DHAKA (Reuters)
Pakistan end their cricketing drought on Wednesday against Bangladesh in the first match of their two-Test series. Waqar Younis's side have played just one Test - coincidentally against Bangladesh in August - during the past seven months since last year's tour of England.

Waqar accepted his side would be rusty. "We have been out of competitive cricket for the last few months," he said.

Pakistan's cricketing problems began when New Zealand cancelled their visit in October following the Afghanistan crisis. The West Indies tour, meanwhile, due to start at the end of this month, is also set for a switch to a neutral venue following the touring side's concerns over border tensions between Pakistan and India.

Waqar played a straight bat to suggestions, however, that Bangladesh would not be strong enough to give his team a decent work-out.

"We are not underestimating Bangladesh as they have improved well during the last few years, and we will face them professionally," he said on the eve of the Dhaka first Test.

Bangladesh, though, have lost eight out of nine Tests since they joined the Test-playing nations and have yet to score a point in the world Test championship. The other game only ended in a draw because of rain.

The two sides will also contest three one-day internationals but Bangladesh's record in that discipline is as poor. They have lost their last 12 matches since beating Pakistan in a controversial dead-rubber match in the 1999 World Cup.

That game, providing one of the greatest shocks in one-day history, is currently being investigated in Pakistan following allegations of match-fixing.

Waqar said he regarded the one-dayers as important to his young squad.

"We have taken the Tests and one-dayers against Bangladesh as part of our preparations for the next World Cup," he said. "Pakistan need a good opening pair for the World Cup and accordingly we are trying to groom left-handed batsmen Shadab Kabir and Taufiq Umar."

Middle-order batsmen Yousuf Youhana and Younis Khan, meanwhile, warmed up with centuries in the match against Bangladesh A while 20-year-old leg-spinner Danish Kaneria continued his love affair with Bangladesh batsmen by taking 7 for 53.

Kaneria is hoping to partner offspinner Saqlain Mushtaq in the Test side. Kaneria has only played three Tests but took 12 wickets, six in each innings, in his last appearance against Bangladesh.

Waqar added that paceman Shoaib Akhtar was also rediscovering his rhythm while former captain Wasim Akram would be available after suffering from flu.

"Pakistan are the strong and balanced side at the moment," he said.

Bangladesh team manager Shafiqul Huq put the home side's prospects firmly in perspective. "Winning or losing is not the major thing for us," he said. "We will learn from them which will benefit us in future."

Bangladesh Khaled Mashud (capt), Javed Omar, Al-Shahriar, Mehrab Hossain, Habibul Bashar, Aminul Islam, Mohammad Ashraful, Sanwar Hossain, Enamul Hoque, Fahim Muntasir, Khaled Mahmud, Monjurul Islam, Mohammad Sharif, Hasibul Hossain.

Pakistan Waqar Younis (capt), Rashid Latif, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Taufeeq Umar, Faisal Iqbal, Yousuf Youhana, Naveed Latif, Younis Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq, Danish Kaneria, Wasim Akram, Mohammad Sami, Abdur Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Shadab Kabir.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd