KARACHI, Aug 11: Pakistan’s coach Bob Woolmer wants a full-strength England side to tour Pakistan later this year for a Test and one-day series. England are due to play three Tests and five one-day internationals from Oct 26.

“I would encourage the England side to come in full strength to Pakistan because this is a good place to come. But if some players don’t come it would be purely an individual decision,” Woolmer said on Thursday.

“They are people who think Pakistan is close to the crisis point in the Gulf and they have their fears.”

Woolmer said he was expecting a closely fought series against England and he would like to see pitches that last for five days.

“The bounce is the key to a good Test pitch.”

Woolmer, who has been Pakistan coach since June 2004, singled out Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen as two players Pakistan would be keeping a close eye on.

“Like all good players these two will always be a danger to the opposition. We will have to work on them. But in the end we have to concentrate more on how we play well rather than how they play,” he said.

England last toured Pakistan in 2000 winning the Test series after victory in the final match in Karachi.—Agencies