KARACHI, Sept 8: Famed all-rounder Wasim Akram said Friday that England stand no chance in the upcoming series against Pakistan as the tourists will find the conditions tough.

"I think England stands no chance in Pakistan and we can easity beat them as the conditions' will be alien for the English players who are coining after a gap of 13 years." Akram. 35. told AFP.

England's cricketers are due in Pakistan in October to play three Tests and three one-dayers.

"English players have their limitations in this part of the world and I think Saqlain Mushtaq holds the key for the series." Akram, one of two survivors from the controversial 1987-88 series, said.

Ijaz Ahmed is the only other survivor of that Infamous .series which was marred by a row between then England captain Mike Gattlng and Pakistani umpire Shakoor Rana in the Faisalabad Test and which nearly led to the cancellation of the tour.

The current England team has no survivors from that se-

"Saqlaln gets seven eight wickets In an Innings for Surrey in the English season and he will be a tougher and different bowler In Pakistani conditions." he said.

"The Pakistan Board must evaluate our strong points and England's weaknesses and then prepare spin tracks." he said.

Akram said Saqlain and back-up spinners Mushtaq Ahmed and Arshad Khan will give Pakistan the winning combination.

Pakistan beat England I -0 in the 1987-88 series with leg-spinner Abdul Qadir taking a record 30 wickets In three Tests.

Akram's contribution hi two Tests was two wickets.

The former Pakistan captain also said he is fit and available for the October 3-15 ICC Knockout Tournament in Kenya.

"I am enjoying cricket after my performance in the Antigua Test and in Sri Lanka." said Akram, the only bowler to take over 400 wickets in both Tests and one-dayers.

Pakistan lost the Antigua Test in May against the West Indies by one wicket with Akram taking 12 wickets in the match.

Akram refused to comment on the fine levied on him by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum's report on match fixing.

He and seven others -- all punished in Qayyum's report --were served summons by a high court here on Tuesday.

Akram also said that he and millions of cricket fans worldwide wanted India to tour Pakistan despite tense relationship between uie two countries

"I am waiting for the Indian team to come and they must come for the sake of millions of cricket fans."

India was to tour Pakistan from December to February 2001 to play three Tests and five one-day internationals.

"Its disappointing that sports and politics are treated with the same stick ... Cricket must go on because it eases out tension and promotes good relations." the former captain said.

Pakistan toured India under Akram in 1999 after a gap of 12 years and played three Tests and a triangular tournament.

"We toured India in spite of threats and an Incident of pitch digging in Delhi and played for the sake of fans," Akram said.

”1 can't forget the standing ovation of the Chennia crowd when we won there, it suggested the people of both sides want to see Pakistan-India matches." he said.

Pakistan Cricket Board

chairman Genera) Tauqir Zia Thursday threw the ball in India's court saying he Is pn-

4 pac'd to take his team to India if India does not come to Pakistan.

Akram said Indias recent refusal to play against Pakistan, in Toronto, Canada, was disappointing.

"It was disappointing that India pulled out from a venue where cricket is on the rise." he said.

Akram said India was avoiding Pakistan for fear of defeat.

Their refusal to play leaves us to think that they fedr losing to Pakistan.'