After pocketing the T-20 series against Australia 2-0, Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has demanded more consistency from his team, saying it was important to make winning a habit to remain in the top league.
“The key is for us to develop a habit of winning matches more regularly and consistently like other top teams, including Australia and South Africa,” Afridi told a sports channel from Birmingham.
Ecstatic over the series-sweeping win against the Kangaroos, Afridi said he was happy the team is finally back to winning matches.
“I knew, sooner or later, we will win back to back matches because we have been performing well since the Twenty20 World Cup, but missed out in close matches. I think now that we have regained our winning habit we must work harder to maintain it, and make winning a habit,” The Daily Times quoted Afridi, as saying.
Afridi, however, said he would keep telling his teammates not to get carried away with the success, as T20 and Tests were completely different forms of the game, and that they should continue to give their best on the field.
“There is a difference and we have to be aware of this. But the good thing is that a win is a win in any form of the game and this series win should serve a confidence booster for us ahead of the Tests,” the flamboyant all rounder said.
Afridi admitted that the Tests would be a much tougher challenge, as the Australian squad is more experienced and proven Test performers.
“They are a very experienced and successful Test side so we have to be playing really well to beat them. We need to grab the opportunities that come our way to pressurise them,” he said, adding Pakistan would certainly miss experienced players like Muhammad Yousuf and Younis Khan in England.
“Obviously we will miss their experience. I wanted them in the team for this tour and I tried my best to see they were in the team but for different reasons this couldn’t happen and it is unfortunate. But one has to manage with the available resources so right now I am focusing completely on the team I have,” Afridi added.
