"Pakistan need to be at their best to beat England. There is no doubt they are capable of giving a tough fight and if they show the confidence they exuded in India they can come out winners," Wasim Bari told AFP.

Beaten 2-1 in the home series by India last year and then routed 3-0 by Australia, Pakistan went on to level their Test series in India and the West Indies earlier this year.

"Pakistan have been improving and I am sure they will give England a run for their money. It's going to be a very tough and exciting series," said Bari, who played 81 Tests for Pakistan as a wicket-keeper.

Bari praised England as a confident, all-round team.

"Under Michael Vaughan England is now a very balanced team and is playing cricket with confidence, which is the most important element in any sport," said Bari, also a former Pakistan captain.

England upset the odds to wrest back the coveted Ashes from Australia last month, their first Ashes win for 18 years.

They are now looking to a winter on the subcontinent -- during which whey will tour Pakistan from later this month and India early next year -- to contest Australia's position at the top of the world rankings.

Bari warned that England's bowling attack will be equally potent on the flat pitches common in India and Pakistan.

"In Steve Harmison they have a really quick bowler and in Simon Jones, Andrew Flintoff and Matthew Hoggard they have quality swing bowlers, so their pace attack is world class, even on the flat tracks," he said.

"We too have a very good attack and fortunately the fitness level of Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Umer Gul is very high and Pakistan attack will match England in strength."

Bari, also the head of selectors when Pakistan lost their last home series against England in 2000, refused to divulge his team's plans to tackle England.

"We are open to suggestion and want to give a balanced squad to captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Bob Woolmer. It's their decision what combination they want to play," he said.

But he said Pakistan needed to play five bowlers to beat England, describing the series as a huge challenge. "Against England you need to play five bowlers and that's where Australia lacked in the Ashes," said Bari.

"Pakistan need to exert pressure from the day one of the series and need to play well on all five days of all three Tests to win the series."

Bari's three-member selection committee will pick the Pakistan squad after three trial matches later this month.

England arrive on October 26 and play the first Test in Multan from November 12 followed by Tests in Faisalabad and Lahore. They will then play five one-day matches.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 Pakistan Cricket Board)