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Under-fire Pakistan cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has called on his compatriots to support the team despite losing their first Test series to England since 1982.

Inzamam’s team drew the first Test but lost the next two to trail the four-match series 2-0, their first series defeat since early 2005 in Australia.

“I know my people are very upset and disappointed with our performances. I can understand their anger. But I would ask them to be patient with this team which has done well in recent past,” Inzamam said in his column in a leading Urdu language daily. “We will make every effort to win the fourth and final Test at The Oval and draw something positive from the Test series and also to go into the One-day International (ODI) series with confidence,” he said.

Inzamam, coach Bob Woolmer and the players came in for scathing criticism after losing the third Test at Headingley, Leeds with former captain Imran Khan directly blaming the coach for not preparing properly for the England tour.

“They (England) came into the series with a definite game plan to beat us and we unfortunately could not sustain the pressure,” Inzamam said. “We didn’t play as a unit at all.”

England had lost 2-0 in Pakistan last year but gained revenge without four key players, Michael Vaughan, Andrew Flintoff, Simon Jones and Ashley Giles. “We failed to click as a team and England did. Only Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf turned in brilliant individual performances. They didn’t get the required backing,” Inzamam said.

Inzamam said Pakistan fans should remember their team’s recent success rather than compare their performances to Sri Lanka, who drew 1-1 in England earlier this year. “The team must be supported because it has played well recently to beat England, India and Sri Lanka,” he said. “The players are keen to make amends in fourth test. They feel the defeat.

“People say Sri Lanka did better than us and yes they did because they played like a team and with a game plan,” Inzamam stated.

The fourth Test between Pakistan and England at The Oval is due to start on August 17.
Source:The News