KARACHI: Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has termed the Asia Cup and the tour of England the right time to inject new blood in the team.
“Mohammad Yousuf has retired and Younus Khan has been banned by the PCB,” Younis told The Express Tribune from Sydney. “In the absence of the duo, we’ll have to depend on new players and it’s about time we see new faces and talent in the team.” Younis also remained content with the team’s performance in the West Indies despite missing key players from the successful campaign last year but urged followers to give the new captain, Shahid Afridi, more time. “It was Afridi’s first tour as captain and I was impressed by his leadership skills.
He made a few mistakes but every player, no matter how experienced he is, upon appointment as captain will make mistakes. Afridi is being groomed so we should back him.” Backing Salman Butt’s name as possible Test captain, Younis also urged the PCB to name the captain before finalising the squad and to give the captain six to twelve months to prove himself at the helm.
“Given the circumstances and Afridi’s reluctance to return to the Test arena, we have no one better than Butt for the position but I’d request that the captain before naming the squad and the new captain should also be appointed for longer than just a series. This is to ensure that he is given ample opportunity to prove himself.”
Published in the Express Tribune, May 21st, 2010.
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