Ex-Pak players satisfied with team selection for Windies tour

Former Pakistani Test cricketers have supported the selection of players for the upcoming tour of the West Indies.

The squad saw the return of Shahid Afridi and Umar Akmal, and has included youngsters at the expense of poorly performing Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Imran Farhat.

After a woeful performance at the ICC Champions Trophy, where Pakistan was the only team to record all losses, there were calls for an overhaul keeping the 2015 World Cup in mind, the Express Tribune reports.

Satisfied with the overall selection, former captain Aamir Sohail said that the changes were on the cards after the Champions Trophy debacle, adding that he respected the squad, chosen by the selectors under pressure, which comprises of popular choices like the return of Afridi and Ahmed Shehzad.

However, Sohail said that he would have liked to see Kamran Akmal getting one last chance this time as an opener.

Backing Afridi to perform in the series, former fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar said that it was not appropriate of the selectors to have dropped Afridi despite his struggles, adding that although his return is positive, he would have to contribute a lot this time.

Akhtar further said that the selected squad is the best available talent in the limited pool of players, and expressed his satisfaction with the idea of Umar Akmal being given an added responsibility as a wicket-keeper and the selection of Mohammad Rizwan.

However, Akhtar said that although Abdul Razzaq was not needed in West Indies with the presence of Afridi, he should have been given a chance in the Twenty20s, adding that batsmen Asad Shafiq and Umar Amin need to take on more responsibility.

Hailing the inclusion of youngsters in the squad, especially Hammad Azam, former chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed said that although the overall team selection is satisfactory and was made keeping the upcoming World Cup in mind, he felt that Sarfraz Ahmed or Adnan Akmal would have been a better choice.