Pakistan captain Younis Khan today said Australians showed more discipline and professionalism in the recent one-day series and his team needed to emulate the World Champions.
Pakistan captain Younis Khan today said Australians showed more discipline and professionalism in the recent one-day series and his team needed to emulate the World Champions.
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Younis, who replaced Shoaib Malik as captain in February after Pakistan lost a home ODI series against Sri Lanka, said he was disappointed like everyone else over the loss to Australia in Dubai and Abu Dhabi but he did not have a magic wand to bring about overnight improvement in the team.
The outspoken senior batsman said Pakistan had several chances to beat Australia in the series but let them escape out of tight situations in some matches.
"Results of at least two matches could have gone in our favour but the Australians showed more professionalism and discipline and we need to improve in these areas ourselves," Younis said in an interview.
"But I don't have a magic wand to make things happen quickly. Improvement in performance and consistency in the team will only come with time. And every player has to show and take responsibility for the team it is not just the captain who can do everything," he said.
Younis said he needed more support from other team members to concentrate on his captaincy and own batting.
"I need more support from my support team because I spent a lot of time with the players in this series. I know that I have to get runs to set the right example. I want to concentrate on my batting and captaincy," Younis said.
The captain said he was satisfied with the performance of controversial fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar who ended with just three wickets in four matches.
"I think the main thing he has tried hard and showed a better attitude. He is improving and I have always said he can still give a lot to Pakistan cricket."
Younis said people would see a different Pakistan team in the Twenty20 World Cup in England as the players realised they had to make amends for the series loss to Australia.
Pakistan has picked two uncapped teenagers - left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Aamir and hard-hitting batsman Shahzaib Hassan for the T20 World Cup.
Both the youngsters have done well in domestic cricket and sources said that although the selectors had picked opener, Khalid Latif for the T20 World Cup, Younis pushed for the inclusion of Shahzaib, a Karachite, who is considered somewhat of a specialist T20 player.
Chief selector Abdul Qadir has said he had high hopes from Aamer who hails from Rawalpindi. "You see lot of people are going to be taken by surprise by his pace and bounce," the former Test leg-spinner said.
Younis said the T20 World Cup was a real test for the team as it was an event which would be followed closely and hugely in the world and in Pakistan.
"We have a very good team and we can do well but our players now have to give their best."
He added that he expected criticism after the loss to Australia and would try to learn from it.
"I think we have already learnt a lot from the Australians in this series."
Pakistan were beaten by arch rivals, India in the final of the last T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007.
Interestingly, when Younis and coach Intikhab Alam discussed the T20 squad with the selectors in Abu Dhabi yesterday, sources said no mention was made of the Indian Cricket League players.
"They were not discussed nor considered since the Pakistan Board had not given clearance to consider them," one selector said.
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