Christchurch, Feb 19 (IANS) Pakistan chief coach Waqar Younis has insisted his team will bounce back in the cricket World Cup despite a demoralising defeat against arch-rivals India.
Pakistan succumbed to a 76-run defeat against the defending champions in their first Pool B game in Adelaide Sunday, a loss Waqar Wednesday blamed on an inability to handle big-match pressure.
"We can all see what went wrong. We didn't play well. India played better than us by building partnerships, probably we took more pressure," Waqar was quoted as saying by sport24.co.za.
"But we have to realise that it's just the start and there are more games to play and we will come back in the matches ahead."
Pakistan will look to put things right in their second game in Christchurch Saturday against the West Indies, who also suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Ireland.
"We know the importance of the game so we will try to have a positive frame of mind and do well," said Waqar.
Waqar repeated his team is not amongst the title favourites, a statement which he gave before the departure for New Zealand last month.
Then, such pessimism was greeted with severe criticism from former Pakistan players.
"I think it's the same, I back that again. I am not saying that we have become favourites. Of course, saying that releases pressure from players when you are not favourites."
Waqar, who is in his second stint as coach after guiding the team to a semifinal finish in the 2011 World Cup, blamed poor batting for the India loss.
"A target of 300 runs in Australia and New Zealand is chaseable. This has become the norm, a par total, and we have to chase down 300 in games ahead," said Waqar.
The coach admitted that experimenting with Younis Khan as an opener had failed.
"The experiment to use Younis wasn't successful. It's not too tough to drop a senior player but in a tournament like the World Cup you try to use maximum experience," said Waqar.
"When we used Younis at number three or four he was not scoring runs so as per the requirement we used him as an opener but it didn't work."
Younis, playing his fourth World Cup, has managed just 73 runs in seven matches with a highest of 25 since the team's arrival in New Zealand last month.
Pakistan have opener Nasir Jamshed waiting in the wings and he is likely to replace Younis, who made just six against India, if the veteran is dropped.
Trinamool suspends lawmaker for protesting against party
Kolkata, Feb 25 (IANS) West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress Wednesday suspended legislator S
In the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derailment on the Gonda-Mankapur rail section, the investigat
Politics has heated up since the incident of a BJP worker shamelessly urinating on tribal Dashmat
Actor Allu Arjun is constantly in the headlines due to the Pushpa 2 stampede controversy. Meanwhi
Apart from equity and F&O segments, investors also keep an eye on new IPOs to make profits in
Himachal to restore hot water springs
Shimla, March 30 (IANS) Hot springs in Himachal Pradesh's Tattapani which got submerged this ye
There has been a drastic reduction in incidents of violence in India in recent years. This claim
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot was being seen as the next president of the Congress till Sunday aftern
Along with the Army, the Air Force had also made an unprecedented contribution in defeating Pakis
After the US accused the Adani Group, one name is being discussed in full swing. That name is Gau
