LAHORE, Nov 9: Taking exception to Pakistan’s poor showing in the fourth ODI against the Proteas, former Pakistan captain and wicket-keeper Rashid Latif on Saturday termed greenshirts mentally weak.

Talking to reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium, Rashid slammed Pakistan’s decision to make change in batting order particularly sending Sohail Tanvir ahead of Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi.

Rashid further said that Pakistani players lacked mental strength as they were not used to tackle pressure, adding that the problem could only be solved by bringing improvements at the grass-roots level.

“No coach could improve such things at the international level,” remarked the former captain about mental weakness of Pakistani cricketers.

Rashid also reckoned that instead of sending Sohail at a stage when well-set Sohaib Maqsood lost his wicket, Umar and then Afridi should have been sent out to bat.

“Both Umar and Afridi could have performed well rather than Sohail.

Rashid also urged selectors to call back experienced Younis Khan in the one-day team because his vast experience could help young cricketers to learn from him.

“Younis could also make the middle-order strong due to his vast international experience,” said the former captain.

He said no doubt South Africa are a strong team having a good number of seasoned cricketers, Pakistan lost the ODI series mainly due to batting failure.

Rashid was all praise for Sohaib who tried to make the match more entertaining by scoring a fighting half-century in the fourth match.