CENTURIAN: Pressure will be the name of the game when Pakistan clash with arch-rivals India in a Champions Trophy match on Saturday.

“We have a balanced side, but it depends on the day how we handle pressure against a side like India. Whoever handles the pressure will win,” Pakistan captain Younus Khan told reporters on the eve of the match. “It will be a big game, but I want to take it as a normal game. When you put a lot of pressure on yourself, you collapse. At the moment, I will just try to motivate my boys that it is another game.”

Younus, who returned to lead the side after missing the opening match against the West Indies due a finger injury, said he was lucky that his team had talented youngsters who knew nothing about pressure. Pakistan were well-served by teenagers Mohammad Aamer and Umar Akmal in their five-wicket victory over West Indies. While left-arm seamer Aamer grabbed three wickets, Akmal scored an unbeaten 41.

“They (youngsters) don’t know about the pressure and that’s a good thing. When I was young I also had no fear. I am lucky I have players who don’t know about pressure,” said Younus. “Youngsters play for themselves and the country without pressure. I will not put pressure on them. This is a key thing.”

Younus said he was keen to play in the big match despite not having recovered fully from the injury. “Maybe if it wasn’t India I would’ve skipped this match. I had a fracture and could have skipped the matches against India and Australia, but these are big games,” said the Pakistani captain.

“If you don’t perform in a big tournament you have to face the consequences. I have been told to rest for four weeks, but I am looking at the big picture. Who knows I may perform tomorrow and that performance will be remembered because I played with a broken finger. If I score a hundred and become man of the match and win the match. That is the big picture,” said the Pakistan captain.