ISLAMABAD: While insisting that national ODI team still require the experience of Misbah-ul-Haq, former captain Aamir Sohail has urged that it is actually the game’s structure in the country which needs to be improved by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for sustained progress.

Talking to a private TV channel, Aamir said some people wanted Misbah to be ousted as captain and dropped from the One-day International team.

“But this is not the solution,” the former opener remarked.

He reckoned Pakistan cricket needed to utilise Misbah’s services for the country and get the best out of him.

“Presently, we need Misbah’s experience in the [ODI] team. Therefore, it will be a wrong move to drop him from the ODI team and dispose of him as captain,” 46-year-old Aamir, a member of the 1992 World Cup-winning squad, stated. He opined that individuals could not be blamed for the ODI and Test series defeats on the recent tour to South Africa.

“Some are sitting there and are blaming Dav Whatmore, others are pointing the finger at Misbah, some are blaming other individual players [for the losses]. But, the wider and actual problem is the system in Pakistan cricket and not the individuals representing the team,” Aamir, a veteran of 47 Tests and 156 ODIs, insisted.

Noting that Pakistan’s Test matches record in recent years in countries such as England, South Africa and Australia has not been encouraging, Aamir emphasised: “We have won no series in those countries [during these years].

“Rather than people criticising the players and individuals, the board needs to look at improving the [cricket] system in Pakistan.”—APP