(SHARJAH) Pakistan captain Waqar Younis blamed his team's inexperienced batting line-up for the humiliating defeat by Australia in the 2nd Test.

Waqar described the performance as abysmal after his team were bundled out for 59 and 53 and lost by an innings and 198 runs.

''I thought our inexperienced batting was exposed this time and our batters really didn't bat with the concentration or application required in such conditions,'' Waqar told the News International newspaper.

''The bowling was not bad, but the batting was abysmal and I didn't expect this from even this young team.''

He tried to find positives, saying the team would inevitably improve as a result of the heavy defeat.

''I think we can only improve from here it can't get any worse. We just have to come back strongly in the final Test to redeem ourselves.''

Waqar also made it clear he expected to be a part of that effort as captain and did not feel under threat in the position.

''I am not really under pressure as captain. What I am concerned about is the team and my job is now to pump them up and lift them to save our skins in the final match with a far better performance.''

He admitted that bowler Shoaib Akhtar had been over-aggressive at times but said that a fast bowler needed to have that element in his character to be successful.

''Look, Shoaib is a sort of a bowler who can go through sides in one spell. He can win you matches,'' said Waqar. ''He is our main strike bowler. It is good for him to remain in an aggressive mode while bowling.

''But yes, I think things went a bit too far today and I will talk to him about it. We need to cool down things a bit out in the middle.''

On the injury front, Pakistan have suffered blows to Abdul Razzaq and Rashid Latif, but experienced batsman Youssuf Youhana may be able to rejoin the team after his shoulder injury

But Waqar admitted the key now was the mental approach of the players for the 3rd Test, which starts in six days.

''We just need to regroup ourselves now,'' he said.

13 Oct, 2002