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Waqar can't say why Pakistan fail to cross India hurdle at the WC

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March 09, 2015 08:58 IST

'It is very difficult to pick one team to win the World Cup but there is going to a whole lot of pressure on the teams in the knock-out stage'

Waqar Younis

Waqar Younis. Photograph: Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Pakistan cricket coach Waqar Younis said he didn’t know why Pakistan have a wretched losing streak against arch-rivals India in the World Cup.

India defeated Pakistan by 76 runs at Adelaide in their opening match of the ongoing World Cup and have since won four games on a trot to qualify for the quarter-finals.

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For the record, Pakistan has lost all the six encounters against India at the mega event.

"I don't have an answer for that (why Pakistan has failed to beat India in the World Cup). There were different eras, different teams and different pressure situations. I am not trying to give excuses, but one has to understand that India has been playing in Australia for the last couple of months and we just arrived in Australia. It could be one of the reasons," Waqar told PTI in an exclusive interaction from Australia.

India's Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket

India's Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

"You can say that, yes, India definitely played better than us in this World Cup and I think they learnt from their experiences of playing Test cricket and the triangular ODI in Australia," he said.

Waqar, however, said it was difficult to say whether the Indian team had the potential to defend its World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand.

"They are a few teams who can win this World Cup but it is very difficult to say who is going to go all the way. But India and New Zealand have started really well while Australia has had an average start," he said.

On the Pakistan team, he said his side had just picked up momentum and it could be anybody's World Cup.

"What I know is, that it is very difficult to pick one team to win the World Cup but there is going to a whole lot of pressure on the teams in the knock-out stage and whoever holds the nerves will come out victorious. India is fortunate they have a very experienced captain and they have some seasoned batters who can deliver under pressure," he said.

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