Akram criticises selectors for ignoring Younis for England tour

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has also joined the voices criticising the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) selection committee’s decision to ignore middle order batsman Younis Khan for the upcoming England tour.

Akram said the team would badly miss the experienced right hand batsman presence in the seam-friendly conditions of England.

“I think he (Younis) should have been in the touring squad because he is a top batsman and his absence will be felt in English conditions as he has previously done well there,” Akram said, adding that the selectors should have picked Mohammed Yousuf for tough tour ahead.

The national selectors have ignored Younis from the 17-man Pakistan Test squad for England even though the former skipper’s indefinite ban has recently been overturned by the PCB appointed appellate tribunal.

“They should have picked Yousuf and Younis in the team because England is no place for experimentations especially against Australia,” The Daily Times quoted Akram, as saying.

The former skipper underlined that Pakistani players would have to give their hundred percent and play with passion to succeed against Australia during the upcoming tour.

“What is a good sign is that while the team may lack in talent in some cases but it seems high on passion and commitment, which are important elements when you play against Australia,” Akram said.

Despite Pakistan failing to reach the final of the just concluded Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, he said the team led from the front by skipper Shahid Afridi performed reasonably well in the quadrangular tournament.

“I don’t think they did badly and I don’t see any disunity or politics in the team now,” Akram said. (ANI)

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