3rd April 2010

 

by Saj Sadiq

 

Speaking earlier from Karachi to PakPassion.net former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali stated that he felt that Umar Akmal would be an exciting and worthy choice as captain of the Pakistan test team.

"I'm not sure what the situation is with regards to Shahid Afridi and his decision on playing test cricket in future, but I would urge the Board to seriously look at Umar Akmal as a possible choice as captain of the Pakistan test team".

"I realise he is only a young man making his way into international cricket, but I strongly believe that he has the right credentials to become captain. Look at what the South Africans did, they installed Graeme Smith as a young captain and built a team around him and they have flourished because of that bold decision. Smith has developed into an excellent leader and the South African team have improved under his leadership. This is exactly what Pakistan needs to do, build for the future, take a gamble. This decision could in a few years time be looked back at as a bold and important move".

Basit who was one of the selectors of the title winning Twenty/20 World Cup squad in 2009 added that he feels that if the selectors think that the upcoming tour of England is too soon for 19 year old Umar Akmal, then Younus Khan should be asked to return as captain. "Younus is still the right man for the job of captaining the Pakistan test team, but of course there are issues that need to be resolved between him and the Board before he can be considered a possibility. If Younus and the Board can't come to some sort of agreement then Umar Akmal would be my choice as skipper".

Basit is of the opinion that the test captain should be a player who warrants a place in the team and not just chosen as skipper because of his seniority. "My logic is that the Pakistan test captain should be someone who deserves to be in the team, not just a player who is chosen as captain because he has been in and out of the squad for a number of years and because he thinks he is a senior player and deserves the right to captain the team. Some of the names that are being mentioned as possible captain of the test team, don't even deserve to be in the team, never mind being captain. Umar Akmal may only be 19 but he will be part of the test team for many years to come and that is why I think they (the Board) should seriously look at Umar Akmal as a possible test captain of the near future".

Akmal who has only played 6 tests for Pakistan was one of seven players recently punished by the Board, but Basit feels that should not be an issue. "He (Akmal) made a mistake by speaking to the press and that matter was dealt with by the Board. It should not be held against him and he will learn from this mistake of that I am sure".