Shoaib should have been in Pak squad: Waqar

Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis feels Shoaib Akhtar should not have been dropped from the squad for the World Twenty20 Championship as he would have bowled well despite the skin infection that prompted the mercurial pacer's ouster. Shoaib was dropped from the squad after a medical panel of the board found that the fast bowler needed 10 to 12 days for recovery and treatment before they could carry out another re-examination in early June. He was replaced by pacer Rao Iftikhar Anjum in the squad on the insistence of coach Intikhab Alam, a decision that left even the selectors fuming.

"It is a sad episode and specially the way it was handled. I am unhappy because Shoaib could have been very useful for the team in the World Cup," Waqar said.

The former pacer said while there was no doubt that Shoaib was struggling with his fitness in the longer version of the game but he could have been a very important player in the T20 World Cup in England. "I can safely say he could have bowled four overs without problems and given his experience. His ouster is a big setback for the team in the tournament," he said. Waqar refused to name any favorites for the World Cup title.

"Realistically speaking it is very difficult to make predictions about who will win the tournament because of the shorter nature of the game. I think in T20 cricket any team can upset anyone if it plays well on its day in T20 cricket," Waqar stated. Waqar, who retired in 2003, India appeared a strong side as they have been playing very well but Pakistan don't have a match-winning player in the side. "If Pakistan is to do well we have to put in a collective effort. Our bowling is strong and our spinners have been bowling well specially Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal. If Younis Khan handles the bowling well that would be our strong point in the World Cup."