Inzamam-ul Haq advises Pak to not take pressure against India during WC opener

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq has advised the national squad not to take pressure against arch-rivals India during their first match of the World Cup, which starts on February 14 and would be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Inzamam, who stared in Pakistan's 1992 World Cup winning team, said that though they could not defeat India in all previous editions of the World Cup, he would still advise his players not to think about it and face Indians with positive mind.

During an inauguration ceremony of the Umeed-e-Jawan Inzamam-ul Haq Cricket Academy, which is being set up in his native city of Multan, Inzamam said that he wants Pakistan to play their natural game and hopefully they could break the jinx, the Dawn reported.

Inzamam said the Pakistan squad was balanced as it was a mixture of experienced and junior players and added that Pakistan had previously excelled in the conditions of Australia and New Zealand.

The former skipper also advised players not to come under pressure even if they lose a match as the situation could change at any time in the World Cup. He said that they were once at the bottom in the 1992 Cup but when they started performing, God opened the doors of success for them and they ultimately won.

Inzamam insisted that all members of the current Pakistan team had a chance of becoming a hero by winning the coveted title, as it would serve them well in future.