Whatmore: Don't underestimate Zimbabwe

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Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore has warned his players against underestimating Zimbabwe, despite the hosts being unranked in Tests, saying they need to play their best to beat the minnows.

Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore has warned his players against underestimating Zimbabwe, despite the hosts being unranked in Tests, saying they need to play their best to beat the minnows, as well as prepare for the series against South Africa that follows.

Pakistan have won six out of eight Tests played in Zimbabwe, losing only the first one, and on their most recent trip to the country, in 2011, they departed unbeaten. Whatmore says this record must not distract from the task at hand.

He said: "The danger that I see anyway is complacency. We don't want to be complacent in any of our makeup, including our preparation. We may be playing Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe, but these are still three-four very important matches for Pakistan.

"There is a bit of difference in rankings, but as you know cricket has some uncertain glories in the game. We can't take anything for granted; we take one game at a time. We rather think about taking one game at a time rather than (thinking about clean sweep).

"We always like to be in competition and we have an opportunity to play some Test matches and ODIs as well as T20 games. We finish with Test matches and we bounce into the South Africans (in the UAE)."

The Australian's record as coach has been patchy, and there are often new faces brought into the side, but Whatmore says it's a good thing to keep searching for new talent, and the players are keen to improve.

He added: "Sometimes new players are exciting to work with. When new players are picked, it does change a little bit the balance and the approach, getting used to them, getting them use to me.

"There's a bit of give and take; some advantages and disadvantages, but on the whole I need to do a job and I do it to the best of my ability."

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