By IANS,
Karachi: Former Pakistan cricket skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to let senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf lead the national side for at least one year.
Inzamam, who retired from international cricket in 2007, said Yousuf will only be able to give his best if he knows that he has a sufficient tenure.
“I think frequent changes in the team management is not a good thing, which is why I would advise the PCB to give Yousuf at least one year as a captain,” he said.
Yousuf, 35, was named as Pakistan’s new captain after Younis Khan decided to take a break ahead of the three-match Test series against New Zealand, beginning Nov 25 in Dunedin.
Inzamam rejected the reports that he is in line to take over as Pakistan’s coach. “I was never approached for this responsibility and even if I get such an offer, I don’t think I’m ready for it,” he said.
Inzamam also dismissed speculations that he played a major role in getting Yousuf appointed as Pakistan’s new captain. “Yousuf is one of the most experienced players and got the captaincy on merit,” he said.
“I keep hearing that I’m the one who is advising him but that’s not true. Such reports come up just because Yousuf and many of the other players in the team have played under me.”
Inzamam praised Pakistan’s 2-0 Twenty20 series win in Dubai against New Zealand after a 1-2 defeat in the one-dayers at Abu Dhabi.
“It is never easy to make a comeback after you’ve lost a series but Pakistan really played well, thanks to some good performances from Imran Nazir and Umar Akmal.”