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Nazar awaits the Aussies

AFP, Karachi
Pakistan cricket coach Mudassar Nazar said Monday a home series win against New Zealand would mean a lot to his team but the ultimate target was to beat Australia.
"Winning a home series would mean a lot to us and would prove that we have made some progress but the yardstick for me would remain beating world champions Australia," Nazar told reporters.
"Pakistan's real test would come against Australia in the home series in October this year."
Pakistan seek their first home series win in five years as they take on a depleted New Zealand in the second and final Test at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday.
Pakistan, spurred by an epic 329 by Inzamamul Haq, thrashed New Zealand by an innings and 324 runs in the first Test at Lahore to record their biggest win in Test cricket.
"We are still one Test away from (a series win) and need to keep up the good work because New Zealand can regroup and pose some problems," Nazar warned.
Pakistan have lost six of their last seven home series since 1995-96. Their last win at home came against the West Indies in 1997-98.
"When I took over last year I had said we should win at home first because our record abroad is better," said Nazar, who played 76 Tests for Pakistan as an opener.
He said nobody should demean Pakistan's win over an injury-hit New Zealand side.
"I know everyone has his opinion and people would demean our win.
They said we beat a weak West Indian side two months back but look they are now beating India," he said.
"Our recent results show that we have made progress but due to the fact that we are an unpredictable side I need to keep the players
together. We have won more one-day matches than Australia and now only need to show more consistency."
Nazar said express pacer Shoaib Akhtar would undergo a fitness test before the match as his ankle is still swollen, while captain Waqar Younis has a stomach bug.
Akhtar, who was recorded bowling at 161kph in the final one-day in Lahore last month to become, unofficially, the only man to bowl at over 100 miles per hour, took a career best 6-11 in the first innings of the Lahore Test. But he did not bowl in the second innings due to injury.
Experienced pace bowler Wasim Akram, dropped in the first Test, and opener Saeed Anwar are likely to replace Akhtar and Shahid Afridi in the final eleven.
Anwar has not played international cricket since November last year after injuring his right wrist.
Fitness problems also continue to frustrate the New Zealanders, with all-rounder Andre Adams likely to return home after suffering a back injury.
New Zealand lost ace allrounders Chris Cairns and Dion Nash and pacer Shane Bond through injuries before the tour, while dashing opener Nathan Astle had to return home after injuring his knee in the first one-day game.