His team is trailing India 1-2 in the five-match ODI series on the back of both home Test and ODI losses to South Africa. Malik is still unsure of his batting order.
Trailing 1-2, Pakistan promise a better show in this do-or-die encounter. But a poor body language during the practice session tells a different story
GWALIOR: One can be deceptive in appearance, and even smooth talk ones way out of trouble, but body language generally gives one away.
Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik's child-like appearance works to his advantage but one can sense, uneasy rests his head. His team is trailing India 1-2 in the five-match ODI series on the back of both home Test and ODI losses to South Africa. Malik is still unsure of his batting order. Pakistan fielding has been shoddy to say the least.
Yet, on the eve of the fourth one-day international to be played at Gwalior's Captain Roop Singh Stadium, the Pakistan skipper spoke of being positive, morale of the team being on a new high, and also no worries about his own form.
"All of us know that a very important series is going on. We have to forget that series against South Africa and previous defeats here and start afresh," said Malik, adding, "It is important to win this match for us to stay alive. It becomes all the more important for us because if we do not perform well here, we stand no chance to win the series."
Sounds encouraging, but the body language didn't really corroborate the words. The shoulders were drooping, he was fidgety and restless and even during practice, seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, dropping catches during fielding drills. He didn't even look the leader in the team.
Malik's own form has been a worry and there has been talk that he should move himself up the order, sending a message out to the team. "Yes, I am aware that I have not done well with the bat, but hopefully, I can come good with the bat."
He even tried to justify the madness of changing the line-up constantly, saying, "We are flexible in terms of batting order, and we will decide upon that according to the situation. We are not facing any dilemma over batting positions."
India needs to keep complacency out of the way. The matches have been closely fought. Only difference being that India have fielded marginally better than the visitors. However, that isn't saying much.
The three-hour practice session on the eve of the match, however, didn't make one believe in anyway that things are going to be any different on Thursday, with catches dropped and stumps rarely hit.
Both camps though claimed that work is being done and an improved performance will be on show. But the lazy jog, casual throws told another story. Body language, you see, tells a lot.
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