Bring back Warnie, says Imran Khan

DOHA: Australia should have talked Shane Warne out of retirement and included him in their World Cup squad, former Pakistan captain Imran Khan said on Tuesday.

Khan, who is in Doha as a speaker at the Forbes CEO Forum, told the Gulf Times that Warne would have come in handy for the Australians at the World Cup considering their recent one-day debacles and injuries to key players.

“Had I been the captain of Australia, I would have asked Warne to be there for the World Cup,” Khan said.

“I would have told him to forget the retirement thing. He fits very well in the one-day side considering the situation. “With Brett Lee as a match-winner not playing because of his injury, Australia should have fallen back on Warne. They would have become stronger.”

Khan, who led Pakistan to World Cup glory in Australia in 1992, also warned that the Australians will be itching to bounce back after beaing beaten by England in the tri-series finals and suffering a whitewash against the New Zealanders.

“Don’t go by what you have seen of late,” said Khan.

“The Aussies are sure to bounce back and in Ricky Ponting they have an aggressive captain who will make all the difference for them, ” he said.