in 1997 while his Test best of 188 not out was also made against the same opponents at Kolkata in 1999.
Anwar, who scored 4,052 runs at 45.52 in 55 Tests and 8,824 at 39.21 in 247 one-dayers in a career that spanned 15 years, said Pakistan does not require "rocket science" to trigger an Indian collapse.
"Virender Sehwag is devastating but if you stop the flow of runs from his bat, he will start providing you chances.
"Likewise, Rahul Dravid is technically the best batsman in the world today and he likes to bat for days and days, but again if you attack him, he has a tendency of committing mistakes.
"It's all there in the computers," said the 1997 Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
But to effect a batting collapse, Anwar said Pakistan must take fit bowlers to India and play with discipline and unity.
"Forget about the names; pick fit bowlers who can bowl 20 overs in a trot," he said.
"In the 1990s, when we were winning everything, we played with six batsmen and four bowlers. But now when we are losing more and winning less, we are playing with five batsmen and as many bowlers. And that's because we don't have four bowlers who can bowl 90 overs in a day."
Anwar said taking fit bowlers to India is important.
"I don't like to take names but the simple formula is to pick the bowlers who are fit and can bowl 20 overs on a trot. After all, Pakistan made Australia struggle without Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami.
"It's the discipline and unity that counts. I remember in 1996 or 1997, we won back-to-back matches against world champions Sri Lanka without a coach. The bottom line is that the team should rally around the captain and the team management should understand the pulse of every player," Anwar said.
He also refused to buy the theory that the Australian tour was a disaster for Inzamam-ul Haq's men.
"Inzamam had a very inexperienced team at his disposal. But the difference between the two teams, at the end of the day, was the top order," said Anwar.
"While the Australian top order provided runs and the required starts, Pakistan's top order didn't and eventually all the pressure came on the middle-order that fired but not consistently.
"Pakistan will face a similar situation in India. As I see things, it will be Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble regularly teasing and testing the Pakistanis and Inzamam-ul Haq and Yousuf Youhana being often engaged in rescue acts."
Asked if he saw the same flair as in himself in Pakistan's latest sensation Salman Butt, Anwar replied: "I have seen him briefly and from whatever I have seen, I am really impressed with his talent.
"It will, however, be too early to say if he resembles me. But I believe he should be allowed to keep his feet on the ground and he be allowed to establish himself at the international level before comparison are made.
"I remember Basit Ali; immediately after his emergence on the international level, he was branded another Javed Miandad. Basit couldn't sustain the pressure of that tag and faded out much early."
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