Azhar Mahmood column

By Azhar Mahmood Pakistan all-rounder

There is all sorts of speculation surrounding England's forthcoming three-Test series in Pakistan but one thing is for sure - it will be very close.

England have six series wins behind them and are obviously in tremendous form, but something has gone wrong with their batting in the two warm-ups games and that will be a concern.

They can't really blame the pitches for that. Rawalpindi was quite bowler-friendly, but Mohammad Asif got 10 wickets in Lahore and he did that by bowling really well.

Scorecard: Lahore warm-up

Pakistan's strategy was clearly to give England seaming wickets in the warm-ups.

However, I think once the Tests start they will go for wickets that suit the spinners, as the tourists expect.

I didn't make the squad for the first two Tests, but just look at the names Pakistan plumped for - they have five spinners available. That would indicate a desire to opt for slow, turning pitches.

And because England's pace attack is so good it really would be foolish to play into their hands by going for a seaming wicket with pace in it.

I think Pakistan will play both specialist leg-spinners, Danish Kaneria and Mushtaq Ahmed, in the first Test in Multan.

In the Ashes, Shane Warne got 40 wickets in five Tests so Pakistan reckon England are poor players of leg-spin.

Mushy has lots of experience and has been bowling very well for three seasons in county cricket so he knows a lot of the England players.

Danish is a vastly improved bowler since the last time England toured Pakistan in 2000.

Pietersen is under pressure because he hasn't fired in the warm-ups - it will be interesting to see what happens at Multan

Shoaib Malik, the man the team management want as the opening batsman, will be the back-up spinner.

This way, they can play six batsmen, the wicket-keeper at seven, two spinners and two fast bowlers.

The man at number six should be Asim Kamal and I think the selectors will select him over Hasan Raza in the first Test.

Kamal has been playing international cricket for a year or so and has done well in that position.

Technically, he is a better player than Raza, who has been out of consideration for a long time.

For me, the two fast bowlers should be Shoaib Akhtar and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.

I don't think Mohammad Sami can be 100% fit after his groin injury and Rana is a man in form.

He got 54 wickets in just nine county matches for Sussex this season and 11 wickets in one Pakistan domestic game. He's good with both the new and the old ball.

Inzamam-ul-Haq's captaincy is an important area.

AZHAR'S PAKISTAN LINE-UP Shoaib Malik Salman Butt Younis Khan Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt) Mohammad Yousuf Asim Kamal Kamran Akmal (wkt) Shoaib Akhtar Mushtaq Ahmed Rana Naved-ul-Hasan Danish Kaneria

Against India earlier this year, he did really well with the bowling changes and field placings. It's a crucial series for him as captain but he is getting better and better every day.

For England, Simon Jones, who bowled well in the Ashes series is not there - and that's a big blow for them to deal with.

On the other hand, Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff will be in good rhythm at the moment having played in the Super Series.

For a fast bowler, rhythm is very important and they will be the main threat for Pakistan.

Kevin Pietersen is a quality player, but has never played in Pakistan before and may struggle against the spinners.

He loves to play his shots against slow bowlers, like he did against Warney in the Ashes.

But he is under pressure because he hasn't fired in the warm-ups. It will be interesting to see what happens at Multan.