Karachi: Pakistan's senior batsman, Muhammad Yousuf has once again lashed out at the national team's Test and ODI captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, advising him to change his batting position in one-day internationals.
"If Pakistan is to do well in the next World Cup and in the one-day internationals before that Misbah has to change his batting position and lead the team by example," he said.
"I would advise Misbah to bat at number three in one-day internationals. Because his batting style is not helping the team in this format when he comes lower down the order."
The former captain said despite the fact that conditions in one-day internationals were now loaded in favour of the batsmen, Misbah just had a strike rate of 73 in this format.
"Things are much more comfortable for the batsmen in one-dayers these days with so many power plays and five fielders inside the circle and Misbah as captain has to take advantage of these things. If Misbah takes and initiative and bats at number three and gets some quick runs he can help the team more than he is doing now."
Yousuf said it didn't really matter on which position Misbah batted in Test matches.
"If we talk about doing well in the World Cup than Misbah has to take the lead and lead from the front. I also feel that Pakistan team management should not waste a talented player like Asad Shafiq and he should be a regular member of the test and ODI sides. I am surprised that while they have not considered Asad for the ODIs in Sri Lanka they have brought back Umar Akmal in Test matches as well.
"It makes no sense to me. Are they thinking about going into the World Cup without a specialist keeper it would be a disaster," he added.
Yousuf recently has obtained a business visa for the United Kingdom where he intends to set up business. The visa obtained at a cost of 200,000 pounds would mean that Yousuf will have to spend atleast six months in a year in the UK for business purposes.
The senior batsman who was sidelined from the national team since 2010 said Pakistan team management needed on bringing consistency and stability to the batting order before the World Cup.
"I have played in Australia and New Zealand and if the batsmen don't score there than you can't expect to do well in this mega event," Yousuf stated.
"That is why I say it is important for Misbah to lead by example in ODIs and change his batting order.
