"I think Yousuf is the key batsman for Pakistan and commands great respect among the team members," Moin Khan said.
CHANDIGARH: Former wicket keeper Moin Khan feels Pakistan can continue with Shoaib Malik as the one day captain but if they are to do better in the longer version of the game, veteran batsman Mohammed Yousuf should be made skipper of the Test squad.
"I think Yousuf is the key batsman for Pakistan and commands great respect among the team members. If he is made captain, the team would put up better performance," Moin, who is coach of Hyderabad Heroes, an ICL Twenty20 team, said on Thursday.
He said Malik could continue as the ODI captain, adding 'but if they want good results, in the Test they should not delay appointing Yousuf as captain.'
"After the ongoing series against India gets over, I think the Pakistan Cricket Board will have to seriously decide about the captaincy issue," felt Moin.
Asked about another senior batsman Younis Khan, Moin said, "He can also be considered, but I feel Yousuf is a more deserving candidate."
Moin advised the Pakistani side to approach the third and final Test in Bangalore with a positive frame of mind and go all out for a win to square the series.
However, lack of quality bowlers might affect the side's show, fears Moin.
"Earlier, you had the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq, who kept the Indian batsmen on the back foot."
"But now we do have speedsters like Shoaib Akhtar but they are more susceptible to injuries," he pointed out.
Moin criticised the trend in the sub-continent to fast-track players into the national team, which often boomerangs.
"In Australia, players like Michael Hussey go through the rigours of first class cricket before joining the national team."
"In the sub-continent, a player, even if he may not be ready for it, is straightway put to face the pressure of international cricket, and mostly he just succumbs," he said.
The former stumper-batsman also felt that shooting for commercials and sweating in the gyms had left a modern day cricketer with hardly any time to practise.
"Cricketers are often busy in shooting schedules and partying, which hampers their practice. I also find that a new trend has started where fitness-oriented exercises and elaborate schedules are consuming more time. Sometimes, players ignore the basic things which is to practice. There can be no substitute for practice," he said.
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