I will tell my team to keep cool

Beating India is a tall order, but recently, most of our big results have come under pressure. I will be urging my boys to hold nerve, writes Inzamam.

I have never believed in playing the blame game nor do I believe in finger-pointing, so I won't start now.

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We had a long meeting after the Lanka game. All that needed to be discussed and said was done and I believe my players will be better off for it. The good thing is they know what to do.

Difficult problems always have simple solutions. We simply have to find a way to beat India.

The only positive from the Lanka game we can carry into our match against India is the performance of our bowlers. The manner in which they approached the near-impossible task of defending a total of 122 was heartening. They kept beating the bat all the time.

Also, they seemed to have cut down on the extras that hurt us so badly when India came to Pakistan. This gives me confidence. Batting is our main concern. True, our display against Lanka was poor, but remember this is the same line-up that chased 300-plus totals against India.

I have been criticised by some of my former captains for sending Shoaib Malik at No 3. They also said that I should go in early so that I get to play the maximum number of overs. Well, against Lanka I did get a lot of overs, but I failed, as did Youhana, and look at what happened. To my critics, I would say that I have always batted at No 4 even under their captaincy and it was under their leadership that Malik was first promoted in the order to do pinch-hitting, a role he has performed with some degree of success.

I have no hassles in going in early if the team needs it, but ours is an inexperienced line-up. Youhana and I are the only experienced batsman who need to stabilise the innings in case of early loss of wickets. What if we go in early and fail? That will put too much pressure on the youngsters, and I am not comfortable with that idea. Good for us that Razzaq came good with the bat and ball. He is a genuine allrounder who presence lends a lot of flexibility.

It is a tall order, but in recent times, most of our big results have come under pressure. I will be urging my boys to hold their nerve. (CaféCricket)