Haroon satisfied with Azhar's performance

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Selector Haroon Rasheed believes Azhar Ali is new to captaincy but will become mature saying he is very much satisfied with his performance.

Haroon said everyone was saying Azhar should not play ODI's, or Shahid Afridi should not play Twenty-20's, but in the end they both delivered. "Since our Test team is settled, our main focus is on the ODI team," he said while talking to a private news channel.

Haroon said a few names floated for the captaincy after Misbah-ul-haq's retirement, and PCB Chairman took his time to take decision and opted for Azhar. "Azhar proved himself by improving his strike rate and leading from front," he said.

Haroon said people are talking about Sami Aslam and Saad Nasim. "They are good but they have to wait. They have to overcome some of their technical deficiencies. Saad doesn't bowl much, and as a batsman it was difficult to make his place, now he has again started bowling which is good," he said.

Haroon said at International level, players have to perform a few steps ahead of their domestic performances. "Sami needs more time at the domestic level," he said adding if someone is out of the team it doesn't mean they are discarded and can always make a comeback.

Speaking about Younis Khan thinking about captaincy, Haroon said who will captain the team, is the Board decision. "If Younis is thinking about captaincy then it is his right to think or wish," he said.

Haroon said it is difficult for Mohammad Amir to make an impulsive comeback to the national team. "First he will prove himself then he can make a comeback to the team," he said.

Haroon said Pakistan Super League (PSL) cannot be conducted in Pakistan. "Conditions are becoming better but still it will take time. But PSL is very important for Pakistan, it doesn't matter where it happens," he said.

Haroon said Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal need to be consistent. "The fitness of our senior players is better than most young players, which is alarming. We are trying to make a team which can serve till next 4-5 years," he said.

Haroon said in the new system, Regions will take their decisions and will induct cricketers. "Regional heads will be ex-cricketers. It will be like a mini board, and I hope it will improve our grass-root level cricket," he said.