ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (AFP) - Former pacer
Sarfraz Nawaz Sunday said he feared India's spinbowlers would
whitewash Pakistan in their upcoming cricket tour.
"India will spinroll Pakistan on their turning
tracks because they play with three regular spinners, with
Virendar Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar as two added tweakers and
have the habit of finishing a Test in three days," Nawaz told
AFP.
"Pakistan's kitty is empty with just one spinner
in Danish Kaneria, the other two spinners they have were
reported for illegal action and if they go without Shoaib Akhtar
it would be a 3-0 win for India."
Pakistan will play three Tests and five one-day
games from February 25 to April 9 on their first tour of India
for six years.
A final schedule is still awaited with a
stalemate following Pakistan's refusal to play in the western
city of Ahmedabad, the scene of a proposed venue for the second
Test where at least 2,000 people died in Muslim-Hindu riots in
2002.
Nawaz said Pakistan's cricket hierarchy seemed
indifferent to the all important tour.
"Pakistan is under pressure after their 3-0
defeat in Australia but it's surprising there seems no planning,
no vision and no preparation for the India tour," Nawaz said.
He criticised coach Bob Woolmer, who is having
knee surgery in South Africa, and the Pakistan trainers for
going on holdiday ahead of the tour, and ridiculed skipper
Inzaman-ul Haq for appearing in an Indian advertisement.
"How would foreigners be interested in
Pakistan's progress, they would muster the wealth and go away.
"Our captain doesn't act on the field and is
acting in Indian advertisement which is a mockery of the
preparation and no one is bothered what they are doing."
Nawaz, acclaimed as the pioneer of reverse swing
during a career of 55 Tests for Pakistan, taking 177 wickets,
said only seamers could turn the tables on India.
"If Akhtar and (Mohammad) Sami are fit then we
must select them and two more swing bowlers and only they can
turn the tables on India because we have not produced quality
spinners, no one had bothered to in the recent past," said Nawaz.
Pakistan won 1-0 on their 1987 tour with left
arm spinner Iqbal Qasim and off-spinner Tauseef Ahmed sharing
nine wickets between them in the Bangalore win.
On their last tour, Pakistan were helped by
off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq who took 10 wickets to help the team
win the first Test at Madras but after Pakistan lost in Delhi
Akhtar took eight wickets to help Pakistan win the Calcutta
Test.
Saqlain Mushtaq, who lost his place in the team
last year, is recuperating from knee surgeries and is not ready
for a comeback.
Nawaz said India without an injured Sachin
Tendulkar would still be strong.
"Tendulkar would not be missed if he doesn't
play because their real star is Rahul Dravid and other batsmen
are capable enough to guide India to big totals," he said.
Pakistan are likely to announce the India tour
squad on Friday.