**Former Pakistan skipper feels it is too early for Mohammad Hafeez to lead an explosive team in a world championship event.**By Jepher Christopher Nickels
Wasim Akram indicated Shahid Afridi was the best man to lead Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup later this year. Afridi remains a key member in the squad and played a leading role when Pakistan won the T20 World Cup in 2009 in London.
In an exclusive chat with Home | Football News, Live Scores and Results | ESPNSTAR.com from London on Saturday, Akram said: “I think it is too early to name Mohammad Hafeez the captain of the side. You can’t ignore Afridi’s experience. He also led the team to the semi-finals in the 2011 World Cup against India and should have been given another stint at the top. But that’s Pakistan cricket for you!”
However, Akram felt Hafeez, who is just two T20 matches wise as captain, has the potential to learn and will get full support from the players and country.
“Hafeez has the potential to handle pressure, he is a good all-rounder and I believe he can do well as long as he enjoys his game and remains positive,” Akram said.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has included seniors Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq in the final 15-member squad, but the Board’s decision hasn’t come in as a surprise to Akram.
“This is a very good move by coach Dav Whatmore and the PCB. Pakistan are targeting their second title and players like Nazir, Razzaq and Akmal are the right choice over the youngsters. Nazir is very consistent, Razzaq is also doing well in County cricket, and in my view Kamran is the best opener in T20 cricket,” explained Akram.
“With these stars and Afridi in the mix, I think Pakistan have a very good chance to win the tournament and bring the Cup home once again,” he said.
Misbah-ul-Haq, who quit T20 captaincy earlier this year, has not been included in the squad and the 46-year-old Akram says: “There is time for everything. It is the game of the young generation and Misbah had his time in T20s. Pakistan have to change their mind-set in this format of the game. A strike-rate of 90 is good in one-day cricket but for T20 you need a strike-rate of 130-plus.”
Pakistan are to play Australia in three ODIs and three T20s in UAE in August just before the start of the T20 World Cup in September with the same squad. Now only time will tell how prepared Pakistan are for the 12-team ICC tournament in Sri Lanka.
Cricket | Akram: Afridi could have been captain | ESPNSTAR.com
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