CAPE TOWN Feb 12: Skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq on Monday emphasised that Pakistan team must develop mental strength to achieve better results in international competitions, suggesting drastic measures in domestic cricket for this purpose.

“Mental strength is essential for players if they want to score more victories in international competitions,” Inzamam said in an interview to a private tv channel after Pakistan’s humiliating 10-wicket defeat in the fourth ODI. “I feel our players are not strong enough mentally to face pressure situations like the one we faced against South Africa on Sunday at Cape Town.”

Pakistan were bundled out for just 107 while the home side reached 113 in just 14 overs to win the match. The last match of the ODI series will be played at Johannesburg on Wednesday with the SA leading 2-1.

“Our domestic first class structure should be improved sufficiently to enable players to face pressure situations and to cope with them”, the burly skipper said.

“Our first class competitions are not competitive enough sometimes and the standard of the two competing teams in a match can be poles apart which is no yardstick for judging them.”

Inzamam proposed that the domestic first class structure should contain lesser number of teams — all top quality ones — which would generate more competitive cricket.—APP