Imam hopes to carry Anwar ‘motivation’
Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq will channel the spirit of record-setting compatriot Saeed Anwar and his country's winning relationship with Chennai on Monday in an effort to revive the team's World Cup campaign.
Pakistan face Afghanistan at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium where in 1997, flamboyant left-handed opener Anwar hit a monumental 194 against India.
At the time it was the highest individual ODI score while Anwar's heroics also gave Pakistan a 35-run win over their arch-rivals.
"We have a great record at this venue, so I am sure that will be a motivation," said Haq, who was only two when Anwar blitzed the India team which featured the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in 1997.
"Although I don't have any memory of Saeed Anwar's record, that too will be a motivation."
Pakistan lost two of their previous World Cup games against arch-rivals India and Australia and will be desperate for a comeback.
"We have to admit we did not play well in those games," said Haq on Sunday.
"We were not up to the mark, did not get the execution right and defeat always lowers morale. We dropped crucial catches [against Australia] and that hurt," said Haq.
David Warner was on 10 when he was dropped by Usama Mir off Shaheen Shah Afridi -- he went on to make 163 and share a record Australian World Cup opening stand of 259 with Mitchell Marsh who compiled 121.
"You will see a new thing tomorrow. We want to go to Kolkata with four wins in six games," said Haq, whose team will also face South Africa in Chennai on Friday.
Haq also played down the threat posed by Afghanistan's spin trio of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi at a venue renowned as a slow bowlers paradise.
"We know this ground favours spinners and they have quality spin bowlers but we have beaten them 3-0 recently in a one-day series in Sri Lanka under the same conditions," said Haq.
"We all know Afghanistan is a good team and in these conditions they will be tough but we are ready for that and will execute our plans."