Hoping to break Pakistan's World Cup jinx against India, captain Misbah-ul-Haq feels that never having beaten their arch-rivals in cricket's showpiece event would not have a bearing on their opening game tomorrow as he strongly believes that "history is bound to change".
"I believe records and history are such things which are bound to change. There is nothing in life which remains constant forever. It can always change and it would change. That's what one should believe when you get onto the field," the 40-year-old Misbah exuded quiet confidence ahead of his team's opening encounter against Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men.
For Misbah, a bit of emotional quotient before a high-voltage match is okay but he feels that often "being driven by emotion can lead to wrong decisions and one will fail to execute the plan he is assigned."
"I don't know whether it's difficult or it's not difficult. It just varies person to person, but I think it is the way to go that you just don't take anything into the ground when you are playing against India. You don't have to worry about what's happening outside, what's going on in the countries. I think you need to focus on your game, go there, and play your best."
Playing India at Adelaide first up is not something that makes the skipper wary.
"You don't get into the field thinking that one particular opposition would have been better than some other opponent. In life and in cricket, you have to ready for any opposition and deal with the situation," he said.
Misbah admitted that having the 7 feet 1 inch-tall left-arm pacer Mohammed Irfan in the team is an advantage.
"Look, people find it difficult tackling the bounce generated by Irfan on benign pitches in India and Pakistan, therefore you can think what can happen on bouncy Australian tracks."
