LAHORE: After clinching the five-matches limited over series 3-2, ODI captain Azhar Ali is hopeful Pakistan will repeat the dose in the Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka, earning the team an unprecedented treble against the hosts.

Shahid Afridi will take over the reigns for the two T20s and Azhar said while there will be a change in personnel, the team will continue its winning ways.

“I am hopeful that Pakistan will beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in the T20s,” Azhar said while talking to reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Responding to a question about the 165-run drubbing at the hands of the Islanders in the fifth ODI, Azhar accepted the responsibility of the defeat, saying the Greenshirts couldn't live up to expectations.

“Being professionals, it doesn't suit us to say that we were tired or overconfident. We didn't play to our potential in the last ODI,” he said.

Pakistan was also under immense pressure as the outcome of the series would have affected the Greenshirt's chances of participating in the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in England in 2017.

“Of course there was a lot of pressure but everybody worked hard and we decided to focus each game rather than going into the complexities of thinking about the overall outcome,” Azhar said.

Sarfraz Ahmed — ‘The team man’

Mohammad Hafeez's suspension from bowling came as a big blow to Pakistan after the veteran all-rounder played a key role in securing his team a win in the first ODI.

“Hafeez's suspension from bowling left us in a dilemma. We wanted to go with additional bowler so had to rest Babar Azam. But Sarfraz was one man in sight who we could rely on by utilising him properly.

“Sarfraz plays spin really well and has a knack of creating singles and rotate strike. He is such an amazing team man that we only had to ask him once and he was all up for the job up in the order.”

Azhar was proud of his vice-captain to have taken up the responsibility.

“The way he played in the first ODI was exceptional and helped us accomplish our chalked-out plans,” he said.

Azhar, who has so far represented Pakistan in 44 Tests and 25 ODIs, was happy with his men to have adopted an aggressive gameplay — a lack of which subjected Pakistan to severe criticism during Misbah-ul-Haq's captaincy.

“Our coaches really worked hard with us during practice sessions and I am glad that the players responded and played with aggression on the field.

“This is something I have observed as a player. Cricket has changed now. You have to keep the momentum right from the beginning. Even if you lose early wickets, strategy remains to keep the runrate in check.

“Keeping that in view, I am trying to better my game without complicating things. I always try to play according to the situation at hand.”

The T20 matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, on July 30 and August 1.

Sri Lanka are the top-ranked while T20 side in the world while Pakistan are at number 5. Pakistan, though, has an edge in the head-to-head between the two sides, winning seven out of the 12 games.