My mind goes back to 2005, when Pakistan was touring India under my captaincy.
As a team we were no match for the strong Indians at home and accordingly we were more or less down and out on the fourth day of the first test match. We had lost seven wickets on the fourth day and expected the fifth day game to be over at the earliest.
But Kamran Akmal and Abdur Razzak had other thoughts. They batted out the entire fifth day and we saved the test match.
The performance of those two guys lifted the spirit of the entire team and suddenly as a team we started believing that we can take on the mighty Indians at home. That really happened and we drew the test series and won the ODI series.
I still believe that Kamran and Razzak not only resisted the Indians at Mohali, their effort that day inspired us for the total result of the series.
Similarly, Umar Gul’s effort with the bat against South Africa will not only inspire Pakistan but will also send out a message to the entire team, that impossible is nothing.
Pakistan has got the combination and balance of the team right. Pakistan will have to guard against over-confidence and complacency as they have a history of becoming laid-back after a good win.
India was simply out classed by Australia, infact Australia looked unbeatable. Dhoni and his boys will be coming in to the Pakistan match with tremendous pressure.
Not only because they are facing Pakistan but for also, that this could be the knock-out game. I can bet you, that this match will be watched by more people than the final of this World Cup.
You need to have played a India-Pakistan match to really know what sort of pressure this match generates for the players.