Coach Mike Hesson admits Pakistan took a 'step back' in defeat against India

Chasing a target of 176, Pakistan's top-order were dismantled as they slipped to 34-4 before eventually being bowled out for just 114 to go down by 61 runs at the R.Premadasa Stadium.

What stood out was the nature of dismissals from the Pakistan batters, all going for big shots when a bit a circumspect and game awareness was required, something Hesson addressed after the game.

The Pakistan mentor told reporters: "When you see a score and you know that it's probably a little bit above par, you almost feel like you're going to play like a Superman and take the game on earlier than the conditions allow you to.

"We lost wickets early on to shots that I'm sure on that surface they were pretty tough, tough options.

"On a quicker surface, (like the) SSC, it might be a little bit different. So it is about adapting and we've been really good the last few months about adapting to different conditions. Today we probably took a little step back."

Hesson admitted the players were "pretty disappointed" after the match but they need to lift themselves for a must-win clash against Namibia to make sure of progression at the global tournament.

"It's a pretty disappointed dressing room in there at the moment because they know how much it means to Pakistan," Hesson said.

"And we are really disappointed we didn't play as well as we could, but we're also part of the tournament and we know in tournament-play that it's not always going to go your way.

"So our job is to pick ourselves up and make sure that we're very good in two or three days."