We don't have any mental block against India in World Cups: Hafeez

DHAKA: Pakistan may have lost their fourth World T20 clash and their ninth World Cup contest to arch-rivals India, but their skipper Mohammad Hafeez feels the team doesn't suffer from a mental block.
"We were well prepared and we don't enter a game thinking about history. It's just that we haven't been able to do the job in the World Cup matches despite beating them in other tournaments," said Hafeez, after their seven-wicket loss in the opening Super 10 clash of the ICC World T20 at the Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium.
Hafeez reckoned the wicket had spongy bounce and was a little damp, but they were on track to score 150 which would have been competitive on the surface. "We had decided that 150 would be a good score and we were on course for that.
After losing a couple of wickets early, we recovered well through the partnership of Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal. But we lost both the batsmen at the wrong time as they were well set and that set us back," he lamented.
India played three spinners on Friday in a move that could have stumped the Pakistanis as sub-continent teams play spinners well and hence rivals are a little wary of playing too many spinners against them. Hafeez though says his team expected the move. "We were expecting it and were mentally ready for it. I must give credit to the Indian spinners, especially Mishra who bowled beautifully," he said.
While batting in the second innings was easier than the first because of the dew, Hafeez refused to pin the blame on the elements. He also disagreed with the sentiment that Pakistan could have bowled Ajmal first up just like India used Ashwin. "Dew wasn't really a factor today. As far as Ajmal bowling at the start is concerned, I thought since I also have a good record as an opening bowler, I should bowl first. We use Ajmal in different spells as a wicket-taking bowler and we did the same today. He did it for us again."
Man of the match Amit Mishra, playing his first World T20 clash, praised Dhoni for the faith that he showed in him. "He just told me to keep sticking to my strengths and flight the ball. I did exactly that. He keeps guiding me always. There was pressure as we were playing against Pakistan for the first time. I did well in the Asia Cup match too, but unfortunately we lost. Thankfully, today we won," he stressed.