ISLAMABAD - Only a miracle can take Pakistan beyond quarterfinal stage of the ICC World Cup 2011. How is it possible for the current team to make any further progress in the tournament after the poor performance against the New Zealand team. Instead of taking serious notice of Kamran Akmal's poor showing with both behind and in front of the stumps, the Pakistan coach is so relaxed and stated that there was no need of dropping Kamran Akmal. This is totally ridiculous; after such an embarrassing loss and worst kind of wicket keeping, the team management still wants to give time, especially to Kamran and M Hafeez, and expects Pakistan to win the World Cup. It seems that the PCB high command is living in fools' paradise. No one can find even a single example of leniency around the cricket world towards players who are not performing consistently, but in the PCB's case, the players, who have not been performing since long, are still able to hold on their places to the surprise of all. The butter fingers of Kamran Akmal has already cost Pakistan team dearly and by giving him clean-chit for the next games, the entire team management will be responsible for the early exit of Pakistan's team from the World Cup. If the cricket-mad millions of fans in the country give players the status of hero and celebrate team's victory by dancing in the streets and distributing sweets then they reserve the right to show their displeasure on performances like these. It is true that fans must respect the families of the players and rather than pelting players' houses with stones they can stage a peaceful demonstration against the players who are not performing. When you love someone, you have the right to express your anger too but in a polite way, it is a natural phenomenon. Keeping faith in Kamran, Hafeez and even Ahmed Shehzad will serve no good for the morale of the team rather it will demoralise the likes of Asad Shafiq, Junaid Khan and Saeed Ajmal, where Ajmal has been the match winning bowler since long. How can you let under-performers in the side when so many talented players are awaiting their turn in the wings. The time is fast running out for PCB and its panel of selectors and if they didn't wake up now from the deep slumber then they should forget winning the World Cup. Those who don't have the courage to make bold decisions don't deserve to win anything. Now it is up to the coach and captain to decide the fate of the abovementioned players or prepare themselves to face the wrath of the millions of people back in Pakistan. If the Pakistan cricket team can't beat a side like New Zealand - which didn't even have the services of their influential captain Daniel Luca Vettori in bowling as he got injured during fielding - then how can they expect to beat teams like Australia and later India or South Africa in the quarterfinal stage, as there is every possibility that Pakistan may face either of them if it continues performance like this. This team has the ability and guts to bounce back and they can get the inspiration from Captain Shahid Khan Afridi who is fighter by nature. Afridi needs to adopt attacking mentality, as defensive approach is almost costing him not only captaincy but also bringing him bad image. If Pakistan wants to beat Australia then they have to fight like wounded tigers, otherwise the team must start packing its luggage as it will take only a miracle for them to reach beyond the quarterfinal stage of the World Cup. The match with Australia is almost a must win situation for the team as it will help them avoid likely encounter with their arch rival India or one of their nemeses South Africa in the quarterfinal, besides giving a physiological edge over their opponents. All this can only happen with the changes which are more than essential for the team to make any further progress in the tournament.