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Keeping cool the key: Ganguly
The Indian captain has predicted an "awesome" series against arch-rivals Pakistan, saying the team which handles pressure better will win.
Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has predicted an "awesome" series against arch-rivals Pakistan, saying the team which handled the pressure better will win.
"I don't think there is much to choose between the two sides," Ganguly said in an interview as his team prepared to clash with Inzamam-ul-Haq's tourists in three Tests and six One-Day Internationals.
"The key to winning is to keep your cool amidst the pressure that goes with an India-Pakistan encounter. Fans expect you to win against Pakistan more than any other team.
"But I will try to ensure my team is not burdened by unnecessary pressure. I want them to remain calm all the time and just concentrate on the task at hand."
Ganguly, India's most successful captain with 18 Test wins, scoffed at suggestions that Pakistan's less experienced team without injured fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar would be easy fodder for the hosts.
"I don't think anybody is a favourite," he said. "Pakistan are a very good side. Batsmen like Inzamam and Yousuf Youhana are not to be taken lightly.
"And just because Shoaib has injury problems does not mean Pakistan's attack is weak. People like Mohammad Sami and Danish Kaneria can be quite devastating on their day.
"We will have to play very well to beat them even though we are playing at home. It is going to be an awesome series."
Home advantage counts for little. The last two Test series between the old foes have been won by the visitors.
Pakistan won two of the three Tests they played in India in 1999, including the Asian Test championship match in Calcutta. Ganguly's men inflicted a 2-1 defeat in their first series on Pakistan soil in 15 years last year.
Ganguly admitted that four consecutive one-day losses to Pakistan since August — in Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, England and India — still rankled, but he was not unduly worried.
