'They're favourites'

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis echoed Shakib Al Hasan's sentiments and termed Bangladesh as favourites for the upcoming ODI series.

He however said that shedding off the favourites tag would do his young side a great deal of good.

"Yes they are favourites," said Waqar at the pre-match press conference at Mirpur yesterday.

"I guess he [Shakib] said that because he feels that we are a young side. We don't mind that. We are in a transition and we have come here after a while. If he is confident, fair enough; but we are not lacking anything. We have got a very disciplined side and we have got guys who can win games so it's just a matter of exposing them in the main level, "added the former Pakistan pacer.

Waqar was a member of the Pakistan squad that lost their only ODI against Bangladesh back in 1999.

Pakistan have ever since won each and every time the two teams faced. He however expects a different battle this time around.

"I still remember everything about 1999 because that was the only game I played in that World Cup.

Bangladesh beat us in every department in that game. Since then we have had a lot of success against them but I am not going to say that that's going to happen again because Bangladesh have developed into a very fine side, as we saw in the last World Cup."

Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali echoed Waqar's sentiments and also brushed aside the defeat that they encountered against a second-string Bangladeshi outfit on Wednesday.

"I am very happy with the way Bangladesh A played. They played positively in a great atmosphere and they gave us the best possible practice," said Azhar.