Pak batsmen are scared to play their natural game: Wasim

Karachi: With Pakistan losing by four-wicket to Australia in the first ODI in Sharjah, former captain Wasim Akram today said the negative mindset of the Pakistani batsmen is letting them down in limited over matches.

The former fast bowling great believes the Pakistani batsmen need to change their mindset and play with aggression and their natural game atleast in the first 10 overs. "I think the team management including the coach also needs to install confidence in the players. They need to tell these players go out and play your natural game and positively," Pakistan`s batting flopped yet once again in the first match leaving the Australians an easy target to chase down successfully. Wasim said Pakistan needs to change its strategy and take full advantage of the first ten and final 10 overs. "The power play period must be utilized fully. I feel our batsmen are scared to play their natural and are getting into trouble." Wasim also said that Australia currently had one of the weakest middle order batting in their history. "I have never seen such a weak middle order for Australia and we need to exploit that and win this series," he added. He said it was disappointing to see Pakistan unable to give Australia a tough fight even on a pitch suited for them. The former captain also expressed surprise over the decision to not use wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal as an opener. "It made no sense to send him to bat at number seven. He must be utilized as an opener which is his natural position in limited over games." Wasim also criticized the decision to go into the match with just two specialist fast bowlers. "It was a wrong policy and we should have played one more fast bowler instead of an extra batsman. PTI