"Pakistan is a challenge, but I am sure it is not going to be as big as Australia," Ganguly told this news agency.

"Australia are definitely a superior side. We are pretty confident after our tour of Australia," he said. "To be honest, we are going to Pakistan in a much better frame of mind."

India face a huge challenge on their first full tour of Pakistan for 14 years, which starts next month, having failed to win any of their 20 Tests there.

But their confidence of playing abroad has been bolstered by the 1-1 Test series draw in Australia, when they confounded predictions of a drubbing by the world champions.

India will play five one-dayers in Pakistan followed by three Tests on a tour that has generated huge interest among millions of cricket-mad fans on both sides of the border.

The tour was cleared only after the Indian government revoked a three-year ban on bilateral games with Pakistan due to political tensions over the Himalayan region of Kashmir.

Although the tour comes amid a thaw in relations between the neighbours, the build-up has been dominated by security concerns with the restive cities of Karachi and Peshawar, close to the Afghan border, allotted only one-day games.

But Ganguly said his players would not be distracted.

"I don't think the boys should have any problem in focusing on cricket," he said. "They know their performances will be watched all over the world."

Ganguly thinks India and Pakistan should play each other more often.

"It will definitely help to reduce tension and hype over cricket," he said. "I don't think the crowds and tension in Pakistan are going to be that bad."

Meanwhile another report from New Delhi says, former skipper Krishnamachari Srikkanth has backed India to register their maiden Test-series win in Pakistan next month.

"India have got a very strong batting line-up. The players are at their peak and I'm very confident this will be the first Indian team to win a series on Pakistani soil," Srikkanth, who led India on their last tour to Pakistan 14 years ago, told reporters on Thursday.

Sachin Tendulkar, who made his debut as a 16-year-old on that tour, is the only member of the current team to have played Test cricket in Pakistan.

India play five one-day internationals, starting in Karachi on March 13, followed by three Tests.

Srikkanth's side drew all four Tests in 1989-90 and he was sacked soon after. India have never won a Test in Pakistan, losing five and drawing 15.