Misbah lacks heart and courage to inspire team: Mohammad Yousuf

Yousuf, Shoaib Akhtar critical of replacing Hafeez with Nasir Jamshed

KARACHI: Former cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Yousuf expressed surprise over the selection of Nasir Jamshed as replacement for injured Muhammad Hafeez in the upcoming World Cup as the opener for the squad, NDTV reported. 

"I just don't understand what the tour selection committee and management is doing. I would have thought that Shoaib Malik or Saeed Ajmal would have been better choices to replace Hafeez," Akhtar said adding that Malik's experience would be invaluable to the team in the World Cup.

"This Pakistan squad is not balanced and I just don't know what the final playing eleven is going to be now," Akhtar said further.

Akhtar made clear that should the Pakistan team under-perform in the tournament, then all officials and office bearers should be prepared to hold themselves responsible.

Commenting on the Pakistan and India opening match on February 15, the former cricketer said that the Adelaide pitch was good for batting and that only two specialist pace bowlers should play in the match and further rely on spinners.

"Both sides have been struggling in recent times so it should a good close contest but in my view the approach of the captain will decide this very big match," he added.

Former captain Muhammad Yousuf was more scathing in his criticism, saying that Misbah lacked heart and courage to inspire the team in these difficult times by coming up the order at number three.

"Imran was a great captain because he tried to inspire his players in difficult times by setting examples. Dhoni is a similar character. I don't know whether Misbah can do the same because he has to show aggressive and positive approach in this World Cup to lift the team," Akhtar told a TV channel.

Critical of Jamshed's selection for the tournament, he pointed out that he had struggled in recent matches.

"He was also out of form in domestic cricket and I don't understand why we don't try our already tested players," Yousuf said.

Azhar Ali or Shoaib Malik would have been better choices to replace Hafeez in the squad, Yousuf felt.

"Azhar is a good solid cricketer while Malik I think given his recent performances deserved a call up. But what the tour selection committee is thinking one really does not know," a disappointed Yousuf said.

He said if Pakistan was to do well in the World Cup, the captain will have to rally the disturbed team.

"I don't know whether he can do this as he does not appear to have the same courage as Imran did," Yousuf said.

Former captain Wasim Akram also took the opportunity to comment on the turn of events for the squad and said that the loss of the experienced Hafeez was a big setback for Pakistan.

"His injury is most unfortunate and has come at the wrong time but the team now have to play extraordinarily well as the odds are against them with Saeed and Junaid also out," Akram said.

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