Super-charged atmosphere for long-awaited Ashes of Asia

The 12-year wait will finally be over on Saturday when Pakistan begin their first Test tour of India since 1987 -- notwithstanding threats by Hindu militants to disrupt matches.

There are few rivalries in international sport more intense than between Pakistan and India in cricket, the sub-continent's version of the Ashes between England and Australia. Protests by Hindu militants have only heightened interest in both countries.

The two-Test series and the opening match of the Asian Test chamionships promise much, even though both teams are struggling to overcome poor form and embarrassing recent defeats.

Pakistan come to India after being tamed in their own backyard, first by Mark Taylor's mighty Australians and then quite unexpectedly by unfancied Zimbabwe.

India, who have won just one Test match abroad since 1986 despite an enviable home record, went to New Zealand hoping to change the trend. They once again returned empty-handed.

The last time the arch-rivals faced-off in a Test series was in 1989 in Pakistan. They have not played a Test on Indian soil since March, 1987.

Players from both sides will be eager to make up for lost time.

Tendulkar, one of the game's leading batsmen, made his Test debut at 16 in Pakistan in 1989. He played in all four drawn Tests but has since been denied a chance to test his skills against Akram and Younis.

Tendulkar, skipper Mohammad Azharuddin and Navjot Sidhu are the only Indians to have experienced the overcharged atmosphere of an Indo-Pakistan Test.

Pakistan also have only three players -- Akram, Younis and Salim Malik -- who have played against India.

''The team which holds it's nerves in the tension will win,'' predicts Indian legend Kapil Dev, Test cricket's leading bowler.

''It's a different experience altogether playing against Pakistan. You can sense the tension in the air,'' said Kapil, who himself made his international debut against Pakistan in 1978.

Kapil will be the focus of Akram's attention since the Pakistani all-rounder has made no secret of his desire to chase the Indian's world record of 434 Test wickets.

''I am hungry for Kapil's record,'' the 32-year-old Akram, who has 354 wickets from 83 Tests, was quoted as saying before the tour.

Akram also knows a victory against India is important in the battle to clear his name of betting and match-fixing charges at home.

''He has everything to play for,'' a Pakistani journalist said. ''A victory against India is the ultimate achievement and it will not be easy to punish Akram if he manages that.''

India's last defeat in a home series was in 1987 against Imran Khan's Pakistanis, who scored a thrilling 17-run win in the final Test at Bangalore after the first four matches were drawn.

Akram, who played in that series, said last week he was confident of repeating the feat against the battle-fatigued Indian team led by Mohammad Azharuddin.

The Indians go into the series after a back-breaking schedule since September which has seen them play in Canada, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and New Zealand without a break.

The Indians, who returned from New Zealand on Thursday, have a week's rest before the first of two back-to-back Tests at Madras and New Delhi from January 28.

India and Pakistan have played 44 Tests since their first encounter in 1952, with India winning four, Pakistan seven and 33 ending in draws.