Pakistan captain Younus Khan put his team's latest ICC World Twenty20 defeat down to the poor beginnings in each innings against Sri Lanka.
Opening bowler Sohail Tanvir began with three wides and two no-balls in an 11-ball first over to set Sri Lanka on the way to a match-winning 150-7 at the end of their 20 overs.
Pakistan then slipped to 35-3 in reply and never seemed capable of mounting a successful chase.
"At the moment we are starting badly in every single game," lamented Younus." [In Sri Lanka's innings there were] back-to-back no-balls [from] Sohail [who is] struggling for form but is a potential matchwinner. Then when we batted we only had one good partnership."
Younus (50 off 37 balls) took part in the only stand of substance for Pakistan of 66 with Misbah-ul-Haq but his partner's 28-ball 21 did little to help the scoring rate.
Younus conceded: "If you have a partnership then you have to go all the way and finish the game for the team. The key is to keep wickets and rotate the strike. We must have partnerships in bowling and batting [to be successful]."
All-rounder Abdul Razzaq is now part of the squad as a replacement for hamstring-victim Yasir Arafat. Younus refused to confirm whether the veteran will force his way into the side for a must-win game against New Zealand at the Oval on Saturday.
"Abdul Razzaq is here and training. I'll let you know tomorrow if he's playing!" For more 20 20 News click here.
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