Pakistan players are like street fighters, they can beat India in WC: Saqlain

ISLAMABAD: So what if Pakistan have suffered back-to-back defeats in their tour games in New Zealand, former spinner Saqlain Mushtaq feels they will be a different team when they face India in their World Cup opener next month.

The former cricketer made it clear that despite a few glitches, Misbah-ul-Haq's men have the ability to tame Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men. Aware of the fact that they have never been able to beat India in the World Cup, Saqlain feels things could be different this time around. "It will be a mouth-watering clash. Even though Pakistan have never won a World Cup match against India, their approach should be positive. The Pakistan players are like street fighters, not willing to give up," Saqlain said, ABP news reported.

"Most of the cricketers have learned the game from a grass root level. Many of them haven't gone to any academies, but they have that killer instinct. They believe in playing positive cricketer," Saqlain, who is considered the inventor of doosra, said. Even though Pakistan haven't had very good outings in Australia in the past, Saqlain feels that the onus will be on the young guns.

"There's something unique about this Pakistan team. Even after a series of disappointments, they fight back. Perhaps, that's in the soil of the country. You never lose the killer instinct. On their day, Pakistan can do wonders, and India must be careful," Saqlain warned.

"In Saeed Ajmal's absence, it would be very important to have a proper bowling attack. And if the team management can come up with a solid plan, Ajmal's absence wouldn't hurt Pakistan much," said the spinner, who has been working with Ajmal to remodel his bowling action.

Being a part of Pakistan's World Cup campaigns in the past, Saqlain however, points out that even the Indian bowlers need to buck up. "India's batting is very strong, and they will have to rely a lot on their batsmen. But if they want to reach the knock-outs, bowlers need to be disciplined. The batsmen will certainly give them the edge, but even bowlers need to contribute," Saqlain said.

As both India and Pakistan begin their World Cup campaigns on February 15, Saqlain says it will be a test character for Dhoni. "He is one of the best captains of the World. He has got everything in his kitty. Now, this is a big challenge for him to defend the title. He will be put to test," Saqlain averred.