CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand: Pakistan coach Waqar Younis Wednesday insisted his team would bounce back despite a demoralizing defeat against arch-rivals India, a loss he blamed on an inability to handle big-match pressure.

Pakistan succumbed to a 76-run defeat against the defending champions in their first Pool B game in Adelaide on Sunday.

“We can all see what went wrong,” Waqar told reporters. “We didn’t play well, India played better than us by building partnerships, probably we took more pressure.

“But we have to realize that it’s just the start and there are more games to play and we will come back in the matches ahead.”

Pakistan will look to put things right in their second game in Christchurch on Saturday against the West Indies, who also suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Ireland.

Waqar repeated his team is not amongst the title favorites, a statement which he gave before the departure for New Zealand last month. Then, such pessimism was greeted with severe criticism from former Pakistan players.

“I think it’s the same, I back that again, I am not saying that we have become favorites. Of course, saying that releases pressure from players when you are not favorites.

Waqar, who is in his second stint as coach after guiding the team to a semifinal finish in the 2011 World Cup, blamed poor batting for the India loss.

“Unfortunately our batting did not click,” said Waqar, of Pakistan’s batting which failed to chase a target of 301, wrapped up for 224.

“A target of 300 runs in Australia and New Zealand is chaseable, this has become the norm, a par total, and we have to chase down 300 in games ahead,” said Waqar.

Pakistan desperately needs a win against the West Indies to keep up their chances of a quarterfinal place.

“We know the importance of the game so we will try to have a positive frame of mind and do well,” said Waqar, who admitted that experimenting with Younis Khan as an opener had failed.

Pakistan have opener Nasir Jamshed waiting in the wings and he is likely to replace Younis, who made just six on Saturday, if the veteran is dropped.