No choice but play8217;

MUMBAI, JAN 22: Indian coach Anshuman Gaikwad today said: We have no choice but to play against Pakistan.'' He was speaking to press pe...

MUMBAI, JAN 22: Indian coach Anshuman Gaikwad today said: 8220;We have no choice but to play against Pakistan.8221; He was speaking to press persons after the arrival of five team members by a Jet Airways flight today evening. Coach Gaikwad further said 8220;We are here to play, and we are not afraid.8221; Reflecting on the Indian team8217;s performance at New Zealand, Gaikwad said, 8220;We could have fared better, we missed Agarkarkar very much.8221; The team arrived under tight security arrangement in view of recent threats by Shiv Sena members and the recent ransacking of BCCI office in Mumbai on Monday.

On the forthcoming matches, Azhar said it would be different from New Zealand because 8220;we would be playing in home condition and the teams are evenly balanced.8221;

NEW DELHI: Pakistan cricket coach Javed Miandad said his team was at full strength and predicted a good Test series against India if good wickets were provided.

The former captain and star batsman said his team was balanced and ready even if India prepared aturning track and felt regular exchange of tours was crucial for grooming young cricketers in both countries.

The 16-member Pakistan team, which arrived here yesterday, had a fruitful 20-day camp at Karachi8217;s National Stadium and was raring to go though it was coming from home series defeats against Australia and Zimbabwe, he said.

The Pakistan coach said chances of getting a result in Tests had improved after the international body8217;s rule making it mandatory that 90 overs should be bowled in a day.

Miandad has warned that the team, is 8220;not down and out despite recent reverses.8221;

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The 16-member squad had a 20-day camp at Karachi8217;s National Stadium and was raring to go though it was coming from home series defeats against Australia and Zimbabwe, Miandad said. 8220;If India want they can prepare good pitches. But we have two world class slow bowlers in leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed and off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and we are prepared for slow tracks also,8221; he added in an informal chat withreporters.