Stop criticising my captaincy: Yousuf

Embattled Pakistan skipper Muhammad Yousuf has advised former players to stop criticising him over his captaincy and instead use their vast experience to help him overcoming shortcomings.

"I think that instead of criticising all the time, if former players come forward and point out to me that 'look this is where you are doing wrong', I think it would help me in improving my captaincy. I have to still learn many things about captaincy," Yousuf said.

"I have no issues with any former player coming forward and giving me good advice; that is good for me or Pakistan cricket," Yousuf added.

He said he felt disappointed the way the team performed in the second Test against Australia in Sydney despite leading all through.

"It was a bad defeat and we all were very sad and disappointed that we couldn't win a match we had dominated throughout. One bad session cost us the match and the series," he said.

The senior batsman, however, made it clear that if people were going to react in such a negative manner with one defeat, then the players would lose their courage and spirit to perform well.

"We need the support of the nation and our cricket community at this time. We need them to back us. We played good cricket in Sydney, but unfortunately lost the match in one session. But we matched the Australians," he added.

Yousuf admitted that fielding remains a major Achilles heel of the Pakistan team, but Kamran Akmal alone should not be blamed for the team's bad performance.

"We fielded badly in New Zealand and again in Australia; to make matters worse, Kamran dropped four catches. But he is a fine player and he has won many matches for Pakistan.

"So I think we should not put him under more pressure. He will come out of his bad patch and he just needs to regain his confidence."