Groom a young captain: Waqar

Pakistan coach admits Afridi will be missed, wants former players to help team.

LAHORE: Cricket coach Waqar Younis on Friday urged Pakistan to groom a young captain, worrying that age may catch up with the national squad's current leader Misbahul Haq.

Pakistan developed a mini captaincy crisis after Shahid Afridi abruptly quit Test cricket on a tour of England and his replacement, Salman Butt was banned in a spot-fixing scandal.

Afridi then quit international cricket over differences with Waqar, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to select Misbah. Although he has performed well, a younger leader needs to be found, Waqar said.

"Being 36-37 is not very young," said Waqar. "He (Misbah) is very fit and has done very well as captain but age usually catches up, so we need to groom a young captain."

With Afridi refusing to return under current PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, Misbah is set to lead Pakistan in all three forms of the game on a tour of Zimbabwe next month.

Pakistan plays one Test, three one-day and two Twenty20 matches.

Waqar admitted Afridi will be missed.

"Every cricketer who leaves is missed, like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and then myself were missed and, of course, Afridi will also be missed but there are other youngsters who will take their place," said Waqar.

He urged former greats such as Javed Miandad to help youngsters develop.

"Whatever help can come is good because we have to take Pakistan cricket forward," said Waqar, who admitted that the team still suffers from batting problems, especially at the top of the order.

"Our problems in opening are old ones and we are trying to overcome these problems and I would urge former openers like Mohsin Khan, Saeed Anwar, Aamir Sohail and Mudassar Nazar to come and help the openers," said Waqar.

Youngsters will be given a chance on the Zimbabwe tour, he added.

"Hopefully some new players will develop," said Waqar who took charge as coach last year.