Pakistan vice captain Younis Khan is confident his team needs just one good match to recover from the devastating 4-1 one-day series loss to India.
The 28 year old, who was one of Pakistan's few success stories in the one-day series, said the criticism levelled at players and management following the defeat is unfair.
"I can understand that everyone is disappointed with the series loss. But we need just one good match to get back our confidence and bounce back on next month's tour of Sri Lanka," he said on Monday.
Pakistan tours Sri Lanka from March 12 and will play three one-dayers and two Tests.
While Pakistan's cricket board has retained Inzamam-ul-Haq as captain for the next 12 months and coach Bob Woolmer has a contract until the 2007 World Cup, analysts have said heads could roll with more defeats.
But Younis said it is better that the defeats, however painful, had come at this stage and not closer to the World Cup.
"If there was any complacency developing in the team, or if the players had relaxed after a good run in the last one year, then they should know now we need to work much harder to target the World Cup," he said.
"The team can't turn bad overnight that is clear. But yes we need to look at the reasons for losing four games in a row."
MISSING STRIKE
Younis felt the absence of fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar due to injury from the one-day series had cost Pakistan heavily.
"If you look at the way Shoaib bowled against England and then in the Tests against India he was our main striking force. His injury did allow the Indians some breathing space."
Shoaib was ruled out of the one-day series with a stress fracture of his right ankle. He is also out of contention for the Sri Lanka tour.
"No matter what the Indians say, we know they were not comfortable facing Shoaib. He didn't take too many wickets but the pressure created by him allowed the others bowlers to breakthrough," Younis said.
Other bowlers had lost form at crucial times, he said.
"These are the same bowlers, like Rana Naved, who were winning us games in the last year. Obviously you can't write them off, I am sure they will regain form soon."
But he conceded the Sri Lanka tour is now crucial and that there is no room for more mistakes."
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