LAHORE: Terming Pakistan’s victory against arch-rivals India in the three-match One-day International series a tremendous achievement, chief selector Iqbal Qasim on Friday said Pakistan were better placed to experiment with their playing XI for recording victory in the final ODI.

“No doubt the boys competed with unity and great fighting spirit as they succeeded in downing a strong Indian outfit and that too on their home soil,” Iqbal told Dawn after Pakistan thrashed India by 85 runs in the second ODI to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday.

Pakistan had won the ODI series opener in Chennai by six wickets.

“Certainly, the Pakistan team was in some pressure before leaving for India because the two countries were playing a bilateral series after a long time. Therefore, India [on their home grounds] were being considered superior with a strong batting line-up, although bowling was their weak area.

“But Pakistan team showed their real talent and did a great job [by clinching the ODI series], making the entire nation proud,” Iqbal, the former left-arm Test spinner, said and congratulated captains Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez for the tourists’ brilliant show in India.

“India showed in the recent past with their performances that they were better contestants against Pakistan. However, this time the Pakistan cricketers proved this wrong with their strong mental strength, delivering praiseworthy performances under pressure,” he underlined.

Though Iqbal was reluctant to predict a clean sweep in the ODI series, he said triumphant Pakistan team were in a better position to take a chance in making any change in the playing eleven for the last ODI, to be staged in New Delhi on Sunday.

“I believe the Pakistan team management is in a better position to take a chance by making [appropriate] changes in the playing XI for the last one-dayer. On the other hand, pressure will be on India who will be compelled to think hundred times before taking any such decision [regarding changes in their playing XI],” he said.

Iqbal said he was not in a position to suggest the touring team management about any change, stressing they (members of the touring team management) were better placed to make decisions as they were facing the situation on ground.

He was all praise for left-handed opener Nasir Jamshed and left-arm young paceman Junaid Khan for their match-winning performances in India.

“Hitting back-to-back centuries in the ODIs was a great feat by Nasir who delivered just when Pakistan required it.

“Junaid is also improving fast and he impressed with his bowling. I do hope he will maintain the killer instinct in the forthcoming series in South Africa,” Iqbal added.

Iqbal, however, lamented that Pakistan’s middle-order batsmen did not take full advantage of a solid 141-run start provided by Nasir and Hafeez in the second ODI at the Eden Gardens.

The selection committee chairman reckoned gigantic fast bowler Mohammad Irfan was also a good addition to Pakistan’s pace attack.

“It is a good sign that after remaining less impressive against England, Irfan returned to the national team with improved speed and direction,” he noted.