Needing to win the third and final Test to save the series in England, Pakistan captain Azhar Ali revealed the visiting players have developed Turkish TV series 'Ertugrul' into a source of motivation leading up to the showdown in Southampton from August 21.
Based on the life of Ertrugrul, the father of Osman l, who was the founder of the Ottoman Empire, the series is a blend of fiction based in history and adventure.
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For Pakistan players, the story is providing them motivation, as they strive to overcome the bitter defeat in Manchester and maintain their country's streak of not losing a Test series in the UK since 2010 this week.
The previous Test culminated in an expected draw after torrential rain and bad light allowed only 134.3 overs of play to be possible.
"Yes I think there is no player who is not watching Ertugrul," Azhar said ahead of the third Test in a press conference conducted in Urdu.
"It's tough to lift the side after losing a winning match but we have done well to lift ourselves and will do our best to level the series by winning this Test."
Defending 277, finding England five down midway through it and yet losing the match, the loss at the Old Trafford was of the kind many teams are not able to recover from. But Azhar says Pakistan has been able to keep its morale high through harmony in the dressing room, with 'Ertugrul' playing its part.
"I'm lucky to have such a nice bunch of guys who are putting everything in for Pakistan," said Azhar later in the English presser. "They have gelled really nicely, which makes the job very easy for me, so I focus on all the strategies. "I'm enjoying it. Hopefully, we can win this Test and move forward from there."
The skipper then talked about his own drought of big runs he has continued with on this trip.
"I was feeling really confident about myself in the two hours or so I spent at the crease in my previous innings (20) and my balance was good as well. It is my responsibility to make sure that I score runs," he said.
Azhar also backed his young pacers - Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi - to be among the wickets at the Ageas Bowl.
"They are exciting characters but you can't buy experience without playing. We have to back them," he said. "We are lucky enough to have these exciting fast bowlers, although they are young. Naseem is nearly 18 and Shaheen is just 20."
"They are bowling really well, putting the opposition under pressure and we are backing them because you can't just sit outside and gain experience, you have to play," the captain signed off.
(Inputs from AFP)
