Ex-Pakistani skipper says board should have included Younus, Yousuf in squad
Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram feels the present team have plenty of talented players, but they are too young to take a heavy burden on their shoulders. Image Credit: VIRENDRA SAKLANI/Gulf News Dubai: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to be consistent.
Answering a query from Gulf News on whether the politics of their cricket board has affected the team, Akram said: "If the leadership is all over the place and they have no vision, then the players will follow the trend. They may get fined, banned and picked again, like it happened recently.
“For a tour of England, they should have made sure that players like Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf are in the team. You need experienced batsmen in the middle order who can spend time at the crease. The present lot, though talented, are too young.”
Elaborating on the state of Pakistan cricket, Akram, who unveiled the Dubai Super Sixes Corporate cricket league being held in Dubai, said: “Anything can happen to Pakistan cricket and board. Even if you sign up a contract with them for 100 years they can sack you in two months. I only hope they stick on with Waqar Younus as coach and Afridi as captain at least for a year and a half. If Pakistan has to improve these two guys must be there.”
Talking about Pakistan’s performance in the recent Asia Cup, Akram said: “Pakistan did relatively well. It was nice to see Afridi get two centuries after five years but the inexperience of Afridi as a leader and Younus as coach did show up. They should not have dropped a match winner like Saeed Ajmal in the first game, selected him again for second match and dropped again. Afridi and Younus are quick learners and they may improve.”
Natural leader
Akram feels that Afridi is a natural leader. “To be a successful leader you need to perform too and Afridi did it during the Asia Cup. However, Pakistan’s England tour will be tough. England is playing superbly and their confidence is sky high. Pakistan will find it tough in Tests.”
According to Akram, Pakistan must prepare well for the 2011 World Cup. “The World Cup ahead is a huge task. Since it is being held in the sub continent the pressure will be immense. Afridi and Younus should pick players who are match winners and keep grooming them. Pakistan should have selected Mohammad Irfan, the six-foot, 11-and-a-half inch pacer for the England tour. He is only 26 and he could have got good bounce and would have been very useful on England wickets. Unfortunately they have kept him in the reserves.”
Akram also revealed that he is always ready to help Pakistan cricket. “I am available for help free of cost whenever I am in Pakistan, but not for a regular post. I am too busy. Younus with Aqib Javed [bowling coach] and Ejaz Ahmad [batting coach] jell very well and if the management too can jell with them then the team will do well.”