CUP OF JOY: Brian Lara looks forward to carry his team's ODI form to the Tests, while Inzamam is hopeful of a good show. — PHOTO: AFP

Lahore : West Indies captain Brian Lara hopes his team can apply enough pressure to open some cracks in a Pakistan Test line-up depleted by doping bans in the three-Test cricket series starting from Saturday.

"Putting them under pressure will be the key,'' Lara told reporters on Friday.

``Of course it's unfortunate for them that they've got two of their strike bowlers missing.''

The West Indies has won just one of its six Test series in Pakistan — under Clive Lloyd 26 years ago. The once world-beating Caribbean team has gone through some turbulent times in the past years, winning just one of its last 14 Test matches.

The West Indies also lost a Test series 2-0 to Pakistan at Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates in 2002.

No looking back

``It's an opportunity now for us to take ourselves out of that hole and I'm very optimistic about the future,'' Lara said.

``I can't worry as much about the past, that is dead and buried.

``We got to worry about what's in front of us and we've an opportunity to beat Pakistan in Pakistan.''

``Lots of people are concentrating on the one-day game at the moment with the World Cup coming up, but we all know that Test cricket is really what it's all about,'' Lara said.

``We are hoping that with the confidence we have gained in the one-day arena, we can transform it into the Test match arena.''

Despite the absence of Akhtar and Asif, Lara remains wary of Pakistan's bowling attack including leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and paceman Umar Gul.

``They are a very good team, especially at home,'' Lara said. ``We know we've got to play extra hard ... they are a major force to reckon with at home.

``They have the armoury to beat international teams playing in Pakistan and I do rate them highly.'' Lara added.

Pakistan failed to qualify for the semifinals of the Champions Trophy in the absence of regular captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was banned for four ODIs after the Oval Test's forfeit fiasco in August.

``I haven't played international cricket for the last two months, but I am looking forward to playing some good competitive cricket against the West Indies,'' Inzamam said.

``We will miss our two key fast bowlers, but we have played international cricket without them in the past and have won matches.''

``There is pressure on us. Still I see no reason why we can't go out and give a good performance. We should not make excuses,'' Inzamam said before dismissing speculation he would retire after the World Cup.

``I don't see this as my last home series. I think I can continue as long as I am fit and keen on the game,'' he added.

In-form West Indies opener Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul have been suffering from stomach upsets, but Lara said both batsmen would be fit for the opening match.

The teams (from):

Pakistan: Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt.), Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Nazir, Umar Gul, Samiullah Niazi, Danish Kaneria, Abdul Rehman.

West Indies: Brian Lara (capt.), Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Daren Ganga, Lendl Simmons, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Runako Morton, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Daren Powell, Jerome Taylor, Omari Banks, Dave Mohammed.

Umpires: Simon Taufel and Asoka de Silva.

TV Umpire: Nadeem Ghauri. Match referee: Roshan Mahanama. — Agencies

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