ISLAMABAD, Aug 19: Former Test fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz on Monday said it is the ideal time for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selectors to start building a formidable squad comprising promising youngsters for the 2015 World Cup.

“The PCB should have named and groomed a young captain for the upcoming Zimbabwe series in order to start preparations for the 2015 World Cup,” Sarfraz, a veteran of 55 Tests and 45 ODIs, said.

“Talented budding players under a fresh young captain should be raised for the 2015 mega event. If we don’t groom a new captain then how would we get a new one in future,” he added.

Sarfraz noted that the Indian cricket board rested captain M.S. Dhoni in their limited-overs series in Zimbabwe and opted for a squad predominantly comprising new faces led by Virat Kohli.

“The PCB should have done the same and it is time the selectors start thinking about who is going to be feature in the World Cup.”

Sarfraz, 64, reckoned bringing in veteran batsman Younis Khan and Faisal Iqbal for the Zimbabwe Test series was not a good decision, and also believed that axing left-handed opener Taufiq Umar for the Tests was also surprising.

“Picking, dropping and recalling players is not going to work. Pakistan needs a settled squad going into the 2015 World Cup rather than entering the tournament with experimental players,” he said and emphasised that the PCB should now show confidence in talented youngsters.

“The problem is that the selectors make adjustments in the squad without planning for what lies ahead,” he said questioning the selectors’ choice of left-arm paceman Wahab Riaz for the Zimbabwe Tests.

Sarfraz termed Umar Amin a very talented cricketer and said the left-handed batsman should be given consistent chances.

Pakistan will play two Tests, three ODIs and two Twenty20 matches against Zimbabwe starting with the first Twenty20 on Aug 23.—APP