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Pakistan will be confident against India: Chappell

December 20, 2005 13:35 IST

Coach Greg Chappell feels Pakistan would be high on confidence to take on India next month following their victory over England in the home series.

"I would have preferred if England had done a bit better, softened Pakistan up for us and not got the wake-up call that they got," Chappell told BBC TMS on Tuesdy.

The coach of the Indian team, who is keenly following the two teams, which will be playing against his team in the next three months, said even England would learn from their mistakes and prepare better to take on Indians in March.

"England will be better prepared to come to India than they were for Pakistan," he said.

The former Australia captain put England's 2-0 Test series defeat down to the batting collapse that saw them losing the opening match in Multan.

"I wouldn't read too much into it. I still think they're a good side, they showed that against Australia," he said.

"But for a poor session or two on the final day of the first Test, the Pakistan tour could have been very different."

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Chappell refused to criticise England's policy of only playing two warm-up matches before the Test series, a policy similar to his own on tour.

"Three weeks of preparation wouldn't necessarily be any better. In the modern era, you've got to adjust pretty quickly," he said.

"I'm sure there are better ways to do it but I'm not sure you can lay the blame anywhere.

"Australia struggled in the subcontinent until they had been here four or five times in quick succession and finally learnt what it took to be successful," he said.

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