West Indies captain Brian Lara. - Reuters

LAHORE, Pakistan (CMC):

West Indies captain Brian Lara believes the absence of Pakistani pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif will give his side the edge in the three-Test series which bowls off Saturday.

Both players were recently banned from competitive cricket by the Pakistan Cricket Board after failing drug tests ahead of the recent ICC Champions Trophy in India,

"Pakistan will feel the absence of Shoaib and Asif as they are quality bowlers. There is no doubt their absence gives us an edge over the home side. No team likes to lose its main bowlers," Lara told reporters yesterday.

Shoaib, 31, a veteran of 42 Tests, was handed a two-year ban while the 23-year old Asif received a one-year ban after both tested positive for nandrolone, a banned steroid.

Sub-continental conditions

Lara said another asset for his 15-man squad, which arrived in Pakistan from India on Monday, was the fact they had spent the last few weeks in India and were now accustomed to the conditions on the subcontinent.

"It is good we have come here after having played on similar pitches in India and the players are now used to the sub-continental conditions," Lara said.

West Indies will also play Tests in Multan from November 19-23 and Karachi, from November 27 to December 1.

Following the Test series, they will face Pakistan in five One-Day Internationals.