Coaches need to be more positive - Latif

Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper, has called on coach Waqar Younis and his deputy Ijaz Ahmed to exercise calm and remain positive under pressure in the World Twenty20 to motivate their players. "Waqar Younis and Ijaz Ahmed looked under pressure during Pakistan's match against Australia. Their body language was not good," Latif was quoted by APP as saying. "World Twenty20 is a tough event and absorbing pressure in tough games by players and coaches is vital. Positivity of coaches is very important because it will send a good message to the players."

Pakistan were beaten comprehensively by Australia in St Lucia, but progressed to the Super Eights due to their win over Bangladesh in their first game. "It's not the end of the world with one defeat against Australia. Our bowlers failed to bowl with variations when they came under pressure," Latif said. "[Mohammad] Sami received a thrashing because he did not vary his pace and bowled short which allowed the Australian batsmen to punish him.

"These things are part of the game and anything can happen in this version of the game."

Latif added the tracks in the Caribbean could be exploited by both fast bowlers and spinners if they used their variations well. "Only experienced spinners can exploit these pitches and pace bowlers can also get success if they bowl intelligently with varying pace and bowling in the right areas," he said.

Pakistan take on England in Barbados in their first Super Eights game on Thursday.