ISLAMABAD: Former captain and legendary batsman Javed Miandad has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to follow a proper, phase-wise approach in selecting squads and captains.

“If a player is to be named in the squad or a captain is to be selected, the person(s) in focus should undergo an appropriate process [by the PCB] during which the individual should be interviewed on his I.Q., and on how he can play his role in improving the team. Only then appointments should be made,” Miandad said on Wednesday.

“In order to improve the selection process, appointments should be based on performance and merit,” he insisted.

While welcoming the appointment of Shahid Afridi as national Twenty20 skipper, Miandad emphasised the all-rounder now needed to work hard on his form and prove he is the right man for the job.

The PCB on Tuesday announced Afridi as T20 captain till the 2016 World T20 while retained Misbah-ul-Haq as the Test and ODI captain until the 2015 World Cup.

“A captain’s form is very important for his team and Afridi should now seek to play sensibly. He should have particular focus on his batting,” the 124-Test veteran underlined.

Speaking on Misbah, Miandad said the Test and ODI skipper should look to winning the forthcoming Australia series in the UAE, noting achieving success against the Aussies would by no means be easy.

“Don’t repeat the mistakes that were committed [by Pakistan] in the recently held Sri Lanka series,” he said, adding Saeed Ajmal’s absence would be widely felt during the Australia series.

In the absence of Ajmal, Miandad reckoned, Pakistan bowling attack would lose much of its venom in the Australia series.

He also urged blundering Pakistan batsmen to be show more responsibility. “Our batsmen need to stay at the crease in order to help their team post a decent total,” he stressed, adding a team’s performance was formed on the individual performance produced by each and every player.

Miandad said he had given the PCB a plan on how to improve cricket. “It is PCB’s job to lift the game better and they should start it from the domestic games,” he concluded.

Published in Dawn, September 18th , 2014