The Sri-Lankan-born Australian also hoped that the team would show more fighting qualities after a less than impressive performance in Multan.

"We have four matches left to prove ourselves. We didn't play very well in the last game. So, the boys have to work very hard," Whatmore said after his team's final practice session yesterday morning.

He blamed the Tigers' wayward bowling in the first match.

"They didn't particularly bowl well and the Pakistanis got away to a good start. The bowlers have to maintain more discipline if they want to get a wicket or two in the early stages.

"I feel that the batting side of the team is stronger. That's why we have to pay more attention to bowling. But again, you can't win doing well in just one department. And that is what I'm trying to inject in the team," he said.

Whatmore was also wary of Pakistan's batting strength.

"If you give them a good start on a good wicket then they will punish you especially as their middle-order batsmen are in good form."

Reflecting on where Bangladesh went wrong, Whatmore thought the game in Multan was lost when they were faced with a chase of more than 300 runs.

"Obviously the task becomes very psychological when you have to chase anything above 300. Statistics say that to be successful, you have to take risks in order keep up at the 15 or 20-over mark. But they didn't," he added.

Though Whatmore agreed that Bangladesh's one-day record had been poor since the 1999 World Cup, but he wouldn't comment on results that happened before June 2003.

"I started working with the Tigers from the first of June. So whatever happened before is history. And you cannot change that. Going 40 matches without a victory is not good.

"But we want to change that as quickly as possible. It will take time to become a good one-day and Test team."

Asked to identify the root cause for the Tigers' being unable to win in the instant version, the former Australian Test cap said it was happening well before he came along.

"It is simply a lack self-belief. Even before the game starts the players seem to resign to the fact they will lose and that is really giving an advantage to their opponents.

"We need role models. Unfortunately our most experienced batsman Habibul Bashar averages below 20. Compare that to Pakistani young players Mohammad Hafeez and Yasir Hameed. They hey can look to the experience of Yousuf Youhana and Inzamamul-Haq to guide them through."

He even confessed that sometimes he felt displaying his own emotions could help get his message across.

"The process of building good players is never easy. But when the team doesn't do well it's good in a way to be a bit angry. But if you dig a little bit deeper, there are issues on the field that make the difference," said Whatmore.