'Mental strength key to beat India'

According to Inzamam-ul-Haq mentally tough players survive the grind of international cricket and at a certain stage, skills become secondary.

Faced with the threat of an early elimination from the Asia Cup, Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq on Friday exhorted his teammates to keep their emotions in check and rely on mental strength in the high-pressure match against India on Sunday.

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Inzamam said it was important to go into the do-or-die match with a relaxed frame of mind to be able to perform better.

"I have a theory the bigger the match, the better you perform if you are more relaxed," said the captain whose expression masks an extremely mentally tough character.

Inzamam admitted an India-Pakistan game is never without pressure and that his boys would be feeling more heat given the thrashing at the hands of India in a recent series at home and their poor performance against Sri Lanka in the first Super League game on Wednesday.

"I have been around for 12-13 years and admit the pressure is bound to be there. But it is important all of us remain relaxed and cool," he said.

Inzamam said only the mentally tough survive the grind of international cricket and at a certain stage, skills become secondary.

"Mental strength is very important. It allows you to handle pressure well. International cricket is only about pressure otherwise it is not different from any other form of cricket," he said.

Inzamam said the team realises that after the huge loss to Sri Lanka, a defeat to India would surely send them tumbling out of the tournament. But if they do beat India, they would brighten their chances for a berth in the final on August 1.

"If we win on Sunday, we qualify. If we lose, we don't. It is as simple as that. It's a do-or-die game for us," said the skipper.

Following the seven-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka, Pakistan have gone back into the drawing room and the team has been subjected to some extremely searching explanations and advices by coach Bob Woolmer, who has been drawing charts and using video footage to illustrate his point.

"The boys have worked very hard but we believe it was a bad day for us and don't want to think anything more than that," said Inzamam.

The Multan batsman said the Indians did have a formidable line-up but he was hopeful his bowlers would be able to strike early.

"Even though we lost badly against Sri Lanka, I am very satisfied with our bowling performance. We didn't let them get the small target easily. Indians have a very strong batting line-up. They can score on any kind of wicket, but if we bowl well, we are capable of making some early inroads," he said.

Inzamam also expressed hope in the talent available in the Pakistan team and said his boys were capable of matching Indians as far as putting big totals on the board was concerned.

"We showed it in One-Day matches in Pakistan that we can score as big as the Indians. Both this is not an individual's game. Everyone has to contribute. It is not Shoaib Akhtar or Inzamam alone who can make a side win. All eleven of us have to be equal to the task if we are to prevail on Sunday."

While praising coach Bob Woolmer, he said it would be unfair to expect him to deliver results right at the outset.

"Woolmer is new and he needs time to understand boys," he said.