Inzamam says Pakistan must learn "to finish"

Inzamam-ul Haq, the Pakistan captain, says his side need to learn how to "finish off" games ahead of the two one-day internationals against India at Abu Dhabi next week. He added that India's 4-1 win against them at home did not reflect the closeness of the contest and that Pakistan had to learn from their mistakes.

"We competed well against India but just couldn't finish off the games. In Abu Dhabi, we have to give winning touches to the games to end our losing streak," Inzamam told Press Trust of India."The result may suggest that India won comprehensively. But the reality is that India did well in pulling off the matches from tough situations while we failed to maintain the pressure."

Inzamam, who has won four of his last five one-day series, said that finishing games was vital to the one-day version. "It's all about how good you are at finishing off the games because in international cricket, good teams don't give you chances too often and whenever the chance comes, you have to pounce on it," he said. "We know where we faltered against India and I don't expect my boys to repeat the same mistake again."

Inzamam also chose not to read into the struggles of Virender Sehwag and Mohammad Kaif and the absence of Sachin Tendulkar. "India has some good utility cricketers and I don't think the absence or lack of form of one or two would affect their game or dampen their spirits," he said. "For us, the important thing is to look into ourselves and think how we can lift our performance and win games instead of smiling on their weak links. The matches, as always, would be pressure games and we all know the emotions and enthusiasm of the spectators when India and Pakistan lock horns in the Middle East."

Inzamam admitted his players were tired after a packed season in which Pakistan played eight Tests and 13 ODIs since late October. "We have played cricket in the subcontinent where the weather has been very tough on cricketers. I know the players are mentally and physically tired," he said. "But at the same time they also know that Abu Dhabi matches are for a cause. I know that my team wants to end an excellent season on a high."

Both matches, to be held at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on April 18 and 19, will be in aid of the victims of the devastating earthquakes that hit the subcontinent in late 2005. It is the first time both sides square off at this venue. Both share a heated rivalry at neighbouring Sharjah, with Pakistan winning 18 games there to India's six.