Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram believes India will come back stronger from the Australian tour and will pose a big challenge to Pakistan in the forthcoming series.

"The Indian team will be a very tough side especially after the series in Australia. By the time they come back, they would have improved a lot." Akram said.

"Whether they lose or win in Australia their confidence will be sky high. So Pakistan will have to start their homework now as there will be a lot of pressure on them. They ought to really do well if they have to beat India," he told Gulf News.

India is scheduled to tour Pakistan soon after it returns from Down Under but the itinerary has not been finalised yet.

The tour will be India's first in a decade and will be the first bilateral series between the two neighbours after the government suspended all sporting ties with Pakistan following a terrorist attack on the country's Parliament in December 2001.

The Pakistan Cricket Board, which is facing heavy financial losses, has proposed to play three Test and seven One-Day Internationals during the tour.

Akram, who had to face public ire for opting out of the India-Pakistan match in the 1996 World Cup in Bangalore, said this time he would be able to enjoy the game without any  pressure.

"It will be very interesting. I am also excited; for the first time I will have to enjoy the game from behind the mike," said Akram, who is now does television commentary on the game.

"The good thing is that I will be able to enjoy the game without getting under pressure."

The left arm speedster also advocated that both India and Pakistan should have a bowling coach.

"Every team in the world today has a bowling coach. So I feel these two countries too should hire bowling coaches from whichever country they want."

Akram also expressed happiness with the performance of Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra, who both took bowling tips from him before the tour of Australia.

"They need to play more cricket and the more they play against better teams and on different wickets, the more they will learn.

"If a left hand bowler can in-swing to a right-hander surely he has a bright future. I think they [Zaheer and Ashish] have the talent in them, all that they need is a bit of maturing," he added.