By IANS
Kolkata : Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram Friday said the current Pakistan cricket team is in a rebuilding stage and will take a little more time to settle down.
The former left-arm quickie, who was in the city to promote medication for the diabetes patients, said: “When Pakistan came for the last full tour of India it had a mix of youth and experience. There were players like Salim Malik, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq and myself along with a host of youngsters.”
“This is a young side with a young captain in Shoaib Mallik. They will need a little more time to settle in. There are a few talented players, and they can never be considered as pushovers,” he said. “Besides, coach Geoff Lawson is also new and he is in the process of building an unit.”
Asked about the fate of the Test series, Akram said: “India has had the advantage in the ODIs. The way they are playing they will surely hold the edge in the Test series too. But this young Pakistani side will give them a good fight. Nothing can be taken for granted.”
On whether Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly should play at the same time, he said, “There is no question of dropping any of them. They are in prime form and have a few more years of cricket in them. They are around 35 years and they are the best judge of when they should give up.”
Asked about the bowlers who impressed him most, Akram said: “Sreesanth and R.P. Singh impressed me — Sreesanth with his nippy bowling and RP with his line and length. But what is most heartening is to see how Zaheer Khan has made a comeback.
“Zaheer and I have a lot in common. I played for Surrey to hone my skills, and he went to Worcestershire to develop his. And now he is a fine bowler. Fast bowlers should play a season or two of county cricket. It helps them develop their cricket.”