Pakistan may have been humbled in their World Twenty20 opener against India but former captain Javed Miandad is confident that Mohammed Hafeez's men will stay alive to make the final where he expects them to face off against the arch-rivals once again.
"Pakistan lost to India because they didn't bat well at all but remember they are still not out of the tournament and we could still see a Pakistan and India final," Miandad said after the seven-wicket defeat for the green shirts yesterday in Mirpur, Bangladesh.
Miandad said the format of the tournament is such that teams could still make a comeback even after one or two defeats.
"Pakistan still has three more matches to play and their group is a close one as Pakistan, India West Indies and Australia can all reach the semi finals. But definitely they will have to raise their game in the remaining matches," Miandad stated.
The former national coach, who recently resigned from the Pakistan Cricket Board, said the team was not professional against India despite the hype and expectations surrounding the match.
"A professional is supposed to deliver and the Pakistan team has not been doing that consistently. The running between the wickets today left much to be desired," he explained.
Miandad said India had been led very shrewdly and proactively by Dhoni and he read the situation well while using his bowlers well.
"Our batsmen just didn't handle the Indian spinners well," he said.
