Shoaib optimist against Australia

Australia are now much easier to beat than before and if we play our best we can beat them in the series,’ Akhtar told AFP.

‘We have a very good chance of beating them.’

Pakistan plays Australia in five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from April 22 to May 7.

Akhtar said Australia had lost some key players, which had weakened them.

‘They are still the world's top team, which they proved by avenging their defeat against South Africa,’ he said of Australia's 2-1 series win over South Africa this week.

‘But they still miss the likes of (Adam) Gilchrist, (Matthew) Hayden, (Glenn) McGrath and (Shane) Warne who were top class players. If even one of them came to the party, it spelt doom for the rival team.