Don't term Indo-Pak match as war, warns Intikhab Alam

Sanjay Ganjoo
Mohali, Mar 26 (PTI) Pakistan team manager Intikhab
Alam is wary of the tremendous hype surrounding the semi-final
clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan and has advised
the media from terming it as "war" instead of a normal cricket
match.
"Let it remain as cricket and don't make us feel as if
we are standing on a warfront," Alam told PTI here.
The former Pakistan captain, who was also the coach of
the side that won the 1992 World Cup is frankly not amused
with the kind of hype that has been generated as it puts
unbearable pressure on the players.
"Iskee kya zarurat hein (what is the need of so much
hype)."
"We don't want to pressurise (put pressure on) our
players. This is needless," the former skipper, who has also
coached the Punjab team in Ranji Trophy said.
He also said that one of the teams has to lose, but
the losers should be graceful in defeat.
"In both the countries, there are very emotional
people. Both teams cannot win and somebody has to lose. But
whichever team loses should lose gracefully. We have to give
that positive message," he said indicating that cricket should
emerge as a winner in the end.
For Intikhab, it's a special occasion that they are
again playing a match as big as World Cup semi-fonal on Indian
soil.
"This is a blessing that we have come here to play
cricket in India . This of course, is a special occasion, but
I feel we should be playing more often," he said.
Cricketing ties between the two countries were
suspended in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has invited his
Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif
Ali Zardari to join him in watching the match here.