NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram lauded the Indian selectors’ decision to pick Irfan Pathan for the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka and said the Baroda speedster is the best choice to fill the all-rounder’s slot in the team.

“He only needs a longer run to get his confidence back. I think Pathan is a better choice than any other all-rounder in India. He has improved a lot. I think it’s important for Pathan and India that they need somebody at number seven or eight who can bowl and bat and this guy has got the ability,” Akram told a sports website from London.

Pathan made the cut after Vinay Kumar pulled out of the Lankan series due to shoulder injury. He was dropped from the national side after a not-so-impressive run with the ball in Australia and in the Asia Cup where he ended with only 11 wickets from seven games.

Akram, meanwhile, is itching to see Yuvraj Singh back on the field.

“He is a very strong man, he’s been through a lot and I think he’ll be fine. Once Yuvraj starts playing he might not do well in one or two games, but once he gets his fitness back, he’ll be Yuvraj of the old. I can’t wait to see him,” he said.

Yuvraj, who staged a brave recovery from germ-cell cancer, has been named in a 30-man preliminary squad for the World Twenty20 to be played in Sri Lanka from September 18 to October 7.

The Pakistani pace legend also lauded the national selectors for picking Lakshmipathy Balaji as T20 World Cup probable.

“Balaji is only 30 and I am glad that Indian selectors picked him. He is experienced with the slower bouncers, yorkers, and swings the new ball as well,” he said.

“I think Balaji will be very handy and useful for India. I know him very well as he plays for my team Kolkata Knight Riders. He has clever bowling strategies and a very good mindset,” he added.

The Tamil Nadu pacer last played an international game against Sri Lanka in February 2009.

After a long break, India started their new season with five ODI series against the Lankans at Hambantota.

Akram said the tour has come at a very crucial time and will give India valuable inputs of the conditions ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Courtesy: TIMES OF INDIA

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram feels the appointment of Virat Kohli as India’s vice-captain for the Asia Cup will “hurt” senior players such as Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.

Kohli was on Wednesday named M S Dhoni’s deputy for the upcoming tournament, to be held in Bangladesh and Akram feels senior players won’t be happy as they were eyeing captaincy.

“It is a tough job to be India’s vice-captain. I feel senior players like Sehwag and Gambhir will not be happy with this. Kohli has showed his true potential on this Australian tour and emerged as a candidate for vice-captaincy.

“The Indian selectors are probably thinking about the 2015 World Cup and if Dhoni is unfit before that, Kohli would be the right man to replace him. But, this will definitely leave Sehwag and Gambhir hurt as they were waiting for captaincy,” Akram was quoted as saying by a website.

Akram had recently stated that Kohli needed “at least five years more” to become the Indian cricket team’s leader.

Even as Kohli was made vice-captaincy after his heroic knock against Sri Lanka in the CB series, Sehwag was ‘rested’, according to selection committee chairman Kris Srikkanth.

“Maybe the Indian selectors are not bold enough to drop a player like Sehwag. I do not think this is the right attitude. Until and unless you drop someone, how will the hunger to do well and make it back into the team be visible in a player?

“The concept of ‘resting’ an out-of-form player never made sense to me and it baffles me again. A player plays or he is dropped, it’s simple,” Akram said.

The legendary pacer said that Sachin Tendulkar should look to score his 100th international century during the Asia Cup and then quit the 50-over format.

“There is pressure and stress on Sachin to get that milestone. If he can score this hundred in Asia Cup and get the monkey off his back, then he must look to quit ODIs and concentrate only on Tests,” Akram said.

“He should then play Test cricket in a relaxed manner. This will also give chance to younger players to build the team ahead of the 2015 World Cup.”

As far as Ashok Dinda’s selection was concerned, Akram was pleased.

“He runs in and I like his attacking attitude as a fast bowler. I think justice is done that his domestic performance has brought him back into the team. He took wickets for Bengal in one-dayers and he showcases the firepower that Bengalis are known for.”

Akram did not back the Indian selectors’ decision to rest promising pacer Umesh Yadav.

“Perhaps the selectors are looking to develop him into a Test bowler like Ishant Sharma. But this is not right decision as you cannot expect a 24-year-old like Umesh to be tired after one series. You need to play a genuine pacer to win games, in both Test and ODIs, more so when you tour abroad.”

“It is good that India have unearthed a quickie in Umesh who will be kept in the mix for the future. However, I am disappointed with Varun Aaron. It seems he is never fit. Hope Umesh and Aaron don’t end up like RP Singh and Munaf Patel.

About Zaheer Khan, Akram said the left-arm seamer should consider his future in the shorter format.

“I think it is time for him to consider his future in the shorter format. He did exceptionally well in the four Tests against Australia but his body is not supporting him in ODIs. As for his selection, you can pick and choose which games you want to play on tour and which you do not wish too. If you are picked, then you must play all games.

“Again, I think India do not know how to make long-lasting fast bowlers. I remember Imran Khan used to toil with us by making us bowl continuously for a long time. For Zaheer, he must choose his format now.

Akram was also delighted to see Yusuf Pathan returning to the squad.

“Yusuf Pathan is 29 years now and I still don’t know why he was not picked for so many games. Here is a hitter who is feared by most attacks in the world and he was dropped for a long time. I feel if India are looking at the 2015 World Cup then Yusuf Pathan must definitely remain in the scheme of things.”

Courtesy: Times of India