Pakistan needs young blood for revival of Test cricket in country: Akram

Lahore, Jan 11(ANI): Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has said that the national selectors should induct new blood in the team to avoid shameful defeats like the one against Australia in Sydney.

"To win Test matches against powerful teams one needed special talent, skill, passion and mental fitness. The present Pakistan side lacks these traits. Unlike Twenty20 and one-dayers, Test cricket is like a long race," The Daily Times quoted Akram, as saying.

"When the seniors are creating problems for the team and getting out after making only few runs then why not include younger players as they will learn in a year and serve the country for at least two decades. And for this purpose, captain, cricket board and selectors must sit together, communicate and plan. But, unfortunately, I can't see that happening," he added.

Akram also said that playing away from home and lack of Test cricket was also one of the reasons for the Sydney debacle.

"They have played very few Test matches especially on the home soil and that's why players are short of confidence," Akram said.

Due to security problems and foreign teams' refusal to play in Pakistan, they have hosted only one complete Test match in the last 27 months. (ANI)