Pakistan's former captain and most capped player,Inzamam-ul-Haq has advised the national team players to avoid acceptinginvitations to private dinners and parties while touring India next month forthe One-day series.
"Whenever Pakistan goes to India there are always a lotof private invitations for dinners, parties and receptions. Players are offeredgood money to attend these events," Inzamam told reporters in Lahoretoday.
"My advice to the players is avoid these privateparties and dinners and just focus on cricket because it is an important seriesfor us," he said.
Inzamam who toured India several times, the last being in 2005as captain, said Pakistan have a very good opportunity to beat India this time.
"But for that the players will have to really focus on cricketonly. Touring India is always a great experience for Pakistani players andthere are distractions but the players must concentrate on the series and onwinning it," he said.
Inzamam, who played 120 Tests and 378 One-day Internationals,also said the coming series would be an intriguing one as both teams hadquality spinners and attacking batsmen.
"I have a feeling India will rely on its battingbecause their batting has carried them through in recent times."
Pakistan play two T20 matches and three ODIs. It will be thefirst bilateral series between the two countries in five years.
Inzamam, who led Pakistan in a drawn Test series after a winat Bangalore and also won the One-day series in 2005, said the tour will be atough one from a cricketing point of view.
"India will have played a full Test series against Englandwhile our team will go there fresh so we will have that slight edge," hesaid.
Asked about his coaching ambitions, Inzamam who retired in2007, said he was ready to work for Pakistan cricket.
He, however, dismissed questions about his coaching credentials."I don't think I need any coaching degrees to prove my credentials. Ithink the 18 years of international cricket I played is my qualification."