Afridi should captain Pakistan in tests, says Imran

Friday, 8 April 2011 02:38 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

KARACHI (Reuters) - Pakistan’s limited overs captain Shahid Afridi should return to test cricket and skipper the national team in all three formats of the sport, former captain Imran Khan said.

Afridi pulled out of a test series against Australia last year in England after losing the first test at Lord’s as captain.

Since then he has only captained Pakistan in one-day internationals and T20 matches. Senior batsman Misbah-ul-Haq led Pakistan in their last two test series against South Africa and New Zealand.

Afridi, who led Pakistan to the semi-finals of the World Cup that ended on Saturday, has made himself available for this month’s tour to the West Indies after previously planning on missing the series.

“There should be just one captain for all three formats of the game,” Imran told reporters at a function held in Lahore to honour Pakistan’s World Cup umpire Aleem Dar.

“The main reason for India winning the World Cup is that their captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni leads them in tests, ODIs and T20 cricket,” the cricketer turned politician said.

Imran, who led Pakistan to their only World Cup title in 1992, said that Dhoni had matured quicker as a captain because he had developed the temperament to handle the different pressures of the three formats.

“Afridi must also be captain in all three formats of the sport. My belief is that unless you captain in test cricket you can’t really be at the top of your game,” he said.

Afridi withdrew from test cricket after claiming he wanted to spend more time with his family and focus on the limited overs game.