Life and death, and enjoying the game

Police search the stadium at Lahore ahead of Friday's warm-up match © Getty Images

Kapil Dev has announced that the upcoming tour will be a matter of life and death for the players, The Times of India reports. "It may be a goodwill series for some, but for the boys, it's life and death," Kapil said. "It's about their careers. The players need to win for the team as well as for themselves."

He had a few words of advice to counter the pressure. "The boys must learn to enjoy the game and savour the opportunity. They have to just concentrate and work hard for the results to show up." Kapil spoke about his role during the three-day camp: "There is no chance of making big changes in three days. I just wanted to get them more confident before the series. Of course, there were some technical aspects as well, but I wouldn't like to talk about them now."

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Shoaib Akhtar played down his impending duel with Sachin Tendulkar, saying that cricket was not about individuals. "Cricket is a team game. The Indians now have more than one Tendulkar, and we have to get five Tendulkars out to win matches, but we are up to it."

Shoaib spoke to Press Trust of India about the additional responsibility of leading Pakistan's attack, and the country's expectations of the team. His personal goals, however, hadn't changed from the start of his career. "I want to be the best against the best. That has been my endeavour since I started my career. So I am gearing up."

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Ten Sports and India's cable operators have been involved in a confrontation that could affect viewers when the first Indo-Pak one-dayer gets underway on March 13, PTI reports. The channel had been blacked out because of a dispute over a 400-500% rise in subscription payments. "Not only Ten Sports, most pay-channel broadcasters have asked for four-five times the present subscription payments and they want this agreement for the next one year," a cable operator said. "We cannot sustain such payments." However, Ten Sports was confident that the matter would be settled soon.

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Irfan Pathan is waiting eagerly for the day he opens the bowling with Zaheer Khan, according to a report by PTI. "I am enjoying the prospect of bowling alongside Zaheer Khan. He is a great help and always gives me tips. We vibe pretty well ... it will be fun bowling with him." While training on the last day of the three-day camp in Kolkata, Pathan said he was working on getting his basics right, which was essential for the tour to Pakistan. "Sharing the new ball has thrust greater responsibility on me. I am aware of the demands that come along with it. I am working on the basics and trying to perfect the line and length to get the little things in order ... It is these things which will help in Pakistan."

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Ramesh Powar came in for praise from John Wright, The Indian Express reported. On the verge of representing India for the first time, Powar's all-round ability and hard work was commended by Wright. "Apart from being an offspinner, he is a good fielder and can also bat. It's an advantage to have a player like him in the team," Wright said. "He has a lot of energy and let's see how he shapes up for the tour."

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken steps to ensure that spectators are given every chance to watch matches without untoward incidents taking place.

According to The Indian Express, the PCB has put up huge TV screens at various points in Lahore to lessen the pressure on the Gaddafi Stadium. Bar-coded tickets were issued to avoid forgery and the custom of giving away complimentary tickets was done away with. Meanwhile, tickets were issued for the warm-up game in Lahore on March 11.

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Yuvraj Singh's father, Yograj, wants his son to marry "someone of the calibre of Steffi Graf." Why? Genetic preparation's the answer, according to The Indian Express. "I have read some books on genetic preparations and I want to ensure that Yuvraj, whenever he decides to marry, ties the knot with a strong, athletic woman irrespective of where she comes from." Yograj also had the country in mind when he said, "Look how he's [Andre Agassi] planned his generations. He is already talking about careers for his children. It's an approach everyone should have, only then India can boast about being a sporting powerhouse."