Pakistan’s track record against India in the fifty over World Cup has not been great. Five out of five losses against the same opponent does not make for a good reading. But as chief selector Moin Khan had told a day before to a select few, “There is always a first time.”
Both sides have not been in great form of late. India have had a torrid time on Australian shores and Pakistan have had their own set of concerns with player injuries. They are missing out on key members from their squad but Misbah insisted it is times like this when the role of seniors become vital and important to get the best out of the resources in hand. “Senior players, experienced players and good performers are key to your team's success,” said the Pakistan captain. “Injuries happen and are part and parcel of the game. You need to focus on what you've got, and you need to believe that whatever you've got is the best. Everybody needs to just focus on his own game. We don’t need to worry about who is here, who is not and who is missing.”
One of the key members in the current setup, Ahmed Shehzad, was seen walking off the practice session with an ice pack on his forearm yesterday. Misbah hoped he would be fit and raring to go on Sunday. “You could say Shehzad is a match winner. He could really turn the game. We will be really happy to have him in the squad because he has got that sort of flair and positive attitude. He is an important player for us.”
Misbah was also particularly excited about leg-spinner Yasir Shah. “The kind of bowling he did in the last two games, he has proved his worth. He bowled really well in the game against England and even the game before that. He is really a good competitor and brings aggression in the bowling lineup. He is really a good find for Pakistan.
There is a sense of calm in Misbah’s approach and as the leader of Pakistan, he would be looking to channelise that calmness into the rest of the side, especially in the high octane game against India on Sunday. For Misbah, it was all about enjoying the pressure.
“India Pakistan games are always about pressure. The best thing we can do is just enjoy the game, enjoy the atmosphere, and be positive.
You can handle the pressure well if you got there and play your natural game. You need to be really positive in such of pressure games and that's how you can really perform well. You need to focus on your game, go there, and play your best. You always think about winning first, and that's what we are thinking about. We are not worried about what India is doing, what their performances are. I think we need to focus on our strengths and we need to focus on our game.”
Misbah was of the view that the initial phases of the game would be the key in the result. “Batting against the new ball and bowling with the new ball will be important. You need to put the opposition under pressure in those first 10 to 15 overs. We are focusing on each and every aspect of the game. We will be positive and try to just go there and put up a good show.”
