Misbah Pakistan
Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq admitted Pakistan are suffering from a crisis of confidenceReuters

Pakistan need to find a way out of the mire they find themselves in after two abject batting performances saw them lose their first two matches to Australia.

In the lone T20I, they failed to even breach a score of 100, while the first ODI against Australia saw their batting failings come back to haunt them again.

Confidence is clearly quite far away from the Pakistan camp at the moment, and it will be up to the players, particularly the senior ones, to find a way to bring that wonderful feeling back into the camp and make them feel hunky-dory again.

"I think sometimes you just lose confidence, and at the moment that's what is happening with our team," said Misbah who himself is struggling for runs having managed just one half-century in his last 12 innings.

"We need one or two good innings to just get back on track. At the moment it's really not coming from anyone. We're looking forward and thinking positive that somebody just comes and stands up and plays a really good innings, just to get back on track."

Pakistan folded for a mere 162 in the first ODI, after Steven Smith had guided Australia to a fighting, but far from winning, total. The Pakistan batsmen and the rest of the team will hope for a better result when the 2nd ODI gets underway in Dubai.

"It is very important to level the series in the second match," added Misbah on Thursday. "For the sake of saving the series, for the sake of the team, the management and for our fans, it is important to level the series.

"Win is always very important and it is more important, more so with the World Cup coming, a win puts all the things in the right place.

"It is very important that you keep working hard and don't lose hope and that keeps you going all the time, the confidence is important and the boys know this."

Seeing as it is only a three-match series, Australia will look to wrap the series up with victory in Dubai, with both their batsmen and bowlers high on confidence after two comprehensive wins on this tour already.

Smith's century was crucial to his team getting to a defendable total in the first ODI, and while the other batsmen, barring David Warner, did not make much of a contribution, Australia will not be too worried going into the second one-dayer.

"It's always important to start a series well, especially in a three-match series," said Australia's wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. "You don't want to be chasing the series after the first game."

Where to Watch Live

The 2nd ODI is scheduled for a 3 pm local time (4.30 pm IST, 4 pm PST) start with live coverage provided by Ten Cricket and Ten HD in India. Viewers in India can also watch the match via live streaming online on Ten Sports Live.

PTV Sports will show the crucial match live in Pakistan, while viewers can also choose the option to watch the match via free live streaming on PTV Sports Live Streaming. Audience in the UAE can catch the action on Ten Cricket UAE.

Australia viewers can watch the match on Fox Sports Australia, with the option to live stream also available via their online option. US viewers can catch the game on Willow TV or Willow TV Online.

Team news: Pakistan: Junaid Khan has been ruled out of the series after twisting his knee in training. Junaid will be replaced by Sohail Tanvir in the squad.

Australia: The away side have called up left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty into the squad after it became clear Mitchell Marsh would not be able to take part in the series due to a hamstring injury. Doherty will look to make an immediate impression in the second ODI with the pitch in Dubai expected to aid turn, much like it did in the T20 international match.

"We have a couple of options now with Xavier Doherty turning back up," said Haddin. "We were actually quite shocked at how much it turned in the Twenty20 match here. It didn't look like it was going to turn that much. So we've got options there."