Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday advised the national cricket team to inculcate a team spirit, adopt aggressive posturing and play with a sole passion to win.

The prime minister, who had captained Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup-winning team, met the national cricket team here and gave tips to become a successful cricketer while sharing his success story.

Special Assistant to PM Dr Shahbaz Gill, Senator Faisal Javed and Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board Ramiz Raja attended the meeting.

The prime minister believed that Allah had defined truthfulness and honesty as the principles of success. One can change his fate through hard work and struggle, he added. The prime minister called for opting the course of earning respect, not money, advising the players to play for the team and the nation which had their eyes on their performance.

He said the whole nation wished their success for being the representatives of Pakistan in the world. You have no dearth of talent as the whole world recognizes the talent of Pakistanis, he remarked. Referring to Islamic history, the prime minister exemplified the defeat of a huge army by 313 Muslims in the Battle of Badr and the conquering of huge empires like Rome and Persia just within 13 years.

Urging the player to inculcate a team spirit, Imran Khan told the players to enter the playground with full confidence and a passion to win. The team playing to avert defeat can never win, he remarked.

Recalling his cricketing career, he said they had steered Pakistan cricket from decrepitude to win the world cup. “You have to play offensively. The team playing in defensive mode can never win. It were we who had introduced the attacking technique in cricket,” the prime minister commented.

He said every successful individual had to meet failure which became a source for his learning.

The prime minister called for teams’ nerve strengthening and teaching them to enjoy the pressure instead of getting frustrated.

He also guided the team to focus on taking the wicket which was different from run blocking. He also advised the players to emerge as a strong team as the whole nation had pinned hopes on them.