But Pakistan’s one-day captain has so far failed to inspire his team, which flopped miserably in the two-match Twenty20 International series which England won 2-0 comprehensively here at the Swalec Stadium on Tuesday night.

Pakistan are supposed to be one of the best Twenty20 teams in the world but the way they’ve surrendered to England over the last three days has raised doubts about their chances in the five One-day Internationals to be played from Sept. 10-22.

But Afridi is insisting that ‘only one win’ will change the entire scenario for his boys who are still trying to come to terms with a betting scandal involving three of their teammates.

“It’s just a matter of one victory,” said Afridi after his team crashed to just 89 in a six-wicket loss against England in the second Twenty20 International.

“I hope to achieve that first win in our next match because that will put us back in business,” stressed the captain referring to Pakistan’s first ODI against England at Chester-le-Street on Friday.

Afridi, 30, said that so far his boys have been pretty pathetic on the field.

"We were very bad, very inexperienced and immature from my side and from all the batsmen," he said. "I think we played very bad cricket. I didn't want to sound negative before the game — I wanted to be positive as the captain — but we didn't play well and we're still making mistakes.” Afridi said that he is urging his player to enjoy their cricket.

"We are not enjoying ourselves in the field," said Afridi. "We need to forget everything [that's going on]. I know it's difficult but we should be professional cricketers and focus on the cricket. We have to enjoy it" When Afridi was asked whether his team lacked the sort of unity displayed by England he said, “England are united because they are winning continually. Victory brings unity to the team."  

Afridi conceded that the ‘spot-fixing’ allegations against three Pakistan players – Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir – have dented his team’s morale.

"It's not easy, it's very, very hard, but I'm not letting my team down like this, not in the one-dayers," said the allrounder. "At the moment our morale is very down, day by day, so it will be a big challenge to compete in the one-dayers. But we have some time, and me, my coach and the team, we will sit together and talk." Afridi rejected the idea that his players wanted to go home because of the betting scandal.

"I think we are all enjoying England because it is like a second home," he said. "A lot of players have families here. You'd have to ask them personally, but I am happy to be here." Afridi vowed that his team will bounce back in the ODI series.

“We have to bounce back because there is no other way. Personally, I’ll go out there and give my best and will expect my players to do that as well. We can’t let down our team and our country,” he told Arab News.