Pakistan’s former captain Wasim Akram has advised the national team’s prolific run-scorer Younis Khan to focus on playing Test cricket only.
The fast bowling bowling great said that it would be better for Younis if he focused on just Test cricket and dropped the idea of playing 50-overs format.
“There is a clear communication gap between the cricket board and national selectors and Younis which is why we see the senior batsman keep on repeating he wants to play 50-overs cricket,” Akram said.
“I think it is best if the board and selectors sat down with Younis and discussed their future plans for him specially where one-day cricket and Tests are concerned,” he stated.
There is a debate in Pakistan cricket over the national selector’s decision to again ignore the senior batsman for the three one-day matches in Zimbabwe.
The selectors have largely ignored Younis in ODIs since mid 2013 and completely since the World Cup this year although the batsman has insisted he can still play ODIs and contribute to the team.
The selectors ignored Younis once again on Tuesday for the ODIs in Zimbabwe just two days after he had said that if they didn’t pick him in this format they would be doing great injustice to him.
Akram said personally he would advise Younis to now focus on Test matches as he has got the biggest success in this format.
“Pakistan still requires him in this format where he has been so consistent. But I think given his seniority Younis deserves to be told by the selectors where he stands as far as ODIs are concerned.
“Younis deserves this much but I would advise him to stop worrying about playing the ODI format.”
Another former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has also said an unnecessary controversy was being created over Younis Khan’s desire to play ODIs.
“The selectors or board doesn’t help by giving statements like ‘the doors are open for Younis to play ODIs’ or ‘he will be selected when he believes he is certain to be part of the playing XI’. They are only confusing him,” Latif said recently.
Akram was recently also appointed as brand ambassador for the Pakistan Super League by the cricket board.
