Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq on Monday chose to impress upon his players to take a lesson from rivals -- India.
World champions India outclassed Pakistan by 76 runs in their opening match and then demolished title favourites South Africa by a big 130-run margin in their second game to not only get four points from their two World Cup Pool B games but also increase their net run-rate.
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In stark contrast, Pakistan have lost both their games, incidentally by 76 runs to India and 150 runs to West Indies.
"We have been unlucky… but look at India. They have been playing non-stop cricket and have admirably adapted to the conditions," said Misbah at the team meeting in Brisbane ahead of Pakistan's third and crucial must-win match against Zimbabwe on Sunday.
"India have changed their luck after being down and out in the tri-series," said Misbah of the ODI tri-series in Australia also featuring England in January.
"India beat the favourites South Africa far more convincingly than us -- the two sides that were more familiar with the conditions than us. We need our luck to turn, the rub of the green to come our way. Our luck would change, but for it to materialise we would have to concentrate on the next game and approach it with energy, optimism and sense of responsibility."
Team manager Naveed Akram Cheema, himself a retired army man, gave a serious pep talk, also encouraging everyone to speak their mind frankly.
He also communicated Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Mohammad Khan’s message to the team that the Board was absolutely behind the team, no matter what, and they only want the team to shake off negativity and go out there and perform without any pressure whatsoever.
Head coach Waqar Younis permitted the players to rest, allowing them to put the two defeats behind them so that they can come afresh in the training first and then show a new resolve on the match day against a dangerous Zimbabwe who gave South Africa some serious scare in their first match.
Senior pro Shahid Afridi stressed that batsmen need to show aggression.
"What I have noticed is that our batsmen are playing with a fear of getting out. We have to get out, every batsman will get out so we must not play shots with a fear, just like Virat Kohli did and Dhawan is doing."
With that resolve, Team Pakistan will train on Tuesday at the Allan Border facility in Brisbane and hope for a turnaround in their fortunes.
