Mercury goes up in Lahore
Cricket rivals India and Pakistan were gripped by big-match jitters as they prepared for Wednesday's decisive fifth one-dayer that one expert said would be "too close to call."
With the series locked 2-2, it's all to play for at the day-night encounter at the Gaddafi Stadium with the winner gaining a psychological edge ahead of the three Tests to follow.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Sourav Ganguly's Indians go into the showdown buoyant after securing a series-levelling win on Sunday, but are wary of their poor record in one-day finals over the past year.
Pakistan, on the other hand, are concerned about undisciplined bowling which allowed India to bounce back when a decisive 3-1 lead for the hosts was on the cards.
Ganguly's tourists have previously come unstuck when it mattered most, losing four consecutive finals to world champions Australia, starting with the 125-run defeat in the World Cup final in South Africa in March last year.
The Indians were then beaten on their home turf in Calcutta in November in the tri-series final and were blanked 2-0 in the best-of-three finals in Australia in February.
"We have not played well in crunch finals," Indian vice-captain Rahul Dravid conceded. "That is something we definitely want to improve upon on Wednesday.
"But our morale is high after Sunday's win and this should help us in the next game."
The tourists kept their cool in the make-or-break fourth game here to overtake Pakistan's seemingly unbeatable 293-9 with five overs to spare.
India have been helped along in the series by the wayward Pakistan bowlers, who have conceded a staggering 58 wides and 40 no-balls in the four matches so far.
Fiery fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was the worst culprit on Sunday, giving away 14 wides in his 2-63 in nine overs. New-ball partner Shabbir Ahmed conceded five no-balls and a wide in 0-62 from seven overs.
"We are very happy to get that kind of support from our rivals," Dravid said. "We hope they continue to give us so many extra runs and deliveries."
Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq, who has twice ended up losing despite scoring centuries in the first match at Karachi and on Sunday, was exasperated.
"I would be happy to be out for a duck if Pakistan win the last game," he said.
"The advantage we held after taking a 2-1 lead at Peshawar is gone. India now have the upper hand. After Sunday's win, they will not only have the momentum with them, but also the confidence that comes from successfully chasing a big score like 293.
"As a captain, a no-ball or a wide irritates me no end. The lack of discipline by the bowlers cost us the match. It is about time they put their hands up and do the job for Pakistan."
Pakistan coach Javed Miandad said he was confident the bowlers would do better on Wednesday.
"There is so much pressure on Shoaib Akhtar because he is the spearhead of our attack. He has made mistakes but I have a lot of faith in him," Miandad said.
"It has been a great series so far and I am sure the finale will be as good. I hear the Indians choke in a final, I hope they choke again but we are not going to take them lightly."
The playing elevens for the decider, described by former Indian Test player Navjot Sidhu as "too close to call", will be named just before the toss on Wednesday.
India is expected to retain the same side, while Pakistan is seeking a place for dashing opener Taufeeq Umar, who hit a century in a practice match against the Indians on March 10.
TEAMS
INDIA (likely): Sourav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Zaheer Khan, Laxmipathy Balaji, Irfan Pathan, Murali Kartik.
PAKISTAN (from): Inzamamul Haq (captain), Yousuf Youhana, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed, Taufeeq Umar.
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