Print Print edition: 2011-03-25

India challenge excites Pakistan coach

Published Updated

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis relishes the prospect of playing the last two matches in India to win the World Cup as his team continued its ruthless march in the tournament. Pakistan, led from the front by inspirational captain Shahid Afridi, crushed the West Indies by 10 wickets on Wednesday to advance to their first semi-final since 1999.
The easy win set up a potentially explosive semi-final against arch-rivals India in Mohali on March 30, if the co-hosts beat defending champions Australia in Ahmedabad later on Thursday.
Waqar said it would be "awesome" if Pakistan was to play India for a place in the final at the Wankhede stadiun in Mumbai on April 2. "I would love to play India in India," the fast bowling great said. "There is no bigger rivalry in the game than that. We have not played each other in our own country in recent years.
"So it should be very exciting. The two are cricket-loving countries. If it happens it will be awesome." Waqar said it did not matter whether they play the semi-final against India, or Australia whom they beat by four wickets in the league to end the defending champions' unbeaten 34-match streak in the World Csup.
"I have no preference whom we play," he said. "We have to concentrate on what we have to do. "All I know is that we are going to be playing in India. There will be a lot of pressure. Not only on us, but probably on the other side as well. Whoever holds their nerves better will come out on top."