Mind Games Begin

As always much before the series between the two traditional rivals began, mind games have already come into action. More so from the Pakistan side, quite a few ex-Pakistani players' have signaled warnings to the Indian camp. One example is as follows:

"Beware Shoaib and the new Pakistan" says Intikhab Alam who played 47 Tests for Pakistan and who coaches Indian Punjab team. Intikhab said, "India will have to watch him (Shaoib).... Pakistan beat England who had defeated Australia for the first time in 18 years and this has given confidence to the Pakistani team.... It will be foggy atmosphere and will be difficult to complete quota of 90 overs in a day. In such circumstances, the first Test should have been played in Karachi. The weather conditions are different in January and February. Last time, India had visited Pakistan in the month of March and April, and this will make a lot of difference....This Pakistani team is not the one that lost early last year"

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I think there are some very interesting observations made by Intikhab, but I am sure the Indians will do their homework pretty well. Also, another very interesting aspect is that Greg Chappell has coached in the Pakistan Cricket Academy and will thus have first hand information on many of the young Pakistani players who are now in the Pakistan Team. Chappell will also have a very good idea of the conditions under which India will be playing as he had coached in the Pakistan cricket academy in the winter months as well.

How much of these mind games will have an impact on the Indian camp is difficult to judge but they would be carefully read and analyzed by the Indian camp for sure.....

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In fact some of these mind games have already woken one Indian giant. Sehwag confident of taming Pakistan according to HTCricket.com. "If they give us bouncy and seaming tracks they will struggle against our attack because their batsmen are not technically sound", said Sehwag to a query that Pakistan is thinking of preparing bouncy tracks.

However, legendary cricketer of the yesteryears Imran Khan rates Pakistan as favorites Pak favourites against India: Imran . According to Imran, skipper Inzamam-ul Haq and pace ace Shoaib Akhtar are a match-winning pair, the former captain said even home conditions were favourable to Pakistan during this time of the year.

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But I still believe only time will tell.......