The Pakistan cricket team will miss its strike bowler Shohaib Akhtar during the upcoming Test series against India, says captain Inzamam-ul Haq.
Speaking at a press conference after the 16-member team arrived in Delhi by a Pakistan International Airlines flight on Monday afternoon, Inzamam said: "It goes without saying that we will be missing Shohaib Akhtar, our strike bowler. But we have a battery of young fast bowlers who have done well on the two-and-a-half month tour to Australia and I am hopeful that they will give a good account of themselves in the Test and one-day series against India.
"In cricket players do get injured and you have to carry on without them."
He dismissed talk that the team is under pressure to do well on this particular tour.
"Whenever India and Pakistan play against each other there is tremendous pressure on both sides. Since India is playing at home, and in front of home crowd, the pressure on the Indian players will be greater than on the Pakistanis," he emphasised.
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Talking about Sachin Tendulkar's elbow injury, he said Tendulkar is a great player and can come back any time.
"If he is injured and cannot play his natural game then it would indeed by sad," he added.
Reacting to a suggestion that the Pakistani team leaves behind a trail of controversies whenever it tours, he said: "Abhie to tour shuru hua hai; hum ummeed karten hain ki sab theek hoga. Age ka pata nahin [The tour has just begun and I hope things go well though you never know."
Inzamam, who has played 97 Tests, expressed hope of staying fit for all three Tests and making his 100th Test a memorable experience.
"I would like my team to win my 100th Test for me. On a personal note, I hope to do well and make a hundred or double hundred to give my personal contribution.
"I have been having indifferent form for sometime and hope that I will be able to get amongst the runs," he said.
Talking about the excitement generated by the series, coach Bob Woolmer, who had visited India previously as coach of the South African team, said he could make out the difference between an India - Pakistan series and one played between India and South Africa.
"When I came here [India] with South Africa there were four television cameras covering our press conference but in this case there are as many as 22 cameras. This should tell that there is going to be exciting series between the two countries," he said.
Inzmam denied that the Pakistan team is having problems with its opening batsmen.
"We have come here with three specialist openers and I am confident that we have managed to solve this problem," he said.
Is he perturbed by the scathing attack on the team by some former Pakistan players?
"Fortunately, I do not read many papers. So I do not know what is printed in them. Healthy criticism helps the team," he retorted.
Asked about Pakistan's objection to the invitation extended to the Dalai Lama for the three-day Dharamshala match, manager Salim Altaf replied, "This matter is between the Pakistan Cricket Board and BCCI. The PCB has put forward its position and we have nothing more to say on the matter."
Talking about the last time Pakistan played at the Eden Gardens -- when the Asia Cup match against India in 2000 was interrupted because of crowd trouble Inzamam said he has put behind those memories and is looking forward to an appreciative audience this time around at Kolkata.
