jaipur, May 16: It might be nervous face-off for Bangalore Royal Challengers when they take on Rajasthan Royals tomorrow, but Misbah-ul Haq chose to speak of the ultimate refuge of every cricketer — whether playing badly, playing for a team doing badly, or simply, playing in bad times as are faced by the blast-hit city of Jaipur here.

“There is no fear at all once we’re on the ground,” the Pakistani quietly declared ahead of the match. The pitch, he indicated, was ironically where all apprehensions melted.

He had earlier spoken of a reality, with a matter-of-factness not to be expected from any player except those raised in the troubled subcontinent. “There have been blasts before — they happen everywhere, but we are ready to play,” he said.

‘Here for cricket’

Fending off reports on the latest Shiv Sena’s opposition, to Pakistani players in the IPL, Misbah stressed: “We are here for cricket. The talk of threats to Pakistani players is a political matter, and I don’t want to speak on it.”

National team mates Sohail Tanvir and Kamran Akmal turn out for Jaipur. While Akmal has graciously sat out most of the tournament, he’s been helping local Mahesh Rawat improve his job behind the wicket, and also chirply arranging for the drinks in the dugout. Tanvir is quite popular with the crowds here, owing to his six-wicket match-winning burst and glimpses of the famous smile while fielding on the fence.

The IPL has, over a blitzing summer, blurred what were national boundaries as spectators get accustomed to watching players of different nationalities don their city-colours.

Misbah gave another dose of the new loyalties. With captain Rahul Dravid stressed after the team’s on-field and off-field troubles, Misbah was was busy firefighting for his skipper. “The captain’s under pressure, but even the players need to take up responsibility. We are trying different things, which haven’t worked. The frustration comes from losing, and in times like these the players and management need to back each other,” he said.