Pakistan cricket coach Javed Miandad on Sunday said England might pose a tough fight against Pakistan in the forthcoming Test series and the contest will not be one-sided.

“England has a good team and their recent results show they are on the ascent and have high confidence,” Miandad told reporters at Gaddafi Stadium where England on Wednesday start their first Test on Pakistan soil for 13 years.

“England has a balanced team and their fast bowlers are good,” Miandad said. Miandad, however, agrees English batsmen's vulnerability against spinners can be exploited.

“What we observed in the one-dayers is that their batsmen are weak against spinners and we will exploit that.” Pakistan beat England 2-1 in the three-match one-day series preceding the Test series.

“It's still hard to say who will win the series but we have the edge and we will do our best to win,” Miandad said. Miandad led Pakistan to an innings and 87-run win over England in the first Test in Lahore 13 years ago, on a tour marred by an on-field row between then England captain Mike Gatting and Pakistani umpire Shakoor Rana. Leg-spinner Abdul Qadir returned with figures of 9-56 and 4-45 to crush England to defeat.

“Its premature to say that we would make a spin track but yes our attack may include two or three spinners if we go for a spin pitch,” the Pakistani coach said. Pakistan's probable squad of 18 for the first Test includes four regular spinners and two spinning all-rounders. Pakistani players practised here on Sunday while the tourists had a day off after beating the Governor's XI in a four-day game in Peshawar on Saturday.

“England had weak oppositions in the two side games, just like we used to get when we play their county teams on tour,” Miandad said. “There are no problems in the team and we are waiting for the selectors to give us the final team and we settle to our task,” he said.

A day after English team arrived, newspaper reports in Pakistan suggested seven senior players revolted against Miandad over a prize money dispute. Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman General Tauqir Zia averted the situation by meeting players and Miandad who is on his second stint as coach after playing 124 Tests for Pakistan.