Pakistan in trouble, admits Waqar

As Bangladesh clinched a historic one-day series win over Pakistan on Sunday, head coach Waqar Younis had to give in to the criticism from all quarters. He admitted that the team was in 'trouble'.

"I accept what the critics say, Pakistan cricket is facing problems," Waqar said in an interview to the local media.

"Pakistan need to change the way it plays cricket. Our cricketing style is very defensive and it will take us time to get free from this mindset," he added.

The defensive playing style is not the only worry for Pakistan though. The national team is currently facing a 'fitness crisis' of sorts. Pacemen Sohail Khan, Ehsan Adil, leg-spinner Yasir Shah and middle-order batsman Sohaib Maqsood were ruled out due to injuries for the series against Bangladesh.

"Our team's biggest problem is fitness and we will not compromise in ensuring that each and every player is match fit," he said.

Waqar rejected the idea of looking back at the 'tried and tested' lot following the historic series defeat against Bangladesh. "There is no need to look back," he said, adding: "We have to move forward with younger players."

Pakistani greats on Monday slammed the team's first-ever series loss to Bangladesh, with former captain Javed Miandad terming it the "lowest point" in his country's cricketing history.

"Losing to Bangladesh is the lowest point but if we do not take big measures our cricket will decline further," batting legend Miandad told AFP.

Miandad, who last year resigned from the post of director general of the Pakistan Cricket Board praised Bangladesh.

"Bangladesh is not the same Bangladesh they used to be and I think they can now upset any team because they are getting better and better with each day," he said.

"I did a little bit of coaching in Bangladesh and told them of some basics, like they were weak on short pitch deliveries, and praise to them that they adhered to the basics and now their game is improving day by day," he added, referring to his 2002 coaching stint with the Tigers.

Wicketkeeping great Wasim Bari deplored a lack of planning ahead of the series.

"There is no strategy in the Pakistan team, no planning and that is why they were exposed," Bari told AFP," the former chairman of selectors added.

"Bangladesh have kept their World Cup momentum very well while we have gone down."

Pakistan are scheduled to play the third and final one-day international against Bangladesh on Wednesday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. This will be followed by a T20I and two Tests.