Ex cricketer Mushtaq calls for inclusion of youngsters in ageing Pak squad

Karachi, Feb 23(ANI): Former Pakistan captain Mushtaq Mohammad has called on the Pakistani selectors to include youngsters in the ageing one- day squad.

"I would urge the selectors to give youth a chance, plan ahead and start preparing for the 2015 World Cup. Pakistan needs to start building a younger team and drop the older players in the one day squad," PakPassion.net quoted Mushtaq, as saying.

"All the other teams around the world are introducing younger players and planning for the 2015 World Cup, but Pakistan seems to be reluctant to do this. The youngsters are starting to filter through in various teams and by the time the next World Cup comes around, those youngsters will be fully established and experienced," he added.

His statement comes after Pakistan was whitewashed at the hands of England in the recently - concluded one day series.

Mushtaq said the selectors need to completely revamp the squad, identify a youthful group of 20 players to form the nucleus of the One Day and Twenty over squads and stick with that group of players till the 2015 World Cup.

"The best 20 young cricketers in Pakistan should be identified by the selectors, picked and given a proper chance up to the World Cup. Even if this means that initially the team struggles and results do not go their way, it's imperative that youth is given a proper chance to establish themselves rather than just being thrown in at the deep end a few months before the World Cup.

If we do this now, then in a couple of years we will have a group of players with experience and ability and youth on their side," he added. (ANI)