Pakistan's Australian coach Geoff Lawson said on Wednesday he was looking forward to the challenge of touring India and that clashes between the great rivals were "bigger than the Ashes."

Pakistan fly out to India on Thursday to play five one-day internationals and three Tests. It will be only the fourth Test series between the cricket-obsessed neighbours since they resumed sporting ties in 2004.

"Having toured India on a number of occasions I know people follow an Indo-Pakistan match with extreme passion and at times it is little bit more than the sport, bigger than the Ashes, so I look forward to it," Lawson told AFP in an interview.

The former paceman, who played in five Ashes series between Australia and England in the 1980s, took over as Pakistan coach in July. He replaced Englishman Bob Woolmer, who died during the World Cup in Jamaica in March.

Lawson, 49, said Pakistan "would have been better off" for the India tour had they beaten world number two team South Africa in their recent home one-day series. Pakistan also lost the Test series, one-nil.

South Africa won the one-day series with a sensational 14-run victory in the fifth and final match in Lahore on Monday. Chasing 234 to win, Pakistan were cruising nicely at 199-4 before losing their last six wickets for 20 runs.

"Five overs of bad cricket spoiled our good work in the series, but it gave us lessons which we need to learn and work hard on the India tour, which will be tough," said Lawson, who took 97 wickets in 21 Ashes Tests.

Lawson said both Pakistan and India had progressed well after their disastrous showings in the 50-over World Cup in the West Indies, in which both were knocked out in the first round.

"India played tough cricket on their tour of England and both Pakistan and India did well in the Twenty20 (world championship)," said Lawson of September's event, which India won by beating Pakistan in the final.