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‘Afridi is a natural leader’
DUBAI - Pakistan might not have tasted success in the recently concluded Asia Cup tournament in Sri Lanka, but Pakistan’s former captain Wasim Akram did pick up some positives about the overall performance of the team.
The important one being the captaincy of Shahid Afridi who, Akram felt, was perfectly capable of leading the side. “He can lead. He is a natural leader and performed well in the Asia Cup scoring two centuries which came after a long time. You perform and lead from the front and the boys around will certainly follow.”
But Akram felt that Afridi will face a stiff challenge in the Tests to be held in England. “In Test cricket it’s going to be tough since he has not played Tests for a couple of years. He might come in to bat at number eight and also bowl but, in England, it’s not going to turn as much it does in the sub-continent. That will be a real test for him.”
Looking back on Pakistan’s performance in the Asia Cup, he was of the opinion that the team did perform well, it’s the combination that went wrong. “They did relatively well in the Asia Cup. But I think the combination of players XI went wrong. You can’t drop Saeed Ajmal. He is a match winner in T20s and ODIs. He was dropped in the first and the third game and I think that showed the lack of experience of Afridi and Waqar Younis as a coach. But they are quick learners and I’m sure they will do well.”
Pakistan will play two Twenty20 matches against Australia on July 5 and July 6 and two Tests starting at Lord’s on July 13. During the second part of its tour Pakistan will take on England in four Tests, two Twenty20 matches and five one-dayers.
Akram said that Pakistan would feel the absence of experienced batsmen Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan during the England tour. “I think Pakistan might struggle in the middle order. If I were the captain, I would make sure that both of them were included. In England, you need to have an experienced middle order that can tackle the bowling and can spend some time in the middle.”
“Though we have talented cricketers in the team, they are too young and lack experience. England is going superbly at this moment. They are giving Australia a hard time and their confidence is sky high so it will be very tough for Pakistan to perform well there.”
Akram said that he had a chat with Yousuf recently where he advised him to just concentrate on the game and not worry about other things. “He met me and I told him he has around two to three years left in cricket (the game) and to just play. I told him not to worry what the board or the players are doing to you. You just concentrate on your cricket. He averages 50 plus Test cricket and should keep that momentum going.
“He realised that he was ruining his own game and career and probably might make a come back soon. It’s better for the team and the middle order. Horses for Courses that is what Afridi has to learn quickly.”
About Younus, Akram said: “He is a nice guy and great player. When things are not going according to your wish as a captain you don’t run away from it, instead you there and sought out things. Three times he has resigned and just left.”
About the 2011 World Cup, Akram said: “The World Cup is happening in the sub continent wickets. The pressure is immense since it will be a batting friendly track bowlers will get hammered. Afridi and Waqar have to pick their match winners and groom them now.”
Noting that coach Younis has been doing a good job so far, Akram said that he has to be given some time to bring out the best in the players. “He loves his job and he will improve. He has just become the coach. Give him a year and I’m sure he will do well. The board has to stick to Afridi and Waqar if Pakistan cricket has to improve.”
About the pacers in the Pakistan team, Akram touched upon the issue of fitness when it came to Abdul Razzak and Shoaib Akhtar. “He (Razzak) has to improve his fitness level. The captain has to have confidence in the bowler. He is not able to swing the ball like he used to earlier. Same with Akhtar who did well in the first game in Asia Cup. But he was struggling in the second game and he has no match fitness at all. I don’t think he is playing Test cricket. Afridi said that he would pick him and play him one game and rest for the next two. But you can’t pick a player on that criteria. You have to pick a player who can play every game for your team. Hopefully Akhtar who has not played international cricket for year and a half now will improve with a couple of matches. And I feel he still has a couple of years in him to play international cricket.”
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