MOHALI, Oct 24: Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer has urged his players to show the same intensity they did in crisis against Sri Lanka when they face New Zealand in their second Champions Trophy Group B tie on Wednesday.

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by four wickets last week, one day after strike bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were sent home for testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.

“Everything is the same as it was in the last game,” Woolmer told reporters on Tuesday. “There is a little less pressure but pressure is on us to perform against New Zealand and try and get through to the semi-finals.

“A lot of teams in international sport thrive on adversity.

“That brings the team together. The win against Sri Lanka was an emotional time and we have to maintain that desire and motivation.”

All rounder Abdul Razzaq grabbed four wickets with the ball and a quickfire 38 not out with the bat against Sri Lanka, who were playing South Africa on Tuesday.

Each of the four teams in the group can still qualify.

The biggest worry for Wednesday's match remained the dew on the pitch.

The groundsman said he was trying to find a chemical to spray on the surface to counter the problem.

Woolmer said the depth in Pakistan's pace department was helping offset the loss of Shoaib and Asif.

“One-day bowling attacks don't always rely on pace,” he said. “We've great faith in our own pace attack and we have good reserves.”

The two teams have not met since 2003-04 when hosts New Zealand beat Pakistan 4-1.

“My focus will be to make sure there is no panic in my team,” said Pakistan skipper Younis Khan.

“We don't want to leave it to other teams (to help us qualify).”—Reuters