Expressing his concerns over Pakistan's lackluster display in the opening three matches, Mushtaq revealed that Misbah's team cannot afford to play with a timid mindset if they aspire to qualify for the knockout stage.
Former Pakistan cricket team captain Mushtaq Mohammad has claimed that in order to defeat high-flying South Africa and revive their struggling World Cup campaign, Misbah-ul Haq's men need to change their 'body language', insisting that they 'just can't afford to play like what they did in the first three games'.
Expressing his concerns over Pakistan's lackluster display in the opening three matches, Mushtaq revealed that Misbah's team cannot afford to play with a 'timid mindset' if they aspire to qualify for the knockout stage.
Mushtaq said that as he sees it Pakistan must come out with a 'completely different game plan' to challenge South Africa in Auckland on Saturday,The Dawn reported.
The former skipper said they have the 'ability and the potential to beat any team', adding that at the moment there is a 'clear lack of self-belief in their ranks'.
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He added that to achieve their goals, Pakistan need to 'regroup without further delay'. He said that Sarfraz Ahmed should be playing, claiming that his inclusion would solve the chronic batting problem at the top and at the same time, would relieve Umar Akmal of wicket-keeping duties.
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Mushtaq, one of the finest skippers Pakistan ever had, also remarked that the Zimbabwe game shouldn't have gone close, saying that Pakistan should have been 'clinical rather jittery' in Brisbane, insisting that it was 'very disappointing' to see their players perform 'below potential' at the Gabba. He said that in fact he would say that Pakistan were 'very fortunate' to win the match.
He said that the batting is 'not clicking at all', which is a cause for 'deep concern', adding that the bowling has been 'good generally' but their fielding is 'one of the worst exhibitions seen in the World Cup'.
The former batsman said that Shahid Afridi despite not taking a single wicket is 'extremely unfortunate' because five catches were missed off his bowling, including three muffed by Akmal.
Mushtaq said they should be standing not only behind Misbah but also the entire team and encourage them to play as a unit, adding that criticism at this stage won't do any good.
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 "Pakistan-cricket (File photo)")
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