LAHORE, Nov 11: Former Test opener Aamir Sohail, who has been recently appointed Director of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), asserted on Tuesday that his first priority was to produce quality middle-order batsmen for the national team particularly in the absence of Mohammad Yousuf.

Speaking to the media after assuming charge on Tuesday, Aamir, also a former chief selector, believed that presently the national team needs good middle-order batsmen for which, he added, a comprehensive plan would be chalked out.

Yousuf, considered the backbone of national team’s batting, left Pakistan cricket in a controversial manner last week when he joined the ICL resulting in a ban imposed on him by the PCB.

Vowing to run the NCA in a professional manner to raise it to international standard, Aamir also stated that he would take advice from his predecessor Mudassar Nazar for the academy programmes.

He expressed cricket had given him a lot, adding to serve the game he preferred to give up his career as commentator.