Imran Khan, in the city, on Saturday. A Telegraph picture

Calcutta: Pakistan’s World Cup-winning captain, Imran Khan, has advised Indian players to take sleeping pills on match eve to hold their nerve during the semi-final against Pakistan.

The former Pakistan all-rounder warned, “favourites don’t always win the World Cup”, but felt this was India’s best chance to win the title for the second time.

Speaking at a Nokia promotional, on Saturday, Imran said Afridi could prove to be the ‘X’ factor for Pakistan in the high-voltage clash.

The following are excerpts

The charged-up atmosphere surrounding Wednesday’s super clash

I remember playing a Test match once when everything shut down in both the countries (India and Pakistan). And it was the deciding t match between Pakistan and India, in 1987, in Bangalore. Four Tests were drawn and the last Test was the decider… I think if you multiply that by five times that’s what is going to happen on Wednesday. It will be a very even contest because when a match is of such high pressure as this one, things tend to even out. Great players can become ordinary under pressure and ordinary players can become great by soaking in the pressure.

If dew will play a big role in Mohali

I don’t know what the dew factor would be like… That can make a big difference. So, the toss becomes very important. Shahid Afridi spoke to me before going to Mohali and he said he was especially concerned about what time the dew falls and the impact. Otherwise, I think it will be a very exciting match. Obviously, I want Pakistan to win… But if ever India had a chance of winning the World Cup this is it. It’s a golden opportunity for India to win. Favourites don’t always win the World Cup and neither do teams hosting the tournament. But there is always a first time…

On the X-factor in the Pakistan squad

The X-factor is Pakistan can come up with a surprise… It could be (Shahid) Afridi. He has not done well with the bat, in the tournament, so far. But if he has one golden moment of 10 overs, anything can happen. Pakistan are highly unpredictable. The result can go either side on Wednesday. It all depends on the team that has more of a killer instinct.

If there is anything that troubles me today is the absence of Mohammed Aamer and Mohammed Asif. The right punishment was given to them. But if we had those two bowlers, Pakistan would have been the favourites and not India.

Between Afridi and Dhoni, who has an advantage as skipper…

Surely Dhoni… Afridi made a mistake by quitting Test captaincy. Dhoni is successful in all formats. Technique and temperament comes with playing Test cricket. Afridi’s disadvantage is there…

On Pakistan’s poor record against India in World Cups

There’s a saying that “You only cross the river once”. These are new cricketers… Maybe, there will be a record, Wednesday. There will be dual pressure in the match — first, it is a World Cup match and then it’s India vs Pakistan. The pressure will be immense and I think Indian players should take sleeping pills the day before.

If Pakistan should play Shoaib Akhtar

If he is fit, Shoaib should be in the team. Shoaib has fitness issues and Afridi is better-placed to take the decision. Until now, the spinners have done a good job for Pakistan. But if there’s any team that plays spin better, it’s India. But if I were to pick, I would choose Shoaib and take a chance against India.

Whether there is an area of concern for Pakistan

The problem is Pakistan’s best batsmen are playing at No. 4 or 5. They should come at No.3 or 4. This could prove Pakistan’s Achilles’ heel if they are chasing. My worry is with the chase. That’s not Pakistan’s strength. They might fall there.

If the political summit in Mohali will have any impact on the players

I don’t think it will have any effect on the cricketers… Knowing what it is like to play a World Cup and knowing what it is like to play against India I can tell you the last thing that will be on Pakistan cricketers’ minds would be the face of Asif (Ali) Zardari. They would not be thinking of him. All they will be thinking of is to win the match. I am not playing any mind games here… But India will be under more pressure because of home conditions and the pressure of being the favourites… That will be a relief for the Pakistani cricketers.

On Sachin Tendulkar’s 99 hundreds

He is a phenomenon… You really have to have a special gift to score the sheer quantity of runs. He has two gifts… First is his technique and second is his timing.

On the best batsman he has bowled against

Viv Richards. I have bowled to everyone, but he is the only batsman who I thought could attack. Other batsmen would survive against me, but he would look to attack me.