Pakistan favourites to lift Asia Cup: Malik

Lahore, Jun 23 (UNI) Stating that home conditions will work to Pakistan's advantage, captain Shoaib Malik has tipped his boys as favourites to lift the Asia Cup which gets underway tomorrow.

''Pressure of competing at home is always there, but we have an edge of knowing our playing conditions very well,'' Malik said.

Pakistan will be without pace spearheads Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar, but Malik insisted that his team are on a high after the morale boosting win against arch-rivals India in the triangular series final at Dhaka earlier this month.

''The morale of the team is very high after the tri-series final in Bangladesh,'' Malik stated.

He reposed his faith in wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed who has been included in the place of the experienced Kamran Akmal.

''Sarfraz also has the ability to bat low down the order and it's a good opportunity for him to show his skills behind the wickets,'' Malik said.

Pakistan will start their Asia Cup campaign against minnows Hong Kong tomorrow at Karachi.

UNI XC AB RKM HS1756