Gros Islet (St. Lucia), May 1 - Pakistan cricket coach Waqar Younis feels that the mass suspensions and fines following his side's disastrous Australia tour have made his side professional.
Pakistan's performance down under prompted strict measures from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which banned former captains Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan from the national team indefinitely in March.
Former captain Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved were also handed one-year bans, while wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal and fast bowler Umar Akmal, who has been ruled out of this tournament with injury, were fined.
"In Australia, the boys were a little laid back, not really bothered, I think they've just started," Younis was quoted as saying in Daily Telegraph. "They have really started pushing themselves.
"I wouldn't say they're scared but they've probably started thinking it's a professional game and they get paid for it, it's a country at stake, so I think they've started realising that."
After playing a manager's role during the failed tour of Australia, Younis was made the coach.
His first mission is the World Twenty20 - starting with their second group match against Australia at Beausejour Cricket Ground Sunday.
"What we went through in the last three or four weeks, some of the boys are banned, it wasn't easy to take over this job, it was difficult but I'm managing it OK," Younis said.
"I've seen the change from Australia to Pakistan, the boys have really started responding."
Another player fined was captain Shahid Afridi after he was caught ball tampering. Younis is backing him too and said he had become more responsible after the incident.
"I think he has probably realised and he wants to do more," he said.
"And I think he is the best choice as captain, he is an all-rounder and he leads from the front.
"In the past three years he has been the key for the one-day and Twenty20 side because of his bowling.
"He is bowling superbly, he is a match-winning bowler.
"And with his quick 30-odd off 10 balls or whatever, that really puts the game in your favour. Since he has become captain he's taken the responsibility, he has become more of a leader." (IANS)
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