By Omar Khalid, IANS,
Mohali : Pakistan vice captain Misbah-ul-Haq is expecting his team to click against arch-rivals India in their World Cup semifinal here Wednesday.
Misbah told reporters here at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium Sunday that his team was playing like a unit and eager to do well in the big game in a bid to win a place in the final.
“It’s certainly a very important match and each and every player from our team wants to do well in it,” said Misbah.
“There is a big fan following. The entire nation is interested in what will happen here which is why its really important for us that we do well here,” he said.
Misbah refused to talk about his last-over dismissal against India in the 2007 World Twenty20 final against India, saying that his sights were focussed on doing his best in this crunch game. “You can’t stick to the past,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pakistan are expecting Misbah and fellow middle-order batsman Younis Khan to shine against India.
“The commitment being shown by senior players like Misbah and Younis is really commendable,” said manager Intikhab Alam.
“They are inspiring their junior teammates to work harder.”
Intikhab said that he expects the duo to play key roles in the big game against India.
“Being the senior players, they have a lot of responsibility and are fully aware of it,” said Intikhab. “They are the backbone of our middle-order and we need them to give their best in the crunch match against India.”
Misbah is one of the most prolific batters for Pakistan in this World Cup. He has scored 192 runs at an average of 48 in the lead up to the semifinals. But both of his fifties in the tournament came in the first week of the event and Misbah hasn’t scored much in his team’s last five matches.
Younis, too, began the World Cup with back-to-back matches in Pakistan’s first two games – against Kenya and Sri Lanka – and is due for a big knock against the Indians.
Intikhab is confident that the two batters will handle the pressure of playing against India in India and contribute handsomely to their team’s cause. “Both of them are big games players and we have great expectations from them,” he said.