Misbah admits Pakistan are low on confidence

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq was disappointed by the big defeat to Australia in the first ODI in Sharjah, saying the team had lost confidence in their own abilities and needed to get a few good knocks under their belts.

Australia weren’t overly impressive either, but they still managed to record 255/8 thanks to Steve Smith’s ton. They then bowled Pakistan out for 162 in the 37th over, adding to the below-100 score they reached in the T20.

Misbah said after the defeat: “I think sometimes you just lose confidence, and at the moment that’s what is happening with our team. We need one or two good innings to just get back on track.

“At the moment it’s really not coming from anyone. We’re looking forward and thinking positive that somebody just comes and stands up and plays a really good innings, just to get back on track.”

Misbah’s own poor run of form hasn’t helped, scoring a duck in this match and top-scoring with 41 in his past 10 knocks, and he acknowledged that he needed to lead by example.

He said: “Yeah, obviously, when you’re playing for your country and you’re playing as a batsman and as a captain, you have to really lead your team by your performances and obviously, it’s a big responsibility on my shoulders.

“I’ve been trying but sometimes it doesn’t work for you and at the moment it’s like that, but still I have to think positively and I have to go out there and work hard and try to just get out of this.”

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