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'Let's think cricket’

AFP, New Delhi
India's cricket team is eagerly waiting for the Pakistan tour to begin next week, vice-captain Rahul Dravid said on Wednesday while brushing aside any security fears.
"I think enough has been said and done about the security bit, it's now time to think about the cricket," Dravid told reporters during a sponsors' function here to unveil the trophy at stake for the Test and one-day series.
"The players are as excited about the tour as the fans are. Many in the team have not played in Pakistan at all. It should be a great experience."
Sourav Ganguly's Team India leave next Wednesday for their first full tour of Pakistan in almost 15 years, comprising five one-day internationals followed by three Tests.
India's champion batsman Sachin Tendulkar is the only current player on either side to have experienced an India-Pakistan Test on Pakistani soil, having made his international debut there on the last tour in 1989.
Dravid said the upcoming 40-day tour will present a new challenge.
"It will be a test of skill and nerves for both teams. Neither India and Pakistan will want to take it easy and that should provide some engrossing cricket all through."
India, who have never won a Test match in Pakistan in 20 attempts, were capable of breaking the jinx this time, Dravid said.
"The fact that we played some good, intense cricket in Australia will work to our advantage in Pakistan," he said. "We want to take the intensity on to the Pakistan series."
India drew the Test series against the world champions 1-1, but were swept aside 2-0 in the best-of-three one-day finals.
Dravid admitted the scheduling of the tour, where the one-dayers will be played before the Tests, was a blessing for the Indians who have been hit by injuries to key bowlers.
While off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been ruled out for the
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entire tour, spearheads Anil Kumble and Ajit Agarkar are expected to be available for the Tests after being sidelined for the one-day series.
"Actually I am quite pleased the one-days are being played first because this will give our bowlers time to be ready for the Tests," Dravid said.
"We have a strong batting lineup and if we can put up a big score in the one-dayers there is no reason why we cannot win the series."
Ganguly heads the batting depth that includes one-day cricket's leading run-maker Tendulkar, the dependable duo of Dravid and Venkatsai Laxman and the swashbuckling Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh.
The Indians open the tour with a warm-up match at Lahore on March 11 before the series begins with the first one-dayer in Karachi on March 13.