Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has told his reigning champions to take Bangladesh as seriously as if it was Australia when it begins the defense of its World Twenty20 title. Pakistan faces its Asian rival at the Beausejour ground here Saturday before returning to the same venue 24 hours later to wrap up its Group A campaign against Australia. With the top two in each of the four groups going through to the second round, both Pakistan and Australia are expected to brush aside Bangladesh on their way into the Super Eights. However, Afridi told the International Cricket Council (ICC) podcast Thursday: "Playing in this cricket, anything can happen. It's about what happens on the day. I want to see the same body language whether we are playing Bangladesh or Australia." All-rounder Afridi, a hard-hitting batsman and leg-spinner, is also Pakistan's leading player at this tournament. He was thrust into the leadership after a series of suspensions imposed following a winless tour of Australia that have cost Pakistan the services of former captains Mohammad Yousuf, Younus Khan, as well as Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved. And it was in Australia where Afridi, after extraordinarily chewing on a white cricket ball during a One-Day International in Perth, received a two-match Twenty20 ban for ball tampering. However, the discipline of captaincy may be having an effect. "I think as the defending champion, there is some pressure on me," Afridi said. "There is extra responsibility on me as captain to set me an example. "But we've got a good team and I'm quite happy. This is the right time for us to play some good cricket. That's what I am expecting from the guys." As if the loss of so many players through suspension was not bad enough, Pakistan will be without Umar Gul at the World Twenty20 after the fast bowler suffered a shoulder injury at a training camp in Lahore earlier this month. "Umar Gul, over the last two years, has been playing very well in Twenty20," Afridi said, having previously explained: "He is an expert of reverse swing. "He could have been lethal on the slow pitches in the West Indies but all the other available players are also equally good and eager to perform in the mega event." In their seven matches at the two previous World Twenty20 events, the Tigers have won just one match: against the West Indies. ‘Pakistan learning fast' Pakistan coach Waqar Younis believes the slack approach that marred the team's winless tour of Australia has been replaced by a new spirit of determination ahead of the World Twenty20. With Pakistan up against Bangladesh and Australia on Saturday and Sunday respectively, fast bowling great Waqar is adamant it will do so with a renewed professionalism. "I've seen the change from Australia to Pakistan," Waqar told reporters Thursday. "The boys have really started responding. In Australia I was part of the team and the boys were a little laid back, not really bothered. "I don't know if it's got anything to do with the bannings or what, but they have really started pushing themselves," Waqar added. "I wouldn't say they're scared but they've probably started thinking it's a professional game and they get paid for it and there's a country's (honor) at stake," the coach said.
