Whoever handles pressure wins: Gul

MOHALI, March 28: Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul said on Monday whichever team handles the pressure well would have a definite edge in the high-voltage second semi-final of the World Cup at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here. Talking to reporters during the team's practice session, Gul said India may have the stronger batting line-up but Pakistan certainly have more firepower in their bowling armoury than the traditional rivals that evens out the teams' equation. "As a matter we are not even thinking about the pressure factor or worrying about it. We are just keeping our focus on cricket at the moment. "Over the past six months or so, we have gone through pressure situations and faced scandals. But thank God we have come out well," Gul said. "Given the problems the team faced, I think we did extremely well against South Africa [in the UAE] and won both Test and one-day series in New Zealand. That is a creditable achievement and it has helped us in the World Cup. "The dressing room atmosphere is fantastic, the players are supporting each other and there's a lot of unity." Gul said this is a good chance for Pakistan to win the World Cup which would help in bringing back international teams to the country. "We want to see teams visiting Pakistan and playing there. Everyone in Pakistan is waiting for that moment. Hopefully if we are successful here, then I can't see any reason for that not happening sooner than later. "We've haven't done well in the past few tournaments, but this time we have a chance because our batting and bowling have performed well," he remarked. He said if both Pakistan and India play on basis it would improve the relations between these countries while urging fans to treat the game only as a sporting occasion and savour it. "There should be more people-to-people contact in my personal view. Cricket has in the past been one of the reasons for improving relations between our two nations. It would be much better if the teams play each other more often than the case now. The fans should be more accommodating in their reaction at the match result," he stressed. "Usually the fans [in both countries] can't stand defeat when Pakistan and India are playing. My message to them is simple: treat sport and only sport; don't go overboard and enjoy the occasion whatever the outcome." Looking forward to Wednesday's big clash, Gul revealed that the team's morale is high after the crushing 10-wicket victory against the quarter-final in Dhaka last week and expected Pakistan to play at their best against India. "That win has ensured a high morale for the team because we wanted our top order to click. We are hoping for our batsmen to do well in the semi-final as well. "I reckon 270-280 would be a good score here although we have more than 320 against India on this ground in the past," he said. "The top three in the Indian side [Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir] will be the vital wickets for us. If we manage to get them quickly then it could make far easier for us [to restrict total]." On his role as the strike bowler Gul admitted that the rhythm he found midway through the competition he had served him well to strive for wickets early on, and if Shoaib Akhtar, who had not played since the New Zealand in Pallekele on March 8, gets to play in Mohali it would lessen the pressure him. "It is difficult if your rhythm is not there. Thankfully, I have found it after sometime and it has served me well. Bowling with the new ball has definitely helped me in regaining wicket-taking form. In a pressure game, one has got to be at the top of your game. "Shoaib Akhtar didn't play in several matches on grounds of fitness and form. And that added pressure on me," he pointed out. "Shoaib is an experienced bowler who has done very well against India in the past, and if plays here that would be great." At the time of filing this report, the Pakistan team was doing fielding practice under lights to assess the dew factor coming into play during the match.