Moshin seeks time for Malik to blossom as captain

Dhaka, May 11 (UNI) Former Test cricketer Mohsin Khan today said his ward Shoaib Malik, if given chance, would blossom as a successful Pakistani captain.

Talking to UNI, Mohsin Khan said, ''I know Shoaib Malik from his junior days. I have coached him. He has a good cricketing brain. I am sure he will succeed as captain.'' After the World Cup turmoil Pakistan was left without a skipper when Younus Khan refused to take up the responsibility of captaining the side. It was then that the PCB appointed Shoaib Malik as captain of the national team out of the blue.

''I mean he was not even prepared for this. It was like a pleasant surprise for him. He will take his time to settle down as captain,'' Mohsin said.

Asked if in a country like Pakistan where cricket was a religion by itself, would Malik get that much of time, he said, ''Even Imran Khan started to become successful from his third year as captain.

Everybody needs time. Give him at least one year. See Rahul Dravid has been retained in India too.'' The 25-year-old Silakot native has his first assignment in Abu Dhabi where Pakistan take on Sri Lanka .

UNI