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Bangladesh need to play more positively in Tests: Latif

September 02, 2003 17:36 IST

Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has criticised Bangladesh for adopting a negative strategy in the Test arena, and believes they can only improve if they change tactics.

Rashid Latif (left) with Khaled MahmudThe two sides meet in the final Test of a three-match series starting in Multan on Wednesday, and Pakistan are expected to complete a clean sweep.

"Bangladesh have played negative cricket in the first two Tests and I don't think they are going to learn anything or improve until they play positive cricket," Latif told reporters on Tuesday.

"They have a mediocre bowling attack and they have managed to stay in the matches by bowling to open fields. They have played negative cricket, and it is doing them no good.

"I don't want to interfere in what their captain or coach thinks or plans. But they need to play positively -- win or lose."

Latif added that Pakistan's overall dominance had been blunted by slow pitches for the first two Tests in Karachi and Peshawar.

"We didn't get the tracks we would have liked," he said. "If the pitches had had some pace in them, I think we would have won the Tests inside three days.

ASSERTING AUTHORITY

"In Multan, we have to assert our authority completely and try to finish off the match as soon as possible," he added.

Pakistan won the opening two Tests by seven and nine wickets while Bangladesh are still seeking a first victory after 22 defeats in 23 matches.

Although Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore has been heartened by a general improvement in his team's performances against Pakistan, he is concerned that confidence could be undermined by the back-to-back defeats.

"We have to guard against that," he said. "It is never easy for any team to keep their morale high after losing in this manner.

"We have to be careful that we don't suffer a sudden drop in form and confidence. So far, we have achieved improvement in certain areas that I was looking at.

"As a coach, I am not satisfied with the results, but the improvement is there and the team is now playing hard and getting physically stronger."


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