Pakistan Manager, Intikhab Alam requests media to not make a war front of the ICC World Cup Semi-Final
In the buzz that is making rounds right before the biggest semi-final in the cricket world between arch rivals Pakistan and India, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 manager, Intikhab Alam has requested the media to consider the match as a game, and not a war between the two
nations.
“Let it remain a cricket match and don’t make us feel like we are standing on a warfront,” Alam told reporters on Saturday.
Pakistan reached India two days ago under strict security, and will be playing against the home side in a match that will take one team through to the final, and end the World Cup dream of the other.
According to Intikhab, the added hype created by the media will put pressure on the players from both teams, which could seriously impact their performance. “Both teams cannot win and somebody has to lose but whichever team loses should lose gracefully,”
said Alam.
The last time Pakistan went to India to play against the hosts was in 2007. Relations between the South Asian neighbours hit rock bottom after terrorist attacks on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 in 2008. India, since then, has refused to play any bilateral cricket series against
Pakistan. However, the arch rivals have continued to face each other in ICC sponsored events.
Alam encouraged playing more cricket between the two countries to ease tension.
“This is a blessing that we have come here to play cricket in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750. This of course, is a special occasion, but I feel we should be playing more often,” he said while talking to the media on the matter.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez, while talking to the press after a practice session in Mohali, reiterated that his side was preparing well for the clash in the semi-final. Hafeez stressed that Pakistan has had the best bowling attack
in the tournament, and the team would try to play on their strength against India.
Pakistan held their first practice session at the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Punjab-c833 Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on Saturday, in a bid to eradicate their weaknesses ahead of the crucial knock-out fixture.
India has defeated Pakistan four times in the cricket world cup since 1992, while Pakistan has yet to register a victory against the Indians. Nonetheless, Pakistan skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 reiterated that history will be left behind once the two teams set
foot in the pre-final clash. Afridi who is the leading wicket take in the tournament with 21 victims, believes that Pakistan will give a tough time to the Indians.
According to Afridi, Pakistan has enough time to formulate an adequate strategy to neutralize India’s batting line-up, which, by far has been the strongest batting outfit in the mega event this year.
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