No second chances, coach to Pakistan players

Pakistan coach Richard Pybus has warned his players there will be no more chances if the team is to reach the Super Six stage of the World Cup.

Pybus told a news conference on Monday that he had held a meeting with his senior players to try and pinpoint why the 1999 Cup finalists had underperformed at this tournament.

"Yes, you could describe it as a brainstorming session," he said.

"I am hoping that the hard way that we now have to qualify for the Super Six stage will bring out the best in them [the players] against India and Zimbabwe.

"I think the continued problems with the opening pair and our inability to get a good start have added the pressure on the middle order.

"But they are all experienced and mature players and they know now there is no second chance for them in this tournament."

Pakistan are fifth in Group A with four points, having lost to Australia and England. They face the Netherlands on Tuesday before taking on India in Centurion on Saturday and Zimbabwe in Bulawayo next Tuesday.

Pybus said the batting 'just seemed to crumble' in Saturday's shock 112-run defeat in Cape Town. "I really can't put a finger on this one mental block which is preventing the players from translating their net form in the matches.

"In 1999, Saeed [Anwar] was in splendid form and got two hundreds and we got good starts. That was the key to our success."