Chrsitshurch:
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis today insisted his team would bounce back in the World Cup despite a demoralising defeat against arch-rivals India, a loss he blamed on an inability to handle big-match pressure.
Pakistan succumbed to a 76-run defeat against the defending champions in their first Pool B game in Adelaide on Sunday.
“We can all see what went wrong,” Waqar told reporters. “We didn’t play well, India played better than us by building partnerships, probably we took more pressure.
“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 on Saturday against the West Indies, who also suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Ireland.
Waqar repeated his team were 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 semi-final finish in the 2011 World Cup, blamed poor batting for the India loss.
“Unfortunately our batting did not click,” said Waqar, of Pakistan’s batting which failed to chase a target of 301, wrapped up for 224.
“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.
