Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram is the latest to criticise Younis Khan’s exclusion from the Test squad for the England tour, saying the national team will badly miss the right-hander’s experience in the seam-friendly conditions there.
The national selectors have ignored Younis from the 17-man Pakistan Test squad for England even though the former skipper’s indefinite ban has recently been overturned by the Pakistan Cricket Board-appointed appeals judge.
“I think he (Younis) should have been in the touring squad because he is a top batsman and his absence will be felt in English conditions as he has previously done well there,” Akram said at the launch of the Lahore Premier League tournament here today.
The bowling great was also disappointed at another former skipper Mohammad Yousuf’s exclusion from the squad.
“They should have picked Yousuf and Younis in the team because England is no place for experimentations especially against Australia,” Akram said.
Akram stated that the forthcoming tour to England would be a tough one for Pakistan and the players would have to play with passion and spirit.
“What is a good sign is that while the team may lack in talent in some cases but it seems high on passion and commitment, which are important elements when you play against Australia,” he said.
Meanwhile, Akram has called on the PCB to give ample timer to newly-appointed captain Shahid Afridi and coach Waqar Younis to build the national team.
“The board should give proper time to the captain and coach to deliver results because it takes time for any captain or coach to establish their culture and way of thinking in a dressing room,” he said.
PCB had appointed Afridi captain until the England tour while Waqar will be in charge till the end next year.
However, PCB has the dubious distinction of sacking the team management, especially the coach and the captain, after a bad series or tour.
The PCB had released Intikhab Alam as coach after the disastrous Australia tour early this year although he was yet to complete his two-year contract with the board.
Akram also felt that Pakistan had done decently in the Asia Cup despite failing to qualify for the final.
“I don’t think they did badly and I don’t see any disunity or politics in the team now,” he said.
Pakistan today left from Colombo for England where they play two Twenty20 matches against Australia on July 5 and 6 with the first Test starting at Lords on July 13.
