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Last Updated: Thursday, 31 March, 2005, 11:10 GMT 12:10 UK
India and Pakistan fans' views IV
Throughout Pakistan's tour of India, BBC Sport will be publishing the views of fans from both teams.

If you would like to be part of this ongoing series of features, keep a close eye on the South Asian message boards.


Ashwin Bhat
India fan

Unless Sourav Ganguly finds form, unless India tackle the ebullient Pakistani batsmen and Mohammad Sami's increasingly alarming presence, the one-day series may be another sad tale for India.

The third Test was another poor performance under pressure

It is amazing how a batting line-up comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Ganguly (each of them the world's best batsman on their day) is so prone to performing poorly when faced with a daunting task.

I want the Men In Blue to realize they are representing the tricolour, and I would like them to show the courage that defined them on their tours to Australia and Pakistan in the 2003-04 season.

The third Test was another poor performance under pressure.

Such a story is characterizing this Indian team, who a year or so ago was being dubbed as the only team that could challenge Australia.

The Pakistanis played brilliantly under pressure.

Special mentions must go to Younis Khan, who is suddenly laying a fair claim to being one of the top batsmen in the world, and Inzimam-ul-Haq, who had been under massive pressure.

However, India did not help themselves by bowling poorly on day one, looking clueless on day two, relying heavily on Sehwag on day three, running out of bowling options on day four and capitulating under pressure on day five.

It was a sad end to a Test series that I had hoped would eradicate the melancholic memories of the second half of last season.


Mushhood Zaheer
Pakistan fan

Can you believe we have just watched a Test series?

I hope Inzamam doesn't lay back now and go back to snoozing in the field

I tried keeping up every single day and it was hard to believe we really were following a Test match! Every single day played out like a one-dayer.

The third Test went down to the wire with just five overs to spare - such stuff kept me up to 4am here in the United States!

For me it's players like Shahid Afridi and Sehwag who make these face-offs all the more nail-biting, since they both have the capability to give their team an aggressive batting edge.

Younis and Inzimam were simply awesome.

And Inzi's active role in the field to keep changing his approach for India's tail was just what Pakistan needed to get a breakthrough.

I hope the big man doesn't lay back now and go back to snoozing in the field.

I see great potential in Younis Khan as the next captain as well.

He orchestrated some great breakthroughs in Inzi's absence. His performance and dedication is promising for the future.

I can only imagine the sort of excitment that awaits us in the limited-overs series in April.

Naturally, I'm rooting for Pakistan, but I'm defenitely not ruling the world-class Indian team out.

They have every reason to step up right now and lock horns with the Pakistanis on the field.

Whatever the outcome of each of these one-dayers, I hope they provide far greater cricketing moments to remember then the Test matches!

After all, aren't one-dayers supposed to be 10 times more exciting than Test matches?


SEE ALSO
India and Pakistan fans' views I
02 Mar 05 |  Cricket


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