Pak coach backs bowlers for Ireland, England Tests

Pakistan cricket bowling coach Azhar Mahmood believes his pacers are fully fit and in good form ahead of the next month's Test matches against England and Ireland.

Expressing his optimism about his side's chances in the upcoming Test series, Mahmood insisted that the pacers who have been named in the 16-man national squad are absolutely fit and are likely to be available with the team throughout the series.

"The pacers who have been selected have all been playing quite a bit of cricket lately and they are all in form. The fitness tests have shown that the players are fit and will hopefully be available throughout the series," the Express Tribune quoted Mahmood, as saying.

Mahmood further added that his side's focus would not be on pace this time around and that their bowlers --including pace spearheads Mohammad Amir and Hasin Ali-- would rather rely on technique.

"This is a game of minds and you have to tire the batsman out and then attack his weak areas to dismiss him. These players will be really suitable to the conditions in England and Ireland where our focus would be to use less pace and more technique," he said.

Besides Ali and Amir, the Pakistan bowling line-up will also include Muhammad Abbas, Rahat Ali, Faheem Ashraf and spinner Shadab Khan.

Ireland are slated to play their inaugural lone Test against Pakistan from May 11 before the latter side head into England for two-match series, beginning May 24.