Winter weather likely to disrupt India series - Younis

Pakistan's vice captain and senior batsman Younis Khan believes this month's three-match Test series against India could be severely disrupted by bad weather.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has scheduled the first two matches in the Punjab cities of Lahore (starting January 13) and Faisalabad (January 21) while the third is in the southern city of Karachi (January 29).

In the country's recent series against England, a large number of overs were lost and bad light prompted early closes of play in Tests in Faisalabad and Lahore.

"The weather at this time of the year in Punjab is not ideal for cricket," Younis told Reuters on Tuesday.

"In the morning, lingering fog can hamper a normal start while the light fades rapidly in the evening hours. I just hope we can have proper Tests against India,' Younis added.

The board said that due to a hectic home season and the International Cricket Council's future tours programme, it had no option but to schedule the India series when the winter weather was at its worst in Punjab.

"What is worrying is that the fog and mist also clears only after it rains in Lahore and its adjoining areas,' Younis said.

The series is the third between the two sides since April 2004 and Younis believes the recent series win over England had given the players a lot of confidence.

"I think we are performing as a unit and we are playing now with discipline and purpose. Credit for this change goes to our coach (Bob Woolmer)," he added.

SEHWAG KEY

Meanwhile, the home side's flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi has singled out Indian opener Virender Sehwag as the key man to target in the series.

Also Read PCB announces fresh itinerary BCCI accepts changed schedule Pak name uncapped opener A new Tendulkar in the making? World Cup 2007 schedule

Afridi, who has acquired a reputation of destroying the best bowling attacks with his fearless hitting, said Pakistan would prize Sehwag's wicket as he was a dangerous player capable of demoralising bowlers quickly.

"He does not hang around and I don't think the pitch conditions or situation dictates the way he plays. He is a natural aggressive player who can turn the game around," Afridi said on Tuesday.

"We need to control and dictate to him," he added.

Sehwag scored a triple hundred in the first Test at Multan when he toured Pakistan in 2004 and a double hundred against the same opposition in India last year.