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 completely different game plans to challenge South Africa in Auckland on Saturday, adding that they just can't afford to play like what they did in the first three games, The Dawn reported.
The former skipper said that the body language has got to change because 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.
He said that this is not an understatement but an honest opinion, adding that to achieve their goals, Pakistan need to regroup without further delay. He said that in his opinion 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 as it did, 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.
Mushtaq 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 Pakistan's fielding is one of the worst exhibitions seen in the World Cup.
The former batsman said that some would say that Shahid Afridi has not taken single wicket, but he believes that that the all-rounder is extremely unfortunate in that regard because five catches were missed off his bowling, including three muffed by Umar Akmal.
Mushtaq said that all of them should be standing not only behind Misbah but the entire team and encourage them to play as a unit, adding that criticism at this stage won't do any good.
