26 February 2004	Thursday	05 Muharram 1425

LAHORE, Feb 25: Pakistan coach Javed Miandad denied on Wednesday that neither he nor his players were afraid of the forthcoming home series against India.

"We are taking cricket as a game and taking the forthcoming series with the same spirit," Miandad told Dawn. Miandad said the team had been doing well and expressed the hope that it would repeat its past performance against India.

When asked whether he needed a bowling or fielding coach or a psychologist to assist him, his reply was in negative. "I don't need anybody's help now because I believe no one can perform miracle in such a short time," he said.

"All the cricketers have come through a process and now they don't need a training of a preliminary level," he added. However, he said the PCB should ask the players if they needed any coach in those departments or not.

He said former greats Imran Khan and Wasim Akram were to give tips in the training camp and "I think in their presence, there is no need of any bowling coach."

When asked that mental strength would play a vital role in the series and a psychologist could improve the level of the players, the former Pakistan skipper said there was no need of that.

"It is the player's commitment with the game and I think every player is committed to do his best. "I believe the team has the strength and capability to win the Test and ODI series and we will play cricket with a positive frame of mind," he stressed.

He said everyone was eager to perform against India and preparing himself rigorously. Miandad admitted he was not preparing any special strategy for the series. "To me there is nothing special. We will play good cricket and no one should be worried. If one feels under pressure, share it with me," he concluded.