Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said his side was keeping away from the hype surrounding an India-Pakistan duel and staying focussed on the match.
“Our thoughts are on playing good cricket. We are trying to shut everything else away from the mind. We are not even watching television in the hotel room,” Dhoni said here ahead of the Indian training session on Tuesday.
He added, “We are taking one game at a time. This is a big game. As a cricketer you should be able to do what is expected of you in any game.”
Dhoni had words of praise for the Pakistani attack. “They have a good bowling unit. Afridi has been bowling very well. He has been the pick. We have to treat the deliveries on merit.”
The Indian skipper said his side would need to maintain its intensity through the possible 100 overs of the game. “Even if the opposition has an upper hand in 20 overs, it could prove costly,” he said.
Dhoni said he had been batting well even if runs had eluded him. “When you come in at No. 5, 6, or 7, there are not too many overs left. I have come in at times when the situation has not been right for flamboyant cricket. But I should have got runs against Australia.”
The Indian skipper said Mike Horn, a South African explorer and athlete, had been sharing his experiences with the team. “He is not motivating us. The team is already motivated. But he has done some unbelievable things in his life and is sharing those moments with us.”
Big occasion
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said, “If you know how to handle pressure, you will not panic. If you are enjoying the game, you will not feel the pressure. My boys are enjoying the game. It's a big occasion for us.”
Asked about the significance of an India-Pakistan match, he said, “I am a cricketer first, not a diplomat. But I am an ambassador for my country.”
Afridi revealed that paceman Shoaib Akhtar was not hundred per cent fit. “We will take a call on him later,” he added.
The Pakistan captain had a dig at the Indian media. “The Indian media is trying to make big things out of small matters. I never said anything adverse about Sachin Tendulkar.”
Afridi said he wanted a good game of cricket. “Whatever the result, it should be a great match. It should bring the people of the two countries together.”
Pakistan did not practice on Tuesday.
