Sachin ready for Pakistan

Indian fans hope Tendulkar will on top form in Pakistan

Sachin Tendulkar is as excited about the forthcoming series in Pakistan as he was when he first toured there as a 16-year-old in 1989.

But he has played down suggestions of a personal duel with Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

"It is two countries playing against each other, rather than two individuals playing against each other," the Indian batting star said.

"We will put in our best efforts. We are going there to win."

The two teams will play five one-day internationals and three Tests on what is India's first full tour of Pakistan since Tendulkar's debut series in 1989.

He made an immediate mark by scoring his first Test century in Madras and has added 31 more since then in an overall run tally of 9,265.

Tendulkar needs two more hundreds to equal the Test record total of 34, set by former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar.

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Despite the huge interest in the series, Tendulkar has urged fans and the media not to allow themselves to get caught up in the hype.

"I want to tell people to keep a balanced mind," he said.

"I think everyone should take responsibility, not only players, but spectators and media too. Whatever anyone speaks or writes should be correctly thought out."

But he added: "Having been around for 14 and a half years, it's exciting after such a long time [that] you are getting an opportunity to play in Pakistan."