Pakistan's 'three-word plan' that plotted Australia's downfall

Pakistan's Test series win over Australia was one of the most unexpected results in recent memory.

The tourists were given little chance of success against a team that had won the Ashes just a few months earlier. But Pakistan produced a stunning performance to win the series 2-0, with the victory in Abu Dhabi being their first Test win in Australia since 1995.

So how did Pakistan manage to pull off such an unlikely victory?

According to captain Sarfraz Ahmed, the team's success was down to a "three-word plan" that they had followed throughout the series.

1. The first part of the plan was to "be positive". Ahmed said that he had told his players to go out and play their natural game, without being afraid of making mistakes.
2. The second part of the plan was to "be patient". Ahmed said that he had told his players to take their time and not to get frustrated if they did not score runs quickly.
3. The third part of the plan was to "be disciplined". Ahmed said that he had told his players to bowl to their plans and not to give away easy runs.

The plan worked perfectly, as Pakistan's batsmen scored runs consistently and their bowlers kept the Australian batsmen under pressure. The tourists also took their chances in the field, with wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed taking a number of crucial catches.