BRISBANE — Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq summoned up the spirit of Imran Khan and his 1992 World Cup warriors Saturday as the strife-hit Asian giant look to salvage its 2015 campaign. Pakistan, engulfed by a series of on and off-field controversies, has lost both of its opening two games — by 76 runs to India and 150 runs against the West Indies. It is at the bottom of Pool B and defeat by Zimbabwe at the Gabba Sunday will virtually condemn it to an early exit. But Pakistan has been down this road before. Twenty-three years ago, when the World Cup was last played in Australia and New Zealand, Imran Khan's team was also staring at early elimination. It lost by 10 wickets to West Indies, beat Zimbabwe, had a no-result when about to be defeated by England before two more losses to India and South Africa. It then went on a roll, seeing off Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand to make the semifinals. New Zealand was defeated again in the last-four before the title was clinched in Melbourne, courtesy of a 22-run win against England. “The important lesson is never give up,” said Misbah. “That's what you need to do as a player and as a team. That's what Imran Khan usually says about 1992. Even when the team was in difficult times, they never gave up. “They just kept trying, kept trying, and kept trying. At last they just managed to do what they really wanted to do in that World Cup. “So, that's what we are trying to do. We just have to do the things and we have to work hard, and that's what we're trying to do.” Misbah insists that his team is trying to forget its two defeats as well as off-field diversions which have seen eight players fined for breaking a curfew, reports of a bust-up in training and chief selector Moin Khan being sent home in disgrace for visiting a casino. “It's always like that,” said Misbah, when asked to reflect on the deluge of criticism his team has endured for their woeful form. “They always say that they are with the team all the time, but never do it. You could say it's always like that in Pakistan. We are always with the winning team, but when our team is in difficult times, we're here (on their own.)“ Misbah added that Pakistan's slow start could be partly attributed to the damage caused by the late withdrawals of three key men — spinner Saeed Ajmal, veteran batsman Mohammad Hafeez and seamer Junaid Khan. As a result, Pakistan's tactics and strategy had to be tweaked. “We are playing with a different set-up. We were relying on spin and different bowlers, especially Junaid Khan. He was a main bowler for us,” said Misbah. “Zimbabwe is a very good side, everybody knows that they can really come good on any given day. But I think it's our chance. We should just improve our performances, and try to win this game. “That is the only way. If you improve your performances, if you win a game, that could really change the mood of the whole team.” Misbah said that the main problem for his team in the tournament so far, apart from the usual sloppy fielding, had been the inability of its bowlers to take wickets in the middle overs of an innings. Zimbabwe is pinning its hopes on coach Dav Whatmore's inside knowledge of Pakistan's talent and well-known frailties. Whatmore was at the helm of Pakistan for two years from 2012. But the much-traveled coach was signed up by Zimbabwe for the 2015 World Cup. Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura believes the 60-year-old Whatmore, who coached Sri Lanka to the 1996 world title, knows where Pakistan is at its most vulnerable. “He knows almost everyone on the team, so when it comes to strategies and stuff, it's much better to have someone who has been working with Pakistan guys,” said Chigumbura. “So we've got more information. We just have to go and execute our plans tomorrow.,” he added. “He's brought a lot of positives into the team, and everyone is comfortable in the way he's sharing his experience, it's been good,” Chigumbura said of Whatmore. — Agencies
