Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi (L) and India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni pose for photographers at a news conference in Mohali Tuesday. (AP) MOHALI: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi insists that the pressure and expectation will all be on India's shoulders in Wednesday's World Cup semifinal blockbuster. With the prize of a place in Saturday's final at stake, a fever-pitch mood is expected with the 30,000 capacity Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium sold out days ago for the crunch clash. “We are not the most favorite team for this competition. India is the most favorite and we have played above expectations. We are very confident and we are enjoying our cricket,” said Afridi. But India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni shrugged off the hype surrounding a match which has also taken on huge diplomatic and political significance. “It's an honor to lead the side,” said Dhoni. “If you take a pressure job, you will find yourself in a pressure cooker. When you talk about hype and pressure, what does not help you needs to be kept away. You need to top up on the skills aspect — vital areas we are focusing on.” With that in mind, Dhoni said the team hadn't watched television throughout the tournament. The match will be a clash between Pakistan's well-balanced bowling attack and India's star-studded top order, including opener Sachin Tendulkar who needs just one more century for a hundred international hundreds. “We believe we have the strongest bowling attack in the world,” said Pakistan opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez, who took the new ball with his off-spin in the quarterfinal win over the West Indies. “That's the key.” Pakistan's Umar Gul is arguably the best reverse-swing bowler at this tournament while Saaed Ajmal's off-spin a potent weapon. And then there is the leg-spin of Afridi who is the tournament's top bowler with 21 wickets at an average of just 10.71 apiece. Meanwhile fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who will retire after the World Cup, waits in the wings. “Shoaib is not 100 percent but I think he is trying his level-best and we will decide (on his selection) this evening,” Afridi said. The squad was given the day off Tuesday. India did manage to overcome champion Australia's three-pronged pace attack in a five-wicket quarterfinal win in Ahmedabad but that was on a pitch favoring spin. Even then, India collapsed to 187 for five chasing 261 for victory, and it needed a composed 57 not out from the in-form Yuvraj Singh, now back on his home ground, to see the co-host to victory. Traditionally, the Mohali pitch has always offered plenty of pace and bounce and that could yet see Pakistan give Akhtar one last shot at India. Pakistan's ability to make early inroads into a top order featuring Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir could be decisive. India's bowlers, notably left-arm quick Zaheer Khan and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, did a good containing job against Australia. India will look for similar results in a bid to book a place in the April 2 Mumbai final against either Sri Lanka or New Zealand. This match has also witnessed “cricket diplomacy” with Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani accepting an invitation from India counterpart Manmohan Singh to attend the game. Political pressure upon the Pakistan team was increased yet further when Interior Minister Rehman Malik warned the side not to ‘fix' the match. Afridi, who said he'd spoken to both Malik and Gilani heading into this match, said: “I think I am the cricketer first and then the diplomat. I am an ambassador for Pakistan, so I should know what to say. “I think it's a great sign for both countries and sports, especially cricket always brings these two countries together.” Dhoni ended his news conference by posing for photographs with opposing skipper Afridi. Before he left, Dhoni had a reminder for anyone who might be tempted to lose their sense of perspective Wednesday. “Somebody has to lose this game, irrespective of what happens about the political talking,” he said. “At the end of (tomorrow), you'll have one team losing and one team going into the final. That's part and parcel of sport, each and every sport.”
