Pakistan chief selector has no illusions about India tour

Pakistan cricket's chief selector Iqbal Qasim has no illusions about how tough the forthcoming tour to India is going to be for the national team.

Pakistan are due to tour India from December 22 to play two T20 matches and three ODIs.

It will be the first bilateral series between the two countries since 2007 although they have met in ICC events.

"I have no illusions about how hard this tour will be for our team. Although it is a short tour but keeping in mind the significance of the series our players will have to put in their best to do well," Qasim said.

"Given the fact that we are playing a bilateral series after five years there will be a lot of media hype and interest in the series and some of our players have not had a chance to make a full tour of India as yet," the former Test spinner said.

Qasim was referring to the likes of Umar Akmal, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Saeed Ajmal, Nasir Jamshed, Junaid Khan, Reza Hasan, Sarfaraz Ahmed etc. who are all in line to be considered for the upcoming India series.

Some like Umar and Ajmal played in the 2011 World Cup semi-final at Mohali but are yet to make a full tour.

Qasim didn't rule out the possibility of considering some new faces for the upcoming tour.

Pakistan cricket's chief selector Iqbal Qasim has no illusions about how tough the forthcoming tour to India is going to be for the national team.

Pakistan are due to tour India from December 22 to play two T20 matches and three ODIs.

It will be the first bilateral series between the two countries since 2007 although they have met in ICC events.

"I have no illusions about how hard this tour will be for our team. Although it is a short tour but keeping in mind the significance of the series our players will have to put in their best to do well," Qasim said.

"Given the fact that we are playing a bilateral series after five years there will be a lot of media hype and interest in the series and some of our players have not had a chance to make a full tour of India as yet," the former Test spinner said.

Qasim was referring to the likes of Umar Akmal, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Saeed Ajmal, Nasir Jamshed, Junaid Khan, Reza Hasan, Sarfaraz Ahmed etc. who are all in line to be considered for the upcoming India series.

Some like Umar and Ajmal played in the 2011 World Cup semi-final at Mohali but are yet to make a full tour.

Qasim didn't rule out the possibility of considering some new faces for the upcoming tour.