His dream of guiding India to a win over Australia in the World Cup realised, star batsman Yuvraj Singh is now focussing on the semifinal clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, saying the much-anticipated game would be a battle of equals. Yuvraj struck an unbeaten half century after claiming two wickets on Thursday night to collect his fourth man of the match trophy in the ongoing World Cup.Looking ahead to the semifinal clash against Pakistan at Mohali on 30th March, Yuvraj said it would be another dream game."The India-Pakistan game is going to be another dream game after India-Australia. It's a great victory for India today. We would be playing our best cricket against Pakistan. They know our game we know theirs both teams are equal. They have had a very good tournament and have beaten West Indies and Australia," Yuvraj told reporters in Ahmedabad after India's five-wicket win over the defending champions."We don't want to think about the Pakistan game now. It has been a high-pressure game for us (against Australia) and lot of our system has been drained. We would like to relax for a couple of days and then make plans about Pakistan game," he added.Yuvraj it was very difficult to keep his emotions in check in the high-octane quarterfinal match in Ahmedabad."Over the last one year I have been dreaming of staying till the end and taking the team to victory against Australia in the World Cup and the moment has come. This is the moment I have lived for as a cricketer," he said.He admitted that it was a tough situation with enormous pressure on him and any small mistake on his part could have thrown India out of the World Cup."It was very hard to control emotions. It was difficult to control oneself in such a situation as one mistake and you will be out of the World Cup. I tried to just watch the ball, play down the ground and not lift the ball in the air," said the left-handed batsman.Yuvraj said he was playing in the tournament with the thought of someone special in his life, though he did not specify the person."I am playing for a very special person that comes in my mind and whenever things are not going well I think of that person and things work out," he remarked.
News On AIR | March 26, 2011 8:25 AM
India-Pakistan World Cup semifinal a dream match: Yuvraj