As Shahid Afridi’s team gear up for Saturdays clash with pre-tournament favourites India at the Eden Gardens, former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara says Pakistan “looks very dangerous” and should not be written off.

“I think it’s going to be very tight (game) and could be a classic,” Sangakkara wrote in his syndicated column on Friday. In an obvious reference to Pakistan’s no-win record against India in World Cups, Sangakkara warns that “reputation and form , provides no protection in an event where there are so many dangerous teams.”

The key, he says, is not losing early wickets. “When they take early wickets, which they often do, it gives India the upper hand,” said Sanga, as the wicket-keeper batsman is popularly known.

Sangakkara said Pakistan to their credit have “a good all-round team” with the opening combination of Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shehzad quite settled. Moreover, Mohammad Hafeez at No 3 was “really good”, and the “evergreen” Afridi looked “rejuvenated”, the Lankan great said.But Sangakkara also warns against complacency, maintaining that while India’s bowling attack may be less balanced it was nevertheless “still strong”. Given that the Indians are smarting following their humiliating defeat, Sangakkara said MS Dhoni’s boys “have the quality and character to bounce back really strongly.”