ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram believes the Green shirts should include Fawad Alam in the middle order in the second Test against England starting at Southampton on Aug 13.

“In the next match, you won’t find a turning wicket. You will play with one spinner and you will have to play with an extra batsman,” a private news channel quoted Wasim as saying.

The Sultan of Swing, who took 414 and 502 wickets in 104 Tests and 356 ODIs respectively, said Fawad has an average of over 50 in first-class and he should be given a chance in the second Test.

“If I were the captain, I would include Fawad Alam in the middle order,” he said.

The visitors have already lost the first Test match by three wickets. Wasim blamed the defeat on both the batsmen and the bowlers. “We committed many tactical mistakes while bowling in the second innings,” said the former cricketer.

He said: “Two senior batsmen Azhar Ali and Asad Shafique didn’t perform with the bat. The team’s morale goes down if your senior players don’t perform.”

Azhar, who replaced Sarfaraz Ahmed as Test captain, was severely criticised on social media and by former cricketers on TV shows over his poor batting form and captaincy. Wasim said that Azhar needed to improve his body language and communication skills.

“If we win the remaining Test matches he should continue as captain. It depends on his performance. Obviously, if we don’t win and he doesn’t perform then Pakistan Cricket Board will have to look for someone else,” he concluded.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2020