Pakistan former cricket captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rashid-Latif-c84084 expressed the view that the selectors have made a wrong decision by dropping experienced batsman Mohammad Yousuf
from the 15-man squad for the World Cup commencing on 19 February.
"The squad is balanced, but I feel selectors have made a mistake by leaving out Mohammad Yousuf. I would have chosen Yousuf ahead of Sohail Tanvir," Latif told
to media.
Latif and many other former Pakistani skippers have criticized the PCB’s decision to delay the name of the captain for the mega event even after announcing the
final squad. The experts also viewed that the delay may raise some conflicts within the team. Ex- skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Inzamam-ul-Haq-c64383 said that postponing the captaincy issue has created two divisions within the team.
Latif who is recently coaching the Afghanistan cricket team said that PCB was not willing to appoint Afridi as captain. The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Afghanistan-c745 coach also added that
Afridi has many controversies with his teammates and the board is awaiting the results of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 six-match ODI series.
Latif favoured Afridi and said that he was the best man to lead http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 for the upcoming tournament but if board had intentions to choose Misbah then they should
have appointed him earlier. He said that the delay reflected their sorry state on the issue of captaincy.
"Pakistan cannot be written off as the format suits them. They are a team, who on their day are capable of beating anyone. The knockout stage is where Pakistan
could excel.
"Pakistan cannot be written off as the format suits them,” said Latif.
Former wicketkeeper while commenting on current Pakistan team said that they are the team who has ability to beat anyone on their day and they have courage to
excel at the knock out stage. “Two good performances in the knockout stage and Pakistan could find themselves in the final," he added.
Latif while talking about World Cup said that it is the event that names the heroes. Throwing light on the past, Latif said that Pakistan’s strongest World Cup
squad was undoubtedly the 1999 World Cup team which was thrashed by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wasim-Akram-c96292.
"Umar can show once again that he is one of the best players in the Pakistan team at the moment. He is not being allowed to play his natural game. He should
be allowed to play his natural attacking game," Latif said.
Latif however, expressed his doubt over the performance of all-rounder Abdul-Razzaq. Commenting on the squad he said that Saeed Ajmal will be a key player but
he was confused about Razzaq’s role. He suggested that Razaq should play as a batting all-rounder rather than bowling all-rounder because he was not completing 10 overs in the recent ODI series.
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