Dubai: Pakistan's experienced senior cricketers like Imran Khan and Javed Miandad should have been involved in the team building process for the World Cup, remarked Saleem Yousuf, the former Pakistan wicketkeeper to Gulf News.
Yousuf, who had also served as the national team selector, hit out at the Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer.
"Woolmer may be rated as the best but our performance during the last three years under him has not been good. During his first year he said that the team is undergoing a rebuilding process. The second year too he repeated the same. This is the third year and we are yet to have a stabilised team," pointed out Yousuf.
According to Yousuf, the Pakistan team should be coached by a Pakistani. "We have former players who have proved their calibre as world class players. What is needed for the Pakistan team is not a coach but a good strategist who knows how to assess the opponents," he said.
"One cannot coach players like Inzamam, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf. It is no use calling senior players at the last moment for a pep talk. No wonder Javed Miandad turned down such an invitation," said Yousuf, who had steered Pakistan to victory over West Indies through a splendid knock in the 1987 World Cup.
"Pakistan's strong point is its battery of fast bowlers. Our success in the World Cup will depend on the fitness of our pacers especially Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul."
Talking about the Asif-Akhtar dope testing controversy, Yousuf said: "In the past, when we used to perform brilliantly our team had only a manager and a physio as officials. Today the Pakistan team has nearly nine officials.
"Most of the Pakistan players come from middle class families and all are not well educated. These officials should have educated the players on drugs as well as their fitness," he said.
When asked about Inzamam's captaincy, Yousuf said: "Inzamam is a great player but he should lead from the front like Imran did during the World Cup. Inzamam must bat at No 3. With Inzamam, Younis and Yousuf at the top and Shoaib Malek, Afridi and will have a solid batting line up. If our pacers too can rise to the challenge we can win the world cup," concluded Yousuf.
