Embattled Pakistan skipper Mohammad Yousuf claims his team was going “nowhere” when he was handed the reins, but has improved under his leadership.
Pakistan were whitewashed 3-0 in the recent Test series against Australia and trail the world champions 3-0 in the one-day series ahead of Friday’s fourth match at the WACA Ground.
But Yousuf, who took over the captaincy when Younus Khan rested himself from the tour of New Zealand, said his youth-laden squad had outshone previous touring sides from his country despite a lack of bona fide stars.
“A lot of teams from Pakistan came here not playing like this and they have had great player (in those teams) when they came here,” Yousuf said on Thursday.
“This is a new team and when the Pakistan Cricket Board gave me a team as a captain I think the team is nowhere.
“I have tried to make the whole team gel.
“We performed in NZ in difficult conditions, but we drew the series there (which was a) good achievement for me and my team.
“We played very good Test cricket in Australia.
“First game (Test) we lost heavy but next game we came back very hard and we nearly won.
“They didn’t win (in Sydney), we gave them the match. We almost won the game.
“I think we didn’t take pressure because we are a young and inexperienced team, that’s why we lost that game.”
Yousuf is eager to hold on to the captaincy but faces an uphill battle to retain the role after PCB chairman Ijaz Butt revealed on Pakistan television that the skipper would be ousted from the position as soon as the tour to Australia is over.
The 35-year-old veteran of 88 Tests has averaged 23.7 during the first three games of the one-day series and claimed he was the team’s in-form batsman.
“As a batsman I feel my form is excellent, I think better than the whole team, but unfortunately I didn’t make runs,” he said.
“I’m hitting them in middle but I haven’t made runs.”
Yousuf said all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan was in some doubt for Friday’s match after pulling up sore from Tuesday’s loss.
Australia will rest key duo Shane Watson and Doug Bollinger for the final two games of the series but left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson is likely to return to the XI after being rested from the first three games.
Fellow speedster Peter Siddle flew to Perth but is in doubt with a back injury.
“This is a new game. Obviously we are disappointed we lost the series but we’ll try to win this game and play good cricket here,” Yousuf said.
“Every game we have to play with fight and pride. Every game.”
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