Karachi: Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has asked Shahid Afridi to be prepared to play its knockout matches in India.

“I don’t agree that we should be voicing our views publicly on what our preferences are as far as playing the quarterfinals and semifinals are concerned,” Imran told a Pakistan television channel.

Afridi had recently said that his team would try to win all its group matches and finish on top in order to avoid playing the quarterfinals in India.

But Imran felt that if the archrivals face each other in the quarterfinal or the semifinal stage on Indian soil, it would be good for Pakistan.

“Remember India would be under greater pressure playing Pakistan in any knockout match at home. They know the expectations of their people when they normally play Pakistan and this is the World Cup,” said Imran.

The three nations jointly hosting the 2011 World Cup -- Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh -- will get to play their knockout matches, if they make it that far, at home venues irrespective of where they finish in their groups.

The 1992 World Cup-winning captain said had he been in Afridi’s place, he would have started a psychological battle by proclaiming his team would want to play India in India.

“In the 1992 World Cup before the semifinals I told the media that I have asked Wasim Akram to bowl as fast as he can and forget about the wides or no-balls. Wasim came to me on the morning of the match asking me: ‘Skipper what is this’? I told him this is only for the opposing team. You bowl with discipline. Mind games have a big role to play in cricket,” Imran said.

The former cricketer said he would have never made his intentions of not playing in India public.

“Why give out a public message that we don’t want to play in India. It sends out a wrong message to our opposing teams,” he said.

Asked about Pakistan manager, Intikhab Alam, rubbishing his views on team composition, the cricketer-turned politician said his only concern was that Pakistan should be prepared for the quarterfinals.

“I still say we need to be more attacking in our team selection. When you play eight batsmen you are sending out negative vibes.

If the pitch is seaming or not good for batting it makes sense to play Abdul Razzaq at number eight. But given the conditions in the three host countries, so far, I still say we must play with five specialist bowlers, including two specialist spinners,” Imran said.

“I have concerns about this team as far as the quarterfinals are concerned. They will obviously qualify that far, but they should be ready for that match,” he added.